NOTICEBOARD / EVENTS DIARY
Tweaks made to this year’s Targa rally have opened up new opportunities for classic car owners, especially weekend drivers, in the northern region
This year’s Targa New Zealand tarmac rally in the upper North Island for all three categories — Competition, Tour, and Time Trial — has been shortened by one day to four days. That might suit some time-challenged participants. The wholly good news is that the addition of a new two-day weekend Time Trial, recently announced, is surely an ideal taster for classic owners wanting some nicely focused fun.
While the Targa started out appealing to sporting classic owners, the racing requirement for roll cages and other race paraphernalia cut most classics out of the sharp end and even the tour category became the preserve of modern GT cars.
Enter the Time Trial category, added to the Targa a couple of years ago in association with the Vintage Car Club (VCC) for cars over — or close to
— 30 years old. Virtually no extra equipment is required and the target speeds are set to encourage spirited driving in the classic car sweet spot, but on closed roads selected for their driver appeal. It’s the perfect chance to drive classic cars as they were meant to be driven.
The concept was embraced enthusiastically by South Island drivers the first time around. This year’s event in the top end of the North Island should be ideal for classic owners in the Auckland region, and the new weekend-only event will fit neatly into a busy schedule!
Summing up the changes: Targa 2020 has been reduced from a five-day competition to four days. Entry fees will be reduced and appropriate refunds will be made to paid-up participants. Targa has added a ‘regional’ VCC Time Trial on Saturday and Sunday, 17 and 18 October, matching the existing two-day Competition and Tour events.
Four-day Time Trial event participants will now meet at the VCC North Shore clubrooms on the afternoon of Tuesday, 13 October, instead of Monday, 12 October, for introductions, vehicle scrutineering, and installation of the Rallysafe computer. Documentation and event briefing will now be Wednesday, 14 October instead of Tuesday, 13 October. The event will start from the North Harbour Stadium, Albany, on Thursday, 15 October instead of Wednesday, 14 October, heading for Whangarei.
On Saturday, 17 October, cars will now leave from Ellerslie not Manukau city, heading for the Coromandel and overnighting in Whitianga. A Legends of Targa dinner and the prize-giving will take place on Sunday in Pukekohe.
For more information and entry details, see targa.nz/targa-nz-2020/. For Time Trial info, two-day or four-day, contact VCC steward Rod Corbett at rod.corbett88@gmail.com or on 027 433 8772.
Maps of the route and details of competitors will be published in the next issue of New Zealand Classic Car.