Raw Motorsport

Today we spent 10hours to have 3:37 secs of fun (or suffering), depending where you sit.As usual we had no idea at the end of stage as to our time (Paul and I just drive and navigate, the results just flow from that), but we were informed when we got back that we had placed 9th outright in Classic. Sad to say that wasn’t right, we were 12th, but this is only the seeding phase for day 1, so we weren’t getting excited.

As we approached the start of the stage, instructions that a car was off on turn 2 were heeded. Sure enough someone within 150m of the start had ventured offroad, up a kerb and into someones front yard. With one bent left front wheel, we later saw it being towed backed to launceston. Sobering to think how much effort and money had gone into that campaign, but we will wait to see if it is all over.

All and all we had a great run on our newly reconditioned engine from Porsche Centre Melbourne. Thanks goes to Paul Girt (my navigator) and Peter Bowen (Porsche Master Technician) who looked after the purchasing of parts and building the engine respectively.

The car feels great, and apart from a problem bedding in the brakes (we had very little brakes during and after the event) the car performed beautifully. The boys performed their magic at servicing tonight, bled the brake system, and I tested it out to give us the confidence we will need tomorrow.

As discussed yesterday I mentioned the “Dial Before You Dig” team. The team members are

Rex Broadbent/John Lilleyman -577- 1974 Porsche RS Carrera
Peter Eames/Will Logan - 573 - 1974 Porsche 3.0 Carerra
John Ireland/Mike Ribot - 643 - 1977 Porsche Carrera
Duane Rodgers/Paul Girt - 727 - 1985 Porsche Carrera

Please do not take pity on the early porsche’s as they are all many kilo’s lighter and have more horsepower than the 1985.

Anyway this is the team and we look forward to finishes from everyone.

The trip over in the boat this year was uneventful, as in I didn’t get locked out of my room in my jocks, so things were pretty quiet. The regulars were there and we ate, drunk then discussed Targa 2008 into the wee hours of the night.

The traditional stop at “Strawberry farm” for breakfast on the Saturday didn’t disappoint us, and we then made our way into Launceston to collect our rental car ready to recckie.

A Nissan Tiida, and worst of all automatic, but no hassle, it was economical in place of being fast.

Saturday showed us some rain, and concern again on tyre choice as we contemplated a wet Targa. Fortunately Sunday and Monday have proved to be fantastic, so we think there is no worry of rain in the foreseeable future.

On Sunday we went through the quickest and easiest scrutineering in our history in Targa. With no hassle our car was given the “ready to start” sticker.

Monday has seen us shop in town, then meet our fellow “Dial Before You Dig” team and their cars for a group photo session.

More details on the participants will be forthcoming, but basically we have four cars of Porsche 911 model and classic vintage ranging from a 1973 RSR to our 1985 Carrera.

I have been very slack in not updating this blog since Targa 2007 concluded. Just goes to show how busy I have been, and how dedicated this site is to the one event.

The car has had the engine out and reconditioned and that has only just been completed. I will go into the details of that job in the next view days. I unfortunately had a grand opportunity to get pictures with it out, and missed them.

The car is sporting a slightly different look this year as we (royal we, Paul and myself) have decide to run the car with spoilers front and back. In the past, based on the rules we couldn’t, but either the rules changed last year and we missed it, or they have lightened up on the strict criteria for standard classes. Any way we have read the rules and our interpretation means a tail, front spoiler and wider wheels. Basically this was how the car was delivered in Australia in 1985, so it is nothing new.

Well today is boat day, so by 4:00pm this afternoon I will knocked off work and we will be loading the car for the 7:30pm ferry.

Glad to have my regular followers back for this this event, and we hope to keep you up todate on our progress most nights. There is a new layout this year,so some exciting new stages.

Will keep you posted. DR