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- 2010 Energywise Rally: Day #4 & Rainbow Bright
2010 Energywise Rally: Day #4 & Rainbow Bright
Team Rainbow Bright reporting in from the finish of the Energywise rally. We landed the short straw and the shortest drive, but potentially the most important (in our own minds). Sean and Nathan handed the keys over with us sitting in a solid 9th position overall for the drivers' comp so the pressure was well and truly on.
6.00am: Woke to a cool wet Rotorua morning, both of us wondering how not to get the car sideways on the wet grass en route to the start line.
7.00am: Car still there thanks to the huge guard dogs. Other teams checking over their cars. Yael and I are nervous. Two texts and a phone call already from the support team back at Trade Me all with the same message: “Don’t f*** it up guys.”
8.30am: Car wedged in-between a Subaru and a Hyundai, and we had to leave before them. Nothing that a good push of the Holden and some banter from fellow competitors couldn’t fix. No gas used and we were free to do a rolling start: result!
9.00am: At the wheel, weather is foul – hit road works and the lollipop man was not on our side. Open road, on our way. Sean was right, this Omega does handle well which meant we could point it into corners with confidence and not scrub momentum.
10.00am: Tauranga – traffic lights and the traffic are on our side. Not a single red light (or even a late amber). Car showing 8.4L/100km. We knew we could do better and had it down to 8.2L/100km.
10.30am: Driver change at the crest of a hill (yes we did stop). Yael now in control and working hard on keeping the revs down.
11:00am: Not too much traffic on the road, but everyone we come across is slow and isn’t focused on using their momentum… The sun is out and the windows are closed. It's starting to get very warm.
11:30am: Across the Hauraki Plains and a few other rally cars are catching up to us – are we travelling to slowly? Time to lift the pace slightly - we are now averaging between 95 and 100 km/hr.
12:00pm: Bombay Hills – a crucial moment – the Holden cruises nicely up in 6th, then 5th gear, keeping the revs consistently at 1250. We thought this could have been a disaster but it looks as though the car did a good job.
12:30pm: Finish line, at this stage someone tops up the tank to check how much fuel we used. This would have to be one of the most painful experiences ever: the pump stops filling at 16 litres. At this point high-fives and hugs are shared, then the petroleum transfer technician manages to get another 6 litres in the tank. We were feeling a little gutted but we will have to wait until later on tonight to see how we finished up.
12:45pm: Bathroom stop at Wiri Gull.
1:00pm: Rally over. We're off to Auckland city and an opportunity for the Omega to stretch her legs.
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