Raw Motorsport

The Finsh

info — Mon, 23 May 2011 22:25:33 +0000

We were very happy to conclude with a podium finish and the following news article is from the Targa website.

2011 – Sunday – Day 5

info — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:37:00 +0000

Sunday started dry, but the stages wee wet. We had a great run, bur due to our Saturday stop to assist a crashed car, we still hadnt received our derived time, and we had fallen down the leader board.

We pushed on not knowing if we should be pushing or not. Finally afterlunch we had confirmation of our time and by last stage we had approx 4mins up or sleeve. We were prematurely congratulated by one if the reports who had been interviewing us thru the event so we drove thru the last stage.

We finished 1st in the late classic handicap, which meant a podium place. It was fun and exciting to be on the podium with champagne and the media. We had a great time.

It’s a great event and I have enjoyed having my brother (Paul) here to support me and share as a team this win. We have had our moments in car this week, so I thank him for putting up with me crumpiness. (drivers tend to get short).

I would like to thank the Porsche Centre Melbourne crew. We had minor issues but they sorted them all. All so the team at octagon, especially Mark Perry and Helen Coad. This targa event is one of the premium in the world and the Targa volunteers and officials cannot be thanked enough. Without them and the roads of Tasmania we couldn’t participate or enjoy thus fantastic event.

We are on the boat Monday, as a conclusion to another wonderful targa.

2011 – Saturday – Day 4

info — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 11:19:25 +0000

The Longest competitive day is the claim of day 4. We are up early, bags Collected and the entire targa enterage travels to strahan. We experienced our first wet conditions today, and was it slippery. I mean ice. Our old girl loves the rain and we did the 5th fast time in classic across Mount Black. Unfortunately we were first vehicle on scene to a wrecked, rolled mitsubishi evo, and both driver and nav were very sore bit ok. We were delayed 20 mins and we are seeking a derived time for that stage.

Our last stage for the day was a blinder, felt really good and we are safely in strahan having dinner, a drink and a fantastic fireworks display. Early to bed tonight ready for the last day to Hobart.

2011 – Friday – Day 3

info — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:43:54 +0000

Friday started with a wrong turn heading out to our first competitive stage. After an initial panic we turned around and headed back 5 km and intersected the pack of cars heading in the right direction. We are still leading handicap but apparently we are not allowed to run our car in class SS as we did do in modern category. So tomorrow we will be moved a class and fall down the leader board. Our time in the sun is quickly over.
Our car also developed a fuel leak, and it’s 11:00 pm and the mechanics have just finished fixing it. We have put the car in bed and we are doing our regular walk back to the motel (25 mins)… Bring on another targa day

2011 – Thursday – Day 2

info — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:37:40 +0000

Day 2 has been very kind to us. Although we don’t pretend to understand the classic handicap system, we are leading it. I guess we would prefer to compete on the outright scale, but we know that top 5 in the category is very difficult. We had an average day as we made a number of mistakes that cost us many valuable seconds. There is definitely room for improvement without compromising the safety. Let’s but this into perspective. Half way thru day 4 we will have completed 1/2 the competitive distance. Day 2 is still only a fraction into this event. Don’t hold your breath, we’re not.

2011 – Wednesday – Day 1

info — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:01:33 +0000

The morning stages are designed for everyone to get thru and bed themselves into this event. You could drive at 60 and finish within base time… But that doesn’t stop someone having a moment a heading south. We had an ok day, but the car is safe and we are good. It’s only day one, so we are happy to grow into this event. One stage today in the dry claimed 8 cars, so tomorrow is another day and we know the goal we have set ourselves. Be in Hobart Sunday night, with the car in one piece.

2011 – Tuesday – prologue

info — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 05:22:23 +0000

Long day for the experienced, and a nervous day for the novices. We had a good run at George town and matched our time for last year. With a slow car on circuit we probably could have taken another 2-3 seconds, but you don’t win targa on this day. Beautiful day in Tasmania today and looking good for the week. We head back to launceston soon and commence the real stages tomorrow.

2011 – Monday – pre targa

info — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 03:09:58 +0000

Paul and I have been out for another reccky. Heading to dome to get tyres tagged and see the Porsche centre Melbourne boys

2011 – Sunday – Pre Targa

info — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 22:09:49 +0000

Paul and I travelled from Melbourne on the Saturday night boat Spirit of Tasmania II. It was a rough night and the boat rocked and rolled. Daylight savings finished on Sunday morning so we arrived at 6:30am, an hour earlier. Off the boat and 30mins up the road to the Raspberry Farm for an english breakfast.

We met a fellow porsche club and targa member Stewart McAuley and navigator Phillip on the boat,so we all meet for breakfast.

We had an 11:50am scrutineering appointment, but kicked in around 10:00am after cleaning the car and our car was in parc fume by 11:30am.

Off in afternoon to do some reckie in the hire car, and after a full day the mexican restaurant in Launceston provide a great meal so we could head to bed early. By 8:30pm Paul was asleep and I wasnt far behind.

Targa has started.

2010 – Sunday – Day 5

info — Sun, 02 May 2010 21:08:02 +0000

At the risk of trying to avoid overstating how difficult today was, all I will say is Mount Arrowsmith (50 kms of competitive) was the hardest stage I have ever run.

Our car was shifting from one side of the whitelines to the other. We had built a lead from the car behind us of more than 1 minute 30, so we slowed to guaranteed getting to the end.

The Queenstown stage saw the normal number of offs.

The final stage was a non competitive stage through an industrial estate of approx 1.2kms. If there was ever a place to spin, then that was it, and yes we did. Coming into a tight left we spun around 270 degrees, whacked it in first and off we went. Hopefully the crowd appreciated it.

Safely in Hobart this week on reflection has been difficult but very rewarding.
My brother (Paul Rodgers) has adapted and performed extremely well as my navigator.

A big thanks goes to the boys at Porsche Centre Melbourne – Karl, Pete, Brian, Matt, Brett and Mitch “Ditch”.

Also my mate and partner in crime in my last 5 events, Paul Girt, who has supported us through this event, and who I know is missing been in the action.

This is my sixth event as driver and to cut through all the “targa” talk, I was going for a special trophy plate for competing and finishing within trophy time, and this year after securing my Gold three years ago, i was going for my Platinum.

Yes I got that, and Paul his first trophy plate.

But that is not all we achieved. We won our class, and the category and we managed to sneak into top 10 outright in early modern. I think I have spoilt Paul for his first run, but he sat beside me, trusted me to drive, and delivered words of advice (I think you should slow down a bit) and supported me in achieving this result.

Finally I would like to thank my wife.

Who would of thought many years ago, that her car would be turned into a club car, then eventually compete in 6 targa tasmania’s.
Although I am sure she worries about me, she continues to support me in my ongoing pursuit of motorsport pleasure.