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Racing MR2s
Don in his car at Meremere Drag Racing strip
I purchased a 1987 MKI SC targa top auto in late 1997 as a second vehicle. To
enable my youngest son to drive safely and to compete in a number of events I
joined a car club. I have now competed in gymkhanas which are a lot of fun and
recommended for everyone to try, especially on grass. I entered a Bent Sprint,
the first one being on route P in Tauranga on the afternoon after the Targa cars
had been through. My top speed on the day was recorded (by police radar) at 185
km/h. At Meremere my 1/4 mile was 16.22 seconds, at Taupo my best time was 53.5
seconds, and at Pukekoh my best time was 1m 21s. In a hill climb in Rotorua my
car came 1st in the family class in a time of 1m 10s.
It has been good to meet up with Steve, Adrienne, Brad and Malcolm at the
different tracks as the first time I went to Pukekohe, Steve jumped into my car
and showed me how he went around the track. The practice was a bit nerve racking
and a big learning curve of what the best speed was for each corner. For the 3
laps with a standing start my times were 4m 26s and 4m 20s
I was then put in a group of 8 cars with similar times and we were let off 2
at a time and about 10s apart.
The last two sessions on the track I was up against Brad who was driving
Steve and Adrienne’s race car (for the first time at Pukekohe too). Brad had the
advantage at the first corner and this helped me to find the queckest way around
the track. After 3 laps from a standing start my best time was 4 m 13.68
seconds, Brads best time was 4:09:03 (Steve’s best was 4:03:28, Ade’s 4:09:02.
Best lap times: Don 1:21:72; Brad 1:20:29; Ade 1:18:48; Steve 1:17:84 (and Ade,
Steve and Brad carried passengers most of the times - Ed). I thought my car was
not bad for an auto.
For those who haven’t been around Pukekohe this is my experience of one lap:
At 150m before the hairpin (the car was revving just over 4500 and the speedo
just past 180km/h) I brake hard and down to 2nd gear at 120kmph. The car slows
just in time to take the corner at about 60 kmph and flat out to the next two
sweeping bends, the first one at 120kmph and into 3rd. This brings us under the
"tyre" bridge and ready to line up the last corner a over Mobil hill at 140 kmph
for the dash past the bumpy starting grid and over the finishing line at
160kmph.
As I cruised home to Te Puke at normal speeds I was able to reflect on the
days activities. Yes it was worth it for the experience and confidence I had for
my car for what I can do, if required.
I hope to do it again soon with better tyres, brakes and suspension upgrade.
Since Pukekohe my thanks go to Trevor of New Lynn Auto Dismantlers for the set
of backing plates and John from MasterParts for the clubsport mintex brake pads.
The car stops much faster now from a high speed with no fading. Thanks guys,
Donel Svendsen
For more information on Donal and other New Zealand MR2 MK1 racers, visit http://www.tcsracing.org/
First Impressions of Driving at Pukekohe
The flag drops and so does my right foot. At the first right hand corner the
car is on the correct lines at 140km. The "S" bends are coming up at a great
speed, time to slow down. At 120km I go down to 2nd and make a bee line and
power through the "S"s and break again for Castrol corner. I line the car up and
plant foot, the car sledges left but I get through to the back straight - time
to look around, no cars behind me (I must be going fast), check instruments, air
conditioning off, fan off, radio off, speedo and revs still climbing.