We began with the road crew taking the cars down last week for the fun that is the Ferry ride across the Tasman whist we flew down on Thursday evening.
The event began with the gathering of the cars on the top of the Wrest Point Casino on Friday afternoon after scrutineering. As this was the first time the crews and cars had all been together there were a few minor seat and seatbelt adjustments required and a briefing on the location of all the compulsory safety gear, etc. It also gave us the opportunity to complete the fine tuning of radios, cameras, etc.
Saturday morning saw a clear dry day with the crews heading southwest to stage one (TS1) at Lucastown which is generally used as a bit of a shakedown and gets the adrenalins pumping. Unfortunately for Matilda and Lee a birdstrike left them with a cracked windscreen. TS2 was up into Tahune with TS3, Airwalk, the opposite direction back out again. These were both 24 km long on a great piece of road. We met the crews at the end of this stage for a drink stop, check and fuel top up before they left on their way to Dover for TS4. From Dover they returned to repeat Tahune (TS5) with the crews lunch stop then held before the return journey of Airwalk (TS6). As there was only one way in and out of the Airwalk/Tahune stage and a 90 minute turn around we set off for Longley and TS6, the final of the day where we would meet the crews before returning to Wrest Point for the overnight stay.
Mobile phone reception in parts of Tasmania is non existent and this included the TS5 and TS6 stages with only landlines able to get through. Halfway back to the TS6 stage beginning the mobile beeped with a message - car #511 was off but crew ok. From a call the crew of #505 it appeared that the car was basically intact but may have sustained some suspension damage to the L/H/R and was stuck on the stage. As this was a repeat stage the car nor crew could not be recovered before the end of TS6 – after the last car had gone through at around 6 pm. As we could do nothing about it we continued on our journey to support the remaining 2 cars. During this period we made several calls to organise a workshop/hoist to get the car to and checked on what spares we were carrying to get #511 back on the road. As time drifted to late afternoon we returned to the service park to await the damaged car and the 2 remaining ones. Eventually we were able to reach Matilda who informed us there would be a delay with recovering the car and the crew would have to be collected. The service crew split up with Nick heading up the hill with the flatbed to collect the crew and inspect the car whilst we stayed on at the service park to complete the checkover of the other 2 cars. Whilst there we watched the numerous flatbeds roll in carrying those whose day had not ended well.
Nick reached #511 and called back with the news damage included badly bent/broken suspension arms and rear shock lower mount cracked. We were fortunate to find a workshop that loaded the car straight onto our flatbed and they set off back to Hobart.
Back at the sevice park we completed our work on #505 and #510 before returning to the Hotel for a drink, or three. Later in the evening the remaining crews arrived back at the hotel where a quick inspection confirmed our original thoughts and we reluctantly retired the car.
Day 2 dawned with the cars heading southwest for TS8 at Pelverata before TS9 Woodbrige and TS10 Oyster Cove. WE would meet the crews before TS10 for a fuel and drinks stop. From TS10 they would go to TS11 Cygnet before repeating these for TS12 Woodbridge, TS13 Oyster Cove and TS14 Cygnet. We caught up with the crews before TS13 for the final check and all was going well with the exception of an ABS issue in the #505 car, which resulted in a spectacular overshoot at a T junction. Again we waved goodbye and made our way back to Wrest Point for the finish. As it turns out an off by one of the first cars in TS13 meant the downgrading of that and TS14 to touring stage only. Fortunately all competitors are ok, wallets aside, and everyone had a fantastic time.
Roll on Targa Tasmania when we will be part of the circus once again
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