Contrary to all
expectations Maurice O’Reilly made it to middle age. The journey was
– well - interesting. From the moment he gained paid employment,
life took on meaning and purpose. Following a meteoric rise through
the Bank of New Zealand ranks after they discovered his sales and
marketing skills, he left to become self employed at age 20. Six
years of business success lead to 4 years OE traveling through 144
countries - much of this in the company of his wife who remains his
best friend and ‘care giver’. On return to New Zealand the couple established and operated a number of successful businesses
that were national leaders in their various field. He retired from
full time work at 52 to pursue those things that provided his most
enjoyment. Maurice has always been a competitive person. In sport,
business and social life he aims high and usually succeeds. He has
been active in local politics, business mentoring and writing
humorous stories for a wide range of publications. However, his
principal love has been things mechanical. He has flown fixed wing
aircraft and helicopters, raced jet boats, been a Search & Rescue
skipper and is active in 4WD - but most of all, raced cars. He
co-founded the Bay Offroaders and is a Life Member of the Tauranga
Mount Motorsport Club. His principal love is single seater race cars
and in these he won the NZ Bruce McLaren Championship. Success in
Classic & Historic race cars, Porsche and touring cars have lead to
an amateur career of international endurance racing. He now competes
for numerous teams in long distance racing all over the world. In
2006 Maurice set the New Zealand Diesel Speed Record and together
with friends driving the same car established the 24 hour Diesel
distance record. At an age when most people know better, Maurice is
planning a number of challenges that will provide pleasure and
satisfaction for many more years.
