N E W S
15
Classic racing meeting celebrates local legend
www.engineeringnews.co.nz
Petrol heads rejoice at the George Begg Classic Speedfest - celebrating the
late engineer and local motor racing legend himself.
With a grid full of the F5000 cars, the
new-look annual classic racing meeting
has attracted bumper entries across all
classes, from all over New Zealand to
the Invercargill’s Teretonga Park.
Begg built several F5000 cars, including
the FM2 then FM4, FM5 and 018. The
018, as originally raced by Jim Murdoch,
and ex David Oxton and Allan McCully
FM5s, are on display at the new George
Begg Bunker in the Motorcycle Mecca
building in Invercargill’s Tay Street.
Current owners, Terry and Tim Rush, are
also bringing the Begg FM4, originally
raced by Geoff Mardon then David
Oxton, with them to display at Teretonga
Park over the weekend.
Before New Zealand and Australia
adopted the stock-block 302 cu in
‘wings-and-slicks’ formula that became
known here as Formula 5000, and
Formula A in the United States, the
2.5 litre ‘Tasman’ formula meant that if
drivers wanted to compete they had to
buy an existing ex-works car.
The move to a stock-block engine
formula opened the series up to an
all-new group of talented all-round
designer/builder/drivers like Graham
McRae and Australia’s Frank Matich, and
designer/builder/entrants like George
Begg, and Garrie Cooper in Adelaide.
Set to contest the fourth round of
this season’s SAS Autoparts MSC NZ
F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series at
the meeting are 16 restored and raceprepared
Formula 5000 racing cars,
including the Leda LT27s designed by
Wellington-born Graham McRae and
now owned by Queenstown man Alistair
Hey and his partner Vicki.
Driving the blue-and-yellow-striped
white 004 car (#94) is runaway series
points leader, Michael Collins from
Christchurch, while behind the wheel of
the STP-liveried Leda LT27 001 (#22) is
Southland’s own LeRoy Stevenson.
Two later models but visually identical
McRae GM1s belonging to three-time
former series champ Steve Ross (#5)
from Dunedin and series regular Aaron
Burson from Auckland were also on
the grid.
With Great Britain´s exit from the European
Union comes a lot of change. Although
New Zealand wants to continue
to work on progressing intra-Commonwealth
trade, a close relationship with
the European Union has become more
and more important. As Europe´s largest
and strongest economy and it´s
unique position within the EU, Germany
could be the key for New Zealand´s
negotiations for a free trade agreement
(FTA) with the European Union, one of
the world´s largest trading entities. To
strengthen the relationship between NZ
and Germany the strategic plan of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has
identified seven pillars of its lift strategy:
1. International architecture
2. NZ-EU FTA free trade agreement
3. Economic and trade returns
4. Cultivating science, space and innovation
links
5. Pacific engagement
6. Highlighting NZ´s knowledge of Asia
7. Transforming German perceptions of
NZ
The commitment of German businesses
investing in New Zealand´s economy
is long term with a strong presence of
130 subsidiaries based in Aotearoa.
The German-New Zealand Chamber of
Commerce (GNZCC) plays a huge role
in bilateral trade partnerships by promoting
German-New Zealand business
relations. Germany has also long been
one of New Zealand’s most important
partners in the area of science and
innovation. A good example for new
scientific cooperation is the Letter of
Intent that was signed by NZ´s Ministry
of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) and the German Aerospace
Centre (DLR) at the 69th International
Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany
in 2018. It includes a commitment
to work closely together on research
including space systems, satellite technology,
rocketry, and ground-based infrastructure.
Several key initiatives have already been
implemented to gain as much success
as possible over the four-year-period of
New Zealand´s strategy:
• More high-level engagement between
Ministers and Deputy Secretaries from
both Foreign Ministries
• Increase of senior-level discussions
on a range of foreign policy, security,
trade, science, space, and environmental
issues
• An NZ delegation of Track II academics
visit to Berlin to engage with their
German counterparts during Asia-Pacific
Week in Germany´s capital
• Young Business Leaders Exchange
programme has been established to
enable five Kiwi and five German tech
entrepreneurs to visit capitals in 2020
and build networks
• New Zealand Story (NZ Story) prioritised
Germany for market research
on public perceptions. NZ Story is a
country reputation programme that
enables businesses, influencers, and
stakeholders to leverage the value of
being from New Zealand.
• Parliamentary constituency and connections
have been deepened
• Resources were provided for an extra
staff member at the New Zealand Embassy
in Berlin
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade want to deliver key results with
their “Lift Strategy Plan” which in the
case of Germany is defined as a “deliberate
programme of investing discretionary
effort” that is supposed to grow
New Zealand´s relationships with Germany
to provide tangible benefits for NZ
by 2022. MFAT evaluates the benefits
and the success of their strategic plan
by measuring the growth of investment
and of bilateral relationships within the
defined seven pillars of the “Lift Strategy”.
ture appealing to a wider range
of people. As the future problem
solvers of many of Aotearoa’s
major issues, we need our
professions to reflect the bread of
our communities.
“It’s imperative engineers and
architects represent everyone so
the world they create reflects the
communities they support. Not
only does diversity help provide
insight into an organisations’
wide range of client needs, but
has proven to make organisations
more effective, successful and
profitable.
“We were thrilled to have Minister
for Women, Julie Anne Genter,
officially launch the Accord at
Parliament’s Grand Hall. We also
heard from fantastic industry
leaders and representatives who
gave their personal accounts on
the Accord’s significance,” says
Susan.
Speaker Ian Blair, WSP managing
director, says: “We’ve still got a lot
to do as an organisation, but also as
an industry. Today the signatories
of the Diversity Agenda Accord
are determined and united, to
create more diverse and inclusive
industries, which will benefit those
who work in the industry and our
society.”
Speaker Elisapeta Heta, senior
associate, Architectural Graduate
- Kaihautū Whaihanga and Māori
Design Leader at Jasmax says:
“I’m here because I want to make
it visible and obvious to other
wahine, to other Pasifika and Māori
coming through the communities,
who are potentially looking at
architecture as an option, to see
that somebody else has done it.
And hopefully, they don’t have to
fight to the level I’ve had to fight
to receive the accolades and the
acknowledgement I get to enjoy.”
The Accord defines a clear set of
tenets for firms to commit to, with
the submission of a yearly report
on how they have adhered to them,
together with the compulsory
completion of a survey to back
up the report with data. There
will be an annual ‘peer accountability
review summit’ where all
signatories will gather to discuss
and stand by their performance
over the previous 12 months.
“This peer accountability model is
quite different, as it breeds transparency
and true collaboration/
sharing. Everything is out in the
open, and we have the right to
remove Accord status if for some
reason a firm wasn’t maintaining
the requirements they’ve signed
up for,” says Susan.
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