Green celebrates 40 years at International Rally of Whangarei
Palmerston North businessman Brian Green, New Zealand’s most experienced rally driver, marks his 40th year of competition at this year’s International Rally of Whangarei.
Green (63) has contested hard-fought championships numerous times and continues in 2010 as ready as ever to give it his best, adamant he’s not there to make up the numbers.
“I’d like to try to catch up to some of these young drivers. They’re going so fast; they’ve got no fear,” says Green. “It’d be nice to have a few behind me after Whangarei.
“I’ve done a deal with Neil Allport to do about ten events with the car this year, so I’ll be driving to make sure I finish and get to start the next one.
Green’s driving a brand-new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X with his Hawke’s Bay co-driver Fleur Pedersen alongside. The popular rally car and professional Ralliart service crew is a far cry from Green’s career starter at the 1970 Silver Fern Rally, where he was part of a three-car team with eventual winner Paul Adams (Auckland) and Jean-Louis Leyraud (New Caledonia). He has well-etched memories of that initial rally.
“I had Jim Foster alongside me in the orange BMW 2002 tii with Paul in the red car, Jean-Louis in the silver one,” says Green. “Some of those competitive legs were 20 hours long!”
Since the seventies, Green has competed in a huge variety of vehicles from Ford Escorts to the famous Group B works Audi Quattro owned by New Zealand rally stalwart, the late Malcolm Stewart.
Among his numerous trophies, Green has earned the prestigious 2003 Malaysian Rally Championship crown, having frequented events throughout Asia and the Pacific regions in recent years. Other events include the recent Targa Tasmania and Rally New Zealand, which he thinks he’s contested more than 30 times.
“I thoroughly enjoy my motorsport and it’s a form of relaxation for me. We run a fairly big business from Palmerston North, so I use motorsport to get away from it all. I hop in the car and drive. Nobody can ring you up; no emails; no faxes. You’re on your own – it’s hot!”