It Started at the Micra Launch
When Nissan introduced their all-new Micra in May, they invited my blog to the national launch in Montreal.
During the launch there was a game – all journalists were given 4 shots on NHL goalie Jose Theodore, and I scored the most.
Jose would like to thank the Academy.
I was called to centre stage and informed the prize was … I’d be driving for Nissan in the upcoming Targa Rally. Basically, I won a dream.
What is the Targa Rally
The Targa Newfoundland Rally is an annual 2,200 km, 5-day road rally across all of Newfoundland. Like, the whole province agrees to this, ropes off their front yards and cheers from the road side.
To be honest, I still didn’t believe it was going to happen. And that’s why I never said anything here, because the golden-rule of blogging: until you can link to it, don’t type a word.
Some time passed, and I had to sign a few forms.
I was still not totally believing; I’ve signed lots of stuff that never happened.
But that was followed shortly by a lunch with Nissan…
… and that’s when it started to become real. Holy crap this is actually happening to me? It wasn’t processing, I don’t get lucky like this.
Because this is as good as a rally experience gets… a whole team (logistics person, a dedicated mechanic and tech, photographer, more) and I just show up and get behind the wheel. Someone will even make sure I get fed. Phft.
Plus Jenn is going. She’ll be behind the hashtag #TeamNissanTarga, say hi, she’s very quite @NissanCanada
Then the Unveiling Made it Real
On Friday, in the lobby of Nissan HQ Canada, I pulled off a silk cover to find my official race car, my name pasted on the side.
It wasn’t until that moment that I realized this is really happening to me. My hands got shaky, my words turned into babbling (oh Wendy it just hit me I ah gah mmm ermahgerd), then I got pretty awkward, and ran away soon as the silk was off.
Here’s a time-lapse video by fellow competitor Danny Bailey.
Hi my name is ON THE CAR?!
About the Micra
This car is right up my alley – manual transmissions available in all trims, so minimal, no screen, designed specifically for Canada, and it’s a new-car and a used car price. Along the lines of – the Keri Eco Car.
Here’s the blog tag – Micra.
It’s a car-car.
That’s a term I coined to describe my favourite kind of vehicle: minimal, only the essentials, not a computer-on-wheels, a car-car.
Here’s 30-seconds about it.
I also tested it for a week, here’s the newspaper review.
And here’s an old ‘Keri on Driving’ column, where I interviewed the gentleman who decides what features go into a car, including the Mircra.
So find me in Newfoundland
From September 10 – 20, the first 2-days of which are racing school. Which is good because I’m ignorant about this rally racing stuff, and I really want to win.
And to Nissan…
Thank you sincerely, for the huge investment you just made in me.
I’m going to drive my guts out guys!
