Donn (“Hopper”) has been competing in Mazscort from 1984 till now. He had some great results in the South Island. Then continuing with Rallysports, Hillclimbs and Tracks, winning the Annual Ashburton Club Speed Championship 20 times and the Timaru Club Championship 3 times. Hopper has included and fostered numerous amounts of new competitors gaining a life membership of the Ashburton Car Club. Hopper is so impressed with his supporters, “Darcmiester” Prendergast, Wayne Haughey and the crew of enthusiasts from the South, who are coming along to see the car in action.

Donn McLaren - 1970 Ford/Madza Escort

Donn (“Hopper”) has been competing in Mazscort from 1984 till now. He had some great results in the South Island. Then continuing with Rallysports, Hillclimbs and Tracks, winning the Annual Ashburton Club Speed Championship 20 times and the Timaru Club Championship 3 times. Hopper has included and fostered numerous amounts of new competitors gaining a life membership of the Ashburton Car Club. Hopper is so impressed with his supporters, “Darcmiester” Prendergast, Wayne Haughey and the crew of enthusiasts from the South, who are coming along to see the car in action.

1970 Ford/Madza Escort:

This “Mazscort” has been converted from running Ford Motors in the later 1980’s to use a “Hayshed Rotary’s” (Paul Hayman & Paul Sheddon) PP 13B Mazda Rotary engine with lots old cheap 1970’s parts. It has become one of the more successful club sport cars in the South Island winning 12 overall titles of the Rutherford Gravel Sprint, 2 overall wins of Akaroa Tarmac Hillclimb and the Opihi Gravel Hillclimb and including more than 14 victories in gravel and tarmac hill climbs and sprints, beating many good 4WD cars. The car was featured on the “Hillclimb Monsters” website, following 2WD wins at Ashley Forest Rally Sprint.