As we moved to the start of Brigus for the final time the radiator cap started to whistle, she was really getting close to being finished with this journey. But she had to carry us through, she just had to. The safety marshal once again looked at our car – “You are leaking coolant but I didn’t see it…” Thanks, buddy!

We were the last car to drive through the stage, nobody behind us, it was bitter sweet. The crowd was cheering. The photographers were at the ready. People were standing on their balconies and roofs. We rolled through the town, doors open, waving to the crowd, taking in the scenery and the moment, a special moment with a special car.

As we crossed the flying finish, a sigh of relief escaped from the whole team. And as we approach the final finish line, what do we see? The entire field of Targa competitors – who have now become good friends by Day 6 – out of their cars standing, clapping and cheering for team Bad Company Motorsports. We beat the odds and the skeptics and the car gave her all to ensure Mark and I could not only finish one grueling week behind the wheel but to start a great friendship as well.

It is said that cars have a soul and most certainly Mark’s GT40 does. Despite starting off with a protest and refusing to get going at times and biting us hard, she was grateful of her rebuild and ensured we finished the demanding race by giving us everything she could at that final stage. We truly did bring the wrong car to a rally, but it finished despite being battered and bruised.

As much as Targa seems to be about the drive, it is more about the people. The volunteers, the competitors and the locals that provide support and allow us into their communities. The people of Newfoundland are like nobody else in our great nation. It certainly is by far the friendliest place I have ever visited and Mark and I were treated like superstars anywhere we arrived with the GT40. Young and old and everyone in between were excited to see Targa come to town; it is the highlight of the year for some of them and it showed.

No, we didn’t win any trophies, although we did finish second in our category (Classic Large Displacement). There were ups and there were downs, but the week was an epic journey of friends, cars and racing and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. In the end what we won is an experience of a lifetime and a friendship, something far more important than a silver plate.

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