Kieran Roberts Art

The now lamented Race to the sky held in the Cardrona valley of central Otago was a hillclimb based on Pikes peak. Starting in 1998, the event ran for ten years, had a comeback for 2015, before the dust settled permanently. The first three years were dominated by Japan's Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima, in his Suzuki Vitara hillclimb specials. Kiwi rally hero Possum Bourne classed the event as one the best in the world, and repeatedly tweaked his Subaru rally cars in an effort to win the event. In 2001, he came good using an ex-WRC two-door Impreza WRX. The popular Bourne beating the main rivals to be the first Kiwi to stand on the top step of the podium. Sadly, this would be the last joy he would have on the course - the following year he would suffer mechanical issues forcing him out, and in 2003, he would be involved in a road-car crash on the course during a preliminary run before the event, and the colourful Possum Bourne succumbed to his injuries two weeks later.