Working on race cars is something I’ve always had a connection to, so when Deegan Thompson’s family reached out, it was a project I was keen to be part of.
They wanted the car to feel like it had been designed with a fresh perspective so it would stand out on track and give Deegan something he could feel genuinely proud of as a junior speedway driver in the quarter midget class. They were also open to Good Thunder being the main sponsor, which meant our name became part of the overall design. Emma led the design, and the challenge came down to the car itself. Quarter midgets are made up of small, awkward panels, with very little surface area to work with.
From my side, having done signage myself, I’m always thinking about how things will actually translate once they leave the screen. What looks good in a flat layout can shift once it’s broken across panels, wrapped around corners, and applied to the car. A big part of my role was making sure what we designed would translate cleanly once it was applied by ECM Signs in Matakana.
Seeing Deegan out there racing with our design was a great feeling. He absolutely held his own, and having Good Thunder on the car made it even more exciting to be part of.
Dana O’Leary’s project came through Studio Finish in Browns Bay, who we work with regularly. Dana competes in circuit racing in New Zealand, including the BMW E46 Series. She wanted something she could feel more confident about, something that fit her better as a driver.
Victoria Wigzell led the design and developed a few different directions. Dana landed on the pink concept. It suited her straight away and felt like it belonged to her. Dana also gave us space to include the Good Thunder logo on the car, which we were really grateful for.
It was a good process to be part of, and even better seeing both of them out there running it.
