Hayden hot laps wow winners

NZ’s top rally driver Hayden Paddon takes PlaceMakers customers for ‘once in a lifetime’ ride

Climbing into the passenger seat next to Hayden Paddon, Bruce Horrox anticipated he was in for the ride of his life – and he wasn’t disappointed!

“It was awesome – by far the biggest adrenaline rush I’ve ever had, and I’ve spent a lot of my life in high-intensity situations,” says the Huntly-based builder, who won the ‘Ride Shotgun with Hayden’ competition. “I’ve done hot laps before, but this was way more fun!”

A self-confessed petrol head, Bruce, now 51, started going to the speedway with his parents aged five and has been involved with rallying since he learned to drive.

“I always volunteer as a safety marshall for the World Rally Championship when it comes to New Zealand. I used to manage communications for the Huntly Car Club and, for the past few years, I’ve led the fire rescue service at the Huntly Speedway,” says Bruce, who also spent 18 years in the local fire service.

A PlaceMakers customer since 1995, when he started his building business – Bruce Horrax Builders Limited – he was “stoked” to win the ‘Ride Shotgun with Hayden’  experience,  and excited to be able to invite his 21-year-old son Thomas to join.

“He’s come to raceway with me since he was born, but he’s never done anything like this and he had a blast!” says Bruce. “He hasn’t stopped talking about it since and he’s already planning a trip to Pukekohe to do some hot laps there.”

Bruce says that, speed and adrenalin aside, it was pretty amazing to meet Hayden and his team.

“He’s such an easy-going, friendly guy that you’d never guess he was an internationally recognised WRC driver,” says Bruce. “But then you get in that car with him and there’s no doubt – the way he can chuck around a car like that is amazing!”

Bruce was also appreciative of Hayden’s team, who spent the day chatting with the winners.

“It was a great day to be a part of,” says Bruce. “He’s a talented, hard-working Kiwi, who deserves to have PlaceMakers backing him.”