THE TARGA NEWFOUNDLAND EXPERIENCE

By Ohan Korlikian

My first connection with Targa Newfoundland was about three years ago when I watched the race coverage on Television. Since then, I developed an interest in this motor sport, in particular, the classic European rallies of the 50’s and 60’s. In many respects Targa’s foundation had derived from these historical races. It’s “An open invitation to compete on closed roads” and what better way to enter such an event than with a car reminiscent of that bygone era.

REGISTRATION: Saturday - 9 September 2006

For many months I ran “what if” scenarios in my mind to ensure all the logistics were in place and we didn’t have any unexpected surprises at the race. On the first day of Targa registration, we went to sign in and collect all the information packages and decals. When I approached the primary table, the first question was “I need to see your racing license”….Whaaaaaatttt? I looked to my navigator (Richard Cox) and saw his jaw drop. It took a few beats to realized,  “We didn’t need a license in the Grand Touring Class”. The table should have a sign saying “Targa Class registration”.

PROLOGUE: Sunday - 10 September 2006

After the short prologue stage, we were positioned into second to last place. That was certainly fine with me. However, our position shifted when I granted team Mini to proceed ahead of us. I found that we were slowing them down as they kept catching up with us. It was the sportsman thing to do.

The excess weight in the trunk was holding us back. This was to be the Achilles heel for this race as we lagged behind during the stages. I had discussed the issue with the Targa organizers about the Alpine reaching each stage on time and to see if there was an alternative by way of being the very last car. Although this may make sense, it was not an accepted practice. The only solution was to downgrade into the basic touring category. This meant driving the car at a leisurely pace after the racers had passed through the stages and most importantly we would be out of contention for the Targa Medallion. I did NOT have to give it a second thought; it was GT class or none at all.

DAY 1: Monday - 11 September 2006

Haricot marked the official start of the race. The pace will be hectic from here on until the 5^th and final day of competition. I was fully aware of the cars abilities but decided to play it safe and get through all the stages and finish. It was very tempting to drop the petal down and go for it but it wasn’t simple as that. There are many factors to consider.

Gander – final stage of the day offered one of the biggest thrills of the race: a fast paced, short course through the towns’ residential area with continuous right and left turns that kept the public entertained not the mention this driver.

At one point I was preparing to make a sharp turn and began to position the car accordingly when a black cat leisurely walked across my path. I laid on the horn to get it move as I was approaching it rapidly. The cat took its time and crossed the narrow street seconds before I reached it. I’m not a superstitious person however this cat may have had an affect on the guys with the Porsche Cayman S. As I cleared the turn and was preparing to make a right, to my left was the yellow Porsche sitting aloft the front porch of one the houses. This was not a good sign. I honked to see if the guys were ok. And I got a thumb up from the Navigator. The car suffered some front-end damage and was out of the race.

DAY 2: Tuesday - 12 September 2006

On two occasions we were late for our stages. Once when we had a navigation glitch as we zigged when we should have zagged and the other the car was struggling on the long transit stages (junk in the trunk). I was trying to keep the car at speed without undue stress. I knew that it was going to be difficult to be competitive, yet my goal was to remain active, do the best, finish the race and receive the medallion. After all, there is no cash prize and finishing in the top three will have to be reserved for another time with a lighter car.

We remained in the race by waiting for all the GT and Targa Class cars to clear their stages and we took in the tail end of it. In a way, I enjoyed it as it gave me the opportunity to observe all the vehicles as they raced through. This was a rare moment indeed.

DAY 3: Wednesday - 13 September 2006

The dreaded hurricane was approaching. A Team meeting was held last night to update us on the hurricane situation that was creeping up fast from the Caribbean. The organizers felt that the race should continue however some stages may be cancelled given the weather situation at that time. Personally, a day off would have been nice. But then again I came here to race.

The starter was acting up so I kept the engine running at all times. However, when I did have to turn it off I made sure it was in an area for an easy push start.

The hurricane hit hard. It was an experience to see what Newfoundland weather can be like. The soft-top and windows were up and yet raindrops would find their way in through the crevasses and sting like needles. The wait for the start of each stage was somewhat lengthy. Obviously the weather was the biggest contributor. The other problem, aside from keeping warm, was the switch for the windshield wiper took a hiatus - perfect timing.

Couple of the stages was cancelled which shortened the day somewhat allowing for an 11:00 am lunch. This was an open welcome. Prepared was an array of sandwiches complimented with a warm bowl of clam chowder. I savoured this warm meal and devoured myself silly. The cold and wet climate had increased my appetite. Now, I was ready for a nap, well, not quite. It was back to the races.

DAY 4: Thursday -  14 September 2006

We made numerous allies during these past few days. One in particular was Team Lotus. They came to our rescue last night with lighting equipment, car jack, stands and anything else we needed at the Clarenville arena.

The car was having starter and oil pressure issues and we needed extra lights for the repairs. The starter was toast and we couldn’t find a shop to fix it. We spend few hours over, in and under the engine compartment trying to solve the oil pressure issue. I consulted with the factory shop manual, discussed it with my navigator and other British car owners and nothing seemed to solve this problem. In the end, we added thicker oil and decided to continue the race as is. I would keep a close eye on the gauges and with one more day of racing I didn’t want to chance it by taking the engine apart and have some other problem creep up.

Team Lotus offloaded some of the excess weight (tools, parts, spare tire, fluids) from the trunk of the Alpine into their support vehicle. This was a definite plus for the balance of the race as it helped in the handling characteristics of the Alpine and made it more enjoyable and more responsive.

DAY 5: Friday - 10 September 2006

In Marystown we were once again the last team to run. This stage I didn’t mind so much as it gave me a great observation platform high atop the hill where the stage started. I could see the cars making their way down the roads and navigated through the turns and hear the shifting gears. I knew this day was going to be exciting as I recalled seeing the footage from the previous years events. When we were on deck the countdown clock began, I was ready for another thrilling stage. This one had a couple of hills that for some reason the gears didn’t engage properly, I merely had to force them into gear and could hear them grind.

The town of Brigus was to be the last and final stage of Targa. I had simply overlooked this fact and saw is as just another stage. By now we were tired and it wasn’t until this stage was completed, we crossed the finish line and the film crew ran over to us for a quick feedback on the race. I was thrilled and jumping for joy while seated in the car. However, it took a moment to realize that it was all over, the five days of racing, repairs and racing again had come to an end. I was ready to keep going. It all came to a close very fast. I was thrilled and disappointed all in one.

We now had to drive to St. John’s harbour where the ceremonial finish would signify the end of Targa and the finishing teams receive their medallions.

FINAL WORDS

I was proud of my car for keeping up with the abuse I put it through not only on the cross-Canada drive from Vancouver to St. John’s but the punishing roads at Targa. This is a vehicle that was built for this kind of adventure. The old adage “They don’t build them like they used to” sure applies to my 1967 Sunbeam Alpine V.

The car took a beating. The end result, finicky starter (numerous push starts), broken turn signal handle, two broken wheel spokes, broken exhaust mounts, stuck passenger door, low oil pressures, broken air filter brackets, wiper switch, and so on and so on. 

Although posted speed limits and the usual traffic signs are simply ignored during the race stages, it is important and sometimes difficult to remember that after the race stage comes the transit stage and here is where the rules of the road have to be abided by. It’s sometimes hard to forget this fact and takes a little mental preparation to adjust. As an added measure, the Police are around just as a reminder.

The biggest appeal about Targa is that it allows a motorsports enthusiast to challenge his/her skills on secure public roads and grants one the experience that surpasses many out there. I am by no means a thrill junkie however Targa gave me a sense of accomplishment.

The high speeds, time constraints, sharp turns, changing road conditions, hurricane force rain and winds may send a person off the edge. For some unexplained reason, that was not the case for me. Odd? You bet. I felt at ease. If anything, energized. This is the first time that I have entered such a race. Granted I have some driving skills none compared to the expertise of many Targa teams. Certainly some facets of the event were overwhelming but that did not deter me. I keep my composure throughout and concentrated on the task at hand. My biggest challenge was trying to get a good night sleep. Perhaps now I have found my niche.

We didn’t place in the top three but we did finish. During the awards banquet Team Alpine received a honourable mention as a runner up for the “Spirit of Targa”. The prize went to Craig Seko and Ian O’Halloran after their 1990 Porsche 944 S2 took a dive into the water, and was back in the race the next day. What can I say. Porsche: “there is not substitute”

Numerous times I was asked what Targa meant to me and every answer was different. It wasn’t until the last day when I was driving to St. John’s harbour. I stopped at a red light. When I glanced to my left, a young girl sitting in the back of a minivan was waiving at me. I waived back in kind. She then gave me a thumb up. This caught me totally by surprise. I averted my glance momentarily to grab a “Team Card” in order to hand it to her and when I returned to look the car was making a left turn. I would have followed her but traffic didn’t allow me that opportunity. This brief encounter signified the true essence of Targa – it’s about the smiling faces of children.

Targa Newfoundland is one big family affair consisting of the teams, organizers, officials, volunteers, communities and the superb people of Newfoundland. I invite you to explore Targa and find out for yourself what “The ultimate motorsports adventure” is. You will not be disappointed.