Fraser Kit Car Blogged | Lotus 7 Replica

Clubman Racing

This great picture was sitting in the email inbox, thought it needed to be shared. Chris (bronze Fraser Clubman) and John (red Fraser Clubman) having some fun at Hampton Downs this weekend.

Handcrafted Kit Car | Lotus 7 Replica

Handcrafted - the word is used daily at the Fraser factory.  The skilled team handcraft bespoke Lotus 7 replicas.  These are works of art to look at and are the most incredible experience to drive.

This photo illustrates what was happening at the factory today.

This Fraser is being handcrafted for a gentleman in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Fraser team send him weekly progress photos.  This Fraser will have a 3SGTE powering it.  The owner is aiming for 500hp.

I can't stop looking at those patterns on the wall behind the build. 

Handcrafted

Bespoke

Powerful

Bet he's glad he's that step closer to living his dream...

Luggage rack for Lotus 7

Had to laugh when we opened this email entitled 'Good use of the luggage rack' from a couple travelling around the South Island of New Zealand in their Fraser.

Fraser Car Club - Auckland Country Adventure

Great day, great weather and great bunch of cars and people.!! 10 cars turned up, which was fantastic to see and all got off on the nav run on time.

Getting there in the order they left,  was however another story. The last car leaving, Steve and Ade in 0 KIDS arrived first! Followed by a short time later by Scott and Ida in DMOFSR with Andrew following closely (without a navigator). Then there was a very large gap but eventually all arrived within 40 minutes. Not helped by the fact at that one of the final road signs had been broken off so a number whistled right past the second-to-final turning and did a few Km’s extra and discovered some really tight roads which we investigated on leaving. A few Km’s up this road are some impressive rock cliffs which were used for some scenes in LOR. (I am told).

So.... some un-programmed sightseeing around Pukekohe, a few double backs here and there, but only one car needed to resort to the Parachute instructions, all in all a good effort.

Weather being very warm at the end resulted in a pleasant picnic and a catch up. Hope everyone enjoyed themselves.
 
Gary
SLVTOP

Almost ready to go

  First to arrive

First to arrive eats first

Some stragglers arrive

Last one in

Everyone - Finally!

Northern Kit Car Sojourn

Well, what a weekend.  Here is a quick report.

The northern Sojourn started with some random light showers in the Albany area but nothing very bad. Collected Chris and Anita in their new Fraser at BP and had a pleasant but cool drive to the Brynderwyns and on to Dargaville to meet Des and Aprill.

A welcome coffee and a snack and off up through the Waipoua Forest to visit Big Tane Mahuta. It has been a while since I went through there and I had forgotten how nice and twisty the roads are!  Stopped, visited, respected, and relieved then on our way through Waimamaku ( Petrol) and on to Rawene for lunch. Arrived about 1.00pm which was pretty good travelling time. Lunch in the cafe that is on poles over the sea ( if the tide was in we could have sat at our table and possibly caught lunch!).

Queued for ferry and then off over to the other side in 15 minutes. As we exited the ferry ramp spotted some vintage cars lined up so swung across the road to take a pic. The drivers looked momentarily startled as I drove toward them but when they saw the camera all smiles and thumbs up!

Then through Kohukohu, Broadwood, Herekino and finally to Ahipara. On some of the best “Fraser” roads I have been on.  A couple of bumps here and there but undulating and sweeping for most of it with the odd tight corner thrown in to keep you awake.  Arrived at the Motel at 3.45pm. Beer and wine followed and you know the rest.

Sunday dawned fine with dark clouds that cleared quickly( phew) and after a leisurely packing and cleaning the cars, off at 9.00am to Kaitaia for breakfast. Then through the Mangamuka forest, nice twisty roads - a bit bumpy to keep you alert, then to Kaikohe for Petrol and a break. Took the Mangakahia Road south to Maungatapere For lunch at The Office, right on the corner.  Des tells me there is a private car and motor bike collection in an adjacent building open by reservation, so there is an excellent idea for a future trip. Very pleasant lunch out the back. 

Departed with Des and Aprill turning off to home only a few Km away and we continued down on SH1 and points south and home.

A very excellent trip. Lots of driving but also lots of stops for passenger comfort. Lots of new roads, sights and new places visited.      
 
Gary
SLVTOP
 

Exporting Sports Cars

Another article about Fraser Cars in NZ Manufacturer this month.  Here's a peek...

Autocross - Ardmore Airfield

It was a perfect day for Autocross on Monday 24 October, Labour Day (a Public Holiday in NZ).  The sun was hot, entries reached capacity and SCCNZ ran another enjoyable event at Ardmore Airfield in Auckland. Not sure of our official results, but we had a great time!

3SGTE Clubman Build

A few pictures of a new Fraser Clubman build. The owner is looking for BIG horsepower!

 

Doctors Hill - Hillclimb

With the weather forecast looking very average on Saturday we made the call to drive up first thing Sunday morning to the annual Northland Car Club hill climb at Doctors Rd, Ruakaka.

With a 6:15am start on Sunday it turns out the weather forecasters were correct. But we jumped in the ute and headed up north via the BP for a caffeine fix. It rained the whole way there, but we arrived at about 9am. So we sat in the ute thinking this is too wet maybe we should just go home, but then Bruce reminded me that if I didn’t race he would tell everyone that I was a girl. That was it we were racing. Off we went to fill the appropriate forms in and complete scrutineering. With the car and driver ready to go we just had to wait for the officals.

We eventually lined up for the first run, with this being the first time we had been at this event I had decided to use the first couple of runs as a see how the course is. We were lined up behind a 520hp 3 rotor 4WD Series 1 RX7 rally car off he went and we were next. Off at the start lots of wheel spin trying to get traction and around the second corner and hello I thought this was a tarmac hill climb the monster RX7 had only been using half the road his inside two tyres were in the mud and gravel and had nicely coated the road in marble sized stones. Wet road, marble sized stones and a light car equals a slippery ride. This was how it was to remain for the rest of the day, we all had 6 attempts at the hill and by the end of it we had used some petrol and tyres, made the car dirty and had a good time.

We will have to wait until the results get posted to see how we ended up. It was nice to drive home in the warm dry ute. We will go back to do this event again, bring on the Autocross on Labour day.

Scott

   

Clubman Night Run

Five Frasers, fun, fast roads. Fantastic way to spend a Tuesday evening.