Rod Millen is a rally and hillclimb racing legend, best known in the United States for his long-standing Pike’s Peak hillclimb record time of 10:04.06, set in 1994 and unbeaten until 2007. Millen’s since turned his attention to building race cars, but that’s not to say he doesn’t still enjoy spirited driving. In fact, Millen’s built the ultimate driveway at his property in Hahei, New Zealand, and the ribbon of asphalt recreates some of the most challenging corners from Millen’s years of competitive racing. His driveway features straights, decreasing radius corners, elevation changes and even blind entry, decreasing radius corners with elevation changes. You’d better be on your “A” game to visit Millen, especially in bad weather.
Millen recently celebrated his 60th birthday, so he did what any of us with an equally impressive driveway would have done: he invited friends and family over to celebrate. Better still, he encouraged them to bring their most entertaining rides, including an Audi quattro Group B replica, a V8 powered Ford Escort, Millen’s own record setting Celica (seen in the video below) and the family’s Toyota race truck. Dubbed the “Leadfoot Festival”, I’m personally hoping this evolves into an annual event. I’ve always wanted to see New Zealand, so now I need to figure out how to get an invite to Rod Millen’s house.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
