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advert on the road was promoting it, I knew it
was going to be a good one. Nearing the iconic
Port Road in Seaview, Wellington, where the event
is held, it became clear that I wasn’t the only one
who’d decided to head along; cars were parked in
every available space for miles.
The walk in didn’t dampen the spirits; rather, it
provided added anticipation, fuelled by the sound
of engines and distant clouds of tyre smoke. Closer
to the gates, the atmosphere gained even more
hype, as the huge crowds became apparent — not
in an overwhelming way, but in a happy, party-like
atmosphere type of way.
Of course, what we were all there for was to
witness the eighth-mile street racing that the event
is famed for, but, to get to that, one must first walk
through the pits — an area abuzz with drivers,
crew members, wives, kids, and onlookers. For
many, it provided the chance to get up close and
personal with the cars they’d soon see in action, as
well as catch up with old mates or swap a few tips
and tricks.
As we arrived after the first round of qualifying,
there had already been attrition in the field. Hence
the look on the faces of one driver and crew team
as they pulled spark plugs to find bits of aluminium
attached — a sign that both their day and their
bottom end were finished already.themotorhood.com^93