When Targa Newfoundland competitors fire up their engines this weekend, it'll be the soldier boys and the trailer park boys against a fast field of 60 or so competitors in the five-day romp around The Rock.
The “soldier boys” are Master Corporal Jody Mitic and Corporal Andrew Knisley, wounded veterans of Canada's war in Afghanistan. They'll share driving chores in a rally-prepped Acura TL entered in the Targa division by the Acura Dealers of Canada and supported by Honda Canada.
The pair hopes to raise $150,000 for the Soldier On Fund (a Canadian Forces trust) that assists injured soldiers in returning to full and active lives with their drive – and perhaps prove a point or two.
At Calabogie Motorsports Park near Ottawa last week on a scorching hot afternoon, both were becoming familiar with their Acura TL on a track that mimics some of the surprises Newfoundland's roads will present – albeit with smoother pavement.
The TL is basically stock, but with a 305-hp V-6, a paddle-shifted automatic transmission, upgraded brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport tires on Motegi Rally rims, it's got the stuff to get the job done.
“It's quicker than I'd thought it would be,” says Knisley, who owns a Porsche Cayman S and uses it for track lapping days. He drives with his sound left leg, his prosthetic right leg tucked in behind. “The paddle shifters make a huge difference. It's very well balanced and the Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive really works.”
Mitic, despite prosthetics below both knees, wasn't having any trouble going fast either, not surprising as he drives a five-speed Saleen Mustang.
Knisely and Mitic's Targa began, as these things often do, over a beer in a pub during last winter's Paralympics in Vancouver. Both are keen motorheads and while watching last year's Targa on the bar's TV the inevitable question was asked – why don't we give that a try?
“I'd heard of Targa, but it was one of those things that until you see it you don't realize how wicked it is,” says Mitic. And he “knew a guy” who could perhaps help make it happen.
The “guy” was retired major-general Lewis MacKenzie, a keen racer and former Targa Newfoundland class winner. MacKenzie and racing associate Nigel Mortimer, a retired Transport Canada exec who's providing the technical support, have worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition. Funding for the team has come from private and corporate sources, and all donations to the Soldier On Targa Newfoundland project will go to the Soldier On fund.
Mitic, whose military career dates back to 1994, lost both his lower legs to a land mine on his second tour in Afghanistan as a sniper. He became the first wounded soldier posted to the Soldier On program. Knisely joined up in 2007 and was posted to Afghanistan a year later, losing his right leg at the hip and badly damaging his right arm in the blast of an improvised explosive device. He returned to duty this spring, employed in the Casualty Cell, working with “guys currently being wounded in Afghanistan.”
Mitic explains that the Soldier On fund was set up to help with the more social, sports and generally getting on with life aspects of being wounded in action. “It can connect you to the right people at the right time, to get something done,” he says.
