R50/53 Any adventurers out there?
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3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 220
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From: Palisades, New York
Any adventurers out there?
There are people who realize at some point in their lives that this is NOT a dress rehearsal. It's the real thing. I'm one of them. We dream like we'll live for ever but live every day as if it were our last.
Over a year ago I came across a TV show on the speed channel about an event in Newfoundland called the 'Targa', which is a 1,500 mile road rally. I was instantly hooked and wanted to do it. I had my MINI Cooper S which would be a great car for the event; all I needed was someone to ride shotgun and handle the navigation. I suckered my best friend into the job. To this day he doesn't remember agreeing to do it; "must have been the wine" he says
We discussed the event in depth and I decided I wanted a sexier ride for the rally. So I built a Factory Five Cobra with a full roll cage, fuel cell, fire suppression etc, which I completed about two weeks before hand. (Don't try this at home. I'm an experienced builder. It takes most people a year or more to build these).
Well, doing this event was absolutely life changing. Memories of blasting through small villages in the wilds of Newfoundland past throngs of cheering 'Newfies' nursing kids with 'Targa' painted on their faces was amazing. The commeraderie of the competitors was even more so. And the achievement of having finished such an event and getting a finishers medal is incredible.
Why am I telling you this? Because it would be very selfish of me not to!! If there's anyone out there who wants a challenge in life and enjoys driving too fast on public roads (it's all legal for this event because they close off the roads for us) then I want to hear from you.
E-mail me at at2729@att.com if you think this might be for you. And if you're worried about damaging your MINI, a couple of guys did the event in a $1,000 junker last year. Finished too!
MINI USA fielded a full factory team as well. If you need a bit of tech support they'll be there for you!
Over a year ago I came across a TV show on the speed channel about an event in Newfoundland called the 'Targa', which is a 1,500 mile road rally. I was instantly hooked and wanted to do it. I had my MINI Cooper S which would be a great car for the event; all I needed was someone to ride shotgun and handle the navigation. I suckered my best friend into the job. To this day he doesn't remember agreeing to do it; "must have been the wine" he says
We discussed the event in depth and I decided I wanted a sexier ride for the rally. So I built a Factory Five Cobra with a full roll cage, fuel cell, fire suppression etc, which I completed about two weeks before hand. (Don't try this at home. I'm an experienced builder. It takes most people a year or more to build these).
Well, doing this event was absolutely life changing. Memories of blasting through small villages in the wilds of Newfoundland past throngs of cheering 'Newfies' nursing kids with 'Targa' painted on their faces was amazing. The commeraderie of the competitors was even more so. And the achievement of having finished such an event and getting a finishers medal is incredible.
Why am I telling you this? Because it would be very selfish of me not to!! If there's anyone out there who wants a challenge in life and enjoys driving too fast on public roads (it's all legal for this event because they close off the roads for us) then I want to hear from you.
E-mail me at at2729@att.com if you think this might be for you. And if you're worried about damaging your MINI, a couple of guys did the event in a $1,000 junker last year. Finished too!
MINI USA fielded a full factory team as well. If you need a bit of tech support they'll be there for you!
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
At this point in time, I'm not able to make this event either...but your contention that life is not a "dress rehearsal" is right on the money. I've done something similar (although it dealt with scuba diving, not driving) a few years back. I've never regretted it!
Chuck
Chuck
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