GREAT DRIVES: UNTIL THE MUFFLER SNAPPED!

There is always plenty of advice of what tools you should carry in your car for any emergency repairs. Now, the MACH SR7 does not have a large trunk to carry a comprehensive range of tools and certainly nothing to repair a broken muffler? My best tool, well that the plan, was being an AA Plus Member for those unexpected situations that leaves you stranded…

It is almost an unwritten rule that those difficult break downs happen when it is raining, out of cell phone coverage, on a road with minimal traffic and more than 50 kilometers from a garage. When the muffler snapped, I hit all the above and resorted to standing in the rain and flagging down a large truck. The lady driver was incredible, stopping and offered help! Unfortunately all we could find was a bundle of sad looking string and a beaten up hose clip…she then set off to tell the garage I would try and get back to them or could they send out the AA tow truck. The below string sling looked ugly but enabled me to limp back to make a temporary fix.

BACK TO CHRISTCHURCH
Given that I rushed the car away from Robert and Mark last year I decided to drive the car back to McGregor Motorsport in Christchurch for several reasons. Firstly after driving over 4,000km’s I had learnt a great deal about the car and it always planned to make a few upgrades. The muffler was a must change, I always favored the entire black look and a slimmer design. It was also a chance for me to share the MACH SR7 with potential 7 builders; this is good for all involved. McGregor’s already had some new design components they wanted to test on my car which is again valuable R&D that we will all benefit from. I am a valued customer of Wild Bean for several reasons which I have mentioned before; high octane gas, variety of food/coffee and a place to sit where you can keep an eye on your car.

Driving on Highway 1 takes me right past Bulls where Aaron “nz_climber” from the Lotus Forum and building a McGregor lives. We arranged to meet so Aaron could drive my MACH SR7 with a very happy passenger.

This time I decided to make the drive without a night in Wellington. The plan was to arrive at the Interisland Terminal around 10:00pm and grab a few hours sleep before the 2:25am crossing. Like all plans there are assumptions that prove to be entirely wrong. I assumed there would be a place to sleep while your car was in line! Wrong, in fact the passenger terminal was not close and I was in a line of cars with not even a port-a-loo available! Plan B was now in action so I put the roof on and snuggled up for three hours sleep inside the MACH SR7. The ferry was not that much better, cheap early morning tickets and not like the lovely afternoon crossing I had last September.

TAURANGA DRIVE
It takes little to convince me that jumping into my MACH SR7 and head out of Auckland is a good idea. This is quickly sealed with a couple of beers and or wine tasting options along the way. The Karangahake Gorge has always been a favorite drive; mind you I had not driven it for more than 20 years so I just hoped the pub was still open! It was and an obligatory 7oz glass of local ale with locals was another easy choice to make!


I am sure that over the next few years my MACH SR7 will become a poster car for a winery given that I thoroughly enjoy visiting as many as I can when I am back in New Zealand. Morton Estate Wines is a must stop venue, actually the wine is delightful and certainly matched by its iconic location.



Minimal trunk space did not stop a purchase of several bottles of Morton’s wine. I get a great deal of pleasure in sharing the MACH SR7 experience, kids just love this open air driving and the smiles show this total enjoyment. Actually my brother is a big kid who smiles as much as his passenger too!

New Zealand roads are really shocking and with the tax year about to click over the rush to dig/destroy/re-seal seems almost an epidemic. We were unfortunate to drive through the famous LIME on the road and not a happy experience. Looking carefully you will see the bird hanging on the muffler was not thrilled about its fate either.

Another stop on the way home was Cambridge and meet Simon “SimJen” from the Lotus Forum. Again it is great to meet Forum members, look at our cars, test drives and of course general seven chatter sessions.

DRIVING TO WAINUI BEACH
Escaping the winter of Japan and the first snow falls to the summer in New Zealand is an annual event. This year it was different, as while Christmas was important, my family and friends were not fooled. Within an hour of landing in Auckland I was in my MACH SR7 for a quick flick around the neighborhood. I was equally amazed matching the first drive several months before.

Monday morning the plan was to leave Auckland at 5am with my daughter Kahli as the co-driver. A dark chilly morning with misty rain soon opened to stunning weather as we zipped over the Kaimai Ranges. Kahli was soon behind the wheel enjoying the world of open car motoring. I have become an absolute fan of WILD BEAN CAFÉ for gasoline for several reasons. The café has seating in the window allowing you to enjoy a short break while your car is highly visible. The MACH SR7, like all open cars, becomes a spectator sport. I am sure that 99% are harmlessly curious but that 1% who looks at such cars have an urgent need to add a pinstripe with a coin or any other destructive object. This is a sad aspect of our society, as I do not know many 7 owners who are not willing to share the stories of their cars.

It was great to arrive back in Gisborne and it was not until I parked the car at my holiday bach that I realized how the colors matched…um! Kahli was quick to share the car with willing passengers, smiles were abundant and the MACH SR7 quickly became a local talking point.

MACH SR7 – FIRST WEEK
This has been an incredible week; Monday I finally saw the finished car. Huge surprise as this was the MACH SR7 which featured so many new design features and aesthetic changes it is no longer a MACH 7.

Tuesday was dedicated to simply being with Mark and Robert being briefed on the car and its new features.Wednesday I set off from Christchurch to Wellington under a perfectly clear sunny day – what more could I ask for?

It was great to finally tuck myself into my car and head off from Christchurch to Lyttleton to catch the 5:30pm ferry to Wellington.

The drive was all I expected, even with a brilliant blue sky as the day progressed I soon pulled on warmer clothes – and was given a bottle of wine from Thelma and Louise!

I was looking forward to driving from Wellington to Auckland and 7am I was uncovering the SR7 and leaving the secure lock-up car park under my hotel. I was getting used to curious spectators, even last night while sitting at the traffic lights an elderly couple walked past and said “great car”…rather a nice welcome to Wellington. My plan was to drive from Wild Bean coffee gas stations all the way to Auckland. The coffee is nice, gasoline convenient but most importantly you can sit within eyesight of your car!

Driving along the Desert Road was incredible, I had been warned about the high presence of speed camera’s. Being a law abiding citizen I never exceeded 110kms per hour on any section of this famous stretch of road – this included the 45kms per hour marked corners!!!

With Auckland approaching so did the rain and very soon I was motoring along into a damp looking city! Friday I will wash the MACH SR7 and of course go for a drive.
Photographs will be updated over the next few days; to be honest I would rather be driving than sitting looking at a computer screen.