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First Quarter

February 29, 2024

The dust, ar-hem mud, is settling from the international, the land of the long white cloud delivered demanding conditions for competitors for the sold-out WRC weekend ending Oct 2nd. Spanning Raglan to Kaipara, there was no escape from the mud, no matter where you went. The contingent trekked & herded, marched & waded, load & proud. All, to witness rally greatness unfold on our spectacular kiwi roads.
Not shy of misfortune, regretfully some race boots did not survive the journey. Pro or con, there’s no denying that this brought out the rally driver in us all, exultation oozing, dishevelled congregations returned triumphant.
Now, back to the shed – enthusiasm restored.

PCC Members were in force at WRC, competing, servicing, volunteering, assisting.

Congratulations to members Ben Hunt & Stumpy Holmes for a finish in some pretty challenging conditions, well, kiwi conditions, we’re used to it.

Suzie Tickle joined the Toyota Gazoo Meteo team to track the weather conditions during the event, here’s what it entailed..

Well, what a month!!!  I hope if you made it out onto the stages of the WRC you enjoyed seeing the world’s best tackle our stages and get some inspiration on how to set your car up for what seems likes miles before the corners!!!

As I mentioned last time, I was fortunate enough to get a job on the weather team of Toyota Gazoo Racing and what an awesome time I had.  I will admit the extremely early starts 3:30am and getting wet right down to my knickers didn’t dull my enthusiasm. 

I wasn’t entirely sure what the job entailed but thought how hard can it be!!  Turns out there is a bit to it.

Thursday saw us head into team headquarters to meet with the permanent weather crew and get the run down on what is expected of us and given all the gear we need, which turned out to be a couple of temperature gauges, Satellite phone (for if we can’t get mobile reception) and an iPhone which we would do all our communications on. 

I will admit I got a bit star struck at lunchtime when they all started coming in for their lunch, but I did get to meet Taka and what a genuinely nice guy he is!

Then it was off to the stages to check them out as they had to do tyre selection on Thursday night for Friday.  It was a great way to check that we knew what we were doing as each stage had two crew on it and their own WhatsApp chat and it was very easy to post in the wrong chat (as I found out, but I didn’t make that mistake again!!)  Then it was off to the Novotel in Hamilton for the night.

So a bright and early start on Friday to be out on stage to send in temperatures by 5am. A wee bit of a nap while the sun came up, a quick chat with the start crews as they setup for the day, and then it was off on a walk up the stage taking photo’s of the road (especially important on the second run through)  So I pottered up the road for about 3.5km and found myself a spot on the top of the hill to wait for the cars to come through.  And what an awesome spot it was, I could see them for about a kilometre as the wound there way up the hill and the sound reverberating in the valley was just awesome.  Once everyone had passed it was time to head back down the hill, taking extra notes as to how the corners were cutting up, taking lots of photos and of course temperatures.  And all the while keeping notes on what the light rain was doing which was very sporadic on Te Akau South. 

Saturday saw me heading into Stage 9/12 Puhoi at the Gold Pass Viewing area off Monowai Road.  Another early start as temperatures needed to be in by 6am and I had to leave from home.  Today was going to be a trying day not only weather wise but technology wise as well.  While my first readings went through without an issue, as more and more people arrived my mobile reception started to become patcher and patcher.  The locals were “yeah reception sucks up here” – great!!  When it came time to send in my next readings the iPhone decides that it won’t connect to my phone (using it as a hotspot).  Luckily some lovely gentlemen came along and offered some advice and we tried everything (which didn’t work), so might as well try rebooting it – CRAP I need a pin number!!!  So, a panicked call through to the event leader to get the pin number, reconnect and we were good to go with just minutes to spare before to info was due.  Time to calm the nerves down and by now the amount of people turning up was phenomenal.  I was overlooking the paddock that they were sending everyone through and watching it get muddier and muddier.  The local resident who’s lawn I was camped out on came to find out what was going on (not a rally person at all) so I had a good chat to him explaining what was going to happen and he came out with the whole family to watch (about 10 of them) and they were absolutely buzzing.

So once again as the first run came to an end, I headed off down the road to take my pictures.  I ran into another weather crew from Ford who turned out to be Adrien Fourmaux’s co-driver Alexandre Coria.  By this time the weather had well and truly packed it in, the wind was fierce on the hill and the rain just wouldn’t stop and of course I was still having issues with internet connection.  I thought only thing for it was to venture up the hill to see if that would help – turns out it did but I lost my umbrella in the process!!  So, time to regroup grab something to eat and put my jersey on as I was starting to get a bit cold under my soaked jacket.  I decided to double check I’ve had my temperature sensor safely tucked away in my bag and I couldn’t find it. You can imagine the panic that set in!!!  So, it’s pissing down with rain, I’m rummaging through my bag, nope can’t see it, with my mind racing on where could I have lost it.  So back down the road to where I’d stopped to talk to people (yeah I was a bit of a gas bag) nothing.  I then went back the other way knowing I’d stopped and placed my bag on the side of the bank, again nothing.  By this time, I had given up and thought how the hell do I explain this to the team.  I headed back to where I had stopped to put my jumper on, all but given up hope of finding it and put my bag down and turn my head around and there it was lying on top of the long grass!!! I guess it must have flicked out as I grabbed my jersey, man did I let out a huge sigh of relief!! It didn’t matter that I was absolutely drenched to the bone I’d found that damn gauge!!!

Sunday was a reasonably easy day as they had three weather crews within a few kilometres of each other at Jacks Ridge, my only issue again was mobile reception (damn Telecom) with the number of people with WRC Live going!! I also ran into another weather crew member this time from Hyundai, he wasn’t entirely a happy camper when I caught up with him as he’d be yelled at my marshals for doing his job.  I ran into him a bit later on and had a chat, turns out the poor bugger had his luggage lost on the way over and obviously with the wet weather needed way more clothes than he’d normally need as well as wet weather gear compared to summer in Europe.

So, would I do it again?  In a heartbeat. Getting to walk the stages (and not get growled at) and be able to actually watch was pretty darn awesome.  Now I know what’s involved I’d be a bit better prepared, and I would definitely make sure I had dual sim cards in my phone!!!

What’s happening next??

As you will see we are full guns blazing with Speed Weekend and the 60^th Motokhana, but before all that happens, I need to get Murray Road and Bothwell Road road closures sorted so busy times!!

Please if you are able to help out at speed weekend let us know, we have added an additional marshal point in on Sunday so need as much help as we can get.

Cheers

Suzie

Tarmac is kryptonite for a lot of drivers, not Allan Rickerby & Tony Callaghan in the Torana SLR5000 ex muscle car, who headed to Nelson for the two-day Targa event.
Hatch’s take on how it panned out…

June 2022, we sit down & ask WTF happened referring to the 5-day Targa event we only made 1 day of racing & had to retire due to mechanical issues. What are we going to do now as Allan & myself (Hatch) share driving & navigation duties in the Torana SLR5000 ex mussel car, happy on the track, beast on Goat tracks with a kick of a stubborn mule. Unfinished business after beer 5, it was decided to enter the Nelson 2-day event, surly we could make this one.

Weeks of work, pull engine, remove subframe, fit new brackets for front end to mount to remove the crap welding that broke that let the suspension to brake off, new A arms, top & bottom, gearbox out, replace clutch again, new rear seal, hours of work, count down for 15th & 16th October.
Friday 7^th October nearly ready, off to Pukekohe circuit to test. 0 degrees camber, 1 degree caster & 240 kph down back straight, it even held on around Ford Mountain all good, brakes a little spongy, ok.
Back to workshop modify A arms, bleed brakes, back to wheel alignment Tuesday 11^th. 3 degrees camber & 2.5 degrees caster, feel a little better now.

Pack up on Wed, all loaded, head off Thursday 13^th.
Motel just out of Wellington, Ferry at 8AM, get there 6.30am only to find out crossing delayed by 2.5 hrs. Ring Targa, we won’t make scrutineering – there were about 12 of us so all was sorted.

Day 1, Allan at the wheel 4 stages in the morning & I get 3 stages in afternoon. A smart use of the road saw us use several stages twice in one direction day 1 & opposite direction day 2 making servicing very easy.

Allan let rip stage 1 then stage 2, my note reading clicked in only a couple of mistakes but pretty clear Allan happy. Stage 3, oh no brain fade. Stall car on acute left drop clutch & that kick from the mule hit left right & off the road with tyre smoke everywhere, not the only ones as another Torana joined us, he was a little less fortunate going in the ditch. So 3 cars off on that corner, very slippery but with a little help from the locals we were back on the road again only losing 3.5 minutes.

Stage 4, a little slower but regained confidence & finished & serviced, time to swap drive.

We left service & I started to get in to the flow. Stage 5 & time to let rip, big wheel spin off line, next 4 corners got all the lines wrong. Some late notes & an acute right comes out of nowhere, bugger we stall (big crowd, shithouse) so what do you do .. start it up & let the mule kick left, right but some how got it under control as I picked up 2^nd (Wanker) got a telling off & backed down, got the lines right & finished. Stage 6 waiting, waiting, news comes back big crash tour through this one, well we came across the crash site WTF is that car, it was destroyed. Latter we find out this was a MK2 Escort Arrie Vartinn genuine Masport RS 2000 Value $450,000.00 +sobering for sure. Stage 7, last one for the day. Tight & twisty, just what the doctor ordered if you had a 4WD & we hit it with gusto. We go well, a close call at bridge 5 (3 cars hit this bridge). Allan is getting a little better with the notes, still not sure. Well off to the car wash in Motueka, pull up & do a skid for the kids then go & get the car washed. We get approached by one of the parents, oh no a telling off coming my way, but to my surprise I am told the parents were washing the cars & missed the display, could I do one on the way out, so being obliging, we let them have it & you could not see the school or road side on our way out of to pac ferme.

Day 2, Allan gets 3 stages, I get 4

Stage 8 reverse of stage 7, we take it slowly, I am a little shaky on the notes & we get overtaken. Stage 9 things come together, notes are on form, Allan found the throttle & we are flying back to service. Crack in radiator, only minor will monitor clutch playing up, will not go into1st gear when running so select 1^st put clutch in start, car moves forward on starter then fires off. You go easy (not) anyway work out a formula & off to stage 9,  goes well 

Stage 10,  all good & 4 more to do, reverse of Saturday with 2 stages a bit longer. Stage 11, 45 km touring then 10 left,10 right, this is 200 KPH country. What a feeling suspension adjustment comes in to its own, the car is on rails, just a couple of sketchy notes to keep you on your toes. Don’t call a 4 at 200 please, stage goes well. Off to SS11, open corners & a couple of straights – beautiful. Notes are getting better, might start listening. Over pretty quick, stage 13 same as 11 got the hang of this & make up 30 seconds on the previous run. Stage 14, lucky last, all lined up, clutch feels like shit, just have to make it home. So, an uneventful start 3 km from finish at 190kph, left hander, I feel the back step out then a 180km right corner – this is going bad so I back off with caution, drop it down to 65Kph & crawl to the finish. Not overtaken so all not bad. At control, we discover the Watts link has broken off the diff allowing the diff to float between the guards making a hell of a noise. Hey, only 25 km back to control at Richmond so the road hogs sat in the middle of the road at 65 kph (unbecoming), all the way back to control, so we got a finish, 1^st in class & 20^th outright.

Now that deserved a BEER!!!

Hamil Pala
Matthew Fairley 
Mark Neil Dennett

In this day and age where we are facing a cost-of-living crisis and we are all trying to save a few
Dollars here or there, the last place you want to try and save a few Dollars is on safety gear if you
are just starting an adventure in Motorsport.
Trying to make those savings in the wrong place could leave you severely injured or even in a
worst-case scenario with a permanent disability that could affect your quality of life.
Motorsport is dangerous at the best of times, so you want to ensure that you have the best
protection available in the rare case of a major incident.
Motor Sport New Zealand recently sent out a Safety Notice regarding Counterfeit equipment and
we have re-printed it here.

MotorSport New Zealand wishes to advise you of some recent safety notifications that you should
be aware of. MotorSport New Zealand recommends only purchasing safety apparel from reputable
retailers who are authorised stockists of the safety item’s manufacturer. You can always receive
free advice from MotorSport New Zealand’s Technical Department before purchasing by
emailing technical@motorsport.org.nz with the item you’re considering purchasing and what type
of competition you’re planning to compete in.

The suits in question have a manufacture date past the FIA-certified homologation date. These
suits were manufactured in 2022 but are homologated to FIA standard 8856-2000, which expired
in December 2021 and no safety apparel items could be manufactured under this standard after
December 31, 2021.
MotorSport New Zealand is advised that all known suits to have been affected have now been
recalled by the supplier. HOWEVER, if you have brought a suit in 2022 you should check your suit
does not have the label below with the date of the manufacture being 2022.
If your suit has the label shown above (Standard 8856-2000) with ‘Year of manufacture: 2022’
embroidered on the collar, please contact the vendor you purchased the suit from to discuss your
options.
If you are unsure if a suit you purchased in 2022 is compliant or not, please contact our Technical
Department at technical@motorsport.org.nz.

COUNTERFEIT CLOTHING

THIS IS A SAFETY NOTIFICATION TO ALL MOTORSPORT NEW ZEALAND COMPETITION

LICENCE HOLDERS & LICENCED SCRUTINEERS

NON-COMPLIANT SUITS FIA STANDARD 8856-2000

Driver suits made to the FIA 8856-2000 standard are still able to be used at MotorSport New
Zealand permitted events, provided they have a manufacture date prior to December 2021 as
per the FIA homologation standards.

Counterfeit Equipment
Fake or counterfeit race apparel is becoming more available today and generally a lot cheaper
than the genuine product. If you are buying FIA or SFI approved safety gear that is 25-50%
cheaper than regularly advertised, then you may want to reconsider your decision.
Did you know that there are specially designed labels identifying the products standard as well as
additional strategically placed authenticity labels attached to most products so look for these or
ask the manufacturer or your local sporting organisation for more information?
Google your product and see if there have been any reported fakes or discuss with the approved
importer of that product what you are looking at to conclude your decision. Correct approved
safety equipment doesn’t come cheap but there are different price points available so when its half
price you must wonder if it will do the job its designed to do and that’s keeping you safe and alive.

Suit Standards
SNZ offer a few different options when it comes to race suits. SFI offer you a 1-2-3-layer option
and the FIA offer you a 2- or 3-layer option while some suits are made to the ISO 6940 rule again
in a 1-or 2-layer option.
Did you know that the biggest deterrent of heat getting to you is air. Air gives you 60% of the
necessary protection and the other 40% is the woven and knitted fabrics.
A typical 1-layer suit will offer you a thermal protection performance of around 3 seconds. These
aren’t allowed under SNZ rules unless you wear approved FR underwear which will take this
number up to around 8 seconds.
A typical 2-layer suit will give you 12 seconds of protection and a 3 layer 15 seconds. The times
are increased due to the high level the suit is made to vs the 1-layer along with the fact that
additional air gaps have been created due to there being more than 1-layer of fabric.

Safety Clothing, Fit & Care
We all have our theories when it comes to the fit of a garment. Safety wise the suit should not be
too tight or too loose. It should fit just like your normal clothes. Too tight and no air will get in and
you will overheat. Too loose and you may feel clumsy and uncomfortable. Your suit, boots, gloves
are precision tools so ensure the fit is good.
Did you know that embroidery through both layers of your suit is illegal? That’s right, any
embroidery that goes through your suit must go through the outer layer only or you can attach a
FR patch with FR thread through the suit like this. If you are unsure seek professional advice, not
from the embroidery kiosk at the local mall. Your suit will have attached to if when new or inside,
care instructions for cleaning your garment. Follow this as per manufacturer instructions to ensure
the best care and life of your suit. When drying your suit, dry inside out away from direct sunlight.
FR fabric is very skeptical to UV rays.
Did you know that it is almost impossible to remove or wash out the fire-retardant component of a
modern-day race suit? To pass FIA testing a suit must be washed and dry cleaned a total of 30
times before it is tested.

SFI Neck Restraint Recerts
When recertifying and checking a neck restraint we look for the following things.
More often than not the tethers are replaced regardless as we as the official certifier have no idea
how the device has been worn, treated or maintained. We look for any marks, abrasions, tears, or
visual discolouring on the Kevlar tethers and notify the user so as to eliminate any foreign objects
or particles connecting with the tether for future use.
We also check all the bolts and other working parts of the device and replace if necessary. Once
all this is done, we apply a new SFI sticker to the device with the new recertification date punched
on the sticker. If this sticker is tampered with or removed a void mark will form on the sticker and
the device will be required to be re certified.
Did you know that sunlight or UV light or water can reduce the strength of your device’s tethers?
Keep your device stored dry and, in a bag, away from direct light and try not to get your tethers
wet. If they have got mud on them allow to dry and brush off.

All local club’s events are plugged into our calendar. 
Support the clubs and get out there, it’s great seeing club members out & about at events.