Ruakaka Street Sprint - Whangarei, Northland

On Sunday the 26th April the annual Northland Car Club's Ruakaka Street Sprint will take place allowing the opportunity for spectators to watch local drivers compete against others from around the North Island and as far away as the USA.

Local drivers such as Rally of Whangarei Clubman's champion 2007 Andrew Phillips and Kerikeri's Kingsley Thomson, currently competing in the NZ Rally Championship, head the entry list along with veteran kiwi race driver now based in the USA Steve Millen.

Millen will be a popular entry expected to woo the crowd with his spectacular race prepared Ford GT40 in which he contested the Dunlop Targa which is held throughout the North Island over several days.

Millen is the brother of equally famous Rod Millen well known for his competing against Monster Tajima at world renowned hillclimbs Colorado's Pikes Peak and Queenstown's Race to the Sky.

Also Rhys Millen, son of Rod and nephew of Steve, just last year won the inaugural Drifting World Championship against the world's best including local drifting star Gaz Whiter from Dargaville.

Also of note will be Peter (PJ) Johnstone from Auckland who will be competing in a 450hp Ford RS200 from the now outlawed Group B rally era.

The Ruakaka Street Sprint which for several years has been a favourite for motorsport fans in the region starts at 10am and will be held on a series of closed roads starting from Kepa Rd near the Ruakaka Tavern.

It will consist of a number of timed runs with the winner being the one to set the fastest time overall.

The results will be divided into seperate classes determined by engine size, two and four wheel drive cars plus a section for specific racing and sports models.

Organiser Brendan Oakden expects a good sized turnout for the event which he says takes a lot of effort to organise.

"We can accept 70 entries max and I expect to get at least over 50 - I can't enter myself unfortunately because I will be too busy running the event." he said.

Brendan Oakden was the winner of the Rally of Whangarei Clubman's last year becoming the second Northlander, after Andrew Phillips, to win the event in it's two year history.

"We start at 10am, food and drinks will be available there, spectators are welcome and the prizegiving will be held at the Ruakaka Tavern afterwards." he said.