Possum's legend gets written in flying gravel

Peggy Bourne yesterday took a minute off her practice time. Picture / Alastair Ritchie

Peggy Bourne's emotional journey ended yesterday at the foot of the huge bronze statute of her husband Possum that overlooks the road that took his life.

Having completed the Silverstone Race to the Sky at Cardrona, between Wanaka and Queenstown, Mrs Bourne stopped off at the statue on her way down the mountain.

"I just wanted to thank him, tell him I did it," she said.

"It's been an emotional day."

It was also a triumphant day. Mrs Bourne's mission to complete her debut race had taken "a whole lot of planning and a big team effort to pull off. It has been fantastic to be able to make this tribute to celebrate Possum in the best possible way that Possum would like."

Along the way she proved she had a few racing skills.

In the main race yesterday she climbed the Snow Farm Rd in a respectable 10 minutes 32 seconds, shaving over a minute off her first practice time on Saturday.

But neither winning or breaking speed records was the point.

"He was my life so this was all about Possum. It's my personal tribute and that's the reason I'm here."

The return to the course that claimed her husband's life two years ago was not without its difficulties.

After her practice run yesterday morning Mrs Bourne returned to her team base in tears, hugging her children close to her as they watched a video of their late husband and father in the merchandise tent.

But she "wanted to do what Possum would have done" and soon got to work signing T-shirts, posters and Possum-related number plates for her fans.

Although Mrs Bourne's race was a personal tribute, it was hard to miss the rallying legend's influence at the event.

Dozen's of spectators wore caps adorned with "Tribute to Possum" lettering and old footage shown on the big screen between events was full of the late driver.

Aucklander Andrew Hawkeswood was overcome with emotion as he received the Possum Bourne Memorial Trophy at last night's prizegiving for being the fastest finishing resident New Zealander.

But Japan's Nobuhiro Tajima - known as Monster due to his uncharacteristic size - took top honours in the event for the sixth time, making it up the mountain in just over eight minutes.

Mrs Bourne is not yet sure if her success marks the start of a new career in racing.

"I just wanted to get through today.

"This is all about this day and it's been a great one."

Racing towards the sky

* The Race To The Sky course is 14.5km, starting 450m above sea level and ending at 1500m.

* The course has 135 corners of which nine are hairpins.

* Japan's Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima has now won six of the eight races, beaten once by Possum Bourne and once by US-based Kiwi Rod Millen.

* Possum Bourne died after a crash on the course during a pre-race viewing in 2003.