About
TORQ Events
TORQ Events is a passion project by Carl Wells, built around the idea that cycling competitions should be creative, competitive, and open to everyone. It started in 2017 with a series of Strava-art charity rides — the Laser Kiwi and the Big Cock Ride — events that drew national and international attention for blending athletic achievement with a sense of humour.
The Auckland Hill Climb Series launched in 2019 and has since grown to include Wellington, Cambridge, Taupō, and Hawkes Bay. Other events followed: the 2021 VAM Challenge drew riders across New Zealand and around the world, and The Wildcat — a wacky yet competitive team checkpoint race — debuted in 2023.
Carl Wells
Carl relocated from Boston to Auckland in 2007 to perform French Horn with the Auckland Philharmonia. He discovered cycling through exploring Auckland's wild and scenic roads, and gradually became consumed by the sport — its community, its suffering, and its absurdity.
TORQ Events is his way of giving something back to the NZ cycling community.
What Riders Say
"Carl brought his quirky brand of seat-of-the-pants, grassroots spontaneity to things. And the little touches really made it cool — the race cards, drawing competition, long skid competition, trumpeted mass start. 10/10 would do again!"
"Last year's Wildcat was superb, a real grassroots, fun event. I did it with my wife Scoobie and we have talked about it often. So good to see someone doing something a bit different. Chapeau!"
"Runs a hellova bike event."
In the Media
Pedaling Squares
The Bunnyhop — a team checkpoint racePedaling Squares vlog
"The Hardest Easter Egg Hunt Ever"
Velo / Outside Online
The VAM Challenge: How Fast Can You Ride 1,000m of Vertical Gain?NZ Herald
"Laser Reindeer": Auckland man's epic bike ride for a good cause
Radio New Zealand
Interview on the Laser Kiwi Charity RideCycling Weekly
Cyclist draws bizarre "laser kiwi" on StravaNew Zealand Herald
Auckland cyclist's epic Laser Kiwi ride for a good cause