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.
Category: MACHsr7 BUILD 2009 – 2016
Monday 8 March 2010
CAR ALARM
The previous week I let my fingers do the driving and telephoned my way through the yellow pages of companies who installed car alarms. The majority of the companies had no idea what a Lotus 7 Replica was and strutted into their rehearsed sales pitch about breaking windows, forcing locks etc! I calmly sipped coffee and said I will get back to you – yeah right! A super friendly and later discovered to be an incredibly competent person, Andy answered at Warlocks. I began with “I have a Lotus 7 Replica” and before I could go any further he was asking what model and the cars history. As it turned out Andy’s brother has a 7 so I just asked what system I should have. Immediately he said the ZX Mini Series Immobiliser – http://www.warlocks.co.nz/WARZXMINI.htm
I was convinced and arranged to have it installed ASAP. The on-site procedure taking about an hour and a half became the best $285.00 I have spent!
In Auckland and you drive a 7 I would simply advise you to phone Andy direct on 021 386548.
Sunday 7 March 2010
SHOW AND TELL
Everyone who is a member of New Zealand’s Lotus 7 & Clubman Forums, if not you should follow this link http://www.lotus7.co.nz/forum/ and join, looks forward to putting a face to the names. So thanks to Stephen, AKA KiwiBirkin, for making it possible to meet and exchange information over a cold beer on a warm Sunday afternoon…thanks Stephen. Meeting with Cliff “BigRed”, Wayne “Wayno”, Liz “Liz” and Mark “Markp” was excellent. Cliff and Wayne arrived and soon were parked viewing each others cars.
Cliff was eager to test my MACH SR7 with Mark firstly as passenger then a quick swap of seats and around the block they set off again.
Over a beer we all debated/ discussed the world of Lotus 7’s and with Mark deep into the build process it was great to compare notes during a thoroughly enjoyable Sunday afternoon.
Sunday 27 December 2009
WINE TOUR
Any opportunity to pack a small picnic and drive to one of the many wineries that offer tasting I cannot resist. Taz had arrived from Japan to join the Christmas and New Year which obviously included drives in the MACH SR7. Matua Valley Winery was our destination, a nice drive into the Waimaiku district allowing that nice country side driving. Auckland City is really a driving nightmare, every return visit I am amazed how a small population can absolutely create such traffic chaos!
The wine was delightful and as usual the curious MACH SR7 viewers soon gathered with a lovely couple from Europe asking for photographs which of course I was delighted to help out with. These outings are what I had envisaged, making the most of the New Zealand countryside and the marvelous array of wineries dotted around the country.
I willingly share the MACH SR7 with friends, they are quick to accept the offer for a drive and this really enhances the reputation of these remarkable little cars. The slightly roomier cockpit and seating of the McGregor design allows all sizes access, no need to pull seats out and sit on the belly pan! Several have commented that the previous 7’s that they had driven were cramped and unless you had size 8 feet gear changing, braking and accelerating were tasks for a contortionist. In New Zealand I have yet to see a female driving a 7, this is ironic as the largest selling sports car in the world; the Miata has a huge female ownership.
Monday 21 December 2009
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.
Monday 28 September 2009
PORSCHE 911 – LOTUS 7 REPLICA?
When I left New Zealand in September I was absolutely bubbling with stories of the completed project and eager to get back into my Porsche to compare the two cars. I am not sure if one can compare these two remarkable cars but being lucky to own both I was quick to begin a little side by side comparison.
They are both difficult to get into, the MACH SR7 you step up and over then slide into the cockpit. The Porsche is more of a bending and tuck to settle into the drivers seat. I am sure that being 179cm and 70kg is almost the ideal size for both cars, my taller and wider friends struggle with both.
You cannot compare the vision, as the MACH SR7 is completely open and almost an effortless 360 degree of vision; however being easily seen by others is not that assuring only inches off the ground while peering at truck hubcaps. The Porsche is a real cockpit, you are in a small cocoon with front vision being adequate but rear is certainly obscured.
Both cars have a unique engine sound, equally ready to rev but at idle disguising the power. The heavy clutch and transmission of the Porsche is entirely different from the smooth snappy gearbox of the MACH SR7, the Porsche is less forgiving requiring timing and concentration to remain smooth. Both cars have a heavy feel in the steering at low speeds, obviously the MACH SR7 being so light gives a much more detailed road feel, the Porsche seems to sit frog-like in a perched position ready to pounce. Power response is different as the Porsche snarls while the MACH SR7 snaps and how they respond to a heavy right foot is equally remarkable in both cars. The open car feeling and low ride of the MACH SR7 automatically gives a sensation of speed, the Porsche can be very deceptive and a glance at the speedometer may well show you are doing 150km.
So which car wins – dead heat!
Friday 11 September 2009
HOME IN AUCKLAND
With light rain forecast I knew I was back in Auckland, a marked change from the brilliant blue skies of Christchurch. This was not to deter both my brother Grant and daughter Kahli a drive in the Mach SR7.
The car certainly attracts a great deal of attention, people with smiles and thumbs up as you drive past or while waiting in traffic ( a national sport in Auckland) ! The weekend was already planned with a two day Classic Car Meeting at Pukekohe on Sunday 13th September.
Well it rained on Saturday so we trundled out to Pukekohe in the Subaru for day one of a great weekend. The meeting was fantastic, an incredible selection of historic cars with non-stop racing. Sunday was fine so the MACH SR7 with a picnic lunch carried two smiling passengers out for a great day of motor sport.
Thursday 10 September 2009
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.
Tuesday 8 September 2009
CERTIFICATION CHECK
Today was to be pretty action packed with all the official testing and paperwork to be done in order for me to drive the car to Auckland. Arriving at McGregor Motorsport Mark had the car parked and ready for the day ahead.
First on the agenda was the VINZ, the vehicle inspection check and then the Certificate of Registration. This was an interesting experience, far more comprehensive than the Japanese “shaken” car inspection!
Final fittings of upholstery and paint check ended a very productive day.
Monday 7 September 2009
UNVEILING EVENT
What made the fact that knowing the car was finished and waiting was that I arrived in Christchurch at 2pm but agreed not to arrive at McGregor’s until 5pm for the official un-veiling! The three hours while arduous were entirely worthwhile. Robert and Mark had the BBQ sizzling away and a curious group began to arrive for the pulling off of the car cover so I could see the finished MACH SR7. It was amusing to hear all the build stories, several of the group had seen the car but were sworn to secrecy.
Finally I was allowed to see the car which really exceeded all expectations – my usual camera at the hip ready to photograph was put down and this entire event was hardly photographed at all!
The minimal photographs of the actual evening…
Seated in the drivers seat was slightly overwhelming – more than worth a puzzled scratch of the head and allowing the enjoyment to settle into an evening long smile!
