MEDIA RELEASE
 
SOUTHERN TWIN PEAKS CHALLENGE
 
The Southern Twin Peaks Challenge, contested at the two major southern hillclimbs at Kaitangata and Bluff each year, will feature plenty of extra excitement in 2010.
 
The challenge was instigated in the 2007/2008 motorsport season when the historic hillclimb at Kaitangata was revived. The Kaitangata event joined forces with another hillclimb, the Bluff Hillclimb which had been developed in 2006 - the two events combining to find an overall champion - the Southern Twin Peaks Champion. The champion is the competitor who records the fastest total elapsed times in their fastest run at each event.
 
The two previous titles have seen the two events run several months apart but in 2010 the two hillclimbs will be held on subsequent weekends adding plenty of excitement and anticipation to the battle for the title.
 
This year the Kaitangata Promotions/Bob Scott Memorial Hillclimb will take place on Saturday 30 January while the Bluff Promotions Bay View Hotel/Pub Charity Bluff "where the journey begins" Sealed Hillclimb is scheduled for Saturday 6 February.
     
To date only one person, Duncan McCrostie of Kaitangata, has been crowned the Twin Peaks champ. McCrostie is always to the fore in his ex Emma Gilmour Mitsubishi EVO. In the inaugural series he finished second to Andrew Graves of Gore in his home event at Kaitangata before winning at Bluff to take the title. Last year McCrostie won both events to retain his title.
 
While McCrostie has taken the title both times the series has been hard fought with both events that constitute the series featuring close and exciting battles. Many topline drivers have been lured south to contest the hillclimbs and with both now only seven days apart the series may appeal to even more drivers.
 
The Kaitangata Promotions Bob Scott Memorial Hillclimb is a joint promotion between the Kaitangata Promotions Group and the Eastern Southland Car Club. The hillclimb uses a gravel road while the Bluff event utilises the sealed road to the summit of Bluff Hill (Motu Pohue). The road climbs to a height of 264 metres above sea level. Recent tree felling in the area has opened up plenty of great viewing opportunities. The event is a joint project between Bluff Promotions assisted by the Eastern Southland Car Club and the Southland Sports Car Club. 
 
Lindsay Beer
Media Liaison Southern Twin Peaks Challenge
021 351 499
 
OVERALL CHAMPIONS
 
SOUTHERN TWIN PEAKS CHALLENGE
2007/2008 - Duncan McCrostie
2008/2009 - Duncan McCrostie
 
KAITANGATA
2007 - Andrew Graves
2008 - Duncan McCrostie
 
BAY VIEW HOTEL / PUB CHARITY BLUFF "where the journey begins" SEALED HILLCLIMB
1.6km course
2006 - Ross MacKay (Ashburton) Mitsubishi EVO - 1 minute 03.403 seconds
2007 - Glen Frew (Outram) Mitsubishi EVO - 59.895 seconds
2008 - Duncan McCrostie (Kaitangata) Mitsubishi EVO - 59.188 seconds
1.8km course
2009 - Duncan McCrostie (Kaitangata) Mitsubishi EVO - 1 minute .00.733 seconds

 

 

For further information:
Roger Laird - Eastern Southland Car Club - 03 208 5247/ 0274 368 876
Jean Proctor - Kaitangata & Districts Promotions 03 413 9769 / 027 413 9349