Why does Gumboot Rally exist?
Andy, Mikey and Gator are petrolheads through and through, and love nothing more than an excuse for a road trip. While on one of our many road trips together, we talked about how we would love to drive the Forgotten World Highway in Taranaki, said to be the best driving road in the North Island.
We thought it would be fun to invite others to join in. Having been involved in organising Cannonball Run NZ and competing in other automotive scavenger hunts, the next step was quite logical.
A month later, in July 2013, Gumboot Rally Ltd was formed.
Why do we do it?
Our first event had 23 cars driving Hamilton – New Plymouth – Taupō. The smiles on faces, the friendships made and the mood at the prize giving gave the three of us the boost we needed to keep the ball rolling. Since then we’ve grown to around five events a year, sending hundreds of cars and thousands of people off the beaten track to spots you didn’t know existed.
The Charities
One year it was suggested we put on a car show to help raise money for Camp Twitch. It was amazing, and the idea was born that we could have some fun and do good at the same time. Since that event, we have chosen a different charity each year to spread our support around the community.
More info on our charities here.
Who Is Gumboot Rally?
In 2023, Andy and his family headed offshore for an adventure, leaving the company in the trusty hands of Mikey and Gator.
Mikey
Living in the sunny town of Orewa, Mikey is usually found on a back road in his trusty 1984 KP Starlet, carving up the winding sections. Ticket sales, the info email account and sorting all the packs are Mikey’s jam at Gumboot Rally.
Gator
A proud Taranaki local hiding under the mountain in the rural town of Stratford. Gator starts most car events with a trip on the Forgotten World Highway, and has become quite the local since Gumboot Rally began. Piloting his green 4A-GE-powered 1982 Starlet and wearing a bright green hat, Gator sorts the logistics for Gumboot Rally and, in Andy’s absence, has taken on the mission packs.
Andy
Andy is the creative of the group. His mission packs blew people away, and his eye for detail and knack for spotting any abandoned building made him an integral part of the team. He is sorely missed. While Andy is famous for his Mk1 Escort, he is also a die-hard VW guy and has one of the cleanest Mk2 Golfs in the country.
