Targa

We are providing finish crew number 2 Poko is start crew number 2 and Jesy is finish crew number 4

Here we are at Kiwi Holiday park in Otorohanga. We (Lex and I) left Duck creek OTG of 11, Lex drove as far as Te Aroha He is getting better every day. a pity my service station pie was so hot.

I then took over onto the outskirts of Hamilton over Narrows bridge, Te Kauwhata, then here.

Out for dinner last night at a local restaurant I managed a couple of Lindauer fraise. We then programmed Rodney and put in Exactly where we had to be this morning (today).

We well met our OTG of 8:00 (up and go for breakfast) heading for our first stage (SS2) we were only a little late, said hello to Jesy (in person) and confirmed that our Fleetlink radios appear to be acting fine.

It was unfortunate that there was no FF or FC on the road, normally this can be utterly relied on but the roadbook was a great help as was the Targa official that helped.

The field was smaller than we would like but we had competitiors, time trial and tour.

However for the first time in ages Rallysafe simply didn't work for us, most importantly the times were being received at Targa base but Lex sure got tired writing NRT on logsheets and competitors cards the good news is that Buck was able to talk Lex through modifying the computer's device managing table and low and behold everything worked again.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your point of veiw) our second stage of the day SS5 was in exactly the same place so we didn't have to movebut a two and a half hour wait was a real pain

SS5 was a repeat of SS2 but rallysafe worked a treat - the lunch that the sweeper provided was very welcome too No restaraunt meal tonight, we had fish and chips delivered

Our OTG is again is 8am tomorrow, we stay at "Horse and Jockey" pub in Matamata tomorrow night where we also shall meet up with Poko, Dale,Bruce and Mark.

--ooOOoo--

Hi everyone, this is Lexus, Warwick has asked to do his write-up for day 2.

We woke up at 7am because we knew that our only stage for today (SS9) might be quite difficult to find (which it was), with us eventually realizing that we had passed where we had to be multiple times.

We had a total of 35 competitor cars and about 15 tour cars, after cleaning up we began our journey to Matamata (with me driving).

Eventually we came to a halt when we found ourselves right next to the mid section of another stage (meaning we would have to drive WD (wrong direction) through said stage. so I decided to turn back and find another way.

With the help of Rodney (our GPS) and my moderately okay map reading abilities I found another way onto our road to Matamata that would bring us right next to the beginning of the stage instead of onto it...However it was a narrow windy gravel road, so off I went.

I traversed that horrible road and came out the other side unscathed.

After driving for a while I crossed the Arapuni Dam, after crossing the dam onto SH1 I was met with the worst...and I repeat the worst intersection known to mankind...I got through it suprisingly easy and of course continued into Matamata.

We are staying tonight at the Horse and Jockey hotel, with Jesy, Steve, Poko, Dale, Mark and Bruce staying aswell.

Wazza went to the bar (While I did everything). and I eventually joined them all downstairs for dinner.

I poured the wine into everyone's glasses (except Mark and mine).

They sat and watched the rugby, with me and Jesy discusing video games for a bit.

Eventually after finishing my food i went back upstairs to continue learning the lines for my devising piece for Drama.

Our OTG (Out the gate time) for the morning is 8am and tonight we are staying at the Bull ring in Upper Atiamuri.

--ooOOoo--

Hi Again

Here we are at 'TheBull Ring' Atiamuri, about 10 mins from our stage tomorrow morning !!!! ... Yeah

Last night we were at Horse and Jockey Matamata.

Lex had consulted with all the oracle (i.e Rpdney) and the road book and worked out exatcly how to get to our stage, and (of course) we well met out 8 am OTG (again).

BUT this presented us with a 'no through road' - no detour provided !!!

Consternation - yes Giving up NO

We proceeded until we counldn't get any further - such did not eventuate - road workers do not work Sunday morning of a long weekend !!

We did have FC and FC points from the road book but no road name(s), with some assistance Lex sorted it out and we were'on site' 10 mins early - well done that boy !!!

Once cleared by the sweep vehicle we proceeded quietly (thanks Rodney) towards where we are now.

We stopped for a pie etc at Tirau and again caught up with Poko, Dale, Markand Bruce. We did indeed have a pie each - Lex is always enamoured of any thing enormous !

With our direct route not available for us we needed to go via Whakamaru, I had hoped to show Lex North Island system control or even the gutrs of a Hydro Power Station - but such was not to be.

The main office which used to house MANY engineers was closed down and empty and, of course the actual Power station had the usual 'get stuffed sykes' notice.

Pity, but we got here nice and early - a bonus in itself.

We had a nice meal ( and I had a couple of G&Ts.

We aim to stick with our OTG time of 8 am again tommorrow, and after doing our two stages for the day expect to home before dark 'TIRED BUT HAPPY.

--ooOOoo--

Hi All

As Lex would say 'just a quickie tonight' !!!!

We are both home TIRED BUIT HAPPY.

OTG This morning,SS22 - as usual

SS25 this afternoon -Lex had to drive the whole stage too.

We returned our gear to Targa and drove home taking turns something over 3 hrs.

Full epilogue in a few days,

Unless we are needed for Whangarei after all, the next event is of course Silver Fern in a few weeks time.

--ooOOoo--

Epilogue

Big Targa done and dusted, once again fufilled our obligations.

Highlights

We met every OTG (sometimes well met)

We were on stage on time (usually)

Our block marshells always turned up as expected

Our fleetlink radio worked everywhere we went (unlike our cellphones)

A lot of this has been covered in our daily write ups but here it is all together.

Thursday 24th October OTG 10 am

Lex drove to Te Aroha, Pies for lunch, mine was "terribly hot", I then drove through Hamilton, Te auamutu thense to our accomidation in Otorohanga, collected the gear at the rugby club, we talked to Vicky and Jonothan, Dinner that night at a very good resteraunt (lex has had his first burger of the week) I had some lamb that was quite tough (I did not have a steak knife so it was very difficult to eat).

Friday 25th October OTG 8 am, Found our stage SS5 (partly thanks to Jesy) NRT to the fore, Thanks Buck for getting Lex into the guts of the laptop settings, it then worked fine,

We stayed on site for SS5 after which we began our journey back to the holiday park. Where we ordered Fish and Chips to be delivered for dinner.

Saturday 26th October OTG 8 am (again)

we headed to SS9 which was our only stage for that day, we thought would be difficult to find (it was), but we found it eventually (only marginally late), After we were cleared we began on our way to our nights accomidation where Lex was required to drive over a narrow gravel road (All good experience for him, He did really well).

We stayed at Horse and Jockey Hotel and met up with Jesy and Steve aswell as Poko, Dale, Bruce and Mark, I shouted the bottle of wine.

Sunday 27th October OTG 8 am (Again ofcourse)

All was going swimmingly until we came across the "road closed residents only". Never the less we kept going through it and, lo and behold we got right through with no problem but on arriving at our stage SS15, For the first time in many years there was no FF or FC this proved to be somewhat concerning, by use of the roadbook and consulting a Targa official all was resolved. Once cleared we headed for "the bullring" at upper Te atiamuri but we stopped for lunch in Tirau (they're pies were really good) we needed to go via Whakamaru where we stopped for Ice cream but couldn't get into the power station, we arrived late afternoon, I had a couple of gins then we had our meal, I had a mix grille that was lovely,

Lex had his usual burger but despite its size he was actually he was able to get his mouth around, it.

Monday 28th October OTG 8 am (again)

Heading for SS22 where I managed to pressgang one of the young block marshalls to do road for me. to get to our next stage SS25 required Lex to drive the stage-well done boy.

We returned the gear and began our journey home, I drove through Tirau to Hinuera then Lexus drove to Turua. I drove home-we arrived just after 8.

TIRED BUT HAPPY.

Coming Up

It seems that Rally of Whangarei do not want us in any role so our next event is the fabulous Silver Fern rally which starts in christchurch on 26th of November.

We will be leaving here at 10 am on Wednesday the 13th of november, expect to be home again on the 7th of December should be GREAT.

That's me folks. but i have asked Lex to say a few words himself.

Hi this is Lexus, although I have been involved with Targa motorsport for nearly 2 years now. Big Targa 2024 was probably my biggest event yet. Me and Warwick actually make a pretty good team dispite the odd pairing. Anyway that is all for now.