Leadfoot Festival

[Shano]

I spent Saturday at the Leadfoot Festival, Rod Millen's new hillclimb event. It was very well done with a magnificent property that has been purpose-developed for the hillclimb. The track was very challenging with some gnarly drop-away bumps, hairpin bends and lots of sections that took drivers by surprise by changing persona as the cars went faster - and in some cases this caught competitors out badly with a few very bent cars (fortunately no drivers were harmed in the making of this event).

Top competitors on Saturday were Andrew Hawkeswood (Evo), Emma Gilmour (in Possum Bourne's Coronet Peak Impreza), Clark Proctor in the mighty turbo V6 Escort, Phil Mauger in the ex-Hulme McLaren M23 (I didn't think those things had enough lock to get round the corners) and of course Rod Millen in the Toyota race truck - not much of Toyota left inside that fire-breathing monster.

But there were heaps of other magnificent cars there and bloody good peddlers, I thoroughly enjoyed it, but was unable to get there for the top 10 - shootout today. I hope someone else can fill in with the results, but in the meantime a few images.













More later

I don't know why this photo has come up twice and I can't get rid of it - but the driver was a woman, she was very good and gave it a good thrashing.

[Shano]

[Rod Grimwood]

The woman in the blue monster is an amazing lady the way she physically throws it around. And she is no spring chicken either, saw her at Hampton last year.

[PaulieG]

Those are some awesome machines at the festival. Would be very nice to hear them roaring up the hill in person!

[GeebeeNZ]

Good news guys if you enjoyed the old ones on the hill (or missed them) nearly all the pre 1960 cars are VCC members who will be racing at the Roycroft Trophy event Hampton Downs April 14th and 15th. That includes Anne's 1906 Darraq, Rob's Gypsy Major engined Riley, Danny's Red Lancia Kappa, Terry's Bugatti, Peter's Alfa Monza etc plus Formula Juniors. Seeing them race together at Hampton Downs is a real spectacle and you get a chance to see them all up close and talk to the owners. http://www.waitemata.org

[Shano]

[Shano]

Video clip.

[video=youtube_share;PaBN0iO-ZJE]http://youtu.be/PaBN0iO-ZJE[/video]

[Kiwiboss]

Great DVD footage Shano, and looks a whole bunch of fun with great weather but am i missing something looking at this? "Very Few Spectators"? mind you, i thought about going until i found out the ticketing prices!! Hmmmmmm. Maybe Mr Millen didn't want any crowd?

Dale

[David McKinney]

Looks like a fantastic event - thanks for taking us there, Shano

Is the red No.51 single-seater a modern build, or should I be kicking myself for not recognising it?

[GeebeeNZ]

David No 51 is Neil Tolich's Jocko Special. A Formula Junior imported from USA a few years ago. I think it has a Fiat 1100 in it.

[Shano]

Kiwiboss - the crowd wasn't big but a friend of mine who knows Rod said the event is not about making money so the size of the crowd is not a concern. I'd have guessed 500 - 600 people and I would also guess that this is about creating a motorsport legacy.

I always enjoy being able to get up close and personal to the cars and drivers so thanks to those who left the car bonnets up and were so happy to talk about the work they'd done on the cars. The quality of engineering and the commitment to presentation were astonishing.

I loved it. Hillclimbs were always one of my favourite events to watch and this one is a doozy. I'll be back for sure.

[Lee Tracey]

Thanks for the coverage shano. Can I have some more please sir?

Along with the small numbers the crowd seem noticable for the similar lack of support for the period clothing as at NZFMR.

Were either of the F40s genuine?

Cheers
Lee

[RogerH]

Thanks for the coverage shano. Can I have some more please sir?

Along with the small numbers the crowd seem noticable for the similar lack of support for the period clothing as at NZFMR.

Were either of the F40s genuine?
Cheers
Lee

One F40 was the real thing the other had a Lexus motor in it.

The event was beyond belief - really fantastic for entrants (or should I say invitees). I was fortunate to have three of my cars running there and the track was challenging and daunting. The social side was excellent with a cocktail party one night, a ball the next with a sit down dinner and then the lead from ZZ Tops playing for the guests ............

[Shano]

RogerH - which cars were yours? I might have some images of them - I have some more that I haven't put up.

[David McKinney]

David No 51 is Neil Tolich's Jocko Special. A Formula Junior imported from USA a few years ago. I think it has a Fiat 1100 in it.

Thanks Geeb

[Chris Kitzen]

Yep Dale the tickets weren't cheap for sure. I definitely wanted to go but wasn't planning on going due to the cost but ended up with three days there crewing (did virtually nothing) on the Vantage Subaru so no cost to me. Hard to know what you missed if you haven’t been but now if I don’t get the opportunity to crew again next year I would certainly pay to go at least one day – probably Sunday. It is just such a fantastic event and worth the money for sure. I understand Rod has a 10 year commitment to run it so it will be interesting to see the development each year.

[RogerH]

RogerH - which cars were yours? I might have some images of them - I have some more that I haven't put up.

The A40 Special and the Lola Mk2 (that unfortunately retired after two runs with clutch problems) plus the GeeCeeEss which Donald Suckling drove.

Any photos would be appreciated.

[PhotoSmith]

[quote="RogerH"]One F40 was the real thing the other had a Lexus motor in it.

Peter Sunberg = Real

Steve Cox 'Unreal'

[PhotoSmith]

A great event, great cars, great drivers, can't wait till next year.
Only went on the Saturday, here are a few photos.......starting with the Millens.

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[PhotoSmith]

try again