Special Projects Motor Sports are pleased to announce that fellow Kiwi - Alan Stewart (Big Al) from New Zealand, will be joining partners Jeff (Kiwi) Owen and Don Wilson as the teams International liaison, Technical director, Driver, and as a Business Partner. Long time friend of Special Projects Owner Jeff (Kiwi) Owen, the pair made contact again after about twenty-five years, through Honda-tech a couple of years ago. Big Al recently spent three weeks visiting and working with Owen and the Special Projects Team. He drove the teams Civic Si Coupe at the PIR Honda Cup event where he demonstrated the good old Kiwi ingenuity and hands on approach to motor racing when ever there is a crisis. At 49 years of age Allan Stewart fits in well with the team’s present drivers, Kiwi and Tom Lepper (Fastom)…. Something about “Old age and cunning over youth and enthusiasm”… Al brings over 30 years of Race and Rally experience to the team, and a ‘no nonsense’ approach to getting things done. He was so taken by the Special Projects operation and future plans, that after only three weeks this enthusiastic ‘new broom’ has certainly changed the teams approach to it’s future Motor Racing activities.

Stewart who recently sold his 40-room Hotel, Night Club and Restaurant after 15 years in the business, is now ready to dedicate more time to his Motor Sports passion, and will work with Special Projects to increase their rapidly growing Performance parts import business, as well as the export to New Zealand of medium to full size American Diesel Trucks. All of this is geared to provide the team with the necessary funding to compete at the highest level, and to provide the best possible service and performance equipment they can to their customers. Stewart plans two or three more visits this year, then possibly a permanent move to the US with the whole family in the future.

Impressed by Kiwi-Owen’s determination to further Honda road racing by not only expanding Honda-Cup into a national series, but to take it a step further and become an international series as well. Stewart started a similar series in New Zealand last year using the U.S. Honda Cup rules. It was so well supported over there that the Organization received generous Sponsorship from “Carlsberg Beer” which was also another “first” for New Zealand motor sport, dispelling the theory that Alcohol and motor racing cannot be associated. The plan for next season is for the Honda Cup Championship winner from each country to get an exchange trip, and run a competitive car at an event in either the U.S. or New Zealand. It should work out well as the NZ season ends just as the US racing season begins. This of course will hinge on suitable sponsorship in both countries being found.

As he left on his return trip to New Zealand, Big Al was already making a list of potential overseas competitors who would be prepared to ship their cars out to California for one of the televised Honda Cup Events that Jeff (Kiwi) Owen has arranged. This could possibly be the June 2-4 event at California Speedway. Much of this footage will be incorporated in a forthcoming Television series on Touring Car Racing and the teams 06 Civic Si Project that will probably air around the end of this year. Always planning ahead, Owen and Stewart are preparing a proposal to see what are the chances are of having an “Invitational International Radial Sedan" Support race at next years Long Beach Grand Prix… Although a Honda Cup race would be better, Perhaps a little difficult to pull off at the TOYOTA Grand Prix of Long Beach. Impossible? Perhaps, but If anyone can get it done, these guys can!



Modified by KIWI at 6:46 PM 5/4/2006

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KIWI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[img]...the teams International liaison, Technical director, <u><FONT COLOR="red">Driver</FONT></u>, and as a Business Partner. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Operative word highlighted for you.

Congratulations and good luck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KIWI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">SNIP
Long time friend of Special Projects Owner Jeff (Kiwi) Owen, the pair made contact again after about twenty-five years,</TD></TR></TABLE>

I especially liked the use of the word contact...


Keith

 

Watch the sheep!