Cromwell's oldest rev-head? 81-year-old former bus driver celebrating Lamboghini win
By reporter Sam Smith:
This might just be Cromwell’s oldest rev-head.
Ivan Fahey, a former volunteer bus driver at Highland Motorsport Park, will now be cruising round town in a 2014 Lamborghini Huracans following the win of a lifetime at the weekend.
The 81-year-old was at the park for the 10th anniversary celebrations where the car was being given away to mark the occassion.
The Lamborghini, which is priced at between $250,000 and $445,000, was used for hot laps at Highlands sister circuit Hampton Downs and can accelerate from 0 to 100km in as little as 2.9 seconds.
The two-seater luxury car was bought directly from Lamborghini by Highlands owner Tony Quinn and fitted with a roll cage for use in the road rally race Targa NZ.
Fahey says he is over the moon with his win and has a smile on his face that is permanent.
“I am not a winner of raffles, so this sort of thing doesn't happen to me, but this time it did,” he said.
Fahey is no stranger to motorsport, having been an avid watcher for over 60 years and a volunteer at the park where he claimed his victory.
“I drove their little bus ... I used to deliver spectators around the circuit to different vantage points and do town pickups and drop-offs,” Fahey says.
“I did that for about four, maybe five years. I have always been a supporter of Highlands because I see it as being a great facility for our town of Cromwell.”
Fahey owns two cars; a BMW 5 Series and a Suzuki Grand Vitara, but has no plans as yet to make his new acquisition his drive of choice.
“It will get used from time to time. I took it out yesterday. It was exciting. It was fantastic. It was very easy to drive. This car is unreal. The engineering means it is built to go fast.”
Fahey says his phone has been running hot since the win, with friends and family enjoying his win as well.
“They are pretty excited for the old man. A remarkable number of people have phoned me and sent me texts and messages.”
As for his new new-found fame? Fahey says he doesn’t think it is warranted: “I am just a country guy who's not used to all this attention”.
A reminder to drive safer
Police are reminding motorists of the importance around following distances following a multi-vehicle crash on the Dunedin Southern Motorway yesterday.
Senior Sergeant Karl Hemmingsen, Otago Coastal Area Road Policing Manager, said Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on the Dunedin Southern Motorway at Fairfield around 8:20am this morning.
“Luckily, there were no serious injuries sustained in the crash, however it did create significant disruption for motorists, with a few people likely to be late for work this morning.
“The road has been cleared and since reopened; however, it is a good reminder of the impact sunstrike can have on our morning commutes this time of year.
“Police are asking motorists to keep their following distances in mind when driving to your destination, a larger gap between you and the car in front of you is often the difference in being able to safely stop, or crashing into the car in front of you, if they stop abruptly," Senior Sergeant Hemmingsen said.
This morning has already seen six crashes causing disruption to motorists across the Southern District, with variable conditions across the Southland, Otago Coastal and Otago Lakes areas.
This is an urgent reminder to pay close attention when driving on the roads, and drive to the conditions, increase following distances, slow down, and put your distractions away.
We want to see everyone getting to their destinations safely.
Do you have a great recipe for pears?
Kia ora neighbours. We give away free copies to readers whose recipes are used in our magazine, and we're still on the hunt for pear recipes! Send your family's favourite way to use up this delicious fruit, to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by the end of this week . If we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of the April issue.
Poll: Would you use a pet cemetery?
Dave Stephens has created a pet cemetery on his land.
The 10-acre site in Albany, Auckland, features graves nestled among beautifully manicured gardens and unique art pieces, offering a serene space where visitors can pay their respects in their own way.
Is a local pet cemetery something you think you would use? Share your thoughts below.
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31.3% Yes
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67.1% No
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1.6% Other - I'll share below
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