2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 4
October 31, 2008
Well, there have been a lot of changes and shake ups today. In one of the stages 7 cars went off! It was a very tricky stage and caught a lot of people out. Many of them will come back tomorrow but some have ended their week a day early.
2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 3
October 30, 2008
Well, this is going to be a short one. I just got into the hotel and it’s 11:00 P.M. and I am absolutely BEAT. Today was a looooong day!
One thing I forgot to mention yesterday was the violence I experienced in the navigator seat.
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2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 2
October 29, 2008
WOOOO HOOOO!!!! We’re doin’ great!!!! Dad and I have been getting comfortable with each other’s styles and we are starting to lay down some great times through these stages. The GT is absolutely incredible. The upgrades that we did over the past two years have made a world of difference. With the 3.9 gear ratio this car pulls HARD in ANY gear. It is simply amazing. The Michelin tires are handling the abuse and weather much better than expected and offer a surprising amount of traction.
2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 1
October 28, 2008
Well, today was an awesome day. Absolutely incredible. We ran the first eight stages of the event. Well, seven stages at least. One was canceled due to a bad accident/car fire. One of the Ford Escorts tumbled, rolled, flipped and crashed for about 100 feet before landing on its roof and bursting into flames. Fortunately both the driver and co-driver were able to escape with no injuries. However, stage 7 was closed and we continued on to the final stage.
2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Prologue Day
October 27, 2008
Well, today was the first day of the rally. Even though we weren’t actually “racing” we were able to put the car through its paces a little bit. None of today’s times or results will count towards the finish of the rally. It’s really seen as a P.R. stage designed to please the spectators and cause some excitement. In that regard it was a complete success. I was in the car for the first pass through the stage. Then Dad’s friend from the Ford New Zealand Motorsport division went for a ride.
More after the jump… Read more
2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Intro
October 24, 2008
Every automotive enthusiast has their favorite stretch of road. Whether is a series of tight corners surrounded by trees and blind turns or a long straight road with no end in sight. The dreams is always the same. “Man, I wish I could run this road without the fear of oncoming traffic, police patrol, or any other hindrance.” Well, for those thrill seekers looking for a great time, the Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand is the perfect place to go.
More info after the jump… Read more
STILLEN Ford GT To Compete In 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally
September 11, 2008
Steve Millen and the STILLEN crew are very excited to once again be participating in the Dunlop Targa Rally held in New Zealand with the STILLEN Ford GT. This is an annual road rally held on 38 stages run over closed public roads, with a variety of vehicles, from classics to Porsche’s, EVO’s, STi’s, Skyline’s and everything in between.
The competition stages are public roads which have been closed by the police and driven flat out. The goal is simple, the car that covers the distance in the shortest time wins.
EDIT: Here’s some additional coverage, photos, and previous stories from our friends at Autoblog.com
Videos of the 2006 Targa Rally, including in-car are available at the STILLEN GT Project Vehicle page
More pictures and information after the jump… Read more
Ford GT Testing At Fontana
July 29, 2008
On Saturday July 26th the STILLEN team headed out to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA with the STILLEN Ford GT to do some testing on the infield road course during the Speed Ventures open track day. It was a great day and we learned a lot about the new parts and were able to test out the new Michelins, we were hoping would provide the additional traction needed for the beast.
The car handled alright with the stock wood (I mean ummm….rubber?) After the first session we decided to throw on the new Michelin PS2′s. This is a nice tire and has quite a bit more grip. These tires are a little bit shorter and quite a bit wider (two inches to be exact.)
…more testing info and pictures after the jump.
