We’re not sure why, but the Intergen team seems to have more than it’s fair share of self-confessed car junkies. A few might even admit to being petrolheads!
Note since this article was originally written a number of the featured cars have been "upgraded"
It’s true that our clothes, home and career choice all speak volumes about our personality. So what if we put a few Intergenites under the microscope and ask them about their car?
We were curious to know the origins of their individual fixations and the form of their current indulgence.
TONY STEWART - FORD SIERRA RS COSWORTH
Tony grew up thinking every child spent their holidays following their father around on the summer race series from track to track. Both he and his brother caught the bug, bad. There simply isn’t space here to adequately describe just how deep this obsession runs for Tony. He bought the “Cossie” when he got his first real job, raced it at one stage, but now enjoys it for sentimental reasons.
MARK TROTTER - SUBARU WRX
Mark is the youngest in our line-up and typical of his generation is a “Fast Four” fanatic. The “Rex” is only the second car he’s owned, but the first one was a hot hatch too. Mark got the bug early on, largely thanks to his father's similar interest, although he dismisses him as being into “that old school stuff”. Differences aside, they are avid followers of the Formula One season together.
JOHN JAMESON - MITSUBISHI GTO
JJ is an understated character but prefers that his choice of car is far from ordinary. As he says “anyone can go and buy a white Toyota” but it takes a bit of personality to proudly own something with real style. His GTO is an interesting choice, of Japanese manufacture, but unashamedly American in it’s design inspiration. An Oriental Mustang perhaps?!
FULTON HARGREAVES - DUCATI 900SS
Fulton’s a bike nut. There’s at least one in every bunch! Apparently it all stems from a youth spent in Dunedin riding something he describes as a “two stroke gruntless wonder” in sub zero temperatures. He insists it is a passion (we’re not so sure) and attributes his old Honda CBR to attracting his now wife, not his charm and stunning good looks!
STEVE BROOKES - SUBARU WRX
Steve openly admits to being quite excited by horsepower, pure and simple - thus his wildly over-specified Subaru WRX. But he hasn’t always been so blessed, from humble beginnings in Britain's finest, a Mini, he graduated to Britain's not-so-finest, a Chevette, which came to an untimely demise at his hands over a hump backed bridge.
EAMON O’ROURKE - VALIANT CHARGER
When you grow up with three sisters in a yachting mad family, holiday trips are crowded and slow with a boat in tow. Eamon spent many years wistfully admiring the Seventies muscle cars pulling out to pass and has since invested much time and effort into owning those very iconic cars. This is the third Charger to grace his driveway and he claims he has only owned a four door car once, briefly!
DAVE BROWN - FORD FALCON XR6
Dave is a Ford loyalist, “just like his Dad”. He’s owned most of the classic models - Escort, Cortina and this is his fourth Falcon. He is prepared to admit they’re not infallible though, recounting a blown head gasket story involving the Escort and infamous Rimutaka Hill (the car was sold the week following!).
ROBERT INGLEDEW - FORD EXPLORER
According to Rob, when he was about seven years old his uncle turned up in a Mustang and he’s never been the same since. From that moment he’s liked his cars big, as in Chevrolet Impala BIG! Although Rob rates the Explorer as “the most unremarkable car I have ever owned”, by anyone elses standards it’s a serious piece of machinery.