NEWSLETTER HIGHLANDS 101 The first meeting!

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Hope Armstrong
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1 NEWSLETTER HIGHLANDS 101 The first meeting! November The countdown is on for the first ever race meeting at Highlands and also the first ever Highlands 101 New Zealand s newest long distance race 101 laps of the Highlands Grand Prix circuit. History is being made and as you can see from the programme of events on the next page, the three days are going to be packed with action from 9.00am on the Friday to 5:30pm on the Sunday. Three exciting classes of motor racing the final round of the Series, the final blockbuster round of the enormous South Island Endurance Series and the first ever round for the brand new Toyota 86s. With less than eight weeks to go, we can tell you that the driver and car combinations for all three classes are sensational and we are negotiating for an absolutely amazing entertainment talent more on that later! For the class, this is the biggest meeting on their calendar and they are throwing everything at it. This is an event jam-packed with prestige for these drivers not only their final round of the series, but also their first round out of Australia and what a place to come to! Mountains, lakes, rivers vineyards, adventure and glorious weather, all packaged up with breathtaking scenery! Many of the drivers who are being talked about behind closed doors are true internationals and we ll be keeping you up to date between now and race weekend with regular news updates on both the Highlands website and the Highlands Facebook page. Honestly, we d love to tell you more, but negotiations are continuing and right now, our lips are sealed! Over the next week or two, via the website and the Facebook page, we ll be releasing details of some incredibly exciting hot lap competitions over the weekend.

2 TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE Tickets for the Highlands 101 Meeting went on sale Monday 2nd of September. Initially tickets will only be available through the TICKET DIRECT website or through a TICKET DIRECT outlet. Ticket prices are: HIGHLAND 101 TICKET PRICES Pre-purchased Gate Sales GENERAL ADMISSION Adult Youth Adult Youth General Admit - 3 Day $189 $49 N/A N/A General Admit - 1 Day Friday $59 $20 $69 $20 General Admit - 1 Day Saturday $59 $20 $69 $20 General Admit - 1 Day Sunday $79 $20 $89 $20 Note: Youth prices are for 11 to 15 years olds, children 10 and under with an adult are free CORPORATE PRICES There will be two options for corporate packages and these will be available from our website from Thursday 5th September 2013 ACCOMMODATION FOR THE HIGHLANDS 101 Even though tickets have only just gone on sale, we understand that accommodation is already beginning to get very tight particularly in Cromwell itself. We suggest that you look to Queenstown, and Wanaka about 45 minutes easy drive, but we also suggest that you also look the other way back into Central Otago proper at Clyde and Alexandra. Clyde is a very pretty, historic little village with good accommodation and restaurants. Alexandra is bigger and also with a wide variety of accommodation and restaurants. Clyde is 15 minutes drive through the Cromwell Gorge and Alexandra another five minutes away. If things get really, really tight, Roxburgh is about another 35 minutes from Alexandra and Omarama is 70 minutes away through the Lindis Pass. For help in finding accommodation go to CENTRAL OTAGO THE DESTINATION If you are coming from, say, Auckland, or have not been to Central Otago for some time, we would highly recommend that you tack a few days on either end of your Highlands 101 experience and take a break in this magnificent part of New Zealand. Of course, the delights of Queenstown with all of its adventure activities are known internationally and Wanaka is also right there. But the rest of Central Otago also has amazing things on offer vineyards, the Otago Central Rail Trail, historic towns, historic gold mines, back country trails all set in breathtaking, schist-strewn, spectacular landscapes. Check on THE PROGRAMME Here are the programme details for the Highlands 101 meeting. The field for the Highlands101 (101 laps of the Grand Prix circuit) will be the 42 fastest cars irrespective of class. Those who don t make this cut will be eligible for an 11 lap race called the Highlands 10+1 Friday 8th November 0800 Gates Open to the Public 0900 PRACTICE SESSIONS COMMENCE 1230 LUNCH BREAK ON TRACK ENTERTAINMENT Practice Session continues QUALIFYING COMMENCES AUSTRALIAN GT RACE 1 QUALIFYING SIERDC 3 Hour 1740 TRACK CLOSED Saturday 9th November 0800 Gates open to public 0900 QUALIFYING SESSION SIERDC 1 Hour Warm-up Practice PARADE SESSION RACE 1 RACE 1 PUBLIC PITLANE WALK RACE LUNCH BREAK - ON TRACK ENTERTAINMENT RACE 1 RACE Track Closed Sunday 10th November 0800 Gates open to the public 0900 QUALIFYING SESSIONS Highlands 10+1 HIGHLANDS 101 Top 21 qualifying HIGHLANDS 101 Balance of field 21 HIGHLANDS 10+1 RACE Race LUNCH BREAK - ON TRACK ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLANDS 101 Grid Form Public Grid Walk HIGHLANDS Le Mans Start Podium Presentation 1730 Track Closed

FATHERS DAY AT HIGHLANDS A surprise attraction at Highlands on Father s Day was the first appearance of the Lamborghini Superleggera that has been bought by Highlands owner, Tony Quinn.

Tony s initial idea in buying the car was to convert it into a competition vehicle in which to defend his Targa titles.

3 FATHERS DAY AT HIGHLANDS A surprise attraction at Highlands on Father s Day was the first appearance of the Lamborghini Superleggera that has been bought by Highlands owner, Tony Quinn. The car looked stunning in its metallic orange, sitting in the glorious Central Otago sun. Tony s initial idea in buying the car was to convert it into a competition vehicle in which to defend his Targa titles. That was why I bought it, but now looking at it, I think that the development time and effort in turning what s a magnificent road car, into a competition car would just be too much, says Tony. So, we ll put the car into the museum on display, and use it for special days like this and offer fast laps in it. And it is a fast car, it can break 1 minute 40 seconds around the full circuit at Highlands and that s impressive for a road car. Father s Day saw the crowds lining up to get into the passenger seat for some fast laps of Highlands with Tony at the wheel. So many wanted to go for a ride with Tony that he used up a full tank of gas and had to send it out for a refuel! Here s one of those lucky fathers Brent Young from Wanaka looking ready and happy at the prospect WHAT? YES, YOU MIGHT WELL ASK! A recent arrival at Highlands is this rather cute looking, if heavily modified, Fiat 500 with a rear wing you could land a helicopter on. Not the usual sort of car you would expect to see at Highlands, but it s one of a number of rather quirky and unusual vehicles that are being gathered together to make an automotive sculpture park at Highlands. More details on that later....

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Highlands Motorsport Park are on a recruitment drive for fit and able volunteers to help make our motorsport events a success.

We need 30 Spectator Liaison people who will ensure spectators know where they are going and where they are not to go helping everyone have a fun day.

Our first event is November 8, 9 and 10. Days are from 7:30am till 5:30pm generally. Work two days for Highlands and you get a free day pass, a shirt, cap and lunch.

janeen@highlands.co.nz by 27th September 2013. PROGRESS!

Highlands is a phenomenon The pitlane complex and Control Tower at Highlands is a major undertaking GETTING THERE While most people arrive at Highlands by car, don t forget that we now have the

4 VOLUNTEERS WANTED Highlands Motorsport Park are on a recruitment drive for fit and able volunteers to help make our motorsport events a success. We are looking for people to work with the public to ensure everyone has a great experience at our Highlands race days. We need 30 Spectator Liaison people who will ensure spectators know where they are going and where they are not to go helping everyone have a fun day. Six Venue & VIP Car parking specialists who will ensure that vehicle access is controlled in The Nose Car park area this requires patience and an unflappable demeanour. Our first event is November 8, 9 and 10. Days are from 7:30am till 5:30pm generally. Work two days for Highlands and you get a free day pass, a shirt, cap and lunch. If you are interested in volunteering and becoming part of the team, please forward your details name, address, phone number, home address and let us know what can you do for us by to janeen@highlands.co.nz by 27th September PROGRESS! Work is well underway on the pitlane and control tower block at Highlands and on the adjacent industrial; Park work is commencing on at least two new buildings and sections continue to be sold. Highlands is a phenomenon The pitlane complex and Control Tower at Highlands is a major undertaking GETTING THERE While most people arrive at Highlands by car, don t forget that we now have the Highlands Bus which runs from Queenstown to the Park. See the website for details. And now there s a new and upmarket way of getting here. The world-famous Queenstown helicopter pilot Choppy can fly you here. Last week, Choppy made her inaugural flight in from Queenstown and on board were a couple of holidaymakers from Texas. This isn t Choppy, but it was a Christchurch businessman, holidaying in Queenstown who wanted to have a look at Highlands and flew in! If you were at Highlands for the Easter opening, you would have been suitably impressed by the style, class and immaculate appearance of the place. But the development of Highlands was far from over. Another major working bee is in progress, getting the circuit ready for racing. This means the pit area, control tower and other ancillary buildings, while across the other side of the circuit, work is well underway on the new fuel depot from which will be available a full range of fuels 91, 98 and 100 octane petrol, plus diesel. This is all part of the plan to make Highlands the most complete motor sport facility in New Zealand. Garaging, a warehouse and an apartment under construction for a Highlands Member

MEMBERSHIP GROWS Membership of the Highlands GT Club continues to grow and recently we welcomed Steve Lyttle and his partner Carolyn Ball. Tony Quinn was on hand to welcome them in.

Carolyn is our first woman member. Welcome! And our newest member is Willy Horrell who joined the day after Steve and Carolyn saying he didn t want to miss out!

We suggest you go to the website and check out the advantages. The Highlands 101 meeting is certain to increase demand for the remaining places. Go to the website and check our membership.

the midst of the Central Otago Desert and it s also a place for hosting cultural and community events.

5 MEMBERSHIP GROWS Membership of the Highlands GT Club continues to grow and recently we welcomed Steve Lyttle and his partner Carolyn Ball. Tony Quinn was on hand to welcome them in. Steve and Carolyn are from Timaru and both are very much car people with a new Aston Martin on the way to join a Cobra and a John Cooper Works Mini already in their garage. Carolyn is our first woman member. Welcome! And our newest member is Willy Horrell who joined the day after Steve and Carolyn saying he didn t want to miss out! With pretty much non-stop activity at Highlands, more and more motorsport and car enthusiasts are joining the club and memberships are filling fast. We suggest you go to the website and check out the advantages. The Highlands 101 meeting is certain to increase demand for the remaining places. Go to the website and check our membership. Cultural and community events at Highlands Highlands is much more than just a motor racing circuit it s also a conference venue, a tourist attraction, an adventure park, a lovely landscaped vista in the midst of the Central Otago Desert and it s also a place for hosting cultural and community events. The Highlands Triathlon is on over Labour weekend and late in the year there s to be a very special event for the locals Christmas in the Park and, next year, there ll be a major re-enactment of the famous Battle of Bannockburn where, famously, the Scots gave the English a right walloping. More details on this later. NEW AT THE MUSEUM TOP: The Merlyn Formula Ford car raced by Tony Quinn in Scotland is now at the museum. After he left Scotland Tony sold the car to his best mate, Geordie Taylor who won the Scottish FF Championship in it. It s now back in Tony s care. In the background is the latest baby Rolls Royce, the Ghost. If you ve not seen a late model Roller, come along and have a look. CENTRE: At the CRC Speedshow in Auckland, Tony Quinn was very much taken by a heavily altered Ford Courier that s called The Joker. Powered by a three chamber Mazda rotary this vehicle is a work of art. The finish and the attention to detail is amazing. LOWER: A very famous New Zealand sports sedan the Rodger Freeth Starlet V8 now owned by the Stevenson family in Queenstown. The car was originally built by Trevor Crowe, but developed into a highly sophisticated race car by Rodger. It s been immaculately restored. For regular updates and everything else you need to know Highlands Motorsport Park and National Motorsport Museum New Zealand s premier motorsport facility and destination cnr SH6 and Sandflat Road, Cromwell, Central Otago, New Zealand Open 10am to 4pm daily

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