Flying 50 street race for Manukau city centre

Media release
30 September 2009

Classic cars will be racing through Manukau city centre streets as part of the Full Throttle event this Labour Weekend.

Full Throttle has confirmed that the Flying 50 Street Race, which stars British and European classic cars, will be on Saturday 24 October in central Manukau. Full Throttle, an event started by Manukau City Council last year, has millions of dollars worth of cars on show and in action over the three days of Labour Weekend.

The Flying 50 Street Race, part of the Drive NZ Rally, will run in the format of Olympic cycling pursuits. The city street circuit will have two start/finish lines adjacent to each other. This allows two cars to race each other and the clock for four laps. It will be a challenging, twisting circuit that winds back on itself between the buildings of central Manukau.

As well as the Flying 50, a huge range of classic, performance, show, old school, hot rod and drift cars will be at TelstraClear Pacific events centre over three days.

There will be drifting demonstrations, soundoffs and motokhana where drivers put their skills to the test on grass and tarmac. Entertainment on one of the days will be provided by the Southside gig, part of the Manukau Festival of Arts (MFA) – starring Nesian Mystik.

Manukau City Council Thriving Economy Portfolio Leader Arthur Anae says the Flying 50 will add to the huge range of vehicles to check out at Full Throttle.

“Seeing classic cars in action on Manukau’s streets is going to be a great spectacle. This is another way of showing it’s possible to have fun in cars in a controlled environment, one of the aims of Full Throttle.

“Full Throttle will appeal to everyone in the family, not just keen motor fanatics. The events over the three days of Labour Weekend or all free or really cheap, which is another great reason to come.

“This is the opportunity for people all around the Auckland region to check out tens of millions worth of vehicles for free or very cheaply. We’ll be encouraging people to watch someone else do the driving and have a holiday at home this Labour Weekend”, says Cr Anae.

Flying 50 organiser Roger Philips says he expects up to 10,000 spectators will come to check out the classic cars racing through Manukau city centre.

“This is Auckland’s opportunity to enjoy a street race with a difference. Classic cars will be racing on the streets of Manukau city centre, capturing the sights and sounds of last century in an event that pits drivers and rarely seen cars against each other.

“This will be a day of up-close and personal racing, as it was done in Mum and Dad’s day. There’ll be great spectator involvement in the pits, with great viewing and picnicking from the grounds of Hayman Park.

“The street display of British classics with owners in period dress will take you back to the good old post World War Two days, with fond memories of a more relaxed time with cars full of character displaying the best of period engineering and design. A great day out for all the generations,” Mr Philips says.

Saturday 24 October

Flying 50 Street Race – 9am to 5pm, Davies Ave next to Hayman Park, $12 adults, under 12s free.

Classic British and European cars racing on a twisting street circuit between the buildings of central Manukau. Starring cars from the Drive NZ Classic and Targa Narva. Street display of British classics with owners in period dress. Parking in the council carpark off Wiri Station Road.

4 & Rotary Supershow – noon to late, TelstraClear Pacific events centre, free
Celebrating the diversity of interest in contemporary performance cars. Motokhana, drifting demonstrations and sound offs. Show and shine of performance, show, drag, old school and drift cars with trophies and prizes up for grabs. Southside gig, featuring graf art, Nesian Mystik and other entertainment.

Sunday 25 October - Dunlop Targa Rally preview, 9am to 6pm, TelstraClear Pacific events centre, free.
Featuring the Targa Rally – known as the ‘ultimate road race’. See $25 million plus of Targa cars in action and up close before the rally start on Labour Day. Action-packed motorkana – where drivers put their skills to the test, and show and shine of some fantastic looking cars. Entertainment for the entire family.

Monday 26 October - Yester-Year Classic & Vintage, 10am to 3pm, TelstraClear Pacific events centre, free.
Featuring the start of the Targa Rally, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The day for vintage and classic vehicle enthusiasts to see a range of machines on show. Hot rods, muscle cars, restored and collectors vehicles including military vehicles. Plus entertainment.
Find out more at http://www.manukau.govt.nz/EN/Events/fullthrottle/Pages/FullThrottle.aspx
ENDS

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