SKOPE & SFOS meetings @ ChCh, Levels,& Teretonga - Photo Thread.

[AMCO72]

For most NI people, a trip to the South Island to do the SFOS is out of the question. You really have to combine it with a holiday, as you can be away for a month or more if you do all three events. There did used to be Waimate as well, which really was the icing on the cake. Another factor to take into consideration is race car reliability, and/or accidents. These can really throw a spanner in the works if you don't have back-up down there.
We are very very fortunate in having Gary Johnston as a friend in ChCh where we can stay the night or 3, store cars and get the use of trucks, trailers, utes and whatever else is required. Gary of course has a trucking business, BRENICS TRANSPORT, so is in the business of moving things round the country.....mainly bananas, where he has a niche market. Nothing is too much trouble for Gary and his very supportive family, and I would just like to acknowledge their help during our forays in the SI. Gary of course races the TWR XJS and owns the white ex Wellington street race XJS that Angus drove at Teretonga. Was a busy lad jumping from Jaguar to Mini.

The trip from ChCH to Invercargill is a long haul.....7 to 8 hours usually, and there is a not inconsiderable cost involved, and of course the same back, then we still have to get from ChCh to Picton, across on the ferry, and then the haul from Wellington to Cambridge/Auckland. Whew!!!!!! By the time your home again you definitely need a holiday.

This year Angus flew home in between meetings to continue with business up here.......more costs with airfares etc, so we are ramping up the price of this little break considerably. Added to that we had issues with the car after Skope, where the Mini ripped a couple of teeth off the drop gears. Another SI friend came into play here........Chris Charles who lives at Darfield on the Canterbury plains, and ex Bruce McLaren mechanic, was on hand to strip the engine, find the problem and report back to Angus, who organized parts then flew down again a week later to reassemble the engine. Then it was the long haul to Invercargill!!!!

So you can see it was not just a matter of zooming down, doing the business and returning. All sorts of factors come into play.
I'm not trying to put people off here, but you need to do your sums very carefully, because you may be paying off the credit card for a few months.

Was it worth it.........you bet, no hesitation, and if your even thinking of doing it, start saving. You wont regret it.
I should also mention that you need an understanding spouse. Whether you leave her at home or take her with you, just kid her along with the promise of visiting all those wonderfull shops on the Mainland!!!!!!The fellas wont miss out on the shops either. Invercargill has that hardware store to beat all hardware stores.....E Hayes & Sons Ltd.....home of the Munro collection and lots of other automobilia. They also know a thing or two about screws, where the young assistants at your local Bunnings only remember the activities that took place on Saturday night !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!