Tony Quinn Prepares For Pikes Peak Debut 14 Jun 2016
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
- Trubridge Triumphs With Unassisted Freedive Record Sport
- New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched Business
- 300 feet down: two bare feet and one breath of air Living
- Wyatt claims title Sport
Tony Quinn Prepares For Pikes Peak Debut
The owner of Highlands and Hampton Downs motorsport tracks will join an exclusive club later this month when he competes in the world famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the USA.
JUNE 14, 2016 Tony Quinn is counting down the days to his first Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs, USA. The owner of Highlands in Cromwell and Hampton Downs in Waikato is one of only 100 drivers invited to compete in the 100th anniversary of the event to be held on June 26.
Pikes Peak, or The Race to the Clouds as it is commonly known, is America’s second oldest motorsports race after the Indy 500 and for Quinn it’s a race that’s been on his bucket list for a long time.
“I feel pretty special to be part of it,” says Quinn. “As a rookie I had to give the organisers the names of a couple of referees who could vouch for me. Having the legendary Monster Takajima and Robby Gordon in my corner certainly helped me secure an invite.”
Recently Quinn spent four days in Pikes Peak getting some much needed practice on the 12.42 mile (20 kms) course. On race day the drivers take it in turns to try and set the fastest time on a notorious stretch of road that starts at over 9000 feet and finishes 156 turns later at the summit of Pikes Peak, 14,115 feet above sea level. Not ideal for someone like Quinn who has a fear of heights.
“Thankfully my fear of heights didn't bother me at all and the road, which I was very worried about, isn't nearly as tricky as I thought it would be," says Quinn. "One of my biggest fears was that I wouldn't be competitive and that my guts would be churning inside but it’s actually a really enjoyable road to drive. It’s very steep and tight in places but it’s beautiful countryside and it reminded me of parts of the South Island of New Zealand. It’s quite majestic and I’m really looking forward to the event now.”
Quinn drove a red Mustang convertible up the mountain on his recent recce run but he’s looking forward to putting his custom built Monster Tamer through its paces at Pikes Peak at the end of June. Originally built for the Race to the Sky hill climb in New Zealand in 2015, the heavily modified Ford Focus with a 3.8-litre twin-turbo engine from a Nissan R35, cost over AU$350,000.
“That might sound like a lot of money but Sebastian Loeb came to Pikes Peak in 2013 and spent a lot more than that,” says Quinn. “He took over a minute and half off the previous record but he spent four weeks here before the event going up and down the hill. I’ve been told he had a team of 40 people with him including engineers, mechanics, tyre specialists, a helicopter and God knows what else. Apparently the whole thing cost Red Bull and Peugeot something like US$14 million. Me and my mechanic Harry are going to try and do it for a lot less than that.”
“I think the car will go really well and I’m looking forward to posting a good time but it’s the same as any other race. The stars have to align for you and if they don’t any mistake you make will be punished. I’m competing in the Donegal International Rally in Ireland this week so hopefully I’ll get to Pikes Peak in good form. We’ll see how we go and we’ll give it a good lash.”
You can follow Tony’s preparations for the Donegal International Rally and Pikes Peak on Facebook @TonyQuinnOfficial or at www.highlands.co.nz
ENDS
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more