The countdown has begun for what organiser Dr Jacob Simonsen believes will be the biggest motorsport event ever to be held in this country; the 2022 NaZCAR Continuous 24 Hour Lemons Enduro; being run for the first time on the full 3.8km international circuit at Hampton Downs next Friday & Saturday (Sept 16 & 17)
“In theory”, Dr Simonsen said, “as of Wednesday last week we had just over 90 cars and close to 500 drivers registered to compete with us, making this year’s Continuous 24 Hour Lemons Enduro the biggest particapatory motor racing event anyone can ever remember being held at a circuit in NZ.
“In fact,” he adds “we’ll be beating our own record from our last continuous 24-hour Lemons event in 2019, when we had 77 teams on the start grid, with around 350 drivers peddling on the National Circuit of Hampton Downs!
“I’m pretty sure no one has ever assembled more cars or drivers in one grid, for one race…”
Of course, for many casual fans, any talk of ‘biggest events’ on the local motorsport calendar will elicit lively debate as to whether or not you include the annual visit to Pukekohe Park Raceway of Australia’s now Repco-backed Supercars Series.
Dr Simonsen professes not to have too strong an opinion either way. Though he says that if you are talking about superlatives like ‘biggest’ and ‘best’ it’s important for both parties to a debate that you only compare apples with apples.
“I don’t think, for instance, that at Pukekohe last weekend, you would find anyone keen to argue the toss that the annual visit here by ‘the Supercars’ was not a good thing for motorsport in NZ.
“In saying that though it’s very much a turnkey ‘made-for-television’ Australian event which just happens to be here. Which, in a nutshell, is why I don’t see it in competition with our own ‘big event’ this Friday & Saturday at Hampton Downs.
“If you think of it in terms of our apple vs apple analogy”, says Dr Simonsen, “Supercars is more an orange, so there’s little to be gained by comparing it with or to our Continuous 24 Hour Lemons Enduro. They may be faster… but there’s a LOT more of us racing…”
With his ever ‘inclusive’ attitude, Dr Simonsen shared a twist today, saying he’s “wangled some of the Supercars drivers to add extra zing to next weekend’s (Lemons) race, by pre-recording some video ‘penalties’ which our ‘Judges’ can dish out for track infractions or ‘loss of talent’.
Because?
“Because” says Dr Simonsen, ” I reckon motorsport should be fun at ALL levels…”
Planning for this year’s event began almost two years ago; a fresh joint venture agreement with Hampton Downs, securing the much-coveted International Circuit and developing robust safety plans and procedures. The event took on special significance when the COVID-19 Lockdown forced the initial postponement, and finally, the outright cancellation of the 2021 event late last year.
Despite that setback Dr Simonsen says that he was heartened by the response to his plans to make this year’s Continuous 24-Hour race at Hampton Downs not only the biggest – in terms of cars & drivers signed up and competing in a single grid/event – but also the best… measured in terms of ‘fun being had’ and ‘bang for your entry buck….’ endurance motor racing event the country has ever seen.
As such, associated event activity (documentation and scrutineering) begins the day before (Thurs Sept.15) and continues from 7.00am the next morning (Fri. Sept 16).
Race day activity kicks off with a final Drivers’ Briefing at 12.30pm before a final 1-hour practise session and grid-based photo opportunity on-track.
The 90+ cars expected to start this year’s Continuous 24-Hour Lemons Enduro will then line up in single file ready for the rolling 3.00pm start, behind the ‘safety (ish) car’.
Having been instrumental in setting up and trialling the 24 Hours of LeMons events in Australia from 2015, Dr Simonsen brought the franchise with him on his permanent return home to New Zealand, where he ran his first (non-continuous) 24 Hours of LeMons at Hampton Downs in 2016.
He has since run various formats of 8, 12 Hour and 24-Hour Lemons races for an ever-expanding group of keen teams, with an impressive raft of events under his belt, so far!
More information on upcoming NaZCAR events can be found on the 24 hours of Nazcar page on Facebook.
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