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| Breaking News Hayden Paddon has confirmed his entry to the 15th Anniversary Dunlop Targa after successfully defending his NZRC Title. His entry has been made possible by Rally Tours and will enable him to clock up more tarmac experience in preparation for his Pirelli Star Driver Scholarship which will see him compete in six World Rally Championship events next year. We also have Chris Amon, Owen and Mitchell Evans and Robert(Cheese) and Shane Van Gisbergen involved this year to help raise the profile of Targa and the variety of motorsport medium that Targa appeals to. 33 Days to go until the 15th Anniversary Dunlop Targa and all the months of planning are now complete. Entries close at the end of September so if you still haven't entered, you'd better get in quick and while you are at it take advantage of the early bird rates for the 2010 events which are now up on the website. Keith is out and about again dropping off all the signage and doing the final marshall training along the way so look out for him as he passes through your region. By now the Dunlop Targa competitors will have received the information packs, please take the time to read ALL the information and complete the function form, then return it the office. We have listened to your comments about the number of functions during the event so you will notice that they have been reduced and placed strategically throughout the week so that more of you can attend. Cure Kids are providing water again for you to purchase this year with all the proceeds going to their cause. Remember that hydration is very important during the event. It was good to see some of you at Speed Show over the weekend. We had a stand in Hall 2, displaying the posters and playing some past Targa videos. Like a lot of these shows, it is very hard to measure the impact but it was a good medium to educate the public about the event beyond what they see on TV. We are still looking for Car Clubs to get involved at the Telstra Pacific Centre on Sunday 25th October. This is an opportunity to display your cars and help promote your club, so if you want more information please contact Ru on eventmanager@targa.co.nz of call the office. While we are on the topic of Telstra, the guys from MONIT will be onsite during prologue day to help out with any problems you may have. If you haven't got one yet we HIGHLY recommend them, they are very easy to use and calibrate so give James Holder a call on 0800MONIT1 or email info@monitrally.com . Gina is still needing a few more volunteers so please contact her on timing@targa.co.nz or call the office if you can help or know anyone who would like to get involved. Another big thank you goes to Bob Boniface and his team at Honda, they have provided another two generators as prizes. This time one will go to the first Honda home, and by this we mean the highest placed finisher who is driving a Honda (not the first Honda to crash and go home early), and the other will go to the entrant that overcomes the most adversity and finishes. These are great prizes and don't just take our word for it, ask the recipients from Targa Rotorua, Mike Lowe and Graham Sword. Speaking of Targa Rotorua we must apologies for an error in the Index of Performance awards, while we have spoken to those concerned in the Classic Competition, we didn't let everyone else know but there was a change to second and third place. The correct results are 1st Mike Lowe, 2nd Mark McCaughan and 3rd Greg Crene. That's all for now. Regards Peter and the Targa Team. |
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| ADDED ATTRACTIONS FOR THE DUNLOP TARGA RALLY Over Labour Weekend, Sunday 25 October is documentation and scrutineering day for the Targa and it will take place at the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau. It's all part of the city's Full Throttle weekend. Targa entrants depart from 1.30pm for the Prologue Stage which is essentially the ˜shakedown" stage. That Prologue Stage utilises Ardmore Quarry Road which has been used before. On the Saturday, Full Throttle's other events will include a Rotary Supershow , Motorkhana and Drifting demonstrations. Targa entrants can also participate in the Manukau City Flying 50 which is a street race run in the format of Olympic cycling pursuits. The City Street Circuit has two Start/Finish lines adjacent to each other, where both cars start and race each other and the clock for 4 laps for a close finish. Spectators can get an excellent view of progress with sitelines over 80 percent of the circuit. Entrants face a challenging twisting circuit that winds back on itself between the buildings of central Manukau City. Last year approximately 8000 spectators watched a similar event that was for Targa entrants only. Organisers of the Flying 50 are expecting upwards of 15,000 spectators. The BIG NEWS is that Monday's Special Stage 2 is confirmed as four laps of the all new Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. Targa will be the first event to utilise the complex. The final seal has been laid on the initial, 2.8 kilometre clockwise circuit that will eventually expand to 3.8klms. The 2.8 section features six corners, hilly contours, plenty of overtaking opportunities and superb spectator viewing. Throughout the 15 years of Targa the various cities, towns, Mayors, District Councils have lent great support to the Targa and this year Targa is acknowledging their support in a unique way. After the Targa Tour cars go through the stage and before the real racing starts, New Zealand's Formula 1 legend Chris Amon will drive one of the local representatives through the special stage. Amon has been an ˜Ambassador" for the Toyota Racing Series since it's inception and through that relationship, Lexus NZ will equip Amon with a Lexus ISF. Wearing the race number 003 it's a 311kw 5 litre V8 that produces 505nm of torque via an eight speed tip-tronic gearbox. Father and sons (and to a lesser degree daughters) is an integral part of Targa and to celebrate that, Chris Amon will be followed five minutes later by NZ's land speed record holder Owen Evans and his 15 year old, youngest son, Mitch. Mitch aspires to be a F1 driver and is on the right track with his motorsport career having finished second over all in the 2008/2009 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship as a rookie. This was an outstanding result for Evans with being the youngest in the field by a few years and was punching results above his age just at 14 years old. 21 races. 6 wins. 3 pole positions. 13 podiums. 5 fastest laps. At another five minutes, just before the VTNZ Safety Cars go through at full pace, is another motor racing˜youngster". V8 Supercar driver Shane van Gisbergen will drive his Dad Robert through in car 001, an EL Falcon GT - the EL was circa 1996-98. Robert, better known as Cheese, was himself a top NZ Rally Driver. Shane spent his formative years racing ATVs on natural terrain motocross tracks and a Quarter Midget on speedway ovals before a brief but successful career in karts. In just four years Shane has gone from SpeedSport Scholarship winner here in NZ to a V8 Supercar star for Queensland based Stone Brothers Racing (SBR). Shane's name adorns many of NZ's motorsport trophies and he is currently 15th in the 2009 Australian V8 Supercar Championship. This weekend Shane is driving in the Supercheap Auto, Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama. Entries in the Dunlop Targa are now closed and a full list of competitors will be published shortly. At closing an entry was received from 22 year-old Hayden Paddon who is the 2009 New Zealand Rally and FIA Pacific Cup Champions. His entry has been made possible by Rally Tours and will enable Paddon to clock up more tarmac experience in preparation for his Pirelli Star Driver scholarship which will see him compete in six World Rally Championship events next year. Holden fans will be pleased to hear Paul Manuell is coming back in the mighty Supercharged Commodore. |