Raw Motorsport

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

By 10:00 am I had already been awake and up since 8:30am. We had suffered a problem with our return booking. Our return ticket was Tuesday night, and because of the full Monday night sailing, I had been trying to find another way to get us and the car back early.

We attended the Targa Brunch at 10:30 and I was glad we did that. One of the main reasons for us attending Targa this year was to try and collect the Gold Targa Trophy plate if we could finish within the Targa Trophy times set for each stage. Paul and I were eligible for this coverted award, so we were fortunate enough to receive on stage this award with 14 other recipients.

Not only did we get this gold trophy, but also won our class and category. All in all we were safe, the car was safe and we collected some great trophies. We were happy.

Paul needed to get back to work on Tuesday, so opted to fly out from hobart, as our attempts to get on the Monday night sailing had failed. I dropped Paul at the airport and headed for Devonport. If I was standing at the counter on Monday night, maybe someone wouldn’t turn up and I could jump on.

I arrived in person and was told that it was so overbooked that even some freight would not be going, and if someone didn’t arrive, freight would have first priority. Ok that was it, time to find some accomodation in Devonport.

Driving around the port to the township side I pass Paul Stuart talking to his mechanic with car loaded on trailer and ute towing. I decided to do a u-turn and stop and small talk. I mentioned my problem, discussed the event and Paul suggested the day sailing boat in the morning. I headed off and was about to head into the TTlnes office when Paul Stuart rings and suggests I should return to where I had seen him, so I could enjoy and beer, as he had sorted out a slot on the boat for me.

The short of it was the ute had been booked twice, and Paul’s navigator Mike Herrod had flown back early. Thanks Paul it was great to stumple on that opportunity, so I arrive as need on Monday mornng off the boat and straight to work.

Targa 2007 is over and it was very kind to Paul Girt and me. We still have some photos and video to go up on the site, and we will compile a dvd of the in car action for the 5 days.

I thank everyone that has shown any interest in this site, and for all the support from family and friends. Stay posted as I will continue to document the post event stories as they unfold over the next few weeks.

“Dial Before You Dig” have been great supporters for us and this year with Rex Broadbent and Mike Goedheer winning the Classic section outright, we think that DBYD have received great media and public coverage of their community service. Thanks to the team at DBYD Vic/Tas including Mark Binks and Scott Reid, and also thanks for the team at PRPartners - David Rowell and Angela for there help and support.

We hope you got out of this event what you expected, I know we did.

After arriving in Hobart we received our finishing medallion, and we are asked to park in “Parc Fume”. That was a surprise, so we must have done something right, the scrutineers want to check our car.

We exit the car and meet the “Dial Before You Dig” group that are having a BBQ on the lawn at the Hotel. We help ourselves to a couple of beers, and proceed to the finsh line area to welcome fellow competitors and friends. Over the next 2 hours all the cars arrive and the outright winners are announced, and provide the mandatory spectacle of wine spraying on the podium.

Tonight at the Gala dinner, the winners will be announced. Paul and I opted not to attend the official dinner (Not everyone can due to the limited space) and head out for a dinner, then back to the after party.

I distinctly recall something about 4:00am before I closed my eyes, and grabbed what little sleep I could get before the targa breakfast next morning.