Style, speed scores hat-trick

Young Edu Tremain on his way to piloting the Tremain Racing kart to victory in yesterday's one-off battle with the Brebner and Gemco squads. Photo / Paul Taylor

For the race team of Steve (dad) and 10-year-old Jack (the driver) Halpin, of Napier, this year's Tremains Art Deco Weekend Soap Box Derby was a time to celebrate a hat-trick.

Three titles in one day.

And for the Tremains Racing Team, who took on their fellow sponsorship arch-rivals Brebner Print and Gemco in yesterday's one-off race, it was a sweet taste of victory.

When reminded there had been a few bottles of wine put up for stake with the Gemco chaps, Tremains/Colliers' Cam Ward said, with a smile, it was more about pride.

"It's sweeter than wine."

But the most valuable thing of all was simply just being part of it all, Mr Ward said.

"It is just good fun to be involved - it's the whole atmosphere to it - the fun."

And then he added "oh, and we'll remind them for the next year who won of course."

The Tremains car did have one advantage, Mr Ward confessed.

It had been built by Nigel Purdey, of Napier, and his son Matt - and Matt was studying mechanical engineering in Christchurch, which involved being part of a specialised design course with a Formula 1 race team.

Their driver, 10-year-old Edu Tremain, said he was relieved to get over the finish line. "I didn't want to look behind me in case they were right there," he said.

"I want to do it again next year," he said before receiving his reward from dad - it was a cold bottle of lemonade.

For father and son Steve and Jack Halpin it was a case of going one better than last year.

Their sleek #7 car, complete with red and black racing chequers, was just too quick on the day.

As race commentator Ross Holden remarked after they picked up the final of the Kids Class - "that is way too fast".

And then they took to the grid for the final of the Open Class and grabbed that as well.

To cap it off the car was judged as the winner of the Looks and Style Trophy.

About 40 karts rolled out for the race day which went for nearly two hours and drew several thousand to the upper Tennyson St strip.