Sons keep racer’s tradition alive

Robert Scott’s retro racer.PHOTOS: WADE PARKINSON
Robert Scott’s retro racer.PHOTOS: WADE PARKINSON
Bob Scott Memorial organisers were keen to thank Kaitangata for this month’s successful hillclimb event.

The origins of the annual, two-kilometre, uphill rallysprint on Old Mine Rd are lost in the exhaust of time.

But the former Kaitangata petrolhead was represented by sons Robert, Greg and Isaac, in custom racers 50 years old.

"Kai was a great town to grow up in and we’re really grateful to the quarry, the mine and the landowners for coming together with the community and making a really fun event possible," Dunedin mechanic Robert Scott said.

Dean Bond’s Mitsubishi.
Dean Bond’s Mitsubishi.
Competitors had four attempts at the 2km route, where an average speed of 60kmh would have meant a two-minute finish.

Robert Scott clocked 1min 50sec, and the event was won at 1:23.45 by Dean Bond in his Mitsubishi.

Trophies and $1500 in prize money were presented to 14 racers at the Kaitangata Tavern.

"It is about your speed but it’s also about the situation of having a machine, a set goal and a team that has to stay on its toes and work together to solve problems and achieve their best.

"We love coming back to this," Scott said.

NICK.BROOK@cluthaleader.co.nz