Five New Zealand drivers from the country’s popular domestic Honda racing series are all set to take on the best the US Honda racing scene has to offer in the NASA 25 hour race in Sacramento in December.

Alan Stewart, Tim Pollard, Trevor Strong, Martin Dunn and Richard Gee will compete in the famous US saloon car race at the Thunderhill circuit in a field of over 70 cars racing in six classes twice ‘around the clock plus an hour’ over the three-mile,15-turn track located 90-minutes north of Sacramento.

The five NZ drivers have plenty of experience in Honda race cars, having been regular competitors in both SS2000 and the New Zealand Honda Cup. More used to shorter sprint races at domestic tracks like Taupo, Hampton Downs and Pukekohe, the 25 hour race on the Californian circuit represents a new challenge.

“We are trying to ensure we leave nothing to chance,” commented Alan Stewart, the only one of the drivers with experience at the event. “The drivers have been preparing with winter series races and with as much of a physical training program as they can fit in during the build up to the event. We have invested a considerable amount of time and effort in the project and we are determined to put on a professional show. The big challenge will be to finish the race. If we can do that, we have as good a chance as anyone in our class.”

The team will be on familiar ground with their car, however, as they will compete in an ex factory Spoon prepared Honda Civic FD2 backed by Motul New Zealand and Gear-X USA. Stewart and Motul NZ’s Tim Pollard travelled to the States for ten days recently to oversee final preparation of the car and undertake some initial testing runs at the California Speedway.

The car itself has been prepared by one of the California’s leading Honda tuners, Special Projects Motor Sports, which is headed by ex-pat Kiwi Jeff Owen and which has considerable experience at the event. He will manage the team throughout the build up and 25 hour race. “The US part of the team has put in a huge amount of time and effort since delivery of the car was taken from Spoon back in June,” added Stewart. “It’s been a huge effort by them and we know the car will be prepared to the highest possible standards for the event.”
The drivers, who come from all over the North Island, will arrive a week before the race on December 2/3 to undertake an extensive driver training and car testing program at the track in the build up to the race.

Ends.

Richard Gee
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Great looking graphics.

Too bad about the Yellow and Blue though.

 

 

Very nice!

 

Good luck to the team and Jeff!

 

i thought you were Jeff...
good luck, and a great vendor

 

Very nice.

 

Good luck Jeff!

 

Glad we could be a part of this build and race! This car is awesome in person guys! Pics do not do it justice!

 

You can say that again James....
I resisted the urge to hug it several times last time i was down at the shop.
I think I will hug it next weekend!
Very nicely done, and Im proud to be a part of this team.

 

James and Paul,
Looking forward to meeting you two and the rest of the team!! When most of the team lands in Sac, there will be some time to kill before we head out to Thunderhill and we can all meet up and have lunch since JEFF IS TREATING
Any ideas or preference on food? If there's more time after lunch, Paul suggested a little indoor karting? I'm open to pretty much anything!

See you guys here!
jonathan

 

What about the Squeeze Inn?
Supposed to be the best burgers in Sac?
http://www.thesqueezeinn.com/

 

Jonathan,

Also look forward to meeting you and Paul as well. I am down for a good burger and some karting! Don't think we could keep up with the "HC champ" but, its worth a shot! LOL
Thank you in advance JEFF! LOL

Can't wait...can the time go any slower?? Oh wait I still have another trans to build..better get on it!

James@Gearspeed

 

Yeah that's Pauls trans you have to build!

I think we will have a great time! I'm feeling particularly proud right now as I believe I have assembled the best team ever!

Looks like were having a Karting Challenge here in Orange - The Kiwi's against all comers before we leave for Nor Cal to meet the rest of the team.
More info soon & invitations to - Meet the team and launch the car Barbecue on Sunday November 27th.

Kiwi

 

That one too! I have the Spoon trans laid out on the bench and gonna assemble it in a few minutes! Paul's is getting prepped and cases are in line to get the finishing done! Busy busy week!

Jeff keep me posted on the Karting..I am in!! Gonna hit the local kart place tomorrow night.. Long over due since are 1:1 race car is not done! LOL!

 

Too bad we cant go to my favorite indoor karting place up here in Nor Cal....

http://umigoracing.com/default.aspx
I helped the owners open this place up and started their Jr Racing Program.

James make sure you bring up some gearspeed decals with the tranny

 

Ehhh, they're good, but I think 5 guys is better
http://www.fiveguys.com/


RPM Indoor Karts is the only place in Sac that has indoor karting (15 mins away from airport), it's nothing fancy, but nonetheless fun!

http://www.raceplacemotorsports.com/


Jeff,
Still working on the tire supply

 

5 guys is everywhere though..
I was thinking of just local establishments.
RPM looks cool.

 

Sounds like ill have to make it out to this Jeff! Long time no see!

-Charles

 

Good luck Jeff

 

You need to come out Charles

 

Don't count me out of the karting in so cal yet...
I might find some reason to be down here for it.
Charles has seen the skills before:p

 

Hey no kart practice you guys- you already have the home town advantange - at least they are not lefthand drive .
The whole team down here is really looking forward to getting up . Dont think they really know what they are in for . We have 3 action packed days in Hollywood and Orange before heading up to the track. They all arrive saturday midday and we have them out for a bar crawl in Hollywood until midnight then next day up at 7.00am and out to the longbeach swapmeet , miday car launch, evening indoor karts, Monday look around Hollywood with sedgway ride , indoor skydiving then Bubba Gumps .Tuesday Jeffs personal tour around raceshops and finishing at Hooters then up at 5am to fly out .

Looking forward to catching up with some of the old crew from 2009 and all the new crew as well .I am coming up a week earlier with another Kiwi race mechanic to help out with the final prep work on the car . Flying up to Sac this time as the 2009 road trip was a bit scarey .

See you all at the car launch on Sunday afternoon -Jeffs cooking.

Should be 6 in the Kiwi racing kart team plus we have our own cameraman filming everything for a doco on the motorsport TV channel back in NZ .

 

Wow look at the time! 3.10am I guess I should go to bed!
I just got back from the shop after fitting the light bar to the front of the car, another of those two hour jobs that take 3 freaking days! So while welding with one hand, I've been making notes on my things to do list with the other, and then with the other hand I've been phoning and organizing the teams Air flights, and with the other hand I'm making a list of parts we still need to get, and with the other hand I'm arranging entertainment for the crew, and then Wheels...Tires.... oh accomodation at the track and.... running out of hands! Oh yes notes on the inside of eyelids... Food, Race gas, Pit lights, Hollywood tour, Van drivers, Skydiving? Syncronized swimming... Basket weaving...Sleep? sleep when you're dead! Doh! flk;lhml.;;jgtfe:;;reb-tytf!!! .... I think I'm losing it...

Don't worry guys There will be an anouncement up here soon inviting everyone to our "Barbeque/Meet the Team/Launch the Car day" and the "Kiwi Karting challenge Night" Proably, hopefully on Sunday November 27 starting 12.00 noon and the Kart Racing at 6.00 pm - to be confirmed. It's about the Eleventyninth item on my list.


Kiwi