You're 40-odd years old and you've achieved success in many different areas. You have a loving wife and the kids have moved on to bigger things. Now what? For some buying a Harley is the obvious choice, hell, even a convertible. Or you could just start one of the biggest racing teams in the country in your quest for racing domination!

Quinton Velder initially got involved in racing by sponsoring stock cars and 2 GTI Challenge cars After an unsuccessful trip to a PE race as a sponsor, Quinton and his wife Madeleine realised they wanted something more. After seeing Quinton unfulfilled by the current arrangement, his puppy dog eyes watching on as other team cars completed lap after lap, she did what any good woman would. She bought him a race car!

In his first full season he finished 3rd in the championship with some quick and consistent driving amongst a gaggle of much younger and experienced pilots. Since then things haven't been all rosy. A massive shunt saw Quinz having to purchase another car, once again sponsored by his better half!

After a disappointing 2005 season Madeleine again stepped in and suggested Quinz look at getting a workshop with a team mechanic.

After the initial teething problems of setting up a new team and workshop Quinz decided to take on another driver. The driver he approached was the experienced Steffi Aukett and she accepted the position as one of the first ladies of GTI Challenge. No stranger to racing, this dame has a rich history in karting and a racing CV that looks like a grocery shopping bill!

The first half of 2006 saw the team dealing with some teething problems and yet another crash. At the very same corner where Quinton had crashed just a few short months earlier, Steffi crashed her Polo into the scenery, hurting her hip in the process and sitting out the next 2 race meetings. The crash was a blessing in disguise for the entire racing fraternity and prompted the long overdue extension to the run-off area at turn three.
Even after Steffi's huge farming incident, she came back in true racing spirit and was quickly on the pace securing a few more trophies for the trophy cabinet. In 2006 Quinz Quality had approached the WPMC and made one of the cars available to a development racer. This was the ultra quick Class B Golf. Being the current winner of the
inaugural development program Ernest Page was the obvious choice for the job.

At the beginning of the 2007 season, 2 more QQC cars joined the fray. Gti Challenge Rookie of the year 2004 driver, Ashley Wharton joined the team after a 2 year sabbatical from racing when they bought Chad Rhoda’s car and Brad Wadeley from Clubmans fame is flying the QQC flag in the Supercar challenge, a very competitive and successful one make series.

Now there were so five cars prepared and ready to race! Yep, five cars! With four in GTI Challenge this makes the Quinz Quality Team the biggest team in any one series IN THE COUNTRY! All cars are kitted in identical livery and look absolutely stunning cruising in tow!
What makes this team even more special is the fact that the drivers are from such varied backgrounds!

Quinton drives the 16v 145kW Class A Jetta, the other Class A car, a stunningly prepared POLO Classic, is raced by Steffi Aukett Ernest Page pilots the Class B Golf and his new team mate, Ashley Wharton driving another MK I Class B Golf for the 2007 season.

Cars need to be fixed, and that's where the mechanical prowess of Justin Sha comes into play! Not only does this guy have a workshop to maintain, but before a race weekend it's a dash to the finish as he tweaks and fettles to get the cars just right. GTI Challenge being as competitive as it is and all cars theoretically the same, it all comes down to setup and tweaking, and of course driving. On race day Richard, a Quinz Quality employee joins in and helps on the mechanical side where necessary so it’s plain to see, this really is a family affair! Steff’i’s father Greg Aukett is also a mainstay of the Quinz team and is one of the familiar faces at the Quinz Quality garage. Always helpful, always offering helpful advice based on years and years of racing experience.

In the last race meetings alone on the 12th May 2007, the Quinz team had 4 podium finishes, which according to some has to be some sort of record! Yes folks, this team get the job done!

Working hard means playing hard and the Quinz Quality Boma is always buzzing with excitement after the day's racing! Lots of braaing and even more drinking takes place as
the spectators and drivers wind down after a hard days racing. Unbeknown to most, the day was merely the pinnacle of a month long ice berg for the Quinz Quality Family!

With most of the initial mechanical maladies sorted out, this year's season will be telling for the bigger Quinz Team. So far a QQC car leads the overall championship and another is in 4th place overall. Watch this space!