Original story
From Warwick’s notes
The original report has been retained and reformatted for comfortable reading on modern screens.
Our first Targa event for 2024 was a 'little' one day event run last Sunday 18th Feb.
In general, we do often have some difficulty getting volunteers to staff big events, but just being a one day, half way between Auckland and Hamilton this should be a breeze. Yeah Right!
So much so that it looked like I actually had six confirmed - oh joy. THEN, I lost our Post Chief to another team, another two to COVID, and another one to urgent breakdown work!
Another then decided he had more important 'things to do' and finally one simply didn't show, despite having been reminded the previous afternoon !!!
This meant that Johann and I were on our own. Fortunately with Johann having been involved in such events ever since 2006 it could be said that collectively we were 'experienced' and such proved to be the case.
Although regarded as a 'little' event we still had 8 (yes eight) stages a true cloverleaf based around Te Kauwhata College.
1st 2 stages in the morning then back for service, then another two stages and back for lunch, another two stages then back for service and a final two stages and back to finish.
So a 'little' event was really not so little after all.
I headed up Finish timing team 1, (with Johann).
Denise was Post Chief for Start team 2, with Brandon, Poko and Lexus.
4 stages for each team stretched our Rallysafe somewhat but with our inverter we managed to charge between stages so no problem.
Once again we had a rogue vehicle problem, one was not really a problem at all as the lady just waited until we could escort her through to her home.
The others were not so nice - a white Hi-Ace driver was quite abusive and insisted on driving head first into the stage between runs which could well have been disastrous.
Competitors also reported a Silver Mondeo in the stage, but it seemed to have backed into a private driveway and 'threatened' to join the rally.
I really cannot understand the death wish from these people.
Once finally cleared I took Johann, Lexus, and Jesy to the local pub (for a meal) then drove Lexus and I back to Duckcreek arriving about 8.15 pm.
So it was from an OTG at 6.30 am to home again tired but happy at 8.15 p.m. Not quite so little actually.
Next event is Bambina next month - hands up now please !!!!!
Warwick Sykes - Wazza