With more than 30 teams and 100+drivers confirmed for this Saturday’s NaZCAR ‘Next Level” 8-Hour Lemons & Limes endurance event at Timaru International Motor Raceway (aka ‘the Levels’) in South Canterbury, it would appear that there is a bright and sustainable future for the concept of fun, and not too serious long distance racing in cheap and cheerful production cars in the South Island.
While a handful of teams from the North Island (where the man largely responsible for both the introduction, and subsequent development – not to mention the spectacular growth – of the cheap n‘cheerfull Lemons category, Dr Jacob Simonsen organised his first 24 Hours of LeMons event at the Hampton Downs circuit back in 2016) were quick to sign up for the first event in the South Island as well, Dr Simonsen confirmed that the Lion’s Share of entries had come from ‘interested parties’from within the South Island itself.
Which is a good thing in terms of Dr Simonsen’s stated goal of wanting to run regular endurance events for Lemons and Limes teams in the South Island – should the number of locally-based teams warrant it.
As the entry to the inaugural South Island event at Levels by several experienced squads from the top half of the North Island – including Lemons event regulars Aussie Spares, Fullon Bogans, No Eye Deer, Sheihk Racing, and Ghost Dog M111, plus other familiar names including 24 Red Racing, Piranha, F’N Racing and EV Racing – is wont to prove, however, some squads will go to any length to satisfy their ‘need for speed.’
“What this all means, of course,” says Dr Simonsen, “is one hell of a showdown on the track tomorrow, with the smack-talk already in full swing on social media, and the ‘friendly rivalry’ will no doubt continue on track on Saturday.”
“Speaking of which,”adds Dr Simonsen, “all our entrants are super-excited about our decision to run the Levels track in BOTH directions for tomorrow’s event.
“We’ll start the day in ‘reverse’ (clockwise direction) and then halfway through the day we’ll stop the event for a nominal ‘lunch break’ while we turn the track around before the second half of the race is restarted and run in the with more usual anti-clockwise direction for the rest of the day.”
More information on upcoming NaZCAR events can be found on the 24 hours of NaZCAR page on Facebook at facebook.com/Nazcar2
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