So after a few ups and downs trying to get to this event I decided to kick it alone and go anyway. Leaving Auckland at about 6am, I arrived at a fresh, amazing day at Taupo – home of NZ’s coolest small drift track. There’s something about this little track that brings us all back here so often and makes us all have an awesome day out. You’ve got to try a crisp <5c morning with the sun out to get the point. These are the days I live for – the ones that keep me out taking photos and meeting people, even if I already know most of these buggers. Sadly Picket’s own car wasn’t going properly by the weekend.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSo here’s that morning that I’m talking about. Totally perfect day, cold as hell, but just mint. I was told Auckland on this day was pouring down with rain, so to get away from all that crap is just choice.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis ‘family car/taxi’ was only just finished at 3am(?) the night before. Apparently it was also his first time out drifting? Something tells me whoever’s behind the wheel has had a bit of practice somewhere before..\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSomeone who’s had plenty of practice before is Mel. Another reason I come down to these days is to admire her amazing driving. It’s still down on my bucket list to go out for a few laps with her.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOne of our homies Royce was out in his beautiful R32 sedan. Although it may be hard to believe, this car does only have a RB20E under the hood with the factory manual.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBen’s ‘Zombie’ S13 was out being put through hell. He’s been pretty close to killing me for making him wait a week for this post. <3\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNZ’s own Takumi from Initial D was killing it in his little 86. Kei surely knows how to put this car through its paces, regardless of power.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nZac’s Trueno must be one of my favourite cars out there. Although I’m not a huge fan of modding up Trueno’s, I do love what he’s done with his. Not to mention the smoke that pours off the car coming around the sweeper.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAfter having Nigel take out Matt’s car, you could tell that he was super keen to get it out again for a good thrashing. Funnily enough he did a pretty bloody good job of doing so too.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSmokey S14’s are such a swell sight to see.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJD was putting the turtle through its paces and even looking me in the eyes at some points.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSo this is a shit photo yes, but I just felt like pointing out this is how close they were getting to hitting me. This is at 18mm’s on a crop camera body. So it does get somewhat scary – but I love it. You’ll see more of this in the video later on.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSadly this would be one of the only shots I got of Troy’s S15 after the gearbox blew up. Time for a dogbox maybe?\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTroy had his model pose going on on top of Hugo’s truck.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnother case of Mel doing a mad job in the first corner..\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nS15’s with simplistic tough stance look great – no need to mess with what’s already a great car.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCatching some great angle out of the first corner and onto the straight..\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSadly the first corner wasn’t always the best corner of the day, with a few casualties.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNick Teeboon’s hachi is the one everyone loves, with obvious reasons.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLike the badass he is, JD had his car straight back out drifting in no time.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nChaser’s regardless of age always make me happy.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWouldn’t this be a dope sight to see in the rear view mirror?\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAll praise god Teeboon!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIt’s a sad thought  knowing that when I see bright coloured wheels I automatically expect that they’re just painted replicas. These on the other hand are GramLights – the real deal.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTaming a big whale like this isn’t the easiest, but the driver managed to get the thing sideways by the afternoon!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAfter poor Royce popped both tyres and ended up in the tyre wall he beat the shit out of it a bit more and wound up having it back out on track. Although he may need to look at a bit of panel beating, just don’t reshell it! The paint’s too sexy.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThat Zombie is one cool S13.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhich do you guys prefer? Body kit or no body kit? I love both of them, so it’s no contest for me really.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGotta’ love that angle too. \r\n\r\nAnyone want a can of Cody’s?\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMore classical goodness. It’s pretty cool being able to see older cars out drifting, especially when they put out this much smoke.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMaking angle like that and not spinning? That’s the tofu car way.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHeading back to the pits after the final run I figured I’d point out that little sticker on those wheels..\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe pink harnesses are such a nice change from the usual Takata green or black and red.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJames’ Work Equips were looking mighty fine by the end of the day, even with the car getting put through its paces.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAfter standing around chatting for another half hour I noticed this little symbol on one of Royce’s wheels. Who would’ve thought Spalding made wheels back in the day?\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUnderneath the trees, the S15 once again looks great.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd that concludes my post on Picket’s Zero Class track day. It’s good to see all of these cars well built and out on the track, not sitting around doing nothing.\r\n\r\nTill next time, KEEP TAUPO FUN.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nOh and my video will be out sometime. Give me a minute or two.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n-Chris