Spencer Bourne will contest this weekend’s City of Auckland Rally and Battle of Jacks Ridge. The rally has 120 kilometres of special stages in the Kaipara Hills, Puhoi and Riverhead Forest before its conclusion at the purpose-built road ‘Jacks Ridge’ in Whitford. This is no small starter event for the 22-year-old son of the late and great ‘Possum’. It is fair to suggest he has thrown himself in the deep end as he originally had even bigger plans for his rally debut.
“My first plan was to enter New Zealand’s round of the World Rally Championship. I had floated the idea with a few people in Pukekohe. They all warned me that it would take a lot of work and wanted to be sure I was prepared for the challenge. It was a bit overwhelming, but I was up for it. Then, of course, Covid happened and I was really upset that the event was cancelled.”
Rather than shelving his plans, Spencer continued to look for the right event to enter.
“In August, the City of Auckland Rally and the Battle of Jack’s Ridge was announced, and I just thought – Awesome – I’m doing this!”
“I immediately messaged the first person that came to mind – Chris Kitzen. He gave me plenty of ideas and suggested I contact Dale Perry at Rally Drive NZ. He was on board immediately and put me in touch with all sorts of people who could help. He also advised me how to get money, where to find a car and all the things I needed to make this happen.”
“Once I had a plan in place I finally told mum I was doing the rally. I’m pretty sure she thought I was just joking but before long she knew I was serious.”
“He’s always wanted to do Race to the Sky,” commented Peggy Bourne. “The rally idea has always been in his mind. I thought if he really wants to do it then he will make it happen. He told me that he had people on board and donations were already coming in. I realised then that Spencer was not just talking the talk… he was walking the walk and making it happen of his own accord. I said absolutely. Let’s do this.”
In the intervening months, Spencer has built up quite the team to support him. Experienced co-driver Fleur Pedersen has been drafted in to sit alongside the rookie driver. The support team reads like a who’s who of New Zealand rally scene. Marty Roestenburg and Snow Mooney head the team with Rally Drive NZ’s Dale Perry helping with training.
Hayden Paddon (who is seeded first for the City of Auckland Rally) is taking an advisory and mentoring role behind the scenes and will spend time with Spencer after the weekend teaching him the dark art of pace-noting. The Subaru Impreza will be stopped by Winmax brake pads provided by Paddon.
Sponsorship has come from many of Possum Bourne’s personal sponsors in the form of Hella NZ, Vantage Aluminium and Pirelli. Additional help has come from LJ Hooker, Jeff Judd, Barry Varcoe, Andre Jack Rumney and Subtech Subaru.
Everything seems to be in place for a promising debut but Spencer’s goals are humble when he’s asked what a successful weekend may look like.
“What makes a good weekend? Enjoy myself to the fullest, make the most of the occasion, finish the rally. I hope to make everyone proud… the sponsors, the people who have helped me and the people who just want to see me do it.”
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