Police Officer Plays at Targa Rally

[Rhino]

Oops :crybaby:

On the TV One News tonight, a Police Officer clearing the road for the Targa Rally came down a hill and missed the corner. He exited stage left through a fence and ended up in a creek. Luckily he only suffered minor injuries.

Apparently he came down the hill and locked the brakes approaching the corner. It appears that he kept his foot on the brake pedal and just went straight ahead. First rule of braking is that if you lock up, ease the pressure, even though it isn't the natural thing to do. You really have to practice that until it becomes an automatic reaction.

The main thing is that he's ok and hopefully learns from this.

[Scorpygirl]

It was real hardcase to see the cop car straddling the drain!!! :banana:
One of the young guys was just holding it together when he was saying about the cops telling us to slow down. Best thing I've seen on TV One News this week!!! :bleh: :doobey:

[Jabez]

Speed kills.......:)

[Zapf]

well.. at lease they are sending them on driver training at targa... YAKS! :eek5: :doh: :shit: :buggerd:

[SlowHand]

No no no, he was in a chase, but he ended it 5minutes ago.

[dhunt]

Apparently he came down the hill and locked the brakes approaching the corner. It appears that he kept his foot on the brake pedal and just went straight ahead. First rule of braking is that if you lock up, ease the pressure, even though it isn't the natural thing to do. You really have to practice that until it becomes an automatic reaction.
That doesn't sound right. Don't all the cop cars have ABS?

[Ghost Lemur]

There should be Motorcycles competition in the Targa.

/end tangent.


As for the poor cop, bet he's going to get shit in the locker room. :killingme

[WINJA]

SHOULDNT THAT LOSER PIG WRITE HIMSELF A TICKET

[John]

poor cop, bet he's going to get shit in the locker room. :killingme

I hear there is a lot of "shit" pushed around the locker rooms... :mellow:

[justsomeguy]

SHOULDNT THAT LOSER PIG WRITE HIMSELF A TICKET

:lol: ...... yeah he should.

[Mooch]

I remember the a Cop doing the road clearing for the Piecock hill road stage of the Targa a few years back, had excellent lines and probably did a respectable time for a standard Holden,if it's the same guy as this then he's a far better driver than you or I. At the time when cops do the check the road is already closed, If they did the final road check at Sunday driver pace the Targa would never run.
I've seen even some of the most experienced driver’s crash during this event so we shouldn't be too hard on the cop, especially since the car was running standard brake pads, probably had brake fade and couldn't scrub the rest of the speed off, hence straight ahead. ABS doesn't help a bit in situations like this. Been to a couple of Cage track days were HSV's ran out of brakes after a couple of laps (soft pads and lots of lard) I doubt a standard S or SS would be any better.

[vtec]

This is a very good reason why I think the Holden's and Fords are dangerous to be used in high speed chases. Too much lard, it increases the stored energy in the form of momentum, it also, like you say brings on brake fade very quickly which is extremely dangerous. But from the other angle they want to have a large mass so they can ram cars off the road, and also resist being rammed off the road themselves.

[Indoo]

That corner claimed a few more than just him, there was a number of experienced rally drivers who came off that very corner as well. Unlike them the cop will no doubt get a ticket or be charged.

[Beemer]

What about the dickhead farm worker who was also a "keen motorsport photographer" who was collected by a guy driving a Porsche? He can't have been that keen a photographer if he was standing in a position where he was likely to get killed - great shot of him flying over the bonnet on the Dom Post yesterday! He was on the wrong side of the fence and it looks like there was bugger all room for the car to pass anyway. Isn't it funny how it's always men who end up getting bowled at rallies - remember Colin McRae breaking that guy's leg a few years ago?

Spent five years covering rallies for papers and magazines and the worst injury I got was a cut on my cheek from a flying stone. And as for the cop, no doubt he'll be entering next year!

On another matter, did anyone see the 20/20 thing last night on the Cannonball run - won by two kiwis!

[Drunken Monkey]

...Spent five years covering rallies for papers and magazines and the worst injury I got was a cut on my cheek from a flying stone.

Yeah, but I'll bet you don't have any photos as exciting as a Porchse sliding sideways towards your lens, at speed, only 3 feet infront of you! :)


there was a number of experienced rally drivers who came off that very corner as well.

For many Targa drivers this is the only Rally they do. Whilst the field does have a range of experienced and quick drivers, there are many others that think they're the shiznit just because they have a competition license. You can usually spot them in other tarmac rallies on occasion when they get driven around by other competitors.
Not saying anything about the particular incident(s), but not all Targa drivers are skilled race drivers.

[steved]

That doesn't sound right. Don't all the cop cars have ABS?My first thought too.

[vifferman]

I remember the a Cop doing the road clearing for the Piecock hill road stage of the Targa a few years back, had excellent lines and probably did a respectable time for a standard Holden,if it's the same guy as this then he's a far better driver than you or I.
The article in The Harold this morning said he was a local cop. In that case, you'd think he'd know the road. Maybe the sight of 100 spectators distracted him, or encouraged him to try to be a hero.

[Lou Girardin]

The dumber you drive, the bigger the mess.

[Pixie]

That doesn't sound right. Don't all the cop cars have ABS?
ABS only helps if you are intelligent enough to take advantage of it and steer away from the hazard.If you panic and freeze you end up in trouble (a creek,for instance)

[Sniper]

SHOULDNT THAT LOSER PIG WRITE HIMSELF A TICKET

I would say so, don't your average Joe Bloggs get a ticket for dangerous driving if that happened to them?

[R6_kid]

sounds like the cunt that tried to bait me on the motorway through town by going up to 160 in an 80 zone. I followed just to see how fast he was going...

serves him right.

[R6_kid]

I would say so, don't your average Joe Bloggs get a ticket for dangerous driving if that happened to them?

its a race on closed roads... so unfortunately it dont count but i bet he'll be getting a :eyepoke:

[Magua]

sounds like the cunt that tried to bait me on the motorway through town by going up to 160 in an 80 zone. I followed just to see how fast he was going...

serves him right.

Ever thought that he might of got a call and was on his way?

[R6_kid]

Ever thought that he might of got a call and was on his way?

yeh coz that would explain why he slowed down just after.... plus there was traffic around, if he was in a hurry he shoulda had his lights on.

Still doesnt get him off cruising at 120kmh for 10km before that.

[Postie]

for all those who haven't seen a picture

[Lou Girardin]

yeh coz that would explain why he slowed down just after.... plus there was traffic around, if he was in a hurry he shoulda had his lights on.

Still doesnt get him off cruising at 120kmh for 10km before that.

Did you realise that he could get your rego and ping you for speeding while following him?

[sAsLEX]

Did you realise that he could get your rego and ping you for speeding while following him?
last time i checked NZ dont have front facing indication of rego on bikes

[Patrick]

Could pull over, let you pass, stop ya...but strike first and ask him "why are you going so fast? I've just been following you at xxxkmph..."

[Motu]

last time i checked NZ dont have front facing indication of rego on bikes

Easy enough to get a bike to pass a car...some people just can't help themselves,they'll even pass a cop just because they can.It takes a few years for testosterone to be replaced by savy animal cunning...

[Beemer]

Yeah, but I'll bet you don't have any photos as exciting as a Porchse sliding sideways towards your lens, at speed, only 3 feet infront of you! :).

Beg to differ! I covered the Rally of NZ for years and believe me, the shots I have of the top European drivers are incredible. I've also got shots of trucks that slid off the track and ended up in the kitty litter only a few feet in front of where I HAD been standing - moral of the story is, be aware and be ready to move bloody quickly if it all turns pear shaped!

I don't blame the driver in this instance, nor in any instances where a spectator puts themself in a position of danger. He's just bloody lucky he wasn't killed.

[WINJA]

its a race on closed roads... so unfortunately it dont count but i bet he'll be getting a :eyepoke:
ROADS NOT CLOSED TILL HES CLEARED IT , HE WAS THERE TO CLEAR THE ROAD NOT DRIVE DANGEROUSLY

[dveus]

quote from the Targa website

We have a new road safety message from the New Zealand Police “Do as we say not as we do”. Yesterday the reports of a Patrol Car getting airborne on one of our stages (photo’s to come) proved that Pig’s Can Fly and after SS18 they proved they could also swim. A local cop from the district decided to offer some help by driving his Patrol Car through to check 4 trouble. At the start of the stage he was heard talking to some officials about his talent as a driver “Yeah Right”. As he came down the hill to our infamous left hander across the narrow bridge, opposite from our Hospitality Villa. He completely over cooked it and speared straight through the fence and down into the creek. Needless to say his ambition to be Police Commissioner floated down the river.

There is a daily writeup of mishaps that happen over on www.targa.co.nz well worth a read, whoever writes them has quite a sense of humour.

[Mooch]

The article in The Harold this morning said he was a local cop. In that case, you'd think he'd know the road. Maybe the sight of 100 spectators distracted him, or encouraged him to try to be a hero.


Then this is really funny and in view of the Targa report then he's going to be in for shit. I remember a person with a similar attitude at Rally school who said how great a driver they were , ended up crashing very early on , and it was one of those , if you biff it , you pay for it events.
For those commenting about ABS , if you go into a corner too hot the car will normally go straight ahead regardless , you make vary the angle of the car slightly by turning the wheel , but it will still go straight ahead until the inertia gets to the point where the front wheels gain traction again.
Here’s a video link (been here before) showing a car losing it (had ABS but didn’t help)
http://www.erborrico.com/206raba.wmv (2.5 meg)

And this one demonstrates exactly what beamer was talking about.
http://www.miamiracing.com/movies/Porsche%20Crash.mpg (.9 meg)

[Scorpygirl]

The Harold also reported that the cop was not meant to be there.. he wasnt the cop assigned to clear the road.

Oh God.... Another hero!!!! :oi-grr: :finger:

[spudchucka]

The Harold also reported that the cop was not meant to be there.. he wasnt the cop assigned to clear the road.
The full story is bloody funny but I'm afraid I aint sharing. And no it wasn't me.

[Patrick]

The full story is bloody funny but I'm afraid I aint sharing. And no it wasn't me.

Nor me...welcome by the way Dynomytus50... PM me sometime (since I can't PM you at the moment from your "block.")... You're playing in my old playground... :niceone:

[inlinefour]

woot a dumbarse, would have hoped that the individual would have known better...

[Lou Girardin]

I can just see it, Mr 'Plod in the creek' was pursuing mulitple vehicles travelling at very high speed, but he'd pulled out of the chase a minute before the crash.

[Deano]

if it's the same guy as this then he's a far better driver than you or I.

Thats a big call. How the hell would you know ?