Things just happen..

As I'd mentioned in one of last weeks posts, TePapa are currently running an exhibition on the history, evolution, technology and people of Formula 1. They had asked local motorsport people if they could display their cars out the front of the museum to help promote the exhibit for fathers day weekend.

One really cool spin off was the use of the large "Green Room" attached to the theatre up on the fourth floor. We were treated to an endless supply of food and tea and coffee, plus somewhere to unwind and relax. The very best thing about all this was that we shared the use of the room with Greg Murphy, Chris Amon, Bob McMurray (ex McLaren F1) and several other motorsport identities.


I got to have a short chat with the great Kiwi Formula 1 legend Chris Amon in which we talked about setting up the suspension on the first front wheel drive Corollas brought into NZ. He would advise Toyota on what suspension settings to use after testing at Manfield race circuit and then the car would be brought to my workshop where I would set the wheel alignment to Chris's specs. This was a relationship I had with Toyota all through the late 80's into mid 1990's and yet I never got to meet the man in person.





Fellow Rusty-Racer team member Murray O'Neil was thoroughly enjoying a chat with V8 Super Car racer and four times Bathurst winner Greg Murphy about the subtleties of single seater racing. Something I know nothing about, having never driven a single seater race car in my life.
However I was content to just stand in the group and nod occasionally, basking in the reflected glory. ;)





It's been a great week for fundraising towards Targa. The tally towards the Cancer Society has grown significantly with a large donation from Craig Sheppard of Harbour City Security.
Graeme Gaskin and the team at "Gaskin Ford and Mazda" have come on board and made a significant donation towards running costs for Targa as well as supplying us with the use of a service vehicle during the event.


One man that has really blown us away is local motorsport competitor Brendan Cantwell who challenged his workmates to get behind the Targa Life Challenge team. Brendan and his workmates at Provoke have raised over $1500 towards the running costs of the race car.
(That's nearly 10% of the total expected campaign costs raised due to the efforts of just one man!)
A huge "thank you" goes out to Brendan and his Motorsport mad workmates!