Home - Welcome to Craig Howser Panel & Performance in Hamilton New Zealand. On this website you will be able to find out about the quality products and services that we offer and that have allowed us to develop our reputation for value and service.Accident Repair - That supermarket bang the low speed scrape, general cosmetic damage to your vehicle are all easily repairable. No one wants to drive a car with a dented boot where the letter box jumped out in front of you! Bring your vehicle to us and we will restore it to its original condition.Estimate Enquiry Form - Car Restoration - In todays, shapeless, wind tunnel designed people movers, the thought of driving a unique classic from a by gone age is very tempting, but we often do not have the time, skill or space to do it. At Craig Howser panel and performance we offer a unique vehicle restoration service.We work with you to find out what you want to achieve with your vehicle and then work to make it happen. Projects range from simple re-sprays to full ground up restorations of classics.We recently completed the restoration of a Trekka, not the most glamorous of vehicles, but it had special meaning to its owner.Racecar Preparation - Anyone can build and prepare a race car. However if your time (or experience) is limited why not consider letting our expert staff help you. We have constructed many cars at all levels of competition, we even race a car ourselves, and we put the same skill, experience and safety into EVERY car we prepare.Completed/Current Projects - Some of our recently completed projects hamilton new zealand Craig HowserCars For Sale - race cars for sale racing cars for sale iin new zealand hamilton new zealand Craig HowserAbout Us - Based in Hamilton New Zealand, over the last 15 years we have grown, expanded, moved, expanded and grown again, and over the years our team has grown and gained greater levels of experience and skill. Our staff are all committed to delivering on our promises. The company is a family run business, my wife Kirsty works with me to keep the ship running smoothly. Sadly some of our customers insist on re-damaging their vehicles and return to us for more work. Although we hope never to have to work with you in an accident situation, it is reassuring to know that customers are satisfied with our work and will return to us or recommend us to their friends, family and colleagues.FAQS - We employ fully qualified trades people who understand that our business is about providing and maintaining high standards of repair and safety workmanship. We guarantee that we do not cut corners whilst carrying out the repairs to your vehicle, nor do we compromise the safety of your vehicle while performing these repairs. Our objective has always been to maintain high standards in our deliverance. By being active members of the NZ Collision Repair Association we can support these claims, as to become a member of this association and retain membership status, we are required to operate our business to a high standard, and this standard is monitored by the NZCRA, by way of inspections and audits that are carried out by them, on a regular basis.Contact Us - Support Please complete this form to request further information and we will contact you shortly At The Race Track - News At The Racetrack News and information about our racing team in Hamilton New Zealand sponsored by Craig Howesr.Links - Links To Other Web Sites car crash repair services insurance work undertaken panel beaters, collision repair car repairs hamilton new zealand Craig HowserOnline Shop - Online shopShopping Basket - this is the description

Stephen Barker Wairarapa

Hi Everybody,
We have just returned from round 4 of the New Zealand national Rally championship.
Rally of Wairarapa was held in Masterton and has some of NZ's best gravel roads for us competitors to go
skidding on.
We had recce on Friday and after traveling over the roads to check our pace notes it became apparent that we
were going to be in for a tight and slippery Saturday of rallying. How ever Sunday was to be the opposite, the
roads on Sunday were dry and fast.
Saturday started off well and by the end of stage 1 we had moved up 2 places on our start order of 9. Multiple
NZ rally champion Chris West retired with a damaged engine and our main rival Kieran Hall lost time after
hitting a bank. In the slippery conditions my aim for the weekend was to complete every stage of the rally.
By midday however we had dropped off the pace slightly due to myself having issues getting used to driving in
the wet again after having a few years away from rallying before the start of this season. I struggled to find a
driving style that suited the car and conditions.
As we neared the finish of stage 4 I over committed to a fast left hand bend which saw us slide wide and tag a
bank. The car spun 180 degrees in mid air and we came to rest in a drain. We managed to reverse out of the
drain and miraculously with no damage we carried on slowly to the end losing quite a bit of time.
After a quick service break we headed off into the penultimate stage of the day. With the road a bit drier we
attacked the stage setting an awesome pace only 1 second behind our class rival biggest Geoff Argyle. However
the last few kms of the stage were down hill and it took its toll out on the brakes. As we pulled into the time
control at the stage end they were on fire!!!
After putting out the fire we noticed the front wheel speed sensor was burnt to a crisp.
Unfortunately that meant for the final stage of the day we went with out a fully functional center diff computer.
Again we struggled through the stage losing a lot of time.
The boys did a good job at the days end service break to replace all the worn brakes and burnt speed sensors
meaning the car was ready for another days rallying.
Once again on Sunday morning we were battling with Kieran Hall and with Richard Mason rolling his Subaru
Impreza in stage 10 we had moved up to 6th overall. Although that same stage caught me out with a deep pot
hole on the inside of a fast right hander. It was unavoidable and the impact buckled a wheel and smashed the
steering column out onto my knees. I was forced to finish the stage holding the steering wheel up and once
again we lost a small amount of time.
After we had a blinder in stage 13 we moved up to 5th Overall for the day only 7.4 seconds behind Kieran Hall
in fourth. After discussing this with the team it was decided we would borrow some New tyres from fellow open
class competitor Glenn Inkster.
We went on a charge in the penultimate stage setting a time only 6 seconds behind current NZ Rally Champion
Haydon Paddon. This had finally satisfied my curiosity and proved that we had lost a lot of time throughout the
weekend running second hand tyres in the slippery conditions.
The last stage of the day was again an awesome stage time and Brett and I were very happy and returned to the
finish ramp in Masterton to Claim 2nd in class and 6th overall for the weekends rally.
This has moved us to within only 3 points of overtaking Glenn Inkster for 2nd place in the Open Class
Championship. I am confident that it will be a tight battle with Glenn in Nelson at the final round of the series.
Also with one round to go we still have a very outside chance of taking out the Junior title for the year.
It is still possible and if we can again finish every stage in Nelson on the 19th/20th September it should come
down to the wire.
Once again the new open class evo 7 has proved reliable and has helped big time in securing valuable points
over the last 2 rounds. Lets hope we have more of the same for the remainder of the the season!!
A big thanks to Craig Howser Panel & Perfomance for helping out and fixing some panel damage after the
weekend to have it looking Sharp for next Saturday nights SBM fundraiser evening.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!
Stephen