Hi everyone... I'm just going to copy-paste an article I wrote for NZ Performance Car magazine, and follow it up with some images and captions. But please take some time to read about this marvellous event that takes place in the Coromandel area of NZ every year or 2.
IMG_7560 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
As a self-described, certified absolutely dyed-in-the-wool motorsport nut, any time spent trackside immersed among induction and exhaust roar, tyre squeal and breathing in exhaust fumes whilst attempting to remain composed enough to snap a few shots counts as time well spent. Upon attending the Leadfoot Festival for the second consecutive time, it becomes apparent that this is no less a motorsport event, but a total petrolhead experience which caters to almost every motorsport enthusiast niche, with a varying range of vehicles making up the exquisite hand-picked entry list.
Following a year’s hiatus, for 2015 Rod and Shelly Millen kindly opened the gates again to the impressive Leadfoot Ranch property in Hahei, inviting a hand-picked line up consisting of some of the country’s most revered and historic race machinery to take on “Millens Mile,” the technically challenging stretch of thin tarmac rising 80m in elevation from the roadside startline which conveniently serves double duty as the properties driveway. The public responded, with greater numbers than ever before settling down amongst the rolling fields of the Ranch to revel in the privilege of a weekend stocked with top notch food vendors, quality entertainment and of course the spectacle of high strung competition machinery being pushed to their limits.
IMG_7789 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Speaking of machinery, Festival guests were once again treated to a range of vehicles spanning the decades, with perennial vintage car tamer Anne Thompson once again bringing the mighty 1906 Darracq GP car to the fray, lining up against latter day personalities such as the inimitable “Mad” Mike Whiddett who arrived with the screaming quad rotor “MADBUL” RX7 ready to convert his Nitto’s to smoke among the undulations of the course. Other notable entrants included Conrad Timms, piloting his genuine 1992 DTM spec Group A BMW M3 alongside offroad behemoths in the form of Carter Strangs bellowing supercharged LS motivated Nissan Safari. Further variety came in the form of a sprinkling of Escorts, BMWs, Porsches, Lotus and other exotic marques that tackled the hill with vigour beneath the scorching Coromandel sunlight.
IMG_7810 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
With Millen’s 2013 track record of 50.59 in their sights, the competition proved fierce with the cat among the proverbial pigeons proving to be karting ace Daniel Bray, who well and truly threw down the gauntlet during Saturday’s qualifying with a lightning 48.74 second run, with even Millen himself admitting “I never thought a sub-50 would be possible!” Among other qualifying record breakers was multiple NZ rally champion Richard Mason, who hustled his de-restricted 2008 Impreza to a respectable 49.75 time. It all came to a head on the Sunday afternoon, as the top ten from both the pre-1975 groups, and post 1975 cars lined up to take overall honours by virtue of a single run dash to the top. This time around, screaming Escort pilot Paul McCarthy exacted revenge upon the rock-solid Perana Capri V8 of Neil Tolich, with Tolich having to settle for second best after beating the Escort home in 2013, this time setting a 55.70 to McCarthys 55.49 second, 9000rpm symphony up the hill. Rounding out the top 3 was NZGT2 regular Rick Bone, posting a spectacularly crossed-up 55.74 with the Datsun 1200’s hammer ALL the way down.
IMG_8829 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
As the fast boys lined up, the questions was – could Bray’s 125cc, 46hp KZ2 kart David take it to Millen’s 850 plus hp Pikes Peak Celica Goliath? Running in reverse, it was evident these drivers were in it for keeps, with the attitude of the cars aggressive through the forest, bouncing off the kerbs and using every last micron of tarmac in pursuit of every last millisecond. Mason eventually slotted into third position with a PB of 49.67, and as Millen rocketed through (clipping a hay bale or two on the way) the tension proved palpable as the anxious crowd was left to wait for Bray’s time following, by his own admission, a slightly messier than usual run.
Wilyness and wisdom shone through as the times were revealed, with Millen extracting yet more from the Celica to record a new course record of 48.65 seconds, while Bray’s settled for second for a 49.03 – not without a tongue in cheek jab at Rod’s splaying of hay bales across the track.
IMG_7352 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
With the latest instalment done and dusted, the sun sunk beneath the Coromandel hills and the crowds packed up and left – without a doubt however, once again the Leadfoot Festival has proved itself a motorsport event with a difference, a truly esoteric affair that mixes the automotive with the social, and leaves you heading home craving more.
IMG_8011 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Mad Mike punts the quad rotor FD through the hairpin.
IMG_8172 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Happy to be there! The oldschool.co.nz crew soak up the Hahei sun.
IMG_8114 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Rod's replica of his old 1970's NZ Championship winning RX3 - wild 13B PP power.
IMG_8310 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Jimmy McRae pushing it past the black barn
IMG_8342 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
This is a replica - but packs a twin turbo Toyota 1UZ so goes like the real deal.
IMG_7217 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Crouching Cobra, hidden Almac (big block Almac Cobra replica built in the 80s)
IMG_7388 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Beaut old Mk2 Lotus Cortina
IMG_8860 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Rod in the trees on the way to his record setting run in the Top 10
IMG_7515 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Angus Fogg in the famous AMCO Mini - the only run before it lunched it's engine.
IMG_7749 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Conrads legit 1992 DTM E30 M3
IMG_8061 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
A personal fav, Stuart McFarlanes rally spec 911.
IMG_7753 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Recently resurrected RX2, previously stored for a couple of decades.
IMG_7882 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Allan Woolf, 81 years old and still hooning his Cooper.
IMG_7920 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Proving clean is king, this is probably the nicest looking 211 I have laid my eyes on.
IMG_7972 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
The Williment Escort, a very famous NZ touring car of years gone.
IMG_8092 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Anne Thompsons 1906 Darracq - winner of the first ever Grand Prix.
IMG_8069 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
My favourite shot from the event, Paul McCarthy's Zakspeed replica Mk1 Escort. The build quality of this is INSANE.
IMG_8506 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Jeff Judd's very clean Chevette HSR
IMG_8804 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Ross Dunkerton hustling a Mk1 twincam up the drive.
IMG_8845 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Don't lift. Even though an altercation with a haybale took the front clip off, Sloan Cox still recorded a PB on this run and placed in the top 10.
More in this album:
www.flickr.com/photos/snoozinrichy/sets/72157650636652206
Thanks for looking!
IMG_7560 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
As a self-described, certified absolutely dyed-in-the-wool motorsport nut, any time spent trackside immersed among induction and exhaust roar, tyre squeal and breathing in exhaust fumes whilst attempting to remain composed enough to snap a few shots counts as time well spent. Upon attending the Leadfoot Festival for the second consecutive time, it becomes apparent that this is no less a motorsport event, but a total petrolhead experience which caters to almost every motorsport enthusiast niche, with a varying range of vehicles making up the exquisite hand-picked entry list.
Following a year’s hiatus, for 2015 Rod and Shelly Millen kindly opened the gates again to the impressive Leadfoot Ranch property in Hahei, inviting a hand-picked line up consisting of some of the country’s most revered and historic race machinery to take on “Millens Mile,” the technically challenging stretch of thin tarmac rising 80m in elevation from the roadside startline which conveniently serves double duty as the properties driveway. The public responded, with greater numbers than ever before settling down amongst the rolling fields of the Ranch to revel in the privilege of a weekend stocked with top notch food vendors, quality entertainment and of course the spectacle of high strung competition machinery being pushed to their limits.
IMG_7789 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Speaking of machinery, Festival guests were once again treated to a range of vehicles spanning the decades, with perennial vintage car tamer Anne Thompson once again bringing the mighty 1906 Darracq GP car to the fray, lining up against latter day personalities such as the inimitable “Mad” Mike Whiddett who arrived with the screaming quad rotor “MADBUL” RX7 ready to convert his Nitto’s to smoke among the undulations of the course. Other notable entrants included Conrad Timms, piloting his genuine 1992 DTM spec Group A BMW M3 alongside offroad behemoths in the form of Carter Strangs bellowing supercharged LS motivated Nissan Safari. Further variety came in the form of a sprinkling of Escorts, BMWs, Porsches, Lotus and other exotic marques that tackled the hill with vigour beneath the scorching Coromandel sunlight.
IMG_7810 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
With Millen’s 2013 track record of 50.59 in their sights, the competition proved fierce with the cat among the proverbial pigeons proving to be karting ace Daniel Bray, who well and truly threw down the gauntlet during Saturday’s qualifying with a lightning 48.74 second run, with even Millen himself admitting “I never thought a sub-50 would be possible!” Among other qualifying record breakers was multiple NZ rally champion Richard Mason, who hustled his de-restricted 2008 Impreza to a respectable 49.75 time. It all came to a head on the Sunday afternoon, as the top ten from both the pre-1975 groups, and post 1975 cars lined up to take overall honours by virtue of a single run dash to the top. This time around, screaming Escort pilot Paul McCarthy exacted revenge upon the rock-solid Perana Capri V8 of Neil Tolich, with Tolich having to settle for second best after beating the Escort home in 2013, this time setting a 55.70 to McCarthys 55.49 second, 9000rpm symphony up the hill. Rounding out the top 3 was NZGT2 regular Rick Bone, posting a spectacularly crossed-up 55.74 with the Datsun 1200’s hammer ALL the way down.
IMG_8829 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
As the fast boys lined up, the questions was – could Bray’s 125cc, 46hp KZ2 kart David take it to Millen’s 850 plus hp Pikes Peak Celica Goliath? Running in reverse, it was evident these drivers were in it for keeps, with the attitude of the cars aggressive through the forest, bouncing off the kerbs and using every last micron of tarmac in pursuit of every last millisecond. Mason eventually slotted into third position with a PB of 49.67, and as Millen rocketed through (clipping a hay bale or two on the way) the tension proved palpable as the anxious crowd was left to wait for Bray’s time following, by his own admission, a slightly messier than usual run.
Wilyness and wisdom shone through as the times were revealed, with Millen extracting yet more from the Celica to record a new course record of 48.65 seconds, while Bray’s settled for second for a 49.03 – not without a tongue in cheek jab at Rod’s splaying of hay bales across the track.
IMG_7352 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
With the latest instalment done and dusted, the sun sunk beneath the Coromandel hills and the crowds packed up and left – without a doubt however, once again the Leadfoot Festival has proved itself a motorsport event with a difference, a truly esoteric affair that mixes the automotive with the social, and leaves you heading home craving more.
IMG_8011 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Mad Mike punts the quad rotor FD through the hairpin.
IMG_8172 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Happy to be there! The oldschool.co.nz crew soak up the Hahei sun.
IMG_8114 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Rod's replica of his old 1970's NZ Championship winning RX3 - wild 13B PP power.
IMG_8310 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Jimmy McRae pushing it past the black barn
IMG_8342 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
This is a replica - but packs a twin turbo Toyota 1UZ so goes like the real deal.
IMG_7217 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Crouching Cobra, hidden Almac (big block Almac Cobra replica built in the 80s)
IMG_7388 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Beaut old Mk2 Lotus Cortina
IMG_8860 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Rod in the trees on the way to his record setting run in the Top 10
IMG_7515 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Angus Fogg in the famous AMCO Mini - the only run before it lunched it's engine.
IMG_7749 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Conrads legit 1992 DTM E30 M3
IMG_8061 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
A personal fav, Stuart McFarlanes rally spec 911.
IMG_7753 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Recently resurrected RX2, previously stored for a couple of decades.
IMG_7882 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Allan Woolf, 81 years old and still hooning his Cooper.
IMG_7920 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Proving clean is king, this is probably the nicest looking 211 I have laid my eyes on.
IMG_7972 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
The Williment Escort, a very famous NZ touring car of years gone.
IMG_8092 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Anne Thompsons 1906 Darracq - winner of the first ever Grand Prix.
IMG_8069 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
My favourite shot from the event, Paul McCarthy's Zakspeed replica Mk1 Escort. The build quality of this is INSANE.
IMG_8506 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Jeff Judd's very clean Chevette HSR
IMG_8804 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Ross Dunkerton hustling a Mk1 twincam up the drive.
IMG_8845 by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr
Don't lift. Even though an altercation with a haybale took the front clip off, Sloan Cox still recorded a PB on this run and placed in the top 10.
More in this album:
www.flickr.com/photos/snoozinrichy/sets/72157650636652206
Thanks for looking!