A two-man team of GTA lawyers is racing in this year’s Targa Newfoundland, a week-long, 2,200-kilometre rally across the island running from September 11 to 18. We’re following Dean Novak and Rob Hansen’s journey here at lawandstyle.ca, and posting updates from the racers throughout the week.
You can also check out background info about Dean and Rob’s race team, and donate to their fundraising effort (a friendly competition with a team of racer-bankers to see who can raise the most money.
September 14:
Rob: “Another early start in Gander and four more 0.0s on the breathalyzer tests. First stage of the day was in a small town called Appleton. The race marshals warned us to watch out for a loose dog near the finish line — apparently they were having trouble catching him. I started to get a sick feeling in my stomach as we raced through the streets of Appleton with posted speed limits of 30 km/hr at speeds as high as 90 km/hr (and with the Targa class cars following behind us going about 50 percent faster than that). But as H1 crossed the finish line, Brent saw Brian, our pit crew manager and videographer, rubbing the belly of a chubby yellow lab! So no video footage from Appleton, but one very happy and content pooch.
“Spent most of the day in two small villages on the ocean called Bobby’s Cove and Pleasantview. We ran three or four stages that started and/or ended in this area. Picturesque and very friendly places. We finished the day with some very tight and fast racing through a residential area of Gander. It was surreal to be sliding your car around a corner sideways at high speeds while the local Gander people cheer you on from their front yard! The night finished with another car show and autograph signings at the Gander arena.
“Both Hammerhead teams are still running perfect scores and are in a 10-way tie for first place in the GT class. Tonight we are cranking through our time/speed/ distance spreadsheets and our Leg 3 route books so that we’re ready for our journey to Clarenville tomorrow morning.”
Read older updates here.