''I want a go ... don't worry about that ... just let me loose,'' he said as he finished a 45-minute tour with park owner Tony Quinn.
A spin around the track yesterday was out of the question for Mr Key while on official duty, Mr Quinn had been told, but Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean was happy to play proxy and sit in the passenger's seat during a quick lap or two of the track.
Mr Key was invited to the park opening at Easter but was unable to attend so took the chance to view the facility while in Central Otago yesterday opening two walking and cycling trails.
''I've never met Mr Key but he seems like a real cool dude to me and he's a self-made guy, like me, so we'll probably get on OK,'' Mr Quinn said beforehand.
After the visit, the Australian-based millionaire said Mr Key was ''a good bloke''.
''He asked the question everyone asks, which is why put something like this in Cromwell. I said that's why,'' he said, pointing to the blue sky. ''For 350 days a year here, you're guaranteed blue skies.''
''I'm pretty sure he'll pop in again one day - he'll have to pay, of course.''
