"Go to the V8s," he said, "and find the glamour. Beautiful girls, celebrities and Kiwi A-listers. They'll be there."
Really? This isn't Monaco, I felt like saying, it's the 'Tron. But he is the boss and I quite fancy my job.
I envisaged having to channel my inner
bogan to get through Day 2 at the V8 Supercars in Hamilton. Having to sup ready-mixed drinks, watch pimply teenagers ogle scantily clad grid girls pretending not to notice, and listen to competitive blokes compare the technical advances of Ford and Holden.
So much for the stereotypes. I quickly learned the V8 Supercars have a far wider appeal - think families, TV stars, the odd Rich Lister and a bevy of gorgeous girls.
Sky TV's Stephen McIvor was there with son Patrick. "We thought we'd have a father and son day," he said.
Warriors Wade McKinnon and Steve Price were loitering outside the pits. "It's a great day," said Price, clearly not put off by the on-again, off-again rain showers. "I've never been to a Supercar race before. It's done a wonderful thing for Hamilton hasn't it? I mean, I'm disappointed it's not in Auckland but this is a great opportunity for Hamilton."
He was right. More than 170,000 people walked through the gates yesterday and on Friday. Today's final is expected to draw another 30,000. Eight thousand corporate guests - including TV's Hamish McKay and Eric Young, sports promoter Dean Lonergan, Simon Doull and radio colleague Roger Farrelly - are being catered to each day. They're wolfing down 40,000 club sandwiches, 10,500 cajun chicken drumsticks, and 1.5 tonnes of roast beetroot salad - the numbers speak for themselves.
And as for bogans? Not even the dress code was Westie. Check out Portia Wilson's less-is-more sartorial tribute to cowgirls.
