08/05/2026
We’re wishing our team mate Donny McLaren all the very best at the Ashburton Street Sprint 2026 - fuelled by KFC today and tomorrow!
⚫️ Donn McLaren
You know Hopper—or if you’re new to the event, you soon will. Donn is the only competitor to have taken part in every single Street Sprint since they began in 1991. His 13B-powered “Mazcort” is bright, loud, and impossible to miss, with Donn’s tail-happy driving style always delivering a great show for the crowd. The car has competed successfully across rallies, the Leadfoot Festival, sports saloons, OSCA, and both tarmac and gravel sprints.
These days, Donn dedicates a lot of his time to the Ashburton Family Go Kart Club, where both of his sons, Ben and Scott, compete. Even so, he always makes time to return and entertain the Street Sprints crowd with plenty of sideways action—and he’s well known for giving passenger rides to anyone keen for an up-close experience. A long-time supporter of Hayden Paddon, Donn’s most memorable moment was watching him win the 2016 WRC Rally Argentina.
Hopper has a long list of people to thank: Darcy Prendergast of SprayMarks Ashburton, Hunting and Fishing Kaikoura, Anton Evans, Wayne Haughey, Roscos Auto Dismantlers, Tinwald Canvas Upholstery and Shade, Greg and Sandy at Lysaght Ltd, Morrison Hyundai/Isuzu Trucks, Craig and Anne of McKeich Coachlines, and Kim Adams along with the Car Club team for all their hard work. ⚫️
KFC Ashburton
Ashburton Street Sprint 2026 - fuelled by KFC
9 - 10 May 2026 - See you at the Sprints!