Dynes McConnell and his sister and co-driver Melody McConnell beside their classic Porsche 930.
A Wellington surgeon and his sister said the King Country-Waipa legs of the Targa Rally felt like a homecoming at the weekend.
Some of the 18 volunteers from the Maihiihi community who acted as marshals for their section of the Targa Rally on Saturday. Back row from left, Katie Robinson, Deb Druce, Aaron Robertson, Mathew Szytkiel, Steph Berge, Lyall Carr, Duncan Roobottom and Zach Walsh. Front, Kohen Henry, Joeli Henry, Shekinah Henry and Amanda Roobottom. Photo: Paul Charman
The News caught up with Dynes McConnell and his sister and co-driver Melody McConnell, as their classic car was being examined by scrutineers at Ōtorohanga Rugby Club grounds.
Melody, who lives in Hawke’s Bay, has driven alongside her brother since the two were teenagers growing up on a dairy farm at Tuhikaramea, near Pirongia.
The two race a Porsche 930, a turbocharged variant of the 911 sports car manufactured from 1975 and 1989.
“At the time of its introduction, this was the fastest production car available in Germany, with a turbo so vicious that when it cut in it was notorious for spinning cars out on racing tracks of the day,” Dynes said.
“The 930 was designed to clean up at Monte Carlo and it did just that. But it was involved in so many crashes that it got the nickname ‘widow maker’.”
He added that the vehicle they were racing had been owned by another doctor, John Elliot, the son of eye surgeon Sir Randall Elliot.
Such had been the sportscar’s involvement with medical people over the years that it has been give the number plate MD 930 (short for medical doctor).
“It’s incredible fun racing this thing. If classic racing’s in your blood a day out contesting the Targa Rally, driving a car like this on these beautiful country roads is about as good as it gets,” Dynes said.
Top honours in the rally went to Marcus van Klink and his co-driver Matt Richards – who also won the 2023 rally.
Mini cars at the NZ Mini Nationals at Lake Karapiro.
Mini cars at the NZ Mini Nationals at Lake Karapiro.
Mini cars at the NZ Mini Nationals at Lake Karapiro.
Meanwhile the rain gods stayed away for the 175 minis and their owners who gathered at Lake Karāpiro from Invercargill to Northland and even one from Melbourne, Australia for the NZ Mini Nationals. Quite a few chose the camping out option with a mixture of swanky motorhomes to pup tents. Some even had special tents for their minis.
Dynes McConnell and his sister and co-driver Melody McConnell beside their classic Porsche 930 in the Targa Rally.
