Key to Highlands

Ultimate Adrenaline Action !!

‘Out of adversity comes opportunity,’ or so the saying goes and when the weather put paid to plans to host the winners of our Nexans Ice Driving Promotion at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds, an alternative had to be found, and fast.

Highlands in Cromwell, an iconic tourism destination and a long-time supporter of Powerbase, stepped in at short notice and put on a day to remember for 32 lucky people. The Keys to Highlands experience gives groups the opportunity to have the ultimate playground to themselves for a full day and like every playground, you need a healthy dose of competition, something Highlands offered in spades!

The Powerbase posse was made up of the 20 winners of the promotion we ran earlier this year. The winners were from Telfer Electrical, Advance Electrical Wholesalers, Industrial Electrical Supplies, R Redpath Ltd, Scott Electrical and K Simpson Ltd. Nine more of their members paid to be a part of the day while Nexans was represented by Mike Pilbro and Jonathan Elkins. Graham Copp, Powerbase Group Marketing Manager kindly “volunteered” his time and did a great job of looking after everyone.

The morning started with a briefing and morning tea in Highlands private members lounge before our members were split into different groups to do a series of activities including: a Subaru WRX experience, the choice of a self-drive Radical or Mustang experience on the circuit, blindfolded dirt buggies, a fast lap in the brand new Highlands Ferrari 488 GTB, and a go-kart Grand Prix. Off the track, there was a helicopter ride to the top of Mt Michael where everyone was treated to a glass of win. Highlands put on a great lunch and at the end of the day there was a prizegiving function where our members reflected on what truly was a once-in-a-lifetime, VIP experience.

“Better than sex,” was how one of our Powerbase members, who shall remain anonymous, described the experience, while Peter O’Brien from Telfer Electrical Otago said it was “too good to be true.”

“The day at Highlands was electrifying and adrenalin filled,” according to Jamie Gillam of IES Industrial Electrical Supplies in Christchurch. “It’s the ultimate playground for adults. Where else do you get to drive a Subaru WRX around a world class race course? I did fast laps in a Ferrari, drove a brand new Mustang, raced against my mates in the go-karts and drove a 4WD on a dirt course blindfolded before ending up in the trees. The staff at Highlands told me that hitting those trees was a first!”

“As if that wasn’t enough there was a helicopter ride to the top of a mountain for a glass of red while taking in the breathtaking views of the Queenstown region. It was an amazing adventure and the clients I took were even more stoked then I was! Thanks to the Powerbase team headed by the legendary Graham Copp, to Nexans for sponsoring the  event and to the professional team at Highlands who were great hosts. We had the time of our lives.”