GTRC'r bound for Newfoundland Targa 2006

[GTR-Dad]

Lookin' good after day 3!

18s to reel in the Mini Cooper! We're pulling for you!

Cheers,
Dan

[Ezzie]

Just finished Day 4 - in and around the Marystown area today in the Burin Penninsula. The weather cleared last night and the hurricane has passed on through so we had perfect weather. We reached a milestone when we passed the spot where we broke down last year (Village of Garnish). This year someone else had bad luck in that town. A BMW M3 smashed into a house (took out his rad and bent the fender & hood). A Porsche ended up in the Atlantic and both drivers got out OK (I wonder what salt water does to German wiring???).

We dodged a bullet on the last stage before lunch in Burin, my co-driver missed a "jump" call and we caught air for far too long, coming down hard on the skid plate. The force of the landing compressed the motor mounts enough to dimple the oil pan up a little bit restricting flow to the oil pickup. We unknowingly drove about 3 km. on to the end of the stage with little to no oil pressure. At lunch we pulled the pan and straightened it and put it all back together - to our amazement we appear to not have done any damage to the motor.

We are currently in a solid 3rd place in Unlimited Class about a minute down on Kenzie in the works Mini Cooper S and about 2 down on Pacione in his Mustang. One more day to go and were going to get our trophy plate!!

[DrMango]

NICE! Good job guys!

kyle

[GTR-Dad]

This year someone else had bad luck in that town. A BMW M3 smashed into a house (took out his rad and bent the fender & hood).

How was the house?!!!! 8)

Keep up the sharp driving - and good luck!

Dan

[Ezzie]

Results of the rally, not good for our team. We made it through to almost the end of the 2nd stage on the last day (Day 5) and were involved in a big crash - the car is now very wrinkled.

We left the road on a high speed left turn going about 150kph and caught the guard rail. The force of the impact took out about 6 posts and flattened the guard rail. We then did a barrel roll and came down upside down on the guard rail directly above the rear view mirror, then bounced and did a half roll and the rear right corner went into a 6" spruce tree before coming to rest right side up behind the guard rail. The tree was a good thing because it was about a 500' drop down into the Atlantic ocean at that point.

Both my son & I were OK, I got only a sprained finger and my son Chris had a few aches and pains in his legs and pelvis from the sideways impact into the guard rail.

We don't know exactly what caused the crash - it might have been just simple driver error and I came in too fast and missed the line - or something may have broken in the right front suspension. The lower control arm bolt between the cross member and the arm is sheared as well as both of the bolts holding the tension rod to the lower control arm. We went through a very rough section of village road just prior to where the crash occurred and it is possible that one of the bolts was fractured.

The roll cage didn't move at all, just a slight kink in the cross brace across the top of the windshield. It is a testament to safety equipment (seats, belts, helmets, roll cage) that you can walk away from something like this with no injuries.

So the question now is do we search for another shell to transfer all the good bits to or just part it all out and move on??

[JZ]

Wow, Ezzie, so sorry to hear about the accident :shock:

Time to start a new project. I say part out, next year its gonna be GTR all the way.

[604R32]

Glad to hear you and your son are OK!

I agree with JZ, Part out!

[Ezzie]

As far as a GT-R in the Targa Newfoundland - maybe next year. Robbie Pacione has just bought a 1991 GT-R and is considering preparing it for next year's event.

[JZ]

Ezzie,

I just found out one of my colleagues in Ottawa was in the Targa. Cam Jones, of Team "Jaws" was in a 968, crashed into the ocean apparently.
:shock:

[klys]

OMG Bob so sorry to hear about your crash :shock:
I'm certain you must find it very frustrating to see something you'Ve put so much effort into putting together all crunched up.

But, like you said what's the most important thing is that you and your son are alright.

[Ezzie]

Here's a writeup that Jim Kenzie (Toronto Star journalist) did - talks about being passed by yours truly in the wet on Day 3!!

http://news.en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/sc/article.aspx?cp-documentid=950412

[spd-dmn]

"Bob also has most of the pass on video tape. Negotiations to secure the incriminating evidence are underway…"


vid!

[Ezzie]

"Bob also has most of the pass on video tape. Negotiations to secure the incriminating evidence are underway…"


vid!

I'm working on it. The camera that was mounted in my car belonged to ATV Productions (Vancouver) - they are doing the TV program this year which will be aired on Global, Speed Channel, etc. in the spring. I have contacted the producer to see if I can sign a release to get the raw footage. In the very least, I hope they use it in this year's program.

[spd-dmn]

Maybe if you're up for it we can do another little Targa meet at Max's house like last year.

That was fun.

[NISMONEWF]

hey ezzie i was at the car show after the first day i saw your car and the gtrc stickers lol but i couldnt find you anywhere ...

we were going to prep a car for next years targa but i left nfdriver so .. maybe ill do something on my own ... hopefully get to meet you next time ..