MAGGIE PICKS UP HER SKIRTS AND FLIES

PAUL CLARK TAKES UP TARGA NEW ZEALAND AND DESCRIBES HOW HE FELL UNDER THE SPELL OF THIS NEW VCC FORMULA FOR CLASSIC CAR OWNERS WITH AN ITCH TO SCRATCH

Now that I have finally retired from my law practice, I have been looking at more ways I can enjoy my old cars, so it was no surprise that my imagination was fired up after reading an article in Beaded Wheels describing Vintage Car Club (VCC) members’ first-time participation in the 2018 Targa New Zealand. The fact that the VCC cars travel the exact same route as the full-blown competition cars, a route that includes more than 800km of closed-road stages, really appealed. After contacting VCC co-ordinator Rod Corbett and receiving his enthusiastic support, I was hooked and signed up for the 2019 event.

Unlike the main Targa rally, in which the drivers go ‘balls out’ to complete each special stage in the shortest time, the VCC competition is a time trial. The drivers are given a target average speed for each special stage and the winner of each stage is the driver who is closest to the target for that special stage, losing the least points. Your speed on these special stages is restricted to a relatively safe 130kph (200kph is the max allowed for the main competition cars).

To enter a car, the rules are simple; you have to be a member of the VCC; your vehicle must be more than 30 years old, roadworthy with current registration and WOF, and have third-party insurance cover — and you have to be ready to have lots of fun with like-minded people.

The schedule for the 2019 Targa rally had the cars assembling in Taupo on the Monday of Labour weekend for a car display for the public, and documentation and drivers’ briefing for the drivers. The rally proper started on Tuesday and finished in Palmerston North on the following Saturday. It was scheduled to cover 2100km over the five days, 796km of that being closed-road special stages. The special stages ranged from 1km to 47km in length.

Maggie gets the nod

Having decided to enter, the next decision was what car to take, and that was relatively easy. Out of the eligible VCC vehicles in the garage, my 1958 MGA, ‘Maggie’, seemed best suited for the task, having been ‘subtly’ modified over the 19 years of my ownership. Maggie now breathes through a worked-over cylinder head on an MGB engine bored out to 1950cc, gets along with a five-speed gearbox, and stops at the behest of front-wheel disc brakes.

Next problem was who to take as co-driver. Although I have two adult sons who would have walked over broken glass to co-drive, my first choice was my drinking mate, superb mechanic, and fellow retired mischief maker Murray Mckie. He didn’t stop to think before accepting the challenge.

Preparation work on Maggie started in June as Murray and I were determined that everything necessary would be completed well before the event. Our aim was to have

a reliable, trouble-free car in which we could have fun, hopefully without the worry of a mechanical breakdown. I have to say Murray did a marvellous job of preparing the car, leaving me only to pour the beer or wine as required in moments of stress. Jobs planned or added to the list as the car was checked out included a motor-out exercise to swap a noisy gearbox with a reconditioned spare; a rebuild of the front suspension; the installation of a power brake booster, new master clutch, and brake cylinders, new rear brake shoes and wheel cylinders; and a myriad of small tasks. With time running out, one job seemed to lead to another and another but Murray, to his credit, persevered with the job in hand, albeit with the occasional necessary application of his wife Patricia’s calming influence.

Boots and all

Finally, on the Sunday of Labour weekend, the day of departure dawned upon us but not without drama. We had glossed over a fact that anyone who has owned an MGA knows: the boot is only big enough for a toothbrush and a change of undies. How to pack spares, tools, clothes for a week, let alone two race suits and crash helmets? Somehow, with the boot rack pressed into service, everything was finally stowed in or about the car and in beautiful weather we got into the swing of things with some top-down motoring to Taupo. Scrutineering of the VCC vehicles at the Taupo VCC clubrooms that afternoon gave us the opportunity to meet our fellow rallyists, mostly for the first time.

Labour Monday dawned fine and sunny and the mountains looked absolutely pristine — a good omen, as it was our ambition to drive top down for the whole event, if the weather behaved. Maggie had some great company among the 120odd Targa cars assembled at the Great Lake Event Centre, particularly in the VCC Time Trial section. Of the 18 cars entered in the VCC event, seven were MGS. There was a sister MGA, two MGB roadsters, two MGB GTS, and one very grunty MGB GTV8. Other makes and models represented were a Triumph TR2 and Spitfire, Volvo 131, Saab 96 Sport, Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, Volkswagen Golf, BMW E 30 Alpina, Holden Monaro, Ford Escort Mexico, and Jaguar E-type. A Jaguar C-type replica had mechanical issues and was a non-starter.

Tuesday, at last — the day we had been waiting for: day one of five days of pure motoring heaven. I was driving Maggie today — owner’s privilege — and I was feeling both nervous and excited at the same time. The car was running really well so it was the driver that I was more worried about; never having been on this type of event before I really didn’t know what to expect on the special stages. But with no time to worry any further we transited to the start of the first special stage and lined up to wait our turn. Cars were being dispatched at one-minute intervals and soon it was us at the head of the queue. Our Rallysafe computer counted down the seconds and then it flashed green for go. We were off with an enthusiastic interplay between accelerator, clutch, and tyres, first corner rapidly approaching, and I was reminding myself to keep it fast but steady and smooth; use both sides of the road to get the best lines into and out of the corners; go light on the brakes; use the gears to keep the revs up; and, most important, stay on the black stuff. What a roller-coaster ride! In what seemed like no time at all, the finishing marker for the first special stage was looming and we were braking to a halt.

What a feeling — first special stage completed, Maggie and passengers intact, and no comment from my co-driver, which I took to be a pass mark for my spirited display. Bring on the next special stage! I couldn’t wait. The fact that we beat the clock by several minutes, losing

Out of the eligible VCC vehicles in the garage, my 1958 MGA, ‘Maggie’, seemed best suited for the task, having been ‘subtly’ modified over the 19 years of my ownership

us heaps of points, seemed a minor detail in my excited state; it was a situation that was repeated many times over the next 30 special stages. Neither of us could resist giving Maggie her head and not worrying about the clock. The sheer pleasure of having the freedom of a closed road was clearly too tempting for even the strong willed, as we had lots of like-minded drivers at our end of the result sheet.

Not Lewis Hamilton

That, then, was the highly enjoyable and exhilarating pattern for the next four days. Murray and I took turns at driving on alternate days. It was clearly noticeable as the miles slipped by that our driving skill was improving and our confidence increasing. This in turn added to our enjoyment and satisfaction as we both became better accustomed to the vagaries of the backcountry roads and the handling limitations of Maggie’s rather antiquated suspension. If the truth be known, we also now recognized and accepted the limitations of ourselves as drivers; Lewis Hamilton we are not. For the record, I think we only scared each other a couple of times. The 31 special stages covered a variety of roads, from fast sweeping corners to slower and tighter bends, so there was something to everybody’s taste. The run from Stratford to Whangamomona on the Forgotten Highway was an absolute hoot and my pick of the special stages. It had every type of road condition you could imagine, and we even had a bit of rain thrown in for good measure to make it even more challenging.

Of the VCC cars, all but one finished, earning a specially minted finishers’ plate for their efforts. One of the MGS went home to Akaroa on a trailer after dropping a piston, but not before its rear axle had been donated to another MG after that MG had blown its differential and its coil had been donated to the Escort to keep that car running. On the other hand, the carnage suffered by a number of the main competition cars from accidents or mechanical issues was sobering. As the VCC cars ran straight after the competition cars, we witnessed first-hand the spectacular ‘offs’ some crews suffered — a not-toosubtle reminder to us to take it easy and not emulate them.

Would we do it again? Yes, is the answer for me. As Murray is already talking about entering his MGB GT in next year’s Targa, I take it his answer is the same. The highlights were many, but for Murray and me the three that really stood out were, in no particular order: the friendship and camaraderie among the VCC group and the other competitors; the absolute exhilaration of driving on closed roads knowing that you have all the road at your disposal; and Rod and Anne Corbett as VCC stewards — they were fantastic, and their friendship and organization left nothing to be desired. Just like a champion eye dog, they rounded up us VCC sheep expertly every time, ensuring we were in the right place at the right time.

Overall it was a fantastic motoring experience with the added bonus of seeing some of the beautiful parts of New Zealand that we hadn’t known existed. Yes, we had the top down on Maggie from the time we left home until we returned. Yes — I couldn’t help myself — I did get pinged for doing more than 130kph (I was doing 135kph) on a special stage. And finally, yes, Maggie behaved herself, even when picking up her skirts, as a well-bred lady should.

So, to anyone with a suitable car and an urge to drive enthusiastically, give some thought to entering the VCC Targa class and come join us in 2020. You won’t be disappointed.

So, to anyone with a suitable car and an urge to drive enthusiastically, give some thought to entering the VCC Targa class and come join us in 2020. You won’t be disappointed