The Dunlop 800, man, machine and…..lycra?

In what could be described as damp conditions at best, the air was electric as the teams of $2000 cars lined up for the start of the 800 km endurance relay race. With a Le Mans style start having teams sprinting over 150 meters to their cars, it became apparent the sprint would benefit some teams more than others, especially those in lycra, but unsurprisingly not those in fancy dress.

Ray Williams was off to an amazing start with team Bahco’s Jason Quayle and Mazda factory team driver Wayne Scott hot on his tail. In fact Ray was so quick he managed to break the pit lane speed limit and had to do a drive through, a true credit to his pace.

An hour in and as pit stops started, a chance to breath was given as the first safety car was deployed, this being for the south island team who would strike battery issues. Struggling for breath was Mark Pederson producing an Olympic grade run back to the pits for a smooth relay change (minus a car) to Andrew Gibson to put the team on the back of the grid, but still on the lead lap.

Two hours in and after another safety car the “Mazda Integra” (filling in for George Maddever’s Lantis) driven by James Watson took the lead as Bahco driver Dave Veryt stuck close for 45 minutes, the lead only changing once the Mazda team pitted at the 3 hour mark having reached the 100km tall poppy rule.

3 hours in and the lead would be taken by the Bahco team and then through the middle period Jamex driver Keith Edwards would take it for nearly 100 km including a change to brother Peter, who was then passed by Stadium Cars Ray Williams after Ray caught up nearly 2 laps with help from a well timed safety car. The team from the South Island steadily clawing their way back up the field during during this entire period.

Bahco drivers Dave Veryt and Craig Stephens Lead for the next 100 Km before falling foul of the tall poppy rule as Keith Edwards took back the lead. Speed problems hitting the Factory Mazda team with the Lantis enduring a couple of trips through pit lane for speeding in pit lane. Brake problems for Neil Sadgrove in the Stadium Cars team would see the team drop back through the field.

In the dying moments as Edwards passed the garter to Mark Mallard for the run to the finish the Tall Poppy rule would strike again and Mallard had to let team Banco driver Quayle pass and would follow for several laps until taking the lead back once again. Leading for a further 30 laps Mallard experienced engine problems and was caught by Quayle and the lead changed twice in the run to the line with Quayle from team Bahco winning by a mere 1.9 seconds.

Thanks for the great prizes from our sponsors CRC, Jamex, Gull, Renegade Trailers, Elf Oil, Carcam NZ, CTB and especially Dunlop. A special thanks to Richard from Dunlop for attending and supporting the Dunlop 800. It is a testament to the Dunlop product that nearly all of the front teams are using the Dunlop Z2 tyre.

Finishing Order:

Pos — Team Num — Drivers — Difference
1 20 Stephens Quayle Verryt
2 18 Edwards Mallard Rooney 1.977
3 11 Gibson Pederson Vaughan 48.983
4 3 Coley Burn Watson Scott 1 lap
5 14 Sadgrove Skippy Williams 2 laps
6 19 Anderson Goddard Kerr Reid 5 laps
7 4 Cunningham Cox McCormack 6 laps
8 10 Bradley Cramond Fox 6 laps
9 1 Geddes Ogorman Viljoen 7 laps
10 5 Murray Medricky Gilberd 8 laps
11 15 De Wit Hanna Mende 10 laps
12 17 Dalziell Rose Smith 12 laps
13 23 Hughes Smith Taylor 13 laps
14 16 Medgeway Mudgeway Grover 16 laps
15 7 Gorvett Gorvett Greer 23 laps
16 2 Reid Driver Watson 26 laps
17 9 Barlow Paris 31 laps
DNF 22 Gore Jones Olliff

Photo Credit Velocity New Zealand, just in case you can’t believe we started the race with 2 legs and not 4 wheels.

2KCUP's photo.
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