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Wanted: Co-driver/navigator For Targa Tasmania, Next Month!

Marlin

By Marlin,
in Motorsport Discussion & Builds

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Marlin Grand Master

Marlin

Posted
Posted (edited)

“Targa Tasmania 2008 – April 15th to 20th”Hi, I know it’s rather short notice, but if anyone is keen to participate in this year's Targa, I have a possible co-drive position available.

Some personal issues have arisen for our team, and this year it appears our normal driver cannot participate. I have completed several events in this vehicle as co-driver, am a very competent driver (read as: try not to crash! :thumbsup:), and as such have been offered by the vehicle owner to step into the driver's side for the event.

My outright focus is always to finish the event safely and with the vehicle in one piece.

The vehicle is a 2001 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR N1 and is the actual outright winning vehicle from 2005.

If you are keen, I plan on being in Tasmania for recce from Wednesday, 9th April, and I hope you could be too.

Your costs would be your flights (if applicable), meals, and accomodation.

Any further information can be obtained from me, Ben. via PM or just here on the board. It's worth noting I need to make a decision by this Friday, 14th March.

post-7861-1204597840_thumb.jpg

Edited by Marlin
Snowman Grand Master

Snowman

Posted
Posted

Shame you ain't looking for a driver Ben :)

I don't know how you co-drivers do it as I sure couldn't. I have full respect for anyone who can sit in the passenger seat and not crap their pants.

Black Widow Veteran

Black Widow

Posted
Posted

WOW what an opportunity.

Firstly to actually sit in in an R34 GTR V-Spec II N1

and secondly..being in targa.

and thirdly being in a former winning car and hopefully getting it to that stage again..

Marlin Grand Master

Marlin

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Shame you ain't looking for a driver Ben :)

I don't know how you co-drivers do it as I sure couldn't. I have full respect for anyone who can sit in the passenger seat and not crap their pants.

Haha, thanks Andrew, something tells me a driver aint hard to find :banana:

So many people say they don't reckon they could nav, most of these people consider themselves "drivers". I've never been a particularly good passenger on the road, and always offer to drive everywhere.

When I decided to step in and have a go at navigating, I was apprehensive sure, but very quickly realised that it really is a team effort. A nivigator has a much bigger job than most people realise, it's not just a matter of reading notes blindly, or even being responsible for keeping the car on time for the next stage or checkpoint. A good nav will help the driver alot more than just that, and in turn you tend to get so immersed in it that fear doesn't come into, or indeed "car sickness". Helping your driver gauge the grip level available is just one sample, by reading ahead YOU can tell him to "find the level" when it's safe because YOU know what is around that next bend.

I know dozens of guys that get sick during recce at legal road speed, but never have an issue at race pace. It's called Adrenalin! How else could anyone explain footage of our in-car camera when we're leaving the road and sliding down an embankment. Was there total eyes-closed silence as you'd expect from your passenger (me) if you were going off in a road car? No. Was there frantic calls of "first gear go go go go" to get it up and on road again/ Yep :laugh:

As a navigator it is YOU that controls the pace of the vehicle. YOU call that crest flat or lift. YOU call this next corner caution slippy or a late apex. If you feel the driver's getting a little loose (usually when chasing a car in front), YOU can slow him down by several methods, either try to calm him a little with a couple of choice words, or call the corner ahead as if it's actually slower than it really is. This will usually wake them back up! :) (never had to do the latter myself, but I know many that have).

For someone to have a navigator that is ALSO a good driver, I reckon is the perfect situation, because it's then that you have another brain reading that road and getting the best from the car.

End rant :)

PHaT MR30 Grand Master

PHaT MR30

Posted
Posted

Such a shame I couldn't run with you benny boy, we would have had a ball!

Keep me in mind for next time though.

And as another Navigator there is certainly more to it than meets the eye, you don't just sit there for a joy ride! Late nights studying note the night before to pick up on any key point to watch out for (thats even after you have recce'd the course), as ben said setting the pace is the important part, reading ahead etc a simple slip up on where you are in the notes can break your rythme and possibly cause a near disaster! I know i grabbed 2 pages instead of one through hellyer last year in rally tas and it threw us off (and nearly off the edge), if it wasn't for the team work between my driver we probabyl could have kissed it goodbye, but we managed to gather it up and still set a good time.

Oh and don't forget your the paperwork bitch! you got to do everything!

Marlin Grand Master

Marlin

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Such a shame I couldn't run with you benny boy, we would have had a ball!

Keep me in mind for next time though.

And as another Navigator there is certainly more to it than meets the eye, you don't just sit there for a joy ride! Late nights studying note the night before to pick up on any key point to watch out for (thats even after you have recce'd the course), as ben said setting the pace is the important part, reading ahead etc a simple slip up on where you are in the notes can break your rythme and possibly cause a near disaster! I know i grabbed 2 pages instead of one through hellyer last year in rally tas and it threw us off (and nearly off the edge), if it wasn't for the team work between my driver we probabyl could have kissed it goodbye, but we managed to gather it up and still set a good time.

Oh and don't forget your the paperwork bitch! you got to do everything!

Mate trust me, if by some miracle I get the opportunity again next year, you WILL be called! ;)

Duncan Grand Master

Duncan

Posted
Posted

yeah damn straight - Kel spent hours the night before studying and marking up the notes - long after I was ready to sleep. But it paid off during the stages she was well paced, always gave good warning for the important stuff and didn't make a mistake all week

I still say I couldn't navigate, but I am lucky that Kel can and enjoys doing so. Looks like she is heading down in the DK 32 this year with Peter.

Marlin Grand Master

Marlin

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Ok, now the budget isn't so much of an issue. Seems the dollar Gods have smiled on me somewhat.

So, anyone here or know of a capable Nav that wants to have a damn good time blasting Tas? All I'm asking is what any other driver would, and that is that you pay your own way. ie flights/meals/accom. Oh, and they Must be easy to get along with :thumbsup:

Obviously I have the feelers out elsewhere, but I know you guys love 'lines :D

Hit me............. via PM or email, [email protected]

Edited by Marlin
hrd-hr30 Grand Master

hrd-hr30

Posted
Posted

I asked a few navvies I know for you. One doesn't have any holidays or money, the other hasn't nav'd since before they needed suits in State rallies so he doesn't have the gear, and the last one, my old navigator who has done a few Targas, was "very tempted". I got the impression he was asking permission... I've just sent him another email to chase him up for ya.

hrd-hr30 Grand Master

hrd-hr30

Posted
Posted

that's good mate. Tim has booked a holiday on Hamilton Is returning on the 12th, so he's probably not going to be able to either. but he's checking with the missus anyway. I passed on your email addy.

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