Targa Newfoundland: Leg 1
Targa Newfoundland is underway and Leg 1 has already proven to be eventful for one of the MINIs entered.
Several cars were out of the competition after leaving the road and will not likely return to action. A 2006 JCW MINI Cooper S left the course and one of the crew was taken to hospital for observation and was later released.
At this point it remains unclear if it was Ron Kiino or Jared Holstein that was taken to the hospital. Also, there has not been final confirmation that the JCW MCS is in fact out of the race as hinted at above. Leg 1 Results list Kiino and Holsein as last in class, but do notably attribute a time for them rather than indicating a DNF (did not finish). As of this posting, Leg 2 results have not been put online. We will post an update when leg 2 results are available.
Thanks to Charlie for the tip!
Related:
[ MINI USA & MINI Canada Team up for Targa Newfoundland ] MotoringFile
[ The Targa Newfoundland 2006 ] MINIUSA
Sorry to hear about the incident with the JCW MCS race car. I hope the driver and co-pilot are both in good shape.
This is a tough race, so don’t expect an easy trail from here on.
Isn’t one MCS JCW still in the race?
Yes… the Mini Canada car is still in the race. Go Mini!!!
<strong>Update</strong>: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.targanewfoundland.com/newsDetail.asp?id=29">Leg 2 Results are posted</a> and the JCW MCS is still listed near the bottom of the standings in 55th place overall.
But more importantly, the Canadian car is listed at 25th overall, and number 3 in the ‘Unlimited’ class. Though realistically out of the running it would be cool to see Kiino and Holstein get back out there and finish.
They’ve got daily journals and PHOTOS over on mini.ca… check it out!
<a href="http://www.mini.ca/en/More_MINI/Targa_Newfoundland/Daily_Journal/default.aspx" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini.ca/en/More_MINI/Targa_Newfoundland/Daily_Journal/default.aspx</a>
This is what they said about MINI USA’s entry:
“Er, well, the MINI Cooper S JCW today proved how strong it is, and how well it protects its occupants.And the US-based team of Ron Kiino and Jared Holstein proved that they had paid attention during the drivers’ meeting as to what they should do in the event of a crash in a stage.Get out; ensure everyone is OK; set up warning triangles for following traffic; display the “OK” sign to show other teams that no immediate assistance is needed.That’s how we found them, just three kilometres in to the very first stage of the day, about five minutes after they went off.
They hit a patch of gravel on an under-construction bridge, got sideways, over-corrected, and bounced into the boonies. As a precaution, as with all Targa “off’s”, they were taken to hospital for observation. Kiino reported feeling fine; Holstein said his neck was a bit sore.The MINI? It is a lot sore.The car was too badly damaged to continue. At time of writing it has not been determined if Ron and/or Jared will continue in another car, probably moving into the less-stressful Grand Touring category.
We’ll have full details when they’re available.”
<strong>Another Update…</strong> via MINI.CA
“The MINI USA JCW MINI Cooper S has been forced to retire from the event after a crash on Day One. Driver Ron Kiino from Los Angeles, an editor with Motor Trend magazine, is still keen to continue, so the Course Opening car, a MINI Cooper S JCW Competition Edition (one of a limited edition of 64 specific to the Canadian market), has been repatriated, and Kiino will transfer to the less onerous Grand Touring time-and-distance competition.
Co-driver Jared Holstein from New York City, representing Sport Compact Car magazine, wrenched his neck in the crash and has been advised not to continue competing. St. John’s businessman Jason Cahill, a three-time driver in Grand Touring Targas, will act as Kiino’s co-driver So Targa Newfoundland spectators will be seeing double – TWO Chili Red Cooper S JCWs running on these roads
“
Journalists . . .
I’m glad the guys are ok. Unfortunately, I kind of [predicted this](<a href="http://motoringfile.com/2006/09/06/mini-usa-mini-canada-team-up-for-2006-targa-newfoundland-rally/#comment-51405" rel="nofollow ugc">http://motoringfile.com/2006/09/06/mini-usa-mini-canada-team-up-for-2006-targa-newfoundland-rally/#comment-51405</a>):
<blockquote>This sounds very cool, but I see one major problem: they’re putting journalists in one of the cars! You can kiss that puppy goodbye…</blockquote>
As Gabe pointed out, Kenzie is experienced (and did quite well last year), so the comment wasn’t really warranted, but that’s never stopped me from being glib before… 😉