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TARGA BAMBINA'S FINALE - DAY 2.

The overnight final results from Saturday's Day 1 were:

Classic:
1st Mark Parsons/Cully Patterson in the Neil Tolich 1970 Ford Capri Perana V8 with a total stage time of 34:08
2nd Anton and Anne Tallott in their 1979 Mazda RX7 on 34:50
3rd Anthony and Joanne Butler in their Holden Cheetah V8 on 35:03
4th Stuart Eyre/Stuart McFarlane in Eyre's 1973 RX3 on 35:41
5th Nicholas Cooper (aka Dr Nick)/Paul Marshall in Dr Nick's 1971 Chrysler Valiant Charger on 35.53 So far a brilliant run by Parsons who, with his 'sideways' reputation, did not disappoint.

Modern:
1st Jason Gill/Jason Robb in Gill's 2005 Mitsubishi EVO9 GT with 33:24
2nd Leigh Hopper/Michelle Bain in Hopper's 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX STI SpecC on 33:37
3rd Rick Giddy/Joel Giddy Subaru in a 2003 Subaru WRX STI with 33:40
4th Malcolm Smith/Jane Entwistle in a 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IV on 34:42 (was seeded 20th !!)5th Harry Dodson/Glenn Cupit in Dodson's 1991 Nissan Skyline with a 34:44 That actually put Parsons 4th overall in the mix. Malcolm Smith was the big surprise as it was his first tarmac rally. 6th placed Gary Murphy/Terry Rouse in another BMW M3 was another 9 seconds back. 7th placed Richard and Jenny Mehrtens from Wellington in their fabulous Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG, only 1 second behind. Shows how close they are as Bob Boniface /Simon Butler were only another second back in Boniface's 1987 Ford Sierra.

Sunday:

SS8: As predicted the Ararimu Hillclimb would be a horsepower race and at the bottom of the hill the sheer acceleration of many of the cars was quite something to see and hear - incredible. Plenty of spectators as well.

Two cars never even made it to the start-line. Dr Nick Cooper's Valiant Charger had water-pump failure in the Touring Stage and Brent Early's 1992 RX7 FD never made it back to Parc Ferme after an approved departure for repairs.

Surprising all was the blistering time of 5:55 was Malcolm Smith. Gill was 2nd with a 6:00 and Hopper, a 6:06. Dodson a 6:17 and Mehrtens a 6:19. In the Classics, Parsons did a 6:19 and Tallot a 6:22. Viewing of Groundsky's images at the Prizegiving shows Parsons overcooking a 90 degree left corner and having to reverse out of it so that could explain it. I later 'learnt' that Malcolm Smith lives in Hanua, so knows that road backwards. He was quick all day in his Evo IV but it was only his first Targa ? Same source said "have a look underneath, it has Mitsi WRC type centre diff !"

This was the first time the Ararimu Road had been used and all the driver's were in raptures after it.

SS9 was from Miranda on the Firth of Thames, to Mangatangi. In both Classes it is amazing how such differing cars run such close times. 6 Classic cars were covered by 15 seconds. Parsons 07:24, Tallott 07:29, Butler 7:32 Barry Kirk-Burnnand in his left hook BMW 3 had cured his fuel pump problems was 07:35. Eyre 07:39 and Rex Alder in another left hook BMW 3 a 07:42.

In the Moderns it was slightly closer with 6 covered by 13 seconds. Jason Gill 07:14, Smith 07:16, Giddy 07:20, Dodson 07:24, Murphy 07:25, Mehrtens 07:26 and Boniface 07:27. Where was Leigh Hopper ? He had gone through a fence into a paddock, the damage to the WRX meant they could not continue.

SS10 from Mangatangi to Kaiaua, which is north if Miranda, was cancelled. It's an open flowing road and used by Targa in the past. In the fast section thet had put in two chicanes put there to further reduce speeds. Why?, in order to maintain Motorsport NZ's rule of 132 kph average. Remember that the Targa maximum speed limit is 200kph and the fast cars all now carry a GPS which is monitored. At Driver's Briefing they were all told there were penalties for hitting the barriers or for any wheel spinning. It was/is also very, very clear in the Route Book. Motorsport NZ officials deemed it would still be too fast so it was cancelled it. It was then a Touring Stage through to a 30 minute Pit Stop.

SS11 was a repeat of Stage 9. Again it was Parsons but only by two seconds from Tallott. Rex Alder was now showing his hand in the M3 and only 5 seconds back. Stuart Eyre had dropped 3 minutes in his very tidy RX3, a broken alternator bracket would sadly end his day. I say sadly, for he knows stages 14 to 17 like the back of his hand as he farms in Naike. In the Moderns Smith took another 3 seconds out of Gill, again much to everyone's surprise. Smith did a 7:19 and Gill a 7:22. The next, and there was a big group of them, were all 15 seconds away. Then it was down to Te Kauwhata for the Lunch Re-Group.

SS12 and 13 were the fast 20 km run up the Eastern side of Lake Waikare. In the Classic it was Parsons and Kirk-Burnnand on identical times of 9:27 and Tallot on 9:32. It was then 10 seconds back to Butler and then 2 to Alder. The Moderns had a new stage winner in Rick Giddy who was 9 seconds ahead of Gill with a 9:03. Was there something wrong with Gill, he's a Te Kauwhata boy? It was then 6 back to Smith who continued to surprise on his first tarmac event. Then there was four cars around the 9:26 mark.

Second time through for the Classics and Parsons took 11 seconds off his previous time. Kirk-Burnnand and Tallott both took only took 1 second off their's. Moderns turn and Giddy put down the identical time of 9:03 but Gill took 5 seconds off his previous and went 9:07. Smith was not far behind on 9:11. It was then back to Te Kauwhata for fuel then the final four stages, actually two, run twice.

SS14 was the 19 km West up Hetherington Road then up through Naike and Glen Murray. In the Classics it was Parsons with a 9:13 and Kirk-Burnnand 9:19. Tallott was a 9:30. In the Moderns another identical time of 8:58 from Gill and Giddy. Smith was close on 9:00 and Dodson 9:04.

I was in the middle of this stage with probably 50 other spectators and the top boys were really going hard. Chris Lane's Audi RS2 was another that sounded just sooo good. Allan Lewis had his Datsun 240Z with it's supercharged Chevy was running about 15th but the crowd loved the sound. You could hear the supercharger whining above that big V8.

SS15 was down Glen Murray Road past Ron Roycroft's old sheds, memories of his Bugatti. Tallott like many other Targa competitors had been on this road before. Tight at the top but opens up towards the bottom. Tallott beat Parsons by 1 second with a 5:05. Kirk-Burnnand was also quick with a 5:09. Both his and Rex Alders M3's have a great 'stance' on the road when under full power. Mike Sexton's is a 6 cylinder and his 6 speed sequential gearbox was 'music to the ears'. In the Moderns Gill put down a 4:57 with Giddy and Smith both on 5:04's, Boniface a 5:06, Dodson a 5:07 and Mehrtens a 5:10 which was very fast for the heavier Mercedes on such a tight road.

SS16 and 17 were repeats of 14 & 15.

SS16 and Anton Tallott had a Classic win taking 16 seconds off his previous time. Parsons did a 9:16 which was actually 3 seconds slower. Kirk-Burnnand did a 9:27. Modern's Giddy did a 9:05 and Gill a 9:06. Gill was holding still holding the overall advantage. Smith and Boniface were back on 9:15 and Dodson a 9:18.

SS17 and all Gill had to do was keep it on the road and the same applied to Parsons. For Parsons there was a worrysome oil leak from yet another split oil cooler. In the Classics, Tallot took 9 seconds off his previous run with a 4:56. Parsons did the same and took 8 seconds off with a 4:57. Kirk-Burnnand took 4 seconds off his with 5:05. In the Modern's Gill had done a 4:57 and this time did a 4:53. Giddy a 4:56 and both Smith and Boniface on 4:58.

Whew, that's it, only a Touring Stage to the Waikare Golf Club and it's all over. It's difficult that I am always quoting the front runners as in the middle of the pack they were all having their own battles with fellow competitors. An example is Gary Murphy in his M3 was always trading times with Mehrtens in that fabulous Merc.

The change of having all the fast boys in the middle of the pack appeared to really work well. It did not put pressure on the timing crews like it had in the past. 



Classic:
1st Mark Parsons 01:42:32 a win by 1:25 - well done, a brilliant drive.
2nd Anton Tallott 01:43:57 another great drive from the Tallotts
3rd Barry Kirk-Burnnand 01:45:39 he looked fast, he was fast. This a 2.5 litre M3
4th Anthony Butler 01:46:02 23 seconds off a podium - can't be the easiest car to drive, well done
5th Rex Alder 01:48:04 never far off the pace is Rex. His is a 2.2 litre M3

At Prize-giving Mark Parsons said. "I want to thank my Co-Driver Cully Paterson and our Service Crew. I also want to thank my Partner Karen, if it wasn't for you I would not be here, thankyou." Mark then went on to thank the Perana's owner Neil Tolich who had generously allowed Mark to drive the car. Neil was in attendance having just got back from the UK.


Modern:
1st Jason Gill 01:40:13 a deserved win by 57 seconds.
2nd Rick Giddy 01:41:10
3rd Malcolm Smith 01:41:58 so well deserved
4th Harry Dodson 01:43:21
5th Bob Boniface 01:43:43

Jason Gill said "I want to thank my sponsors City Wide Cars, Mag and Tyre Direct, Schaeffer Oils and Yamaha NZ. Thanks also to my Co-Driver and Service Crew. Thanks also to my wife Chrissie and the children for coming out and supporting us. Personally, I like the reversed seeding as I never passed a car over the two days. Thanks Peter (directed at Event Director Peter Martin) it's been a well run, fun event."
 
 

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