Son does Paddy proud in Targa
ONE DAY THIS WILL ALL BE YOURS, SON: Nigel Patterson, son Andrew and the various trophies Patterson has won in the Targa New Zealand rally over the years. Andrew navigated for his dad in this year’s six-day, 950-kilometre event from Auckland to Wellington. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell
Chris Taewa
A COUPLE of Gisborne “Paddies” turned the Dunlop Targa New Zealand rally into a family affair this year.
Nigel Patterson enlisted 15-year-old son Andrew as his navigator in his sixth attempt at the event.
Son showed motorsport is in the blood by helping dad to third overall in the classic (cars 20 years and over) division and second in their class (1982-89) — continuing a successful history for Patterson senior in his 1986 BMW 320i.
Patterson, who owns Benson Bros Ltd auto electricians, completed the six-day, 950-kilometre event from Auckand to Wellington in eight hours, nine minutes, 25 seconds.
He was just under 14 minutes behind his class and classic division overall winners Mark and Chris Kirk-Burnnand, also in a BMW.
Only 1min 5sec adrift of Patterson was former Gisborne man Brent Emerson in a Holden Commodore.
Patterson, 42, said that bar a cracked front suspension strut — which they noticed before any major damage was done — it was “a pretty good run”.
He gave his son a pat on the back for a job well done. Lytton High School student Andrew needed dispensation to compete as he was under the minimum age of 16 but showed maturity beyond his years.
“It was a great opportunity to get the young fullah in there and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. He did a pretty good job first time up . . . there were only a couple of navigational issues.”
Their clean run was also testament to the efficiency of pit crew Steve “Kipper” Cantwell, Evan Mooney and former Gisborne man Warren Glassford, with whom Patterson has swapped driver/navigator roles in past rallies.
The Targa rally is an offshoot of a race first run by Italian Vincenzo Florio in Sicily in 1905.
Its philosophy is “enjoyment of motorsport and passion for cars”.
Around 120 cars were split into modern (cars under 20 years) and classic (20 years and over) divisions for this year’s rally.
Meanwhile, Patterson will be back behind the wheel tomorrow for Gisborne Car Club’s Waingake Road sealed hill climb, while Andrew’s focus has shifted back to his ministock car and the Gisborne speedway season.
The car club event is being held on a 3.5km uphill stretch for the first time and kicks off at 11.30am. It is restricted to motoring vehicles with a roll-cage.
Spectators are welcome, and should take the Waingake turn-off at Manutuke and follow the road.