TARGA GREAT BARRIER REEF Crowds deliver surge in trade
FAR North businesses have an appetite for more of the Targa Great Barrier Reef, after visiting drivers and revheads led to a business boom on the weekend.
Throughout the three-day Targa event, there were plenty of chances for people to get up close and personal with the cars, valued at a collective $25 million, including Targa Expo at the Reef Hotel Casino on Friday, Targa Fest at the Esplanade on Saturday and numerous stops around the Tablelands.
Head chef at Splash Seafood restaurant on the Esplanade, Crystal McCoist, said they were filled up with restaurant bookings from the drivers themselves coming in to take a load off during Targa Fest.
“A lot of people were coming up to the drivers while they were at dinner to ask questions; they were very patient and talkative,” she said.
Ms McCoist said other restaurants along the Esplanade shared the view.
“It was a busy night for all of us – a lot of people were celebrating around the Esplanade, and there were crowds gathered from end to end to see the cars,” she said.
“Last year, I remember the drivers were quite scattered around the Esplanade, but this year we got a huge chunk of it.
“I think at one point, we had about 40-odd people who were from Targa, and we’re a 60seater.”
This year was the first time Targa GBR made it to Mareeba, with a stopover at the Turf Club on Saturday morning.
Club secretary Alan Holmes said there was a sizeable car community in town who enjoyed getting the chance to check out the highperformance vehicles.
“It’s good for the town to have these sort of events here. It was certainly good for the Turf Club,” he said.
“There were even some cars coming through town early Sunday morning to fuel up. It’s good business.”
Targa CEO Mark Perry said it was common for drivers to visit communities ahead of the races to get a feel for courses.
“That’s one of those invisible economic benefits – they just look like normal tourists when they go out to check out the stages, but they’re still stopping in towns, eating at the cafes, spending money,” he said.