Pork Pie producer Tom Hern owns one of the Minis featured in the film
What Mini do you drive?
A volcanic orange/yellow Mini Cooper S, 2L Twin Turbo. I love the car for sentimental reasons, obviously. We travelled the length of the country in that beast. She is a manual, too, which delivers some go-kart-style fun. I live in Piha and I flick her into sport mode on my commutes. She has plenty of power, handles beautifully and, importantly, has a fantastic stereo system and a sunroof.
Did your Cooper survive the filming intact?
Yes, she went in for some minor cosmetic surgery to look her best again. Unlike one of her sisters, who also starred in the movie, nothing too serious happened to her during the shoot.
Who else drives your car?
I'm not precious about sharing the love. My partner isn't too keen on the manual trans, though, so she doesn't drive it much. My workmates, on the other hand ...
What do you always have in your Mini?
Snacks in the glovebox as I spend so much time in the car (driving from Piha to the city) and I don't want to get "hangry". Allpress coffee in the cup holder and my sounds on phone.
How often do you clean it?
I'm a busy boy and I often don't get around to it. Occasionally I treat her to a groom at Car-Fe though, and she feels spoiled.
First car you owned?
I first owned a Mitsubishi Celeste. It was cheap, that's why I got it. Then I saved up and bought a MKII Zephyr, with a V8 in it. It was a strange car for a 17-year-old to own. After that, I had a black Nissan 300ZX, that I drove too fast. I graduated to a diesel Toyota station wagon in my early 20s (when I started my business and needed to save money). That was a shock to the system. My final step into old man status was a Honda Civic hybrid, which I just gave to my partner when I bought the Mini. The Mini is my first sportier machine since my early 20s, and I'm enjoying it. I am keen to check out the new Mini hybrid when it comes out. As well as wanting a sporty drive, I am environmentally conscious ... and the reduced fuel bill would be attractive.
Who taught you to drive?
My dad taught me when I was 13. He's a great driver. He's much more of a petrolhead than me. So is my brother. They both race/raced stockcars. I was the black sheep of the family in that way -- more passionate about the arts than racing. But I did drive karts when I was younger and enjoyed it. I passed my licence on the first try (in my mum's brown Austin Mini) live on TV. I was working as a reporter for the kids' show What Now and they decided it would be a cool story to cover me sitting my licence. It would have been embarrassing to fail that one.
Any tips for young drivers?
Stay calm behind the wheel. Consider other drivers on the road. Save the crazy stuff for race tracks and movie sets.
Do you prefer manual or automatic?
Manual. I enjoy the extra control over the car.
Most memorable road trip?
Taking the bloody car to Invercargill!
What do you listen to?
It depends on my mood. Old school hip-hop, classical, jazz, National Radio or the cricket in summer.
Great day trip out of Auckland?
Whatipu.
What irritates you most about other drivers?
Campervan drivers travelling at 50km/h or less (and not pulling over to let traffic past) on the Piha Rd when I'm trying to get to work. It makes me envy them for being on holiday.
Auckland's congestion, how would you help solve that?
Improve and incentivise rail travel.
And if you could go anywhere, with anyone in any car?
I would have loved to have travelled with Barack and Michelle Obama in Cadillac One. Huge admiration for those two and I would love to have a chinwag in their presidential waka.
In the new Pork Pie film, how do the car scenes rate against the original Goodbye Pork Pie?
Some mean and original car chase sequences in our movie. But you be the judge, the film comes out Feb 2. Drop us a line at the Pork Pie Facebook page.