Toyota Festival 2019 - Hampton Downs - March 30th

[mickeyduck]

Please note Paul's post here:

http://mr2.org.nz/phpbb3/viewtopic.php? ... 10#p146610

Catchas Saturday!

[pommy]

I'll meet you guys at the gates around 9/9.30am, coming from Warkworth I'll just cruise down!

Cheers.

[Mr-Paulio]

Mr "NZ MR2" I have your prize for the show and shine. Get in touch

[mickeyduck]

Yet another excellent day at Toyotafest with the MR2 crew.

The first thing I encountered was a lack of anywhere to park at the meet at BP, there were so many twos. Too many twos? Never...!

https://youtu.be/qMt8Y3tSx2E



Four of us took the back road twisties to Hamptons and we got there about an hour after everyone else. We had a nice wee blat - good fun.

I was a bit puzzled as to how Ivor's MRS was managing to stay in touch when I boosted the SW but once he opened his engine lid at Hamptons we discovered he had been a sneaky sneaky man. Something a little unusual (and very cool, er toasty hot) hiding in there eh...

And no Paul, we didn't die. That was a fun run to Hamptons mate! Cheers.

Great to catch up with old friends. Some of whom came from a long way away to say "boo" to the twos.

And real nice to discover that those "Auckland MR2" guys have at their roots a bunch of bods that used to tag along on many of my runs. Best of all it's so cool to know we still all share the same love of the MR2 and the same basic interests that go with that. E.g. having fun together going on blats, shooting the shit while having a feed, hunting down parts, tinkering and modding, getting into photography and video etc. SWeet. AWesome, even!

I'll score a couple of those stickers off you please Nick.

Isaac's AW hit the track - its 2nd time on Hamptons, the first being what I think was Playday On Track's first ever Hamptons Playday way back, which was my first ever track day.

This was Isaac's 2nd track day, having done Taupo in our old n.a. auto SW. While he's ridden shotgun with a couple of mates in the past this was his first time around Hamptons behind the wheel. He had booked in 3 sessions but sadly because they were running late and because we were right down at the hairpin and you couldn't hear the PA over the track cars he missed his first session. But he made up for it by shaving a full 5 seconds off his lap times by the end of his 2nd session, doing consistent 1:26's.

There was only one car in his "medium" group that he couldn't pass and that was an SW with a 2GR in the back. Mind you, he did pass it at one point, down at the hairpin...

Here's Isaac's AW in action -

Here we are all parked up at the most distant corner of the paddock, inside the hairpin. You can see Nick with his arms in the air, my SW with the banner attached, and Isaac on track to the right.

Here's Isaac in what used to be my AW "Stripe" getting himself ready for one last stint on track.

A couple of the other MR2's that I saw on track -

There were some very cool cars there so I grabbed a few pics of non-MR2's too. This little orange Starlet was a hoot the way it got two feet in the air on the corners, and went nicely with its Hyabusa engine. Nicely built little track weapon, must be a total hoot to drive. If I owned it I'd probably call it the Hyabusa Hootmobile.

Who is that guy in the background with the camera...? Looks like one of the Rotationals...

Yeah that's him alright. Always looking for a good shot.

The fella from Hughes Race Engineering must have got a shock to discover the state of his gazebo when he got back. Not pinned down, it took off skyward, crash landed and munted itself then careered across the car park heading for a nice shiny GT86. Camera in hand I stomped on it to stop it and a bunch of guys piled over to rip the cover off so it would stay put. Entertaining, it was. Maybe it was car-ma for driving a Hyundai van instead of a Hiace...? (see top right of pic).

Ah yes, the Toyota 86.

Any AW owner knows there's nothing wrong with a 4AG in a Toymota...

Nothing wrong with a few other Toymotas too...

Some classic Supras were seen...

Michelle and I had one of these old 'Rollas about 25 years ago with twin carbs and extractors. Was a bit rough (yellow with brown and blue doors) but a ton of fun...

Now this GT86 had me a bit jealous. Two things on that car I'd love to have on mine. Anyone that owns one will spot 'em straight away.

Apart from Isaac missing out on 1/3 of his track time and an 86 playing bumper-cars with someone else, there was only one other thing (as far as I know) that made for a bit of a downer. That was Nick's redesigned front end. His beloved GReddy chin spoiler made a bid for freedom and was promptly run over by the entire entourage as they headed for Hamptons. Bugger. Still, when your car is modded, stuff happens, right? (Don't I know it?)

Speaking of Nick's SW, it's a fitting note to end on, being about an MR2 that's loved literally to bits and back.

Nick's car is a bit of a project but it's certainly interesting. Will be real nice to see how it ends up, especially once he has it all figured out and dresses things up a bit. Must say though, everyone found that stray spark plug most intriguing...

Oh and there was one other thing I thought was VERY cool. At the track and online, Toyota gave credit where credit's due. Thanks Toyota!

Cos yes the Toyota Festival was started thanks to our great little MR2 Club, the Altezza Club and the then fledgeling 86 Club getting together for a track day in Taupo to augment our MR2 Club's 2013 AGM, like I said in my wee story earlier. Just for the record, and because I personally get a HUGE buzz from knowing that we helped establish this always EPIC event. Mint...!

Hey Mike, we should ask Joel to make up a club sticker based on the Toyota Festival ones, but with "MR2OCNZ 2013 The Toyota Festival Co-Founders" on it. And make it standard issue to all paid up Club members. You'd want to get the OK from Toyota of course but hey...

I reckon we should do the same with the "4's and Rotas Best Club Attitude 2014" sticker too. Both things are a tribute to the AWesome Club spirit that we can all be so proud of. Whatcha reckon?

http://events.stuff.co.nz/2019/2019-toy ... e-kauwhata

Great_Stuff_Toyotafest.png (503.76 KiB) Viewed 2730 times

OK so who else has some pics 'n' stuff?

Bring 'em on!

[Mr-Paulio]

So yeah, fun day was had by all! Massive turn out! Well done everyone!! Thank you!! And a few of us had some mean twisty fast back roads on the way to the track.
Here is a video following some of the MR2's on a cruise around the track before grouping up for photos and the parade.


Excuse my coughing!
And a few pictures....

[Soleman]

Jordan.

Does Anyone know Jordan with the White sw and Gt wing.. just wanna catch up with him. his car went down with a buggered coolant hose and i lent a hand and parts to help him out.

didnt see him on track again. cheers Team

[IC3YG4M3R]

Hi All,

What a wonderful turn out of Mr2s, I counted 42 at one point at the event and i'm sure there must have been more hidden somewhere, i'm fairly certain it might have been the biggest turn out of Mr2s in a few years? It was really nice catching up with everyone again and bringing my own project out of the woodwork to show off (and back into the garage it goes for a few more months till I get it retuned and certed).

Below is the link to the rolling shots i captured on the way to Hampton Downs, they are free to download and are at full res (if you choose). Apologies to anyone I may have missed, but i am keen to get out and take some more at some point

P.S. if anyone has an aftermarket lip of some sorts for sale, pm me

MR2 Rolling Shots link
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmbd3cJP

[Benckj]

What a great turn out of MR2's! Thanks for sharing the pics and stories with us.

That extra spark plug has me wondering!

[ClanFever]

I'll be sure not to miss the next NI event in 2 years, it looks like a very fun day! Well organised and well photo-shot, good job all!

[mickeyduck]

I'll be sure not to miss the next NI event in 2 years, it looks like a very fun day!

I for one, will remember you said that!

See you then Olaf.

[ClanFever]

I'll be sure not to miss the next NI event in 2 years, it looks like a very fun day!

I for one, will remember you said that!

See you then Olaf.

[mickeyduck]

If you have the time and interest here's a chin-cam view of one session at Hamptons, Isaac driving his AW.

That 2GR powered SW with the wing was no better through the corners but man it sure is quick in a straight line...

https://youtu.be/PtRi4F3YnSI