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J1NX3D
Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 1333 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:08 am Post subject: My New Zealand mountain adventure |
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it started with a steamer
my g/f's from Wanaka so we're down here catching up with her family before she goes on exchange with the RAAF for 3 months.
So we flew into Queenstown and waited for our lift. This was my first time in QT and i was going to Wanaka for only my second time. Our trip took us through quaint Arrowtown which looks pretty sweet in the Autumn.
After Arrowtown and a quick excursion on the shotover jet...
... NZ's highest road came into view, Crown Range Rd, with no less than 7 switchbacks in the first few kms. This road used to be gravel and they wouldn't insure anyone on it with a rental car.
The views on this road are simply amazing and really do have to be experienced first hand.
It wasn't too long before we were above the snowline
We stormed through Cadrona but i'll get to here shortly.
Then we come off the range road, into the main street of Wanaka looking over Lake Wanaka.
The next day we returned to the Cadrona Valley. My g/f was really keen to take me up to Snowfarm and Snowpark. This road is the Race to the Sky hillclimb road which claimed the life of NZ rally icon Possum Bourne. His statue watches over this road and the valley.
I took video all the way up the mountain but it would be extremely boring to upload to youtube and watch 10 mins of us going 60kph up the thing so heres some youtube vids of Race to the Sky:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p0Qh0wGkDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Piv7Eq8n7Y
Quote: | The hillclimb is held over a 15km (9 mile)gravel course with the average gradient of 1:11 with a 137 corners 9 of them hairpins... |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r16iuLoiazs
but sadly its over
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H64VrzXXn-k
Near the top of the mountain the road forks to go to Snow Park or Snow Farm.
Snowpark is where Ken Block and DC filmed this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av0VsTxJd78
looking from Skifarm across the valley towards Cadrona Skifield on the next range
Some kite skiers at Snowfarm
At Snowfarm thy have winter testing facility that all the top carmakers use. To prove this story, here's a few maserati's I spied!!
After mucking around in the snow it was back down the mountain and home we went
If you ever get down to this part of the world, I definitely recommend driving these roads, the scenery is stunning! _________________ '86 944 |
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J1NX3D
Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 1333 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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I'm back home now
a few more pics.
Saturday coming back down the mountain from Cadrona skifield and back to Wanaka.
my flight out. the winter testing facility at snowfarm from the air.
_________________ '86 944 |
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Andrew NZ
Joined: 22 Jun 2004 Posts: 744 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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What a great country we live in! _________________ Andrew
1977 RX924 race car
12a bridgeport supercharged
www.race4-dcup.co.nz |
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Peter_in_AU
Joined: 29 Jul 2001 Posts: 2743 Location: Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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Wow!!!
Looks a bit cold for me but perhaps I'm just getting old.
Didn't know they had put up a statue for Possum. That's nice. We used to race against him back in the day when I crewed on the Mainfreight Escorts. I remember he always seemed to be laughing when he wasn't in a car. _________________ 1979 924 (Gone to a better place)
1974 Lotus 7 S4 "Big Valve" Twin-cam (waiting)
1982 924 (As featured on Wikipedia)
Learn to love your multimeter and may the search be with you |
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Chrenan
Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 3903 Location: Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 12:48 am Post subject: |
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Wow, brings back memories, visited Queenstown briefly during my year in NZ. _________________ 1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan |
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Joes924Racer
Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Posts: 11964 Location: Oregon, Denver Colorado native!
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:21 am Post subject: |
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Awesome Jinxed simply freakin awesome love to go there anytime. _________________ 1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo. |
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J1NX3D
Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 1333 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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Glad you like it Joe, the USD goes a long way here Chrenan, you were here for a year? cool!
Peter_in_AU wrote: | Wow!!!
Looks a bit cold for me but perhaps I'm just getting old.
Didn't know they had put up a statue for Possum. That's nice. We used to race against him back in the day when I crewed on the Mainfreight Escorts. I remember he always seemed to be laughing when he wasn't in a car. |
one of the girls i work with on a WRC start crew had a story too. He was running late for a stage and came up to time control a wee bit too fast. late breaking on gravel = gave the easy-up with her in it a bi of a nudge. She stared at him in shock (and a bit WTH?!) and he looked her, gave her a smile and a wink and all was forgiven apparently lol. _________________ '86 944 |
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Vince Ponz
Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3581 Location: Florida
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 5:39 am Post subject: |
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Around here all that white stuff is sand. Brrrr too cold for me. _________________ "Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock |
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