It sounded easy. All you had to do was keep one hand on the 1964 Mark I Ford Cortina and if you were the last one standing, it was yours.
However, the 35 contestants there at the start on Friday soon dwindled, and by yesterday morning, there were only three.
Mike Morgan, Jollene Hawkey and eventual winner Jason O'Donnell, all from Levin, were determined not to let fatigue, cramp or the cold beat them, but 15-year-old Jollene's concentration slipped and she put both hands on the car and was disqualified.
The rules were that one hand must be kept flat on the car at all times. The thought of a 15-minute break every three hours was all they had to keep them going -- no sleep, no sitting, no leaning -- and no shelter from the wind, cold and rain.
Auto Value car yard owner Gregg Nelson, whose father had run a similar competition in Lower Hutt several years ago, said the competition was a way to put his business on the map in a good way -- recently the windows were smashed on 22 vehicles on the yard.
The car in the competition had been bought from an elderly man who was only the second owner since new. The engine had been reconditioned, but apart from that, the car was in original condition, even down to the whitewall tyres.
Mr Nelson said the event had been very emotional for everyone involved.
At the start the contestants were spaced around two cars and eight judges were needed to keep an eye on all of them, but that number steadily dropped.
Judge Cheryl Nielsen said the competition got harder as time wore on, because the contestants were losing concentration.
"Some have just made small mistakes like going to adjust their Walkman and they take both hands off the car. They have had great support from their families and friends who have come down during the night to bring them food and keep them going," she said.
After 69 hours and 50 minutes, it was all over. Mr Morgan raised his hand in surrender and the car belonged to Mr O'Donnell.
After both men were checked by St John staff, who had attended all weekend, Mr O'Donnell came out to stand by his new car.
"It's really cool it's mine," he said before heading off in a stretch limo for a long hot shower and an even longer sleep.
- nzpa
It sounded easy. All you had to do was keep one hand on the 1964 Mark I Ford Cortina and if you were the last one standing, it was yours.
However, the 35 contestants there at the start on Friday soon dwindled, and by yesterday morning, there were only three.
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