TN Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 4

Volume 15, Issue 4
April 1st, 2016
Targa Newfoundland
September 10th - 17th, 2016
St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Writer & Layout: Darren Sheppard
Targa Newfoundland Newsletter
Targa Newfoundland - A bucket list item for motorsport enthusiasts
By Craig MacMullen
Photos by Ralph Saulnier (unless indentified)
Targa Newfoundland, dubbed ‘The Ultimate
Road Race’ and shown on TSN and other major
networks, has been held for the last 14 years just next
door in neighbouring Newfoundland. Not just any car
rally, but a true world class Targa style rally. I’m Craig
MacMullen, from Centreville, Kings County, Nova
Scotia, and I have experienced the Targa firsthand
racing for Team Hume.
A paragraph quoted from Eric Benson’s article
published in
Hemispheres
magazine states: Targa Newfoundland
isn’t your average
race. If drag-racing is
a 100-metre dash,
and contests like
NASCAR’s Daytona
500 and Formula 1’s
U.S. Grand Prix are
like marathons, then
a rally like Targa
Newfoundland is the Tour de France. It takes place
entirely on closed public roads that run through 17thcentury villages and far older forests. It rewards mental
endurance and physical prudence and the hazards are
numerous: Cars drive past sheer rock precipices and
stone walls that encroach on the road, and spectators (a
group that includes not only reckless teenagers but the
occasional 800-pound moose) sometimes decide to run
into the middle of the course. The race has an excellent
safety record—no one has been critically injured - but as
you’re roaring down narrow town roads past whitepicket fences the entire premise of the event seems
delightfully mad.
‘Targa’ is Italian for ‘plate or shield’. In this
case, Targa refers to the rectangular bronze plate
awarded to the winners of the Targa Floria, a race
sustained by exotic Italian car builders until the early
70's. It tortured man and metal along the jagged Italian
coastal roads.
Targa Newfoundland currently has no specified
‘cash’ prize. Only a plate. Some trophies or plaques for
specific classes or one-off Challenges, but the plate is
what everyone wants. A special plate that comes with
bragging rights, a dose of ego and a tremendous sense of
achievement. Perhaps a marketing opportunity for
some, but absolutely a chance to raise awareness for
your favoured charity is done quite often by teams.
Team Hume has raised over $160,000 in their ‘Drive to
End MS’.
You just can’t believe who this draws. There are
rally diehards, car junkies, car dealers and corporate
manufacturers, rich and famous personalities, a military
general, groupies and lots of regular guys, just like me.
They keep coming, from all walks of life, from all
corners of the world. England, France, Germany, Turks
and Caicos, Australia, New Zealand, all across the USA
and Canada. Oh, and WOW! cars like Maserati, Ferrari,
and Lotus. Vehicles complete from Porsche to vintage
antiques and modern Smart Cars. Throw in a Corvette
and a Viper or two, perhaps a Camaro, some Mustangs,
Subaru, lots of BMW’s; yes, even a station wagon and
pickup truck to properly season the field and you have
got yourself a very unique rally experience!
Upon arrival it’s like a family reunion, whether
new participants or returning competitors. Trash talk
runs high. Yet virtually everyone earnestly helps one
another to achieve all 40 plus stages. Stages that
demand undivided attention and endurance from every
team. Down roads so narrow and crooked they would
break a snakes back. Five days, over 1600 kilometres,
through pristine communities and gorgeous out-ports
where you would never have cause to go without good
reason. Targa’s a very good reason.
I compete with Team Hume, based out of
Toronto (http://targa.humemediainc.com/ ). Each
September, for the past 7 years, I have celebrated my
birthday in St. John’s, with mostly podium finishes. I
have overcome challenges from some of the most
extreme, eccentric or unique groups of competitors you
will find anywhere.
It all began with good friend and team sponsor
John Hume Sr., inviting me to participate with him and
his son, John Jr., in 2009. Daunting? Yes, particularly
since none of them had any formal car racing experience
what-so-ever. I first felt, by being friend of both father
and son, my duty would be family peace keeper. The
offer was far more delicious: drive some, navigate some
and take turns in a chase vehicle with spare parts and
fuel if needed. Turned out, father and son on practice
day, experienced a little mal de mer, motion sickness.
Cause? Reading in fast moving vehicles. Fearfully, I
confronted full time navigation duties only to discover I
performed well beyond my own expectations! My fate
was sealed. I defended the navigator’s position with zeal
for the next several years.
When it comes to the in-car communication, it
can be very stressful. Stir in a dash of tedious moments
and top it with bouts of shear panic; and the outcome is
not dissimilar to that of a wife helping a husband back
up a trailer for the first time. There are plenty of good
drivers, not so with navigators. Without a doubt, it
takes both a good driver and good navigator for a top
finish in Targa.
seems built more for track than for fetching groceries.
Its fast and a blast like no other MINI.
There are four choices of distinct Targa
divisions to enter. At least three are open for the use of
vehicles not unlike your family car, if one should be so
impetuously bold. The first division would be Fast Tour.
It is not a race. It is popular because it is not
competitive. It is held on the same closed public
highways, under certain safety precautions. Like all
divisions, cars are released safely, one at a time at predetermined intervals. In Fast Tour, on the closed roads,
you drive to the speed you are comfortable and can
handle. You are not racing. You decide how much of
the outstanding scenery you want to sight see. Speeds
are kept less than 130 kilometres per hour max and
slower under specific conditions. You’ll be glad for that!
There is a Quick Tour division which is the exact same
as Fast Tour, but it is only for those who wish to see a
smaller portion of the overall event, one day up to three
days. It gives those who wish to see what it is like to be
in the event a true chance to get their feet wet (hopefully
not literally) and perhaps see if a future year they’d like
to compete for the entire event.
A second division is very competitive and
requires precision driving based on average speeds,
timing and driving skill. It is the Grand Touring or GT
Division. GT is very quick, specifically controlled and is
competitive racing . . . but not the same thrills as the
third division.
Division three is the Targa. Competing vehicles
must be roll cage equipped and specifically outfitted
under strict rules and regulations. This racing is rough,
very fast and challenging. It is typically what gear heads
want to enter, people want to hear about and what the
crowds come to see.
Photo by Rein Raamat.
I have since posted wins both from the driver
and co-driver seats; I’ve become a competitor to watch in
car #1333, a 2013 John Cooper Works MINI GP loaned
to race by John Sr., owner of Hume Media Inc.,
Toronto. The GP version is a rare pricey little speedster,
with only 50 sold in Canada. With BMW input, the car
Targa Newfoundland’s 15th annual event will be
celebrated this September. I will again be driving car
#1333, my favourite MINI GP accompanied by a
talented navigator, Christina Kroner of Toronto. She
co-drove in 2015 for the team, but this will be a first
match up for the two of us. We’ve accepted the
challenge; picking up the gauntlet to compete against all
preceding GT Division winners. The goal? To take
home the title of Targa Masters, racing to be the overall
winners of the 15th Anniversary Targa Master’s plate.
In the ‘Drive to End MS’, Team Hume will also
enter a 2002 BMW M3; a 2004 BMW M3 and another
rarer, 2006 MINI GP, completing the four car Team.
My enthusiasm for Targa is infectious. Watch out, I will
encourage you to check this year’s special Targa event on
your bucket list. Registration can be found at
http://targanfld.com/. Targa space has already begun
to fill with more than 45 teams registered so far this year.
Division Entry Fees for 2016 Targa
Below are the entry fees and deadlines to enter the 15th annual Targa Newfoundland. We do accept a down payment on
most entry fees (minimum of $2,500.00 CDN for Targa and Grand Touring divisions) and can work out a payment plan
for the remaining balance. It is something you do not want to miss! Please keep in mind, the end of April is the final
date for the Regular entry fee. After that, it’ll fall into the Late Entry fee category and will be that price until the start of
the event. If you’d like to save any money, please enter prior to the end of April.
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Add 13% HST to all fees below for total entry fees.
Fast Tour
Regular
To April 30th
$3,995.00
Late Entry
To start of event
$ 4,295.00
Grand Touring
$6,495.00
$6,795.00
Targa
$7,495.00
$7,795.00
Quick Tour (1-3 days)
Per Day Rate
$850.00
$1,000.00
For entry forms or for more information on the fees or divisions and what is included with the fee, please contact
registrar@targanewfoundland.com or call the office 1-877-332-2413. Payment plans are available, but monthly payments
will be determined based on time of entry and the deposit amount.
Targa Masters Challenge
Some newsletters ago, an article regarding the creation of the Targa Masters Challenge in which all former division
winners of the event are invited back to battle it out at the 15th Anniversary event in September, was announced. Below is the
list of all the former winners of each division that is being used to determine who is a Master. Those in bold and underlined
have already signed up to participate in the 2016 Targa. As the months roll along, other Masters who enter will be highlighted
so the public can see who has put their names in to possibly being crowd the Targa Grand Master at the conclusion of the 15th
annual Targa in September!
THE TARGA COMPETITION (Classic, Modern, Open divisions)
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Four Wins
Roy Hopkins – M 2004, C 2007, 08, 09
Adrienne Hughes – M 2004, C 2007, 08, 09
Bill Arnold – M 2002, C 2003, 04, 05
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Three Wins
Mathew Oldford - M 2010, 11, 14
Brian Oldford – M 2010, 11, 14
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Ray Felice – C 2010, 11, 12
Scott Giannou – C 2010, 11, 12
Jim Kenzie – O 2005, 06 ,10
Brian Bourbonniere - O 2005, 06 ,10
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Two Wins
Mike Davenport – O 2013, 14
Brad Benson – O 2013, 14
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Andrew Comrie-Picard - M 2008, O 2012
Frank Sprongl – O 2008, 09
Rod Henderson – O 2008, 09
Jen Horsey – M 2006, O 2008
John Paynter – O 2006, M 2007
Clarke Paynter – M 2007, O 2006
Tamara Hull – M 2002, C 2004
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One Win
Billy Anderson - M 2015
Max Cline Abrahams - M 2015
Jean Luc Bergeron – O 2015
Mike Mercer – C 2015
Vincent Trudel – O 2015
Cory Prosser – C 2015
C J Strupp – C 2014
Jack Rogers – C 2014
Dan Aweida – M 2013
Tina Aweida – M 2013
Dave Didcock – C 2013
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Ben Gill – C 2013
Brian O’Kane – O 2012
Justin Crant – M 2012
Paul Dyer – M 2012
Rob Pacione – O 2011
Brian Maxwell – O 2011
Steve Millen – M 2009
Mike Montecello – M 2009
Allan Ryall – C 2008
Evan Gambin – C 2006
Glen Clarke – C 2006
Keith Townsend – M 2006
Ernie Jacabowski – M 2003, 05
Bill Comat – M 2003, 05
Peter Guagenti – C2003
Tom Hayes – O 2003
Andy Vann – O 2003
Len Catlin – C 2002
Gail Catlin – C 2002
THE GRAND TOURING COMPETITION (Equipped & Unequipped divisions)
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Three Wins
Alan Kearley – GTU 2007, 08, 09
Greg Martin – GTU 2007, 08, 09
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Two Wins
John Hume Sr. – GTE 2012, 14
Craig McMullen – GTE 2012, 14
Justin Crant – GTE 2010, 11
Justin Russell – GTE 2010, 11
Rev. Davis Burrows – GTU 2012, 14
Jason Fancey – GTU 2012, 14
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One Win
Renee Damn – GTE 2015
Marinus Damn – GTE 2015
Lauren Scheller – GTU 2015
Carson Scheller – GTU 2015
John Riddell – GTE 2013
Brier Delange – GTE 2013
Terry de Silva – GTU 2013
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Graham Austin – GTU 2013
Alan Townsley – GTU 2010
David Fuhrman – GTU 2010
Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff – GTE 2009
Christopher Trauttmansdorff – GTE 2009
John Vandemierden – GTE 2008
Stu Lehmann – GTE 2008
Michael Martin – GTE 2007
Cathy Martin – GTE 2007
Bruce Terris – GTE 2006
Andy Proudfoot - GTE 2006
Brian Crocket – GTE 2005
Gail Walker – GTE 2005
Mark Hacking – GTU 2005
Lawrence Hacking – GTU 2005
Chris Collingwood – GTU 2004
Sean Longi – GTU 2004
Jean Francois Droulet – GTE 2003, 04
Regine Beaulieu – GTE 2003, 04
Private transportation from Toronto east available for Targa 2016
Scott Robbins (past competitor, 2nd place Classic
2015, 3rd place Open 2014, 3-time Targa plate winner, and
master of everything mechanical) transported several
vehicles to/from the mainland for the last several Targa’s.
Competitors who used his services were impressed with the
professionalism and the care he and his crew took in
bringing the vehicles down and back to their respective
homes. Scott will once again be transporting vehicles for
the 2016 Targa.
Scott has accessed to an enclosed trailer (pictured
below) and a couple of open trailers that he will use to
transport vehicles and gear for the event. Spots on all of
these trailers are quickly filling up! The price of transport
will be determined based on the number of vehicles, which
transport option the competitor wishes to use (enclosed or
open trailer) and the size of the vehicle itself.
He can pick up vehicles from Toronto and east
along the way to St. John’s. Vehicles from western Canada
and the U.S. are welcome to join the convoy at any point
(Toronto and east) or meet the convoy at the starting point
in Toronto.
Scott and his crew can also service vehicles that
they transport, or other vehicles that arrive without service
crews. He will be bringing an assortment of tools and can
work on any and all vehicles in under the comfort of the
huge pull-out on the trailer.
For more information on the cost and other
questions, please email Scott (picture above) at
srobbi@hotmail.com or call him at 905-424-3732.
A guide on planning a trip to view Targa
As one can imagine, it takes a lot of planning, hard
work, patience and many cups of coffee to pull off an event
such as Targa. Only two full time employees, a few contract
employees, a dozen senior volunteers and hundreds of
annual volunteers from all walks of life, all do their part to
make this event run smoothly for the competitors, service
crews and families who travel from all over the world to
partake and witness this unique motorsports spectacle.
for Targa, we suggest St. John’s International), but other
airports in Gander, Deer Lake and Stephenville will have
major carriers fly in and out. Check with your favourite
carrier to see if they fly into St. John’s and then see what
flights are available. If coming in just for the event, we
suggest aiming for September 9th as your fly-in date since
Registration and Tech Days, and the first official car show
that evening will be on the 10th.
Photo by Ralph Saulnier.
The other way of getting here, and the one that
almost all of the competitors will use, is the ferry. From
North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to either Port aux Basques on
the southwest coast of the island - add on another 10 hours
to drive across the island, or to Argentia here on the
Avalon Peninsula, which then gives competitors a 2 hour
drive into the capital of St. John’s. The ferry schedule and
possible weather delays will influence your arrival time with
the ferry, so take that into account when booking.
Photo by Ralph Saulnier.
There is another group who will make plans to visit
this province, which if not for Targa, would probably never
make the trip. Spectators who want to witness the event
first hand, seeing the teams compete on the closed-road
stages in some of the most beautiful, scenic settings this
planet has to offer, is what they are looking to experience.
More and more, we get questions about how to go about
organizing a trip here for the sole purpose of seeing the
event as a spectator. Up close and personal, but at a safe
distance.
First step, getting here! There’s only a couple of
ways to do it. We are an island after all. Flying in to any of
the major airports we have in the province (if flying in just
St. John’s International Airport. Photo taken from Wikipedia.
Once here, accommodations are then required. If
you’re coming in an RV or trailer, there are still some parks
open for business. However, these are few and far between.
Pippy Park directly in St. John’s will still be open until
October, and has all proper hookups for your RV, so just
like being at home.
As the event works its way out towards Clarenville
and the Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas, parks for RV’s
and trailers becoming a bit harder to find. Parking within
the paddock behind the Eastlink Events Centre in
Clarenville is an option, or trying to find a private RV park
may also be another option available. There is Terra Nova
National Park, one of the two federal parks on the island,
and that’ll have a couple campgrounds open for your use,
and private parks near Clarenville that may still be open.
Do your research and call ahead to such places to
determine if they are available for use during Targa.
If looking to stay at a hotel, St. John’s offers plenty
of options of major hotel chains and unique one-offs. Look
them up and see the availability of rooms for the dates
required. We direct competitors to Maxxim Vacations if a
travel agency is required for booking of hotels, rental cars
and ferry, so if you rather have someone else do all the
work, go through them. Clarenville only has a handful of
major hotels, and for the most part, they are already booked
with competitors, bus tours, and other business travellers.
Do call and see what room availability is however, you may
get lucky. There are bed and breakfasts within the area that
are available, as well as in other centres in the area on the
Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas. Do your research and
you’ll come up with some nice spots, close to stages of the
event.
When the route and stage location is posted in a
couple of months, spectators can start to figure out exactly
what communities they want to set up in to see the event.
Spectators will have to get into a stage prior to the roads
being closed. Once the roads are closed, no traffic flow will
be allowed. You are either stuck in or out of the stage. Get
in before we close the roads, set up in a nice, safe viewing
area and start taking pictures or recording video.
The 2015 Route, over 1,600 km’s, designed by Chris Langdon.
Spectators are asked to follow some basic safety
rules whenever on the stage. Stand at least 15 metres from
the road. Choose high ground. Never stand on the outside
of a turn (that’s where the vehicle is going if it goes off!).
Never stand behind red tape (only stand behind yellow
tape). Always stand wherever you are viewing, do not sit
down to watch (may have to move quickly). Counsel others
to be safe and watch out for each other! Enjoy the event,
be safe and make it an enjoyable experience for everyone
involved.
Motorama in review - the Targa Newfoundland experience
The 2nd annual Motorama Custom Car &
Motorsport Expo concluded in mid-March to high reviews
and record-breaking attendance, with close to 30,000
visiting the show in Toronto. With over 100 exhibitors
from the motorsports world, including Targa
Newfoundland (the only Newfoundland-based organization
at the show), there was plenty to see for those visiting the
International Centre where the show was held.
Targa management was represented by President
Robert Giannou. With Robert in attendance, he was able
to meet with several groups regarding promotion of Targa
at their events, the potential of several new sponsors, and
in-depth talks regarding getting the Targa television show
back on national and international networks. All in all, it
was a very productive time at the show and more
information about the above will be released in the coming
weeks.
He was also on the Road Racing Panel with other
organizations that use public roads or road courses for their
events and series. Robert is the senior member of this
panel so his extensive racing career (over 50 years) was put
to good use. The panel also allowed Robert to provide
news on the 15th annual Targa, regarding new stages, the
creation of the Lucas Oil Challenge, the Masters Challenge,
and the registration process, where almost 50 teams are
already signed up for the event.
personal experiences of the Targa, plus volunteers who
explained their experiences on what it is like on that side of
the event. Several potential competitors did speak to those
in the booth and took information with them to consider
formally entering the 15th annual Targa in the near future.
Motorama's Road Racing Panel. Photo by Christina Kroner.
The Targa booth had vehicles supplied by two of
the top Targa competitors, Mike Davenport and Mark
Rittenhouse, both of Ontario. Mike provided his 2015
Subaru WRX STi, which finished 2nd in last year’s Open
division. Mark provided his 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution,
which finished 3rd in Open last year. Both competitors
will be back in 2016 to hopefully improve their finishing
positions.
The booth was one of the largest in the show and
was located in the area connecting the two halls where
vehicles were on display. Heavy foot traffic allowed for
many one-on-one sessions with fans and those manning the
booth. Several competitors were on hand giving their
Targa booth at Motorama. Photo by Christopher Reid.
Targa Newfoundland would like to thank all of the
competitors and volunteers who came out to help in the
booth during Motorama. Your time and efforts to spread
Targa’s message to the masses does not go unnoticed by the
bigger Targa family. We deeply appreciate the help!
Presentation of annual Vinland entry prize
The local Vinland Car Club was presented with its annual entry prize at the end of the month of March. This prize is an entry
that is divided up by the Top 2 winners of the 2015 Autocross season standings, which is done by the club and is open to the
public. The standings concluded with Richard Atkinson (left) coming in 1st in the overall standings and Justin Ronayne (right)
finishing 2nd. Certificates were presented to each by Community Operations, Avalon Coordinator Leah Ryan. Richard will be
competing in the Targa division, while Justin will be entering his first Targa in the Quick Tour division.
Targa Newfoundland would like to thank Vinland Car Club for its assistance with marshaling the Torbay stage each year and
for its continued presence in keeping motorsports active in the local community and for their assistance with the Torbay stage.
Targa Newfoundland Contacts
targanfld.com - www.facebook.com/targanl - www.twitter.com/targanl
Robert Giannou
President
rgiannou@targanewfoundland.com
303 Thorburn Road, Suite 2-D
St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
A1B 4R1
Cell: 709-682-7900 Tel: 877-332-2413 Fax: 709-753-7646
Darren Sheppard
General Manager
registrar@targanewfoundland.com
303 Thorburn Road, Suite 2-D
St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
A1B 4R1
Tel: 709-722-2413 Tel: 877-332-2413 Fax: 709-753-7646
Targa Newfoundland Sponsors