Police Officer Plays at Targa Rally

[Rhino]

Oops

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!!!
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!!!

[Jabez]

Speed kills.......

[Zapf]

well.. at lease they are sending them on driver training at targa... YAKS!

[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.

[WINJA]

SHOULDNT THAT LOSER PIG WRITE HIMSELF A TICKET

[John]

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

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

[justsomeguy]

SHOULDNT THAT LOSER PIG WRITE HIMSELF A TICKET

...... 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.