Honest Paul

There are 3 Focus RS's in Christchurch. They'll be attending the next Ruapuna day out if anyone would like to come and see them.

There are UK to NZ RORO (roll on roll off) ferries operating. Last price I got was around 1600GBP ($3600 at todays rate). As Ron said you'll have to add port charges, optional insurance @ 2% of value, compliance and GST @ 12.5%. a $5000 UK E30 will have cost over $10k to put on your driveway, that's assuming no major compliance hiccups.

If this was a pissing competition I'd be the one trying to pass a gallstone.............

Ron, I have a spot for you if you'd like to come and 'bed them in' properly?

To cut to the chase, these cars are virtually unbeatable across bumpy NZ blacktop. A combination of great damping, huge grip and an almost surreal ability to change direction quickly make them ballistic. The F1 is mighty, the R26 more so, then there is the plexi windowed, Euro only, Megane R26-R which is without doubt one of the fastest cross country cars in the world. Only the awkward styling and 'bar stool' driving position spoil the show. A friend recently had his immaculate low km '06 F1 for sale for 6 months, no-one seemed interested and he eventually let it go for half what he paid. Bargain of the year.

Mark, a fluid change of at least quality engine oil and brake fluid will help look after car. It's brake fluid boiling rather than brake pad glaze that generally produces fade and once your fluid boils it's done for. Take it easy for the first couple of laps to bring tempratures up and always use your cool down lap as just that. Don't run too many laps at once, it's not a race car. Driving at 8/10ths rather than 10/10ths (not easy when the red mist decends) will look after your car too. And the redline is a limit, not a target.

Taupo.Google 'Trackdays' and you'll find it.

Yesterday we ran a relaxed trackday at Ruapuna for a selection of Marques including BMW. A big thanks to those who came along from this forum, you added to a nice mix of cars and were the only represented Marque where every driver recieved either an honourable mention or a prize for their ability on the day. Atta (crazyarab) didn't live up to his user name and carved very neat and precise lines in his M3, put in plenty of laps and set some very good times on standard road rubber (Toyo T1R's), really well driven Atta. Ron came along in a 507bhp E60 M5 and despite it being his first day out and running on the bones of his tyres he was prepared to 4 wheel drift 1800kgs of car round most of the track. Great engine, lovely soundtrack, great car, squeezy side bolsters and all............ Good on you Ron, a pleasure to have you out there. Riley managed to finish 'fettling' his Lexus V8 powered E30 just in time for the day and to be honest I didn't know whether to expect an oversteering monster or a lairy dragster. In reality it was neither. To anyone that thinks an E30 with a V8 is nonsense.........think again. That car is so clean, no lairy wings, spoilers or outrageous bonnet bulge. The install looks almost factory and aside from the twin upswept pipes and lovely rumble you wouldn't guess what it was capable of. Not only did it look good but it drove brilliantly in Rileys hands, very well resolved handling, low body roll, huge grip and storming pace down the main straight. Had it not been suffering an ecu/tempreature related malady it would have run all afternoon at blistering speed. Car and driver of the day! The next trackday will incude a lot of extras that this 'relaxed' one didn't which will make it very interesting for those who attend. Look forward to seeing you there. Paul.