Story and photo by Ashley Lucas
Rod Millen’s Leadfoot Festival is not something you would normally associate with 4WD but for the 2017 there was a 4WD vehicle competing for the first time in the form of Glen and Samantha Raymond’s UK-built Tomcat, recently fully certified for road use.
The Leadfoot Festival is Rod and Shelley Millen’s vision of featuring local and international motorsport legends, great competitors and iconic race cars. A South Pacific version of England’s Goodwood Festival of Speed it was first held on the Millen’s 48 hectare property at Hahei in 2011 to celebrate Rod’s 60th Birthday.
The ‘track’ is the Millen’s 1.6 km driveway and to attend is by invite only and once Rod and Shelly Millen had received details of the Tomcat Racer an invitation was duly received.
New Zealanders in general have a passion for vehicles and the Leadfoot has a broad appeal for most petrolheads where old 1915 race cars can be seen along with the latest in road, track and rally cars. During the weekend I met up with quite a few fellow four wheel drivers, including trials and winch challenge competitors from various parts of NZ.
The format of the event is very simple; socialise and have fun, with visitors encouraged to wander around the pit area to meet the drivers and look over the vehicles, including those on display.
All 100-plus competitors were put into groups which were all a mixture from various types of motorsport which meant you could have a 1930s car tackle the hill climb followed by a drifter burning rubber all the way, followed by a motorbike. Each competitor would get three runs up the hay bale-lined track Saturday and Sunday.
The Tomcat was still in its off-road race set up as it came from the UK and had been used at the NZ1000 and Woodhill 100 off-road races. There had been no special changes to the suspension and shocks for the tarmac event, it was still running on the 16-inch BFG All Terrain tyres and still had the Trutrac torque biasing rear differential. Glen was also a novice to tarmac racing as much as the Tomcat was.
The bright orange Tomcat proved a very popular vehicle, right from its arrival, amongst competitors and visitors alike due to its unique body styling and front end based on a Defender. The body is all fibreglass and the TVR engine was on tune as it echoed around the property and through the trees while the tyres complained at every corner.
For his first run Glen put up a time of 73.07 followed by a 72.28 and was to comment he had never had the tail hanging out on a 4WD on tarmac before.
By the end of the day Alister McRae had set the fastest time so far with a 49.99 in the specially prepared Subaru, with Rod Millen at 53.16 in his 1973 Mazda RX3 in which he became three-time NZ rally champion between 1975-1977.
Once the racing stops at 6.00pm everyone is encouraged to socialise at the Leadfoot saloon and where food vendors stayed on until 9.00pm. It is a really nice way to relax and enjoy a beer or wine after such a fantastic day.
Sunday would be another hot fine day with the racing underway at 8.00am there was still overnight dew on the track in places which made it interesting for the first group. As Glen and the Tomcat completed each run up the hill, the time was always an improvement as Glen got to know the track and the Tomcat better.
As the Tomcat lined up with the group for the final run on Sunday, Glen was advised that they were in the Top 10 for Best In Show.
Leadfoot is a unique festival and something different on the motorsport calendar with a wide range of different vehicles from very different segments of motorsport and racing history to keep any member of the family entertained.
While Glen and Samantha initially envisaged it being a one-time experience, if an invite should come their way again for 2018, they and the Tomcat will be back again for sure.
To read every story in the May 2017 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (April 21) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
