sureshotqxc
Member
If you're not familiar with Targa Newfoundland, it's the Canadian version of Targa Tasmania/New Zealand...
www.targanewfoundland.com 2200 km paved road rally with @ 300 km of staged sections on closed public roads over 5 days.
For those who ARE familiar with it, you have mostly heard the stories from the Targa side. Well this is my story of the event from the Grand Touring side....
In late July, a free entry to TN07 was offered to me. It was a bit of short notice but Grand Touring didn't require much car prep. My car is a 2004 Mazda3 Sport GT. The car is completely stock with the only addition being a Helius Precision Odometer which I use for TSD rallies. For TN07, I bought a new set of tires for the car, BF Goodrich G-Force KDW NT's. These tires work well in wet and dry conditions and have good cornering capability. The brakes on the car were completely redone with premium quaility pads and rotors courtesy of CarQuest Auto Parts and installed courtesy of Airport Mazda. No performance mods on the car but the Mazda3 does have exceptional handling and is pretty peppy with 160 hp.
My brother-in-law, Alan, came down from Calgary to participate with me. Alan's and my driving skills are comparable although I would have the edge seeing as how it is my car. However, I have vastly more experience as a navigator than Alan, so for this reason, Alan would be primary driver. I would get behind the wheel for select stages. Both of us have about 15 years experience in rallies and autocross.
And on with the story...
Prologue DaySept 9th
All dressed up and ready to go. Look close, that's Alan in the back seat.
NOTE: all 'action' photos property of Paul Dyer. 'Static' photos courtesy of Greg Martin (that's me!)
Flatrock 4.60 kms.
Prologue Day starts out with a transit to Flatrock for the first stage. No times or speeds are assigned for the stages as it is meant to be practice for both competitors and course marshals.
We get the countdown on the 'Xmas Tree' and we're off! Alan smokes it along pretty good but isn't used to the shifting yet. Its a bit different from his own vehicles and the shift from 1st to 2nd throws him a bit. Still we're ripping along pretty good and I caution him about the 'exposure' (big drop) coming up on the left as we approach the church. Swing down around the water and up on the lomg climb to the flying finish. Alan has a bit of a brain fart and starts to slow as we pass the sign advising that we're approaching the flying finish, planning on stopping at the FF line. I 'politely' inquire as to what he is doing and its back on the gas across the finish line. Average speed for Flatrock of 81 kph. Circle back to Flatrock for lunch.
Lunch break in Flatrock
Transit to
Torbay 4.00 km
Again there is no time/speed given for the Torbay prologue. However, the same stage is run in reverse on Day 5 and we do have the speed/target time for that day. Last day time is 3 minutes 27 seconds over a slightly shorter distance. Plan is to push the Torbay Prologue stage as hard as we can. If we can meet/beat the last day time today, with Alan still being unfamiliar with the car and its capabilities, then it will bode well for the last day and the entire Targa overall..
And we're off!! Quck blast up to speed alomg a winding road, two downhill lefts followed by a tear along a lightly curving road with a deke around a shed. Hard slightly off camber right at Mannings Hill
Approaching Mannings Hill
and a swing up Upper Evenings path, a nicely twisting bit of road. A 90 left followed quickly by a 90 downhill right onto Laceys Hill with another 90 right at the bottom and into the flying finish. Time for stage, 3 minutes 11 seconds. Looks good!! If we can beat the required time today, there is no reason we can't match our target time on the last day.
Transit back to the ReMax Centre for the car show.... End of Prologue day and things are going well.
Leg 1 North Avalon Sept 10th
First just a bit on how Grand Touring is scored. In Targa class, the cars are given a base speed that they have to beat in order to qualify for a Targa 'plate'. They can exceed this speed as much as they want/can and that is what determines the overall winner. In Grand Touring, you are assigned a specific speed and a 'target time' in which you must complete the stage. The speeds are fairly comparable to many of the base 'Plate' times for targa category but going faster (or slower) would incur penalties. Additionally, there can be 'Interim Time Controls' (ITC's) anywhere in a stage to clock your progress. There is a time 'window' in which you can be ahead or behind target time without incurring a penalty. On Day 1, this 'window' is a whopping 30 seconds but it gets shorter each day until its just 3 seconds by Day 5. So Grand Touring is very much a matter of precision and our years of rally experience will prove invaluable. Also our goal from Day 1 is to always be as close to target time as possible, regardless of our time window. We'll need it by days 4 and 5....
Stage 1-1 Argentia 3.38 km speed 54 kph
The stage starts with a quick downhilll run into a relatively long open stretch followed by a series of tight turns. Its surprisingly deceptive as most of the buildings in Argentia have been removed ( It was a US Naval base thats been long since decommisioned) and the grass has grown up fairly tall. Very little visual reference where the turn is until you are on it. The team of Young and Dale-Johnson in car 1021, the Super Seven, obviously made a wrong turn as we see them come out of nowhere from our left back on to the course (Not that right! Your other right!)
The Super Seven
We continue through the stage. Alan is cooking it along pretty good, faster than we need to....
We come in sight of the flying finish and I just start yelling 'Slow down! Slow Down! Slow Down! SLOW DOWN!' Alan piles on the brakes and we cross the finish 1 second ahead of target time. Reality is that even if I hadn't gotten Alan to slow, we would still have been well within out 'window' but we're going for maximum precision....
Stage 1-2 Placentia 5.83 km 65 kph
Placentia starts with a moderately tight run through upper Placentia, across the trestle bridge into a very tight series of turns in lower Placentia. At 1.92 km into the stage there is a 'Caution! Dip' in the instructions. We are running through, feel a slight dip, think 'That wasn't too bad.' and WHAM!!, the real dip!! No damage, no loss of control but not something you want to hit at speed. Car 1020, team of Shelton/Shelton in a 54 Austin Healey did not fare as well. At 1.97 km, we see the Healey nose into a ditch with the back end at the far side with MAJOR damage.
The (pre crash) Healey. Not much ground clearance....
The Super Seven had stopped to check on them (as required) and we also stopped (also as required) collected the necesary information and then off again to relay the info at the first communication post. At this point, target time is out the window due to the situation and we just continiue through the course as fast as we can. We finally spot a COMM vehicle just after the trestle bridge and advise them that there has been an accident, that assiatance is requested and other pertinent details. Continue on to the finish and the lunch stop in Placentia. Overall we are about almost 90 seconds late at the finish but this is not an issue as the regs required us to stop. We talk to Terry Epps, the chief steward and are told that it will be taken care of. Automatic 'no penalty'.
I can't help but think how heartbreaking it must be to enter Targa with such a beautiful classic vehicle and then trash it on the second stage of the first day... To make matters worse, I later hear that one of the Targa class cars lost it at the exact same point and pancaked the Healey... At least no one was hurt.
Lunch stop in Placentia
After lunch, we transit to the next stage...
Stage 1-3 Osprey Trail West 6.6 km 86.6 kph
This stage was supposed to be over 18 km long but it was shortened at the last minute due to a lack of marshals. Unfortunately, this has happened a lot with this stage over the years. The revised stage has ony one major turn in it so, although its pretty fast, there is no problem. However I fumbled the stop watch a bit at the start and as a result we're 3 seconds off of target time. Still well within our window though.
Stage 1-4 Northwest Brook 10.42 km 75 kph
Another shortened stage, although this time its due to a memorial service being held along the original route. Original version was 29.02 km. Its a bit wet out so we're running at 'Condition 2' Speed is reduced from original of 80 to 75kph due weather. The stage is a bit tight at the start but after that, its just a winding run to the finish. Two seconds off of target time and a stop for lunch at the SUF lodge in Gooseberry Cove.
Lunch at the SUF Lodge
Stage 1-5 Gooseberry Cove 29.02 km 76+ kph
This is the same stage as 1-4 run in reverse. Memorial service is over so its full length now. Its still wet so we're again running condition 2. As a result, initial speed is 76, it drops to 47 for a very short stint then up to 77.8 for the last 18 km. Originally, I was going to drive this stage but, where it had been shortened on the way in, I let Alan drive it for the extra practice. I will drive the last stage instead. Halfway through this stage there is a section called 'The Horseshoes', effectively two hairpins making a major ESS of themselves.... This is the source of this photo, Car 1016 Townsley/Fuhrmann in the Factory Five Cobra.
Worlds most expensive skateboard
We go through with a bit less excitement...
My Mazda3 Sport
Just before the end of the stage, there is a narrow wooden bridge. Alan slows a fair bit as he remembers there being a fair bump from the way in. As we cross the bridge Alan goes back on the power. Engine revs like mad and nothing happens. I think Alan missed the shift but no.. With the rain, the bridge is UNBELIEVABLY slick!! Car is in gear but ZERO traction!! Good thing Alan was driving as, not knowing of the bump, I may not have slowed and that could have been interesting... Ultimately, the slickness of this bridge would send five cars off the road and cause a lot of 'excitement' for many others!! Short run to the finsh and again within two seconds or target.
Stage 1-6 Adeytown 4.74 km 76.1 kph
This is the last stage of the day and the first that I drive. Its basically just a winding run through Adeytown to the finish. Speed reduced from the original 81.1 due to weather. My first experience driving in TN07 and it is challenging. Driving a lot faster than you normally would on roads like this and still facing the unknown of just what the road is like up ahead. 1 second off target time at the end. We transit to Gander with a stop at 'Splash n Putt' for a 'Meet and Greet'
'Meet and Greet'
Leg 1 is complete. The preliminary results come out later that evening. Unfortunately, the big penalty for Placentia is showing on our score and we currently stand in 8th place of 17 with about 62 seconds in penalties... We'll submit a scoring inquiry in the morning....
www.targanewfoundland.com 2200 km paved road rally with @ 300 km of staged sections on closed public roads over 5 days.
For those who ARE familiar with it, you have mostly heard the stories from the Targa side. Well this is my story of the event from the Grand Touring side....
In late July, a free entry to TN07 was offered to me. It was a bit of short notice but Grand Touring didn't require much car prep. My car is a 2004 Mazda3 Sport GT. The car is completely stock with the only addition being a Helius Precision Odometer which I use for TSD rallies. For TN07, I bought a new set of tires for the car, BF Goodrich G-Force KDW NT's. These tires work well in wet and dry conditions and have good cornering capability. The brakes on the car were completely redone with premium quaility pads and rotors courtesy of CarQuest Auto Parts and installed courtesy of Airport Mazda. No performance mods on the car but the Mazda3 does have exceptional handling and is pretty peppy with 160 hp.
My brother-in-law, Alan, came down from Calgary to participate with me. Alan's and my driving skills are comparable although I would have the edge seeing as how it is my car. However, I have vastly more experience as a navigator than Alan, so for this reason, Alan would be primary driver. I would get behind the wheel for select stages. Both of us have about 15 years experience in rallies and autocross.
And on with the story...
Prologue DaySept 9th
All dressed up and ready to go. Look close, that's Alan in the back seat.
NOTE: all 'action' photos property of Paul Dyer. 'Static' photos courtesy of Greg Martin (that's me!)
Flatrock 4.60 kms.
Prologue Day starts out with a transit to Flatrock for the first stage. No times or speeds are assigned for the stages as it is meant to be practice for both competitors and course marshals.
We get the countdown on the 'Xmas Tree' and we're off! Alan smokes it along pretty good but isn't used to the shifting yet. Its a bit different from his own vehicles and the shift from 1st to 2nd throws him a bit. Still we're ripping along pretty good and I caution him about the 'exposure' (big drop) coming up on the left as we approach the church. Swing down around the water and up on the lomg climb to the flying finish. Alan has a bit of a brain fart and starts to slow as we pass the sign advising that we're approaching the flying finish, planning on stopping at the FF line. I 'politely' inquire as to what he is doing and its back on the gas across the finish line. Average speed for Flatrock of 81 kph. Circle back to Flatrock for lunch.
Lunch break in Flatrock
Transit to
Torbay 4.00 km
Again there is no time/speed given for the Torbay prologue. However, the same stage is run in reverse on Day 5 and we do have the speed/target time for that day. Last day time is 3 minutes 27 seconds over a slightly shorter distance. Plan is to push the Torbay Prologue stage as hard as we can. If we can meet/beat the last day time today, with Alan still being unfamiliar with the car and its capabilities, then it will bode well for the last day and the entire Targa overall..
And we're off!! Quck blast up to speed alomg a winding road, two downhill lefts followed by a tear along a lightly curving road with a deke around a shed. Hard slightly off camber right at Mannings Hill
Approaching Mannings Hill
and a swing up Upper Evenings path, a nicely twisting bit of road. A 90 left followed quickly by a 90 downhill right onto Laceys Hill with another 90 right at the bottom and into the flying finish. Time for stage, 3 minutes 11 seconds. Looks good!! If we can beat the required time today, there is no reason we can't match our target time on the last day.
Transit back to the ReMax Centre for the car show.... End of Prologue day and things are going well.
Leg 1 North Avalon Sept 10th
First just a bit on how Grand Touring is scored. In Targa class, the cars are given a base speed that they have to beat in order to qualify for a Targa 'plate'. They can exceed this speed as much as they want/can and that is what determines the overall winner. In Grand Touring, you are assigned a specific speed and a 'target time' in which you must complete the stage. The speeds are fairly comparable to many of the base 'Plate' times for targa category but going faster (or slower) would incur penalties. Additionally, there can be 'Interim Time Controls' (ITC's) anywhere in a stage to clock your progress. There is a time 'window' in which you can be ahead or behind target time without incurring a penalty. On Day 1, this 'window' is a whopping 30 seconds but it gets shorter each day until its just 3 seconds by Day 5. So Grand Touring is very much a matter of precision and our years of rally experience will prove invaluable. Also our goal from Day 1 is to always be as close to target time as possible, regardless of our time window. We'll need it by days 4 and 5....
Stage 1-1 Argentia 3.38 km speed 54 kph
The stage starts with a quick downhilll run into a relatively long open stretch followed by a series of tight turns. Its surprisingly deceptive as most of the buildings in Argentia have been removed ( It was a US Naval base thats been long since decommisioned) and the grass has grown up fairly tall. Very little visual reference where the turn is until you are on it. The team of Young and Dale-Johnson in car 1021, the Super Seven, obviously made a wrong turn as we see them come out of nowhere from our left back on to the course (Not that right! Your other right!)
The Super Seven
We continue through the stage. Alan is cooking it along pretty good, faster than we need to....
We come in sight of the flying finish and I just start yelling 'Slow down! Slow Down! Slow Down! SLOW DOWN!' Alan piles on the brakes and we cross the finish 1 second ahead of target time. Reality is that even if I hadn't gotten Alan to slow, we would still have been well within out 'window' but we're going for maximum precision....
Stage 1-2 Placentia 5.83 km 65 kph
Placentia starts with a moderately tight run through upper Placentia, across the trestle bridge into a very tight series of turns in lower Placentia. At 1.92 km into the stage there is a 'Caution! Dip' in the instructions. We are running through, feel a slight dip, think 'That wasn't too bad.' and WHAM!!, the real dip!! No damage, no loss of control but not something you want to hit at speed. Car 1020, team of Shelton/Shelton in a 54 Austin Healey did not fare as well. At 1.97 km, we see the Healey nose into a ditch with the back end at the far side with MAJOR damage.
The (pre crash) Healey. Not much ground clearance....
The Super Seven had stopped to check on them (as required) and we also stopped (also as required) collected the necesary information and then off again to relay the info at the first communication post. At this point, target time is out the window due to the situation and we just continiue through the course as fast as we can. We finally spot a COMM vehicle just after the trestle bridge and advise them that there has been an accident, that assiatance is requested and other pertinent details. Continue on to the finish and the lunch stop in Placentia. Overall we are about almost 90 seconds late at the finish but this is not an issue as the regs required us to stop. We talk to Terry Epps, the chief steward and are told that it will be taken care of. Automatic 'no penalty'.
I can't help but think how heartbreaking it must be to enter Targa with such a beautiful classic vehicle and then trash it on the second stage of the first day... To make matters worse, I later hear that one of the Targa class cars lost it at the exact same point and pancaked the Healey... At least no one was hurt.
Lunch stop in Placentia
After lunch, we transit to the next stage...
Stage 1-3 Osprey Trail West 6.6 km 86.6 kph
This stage was supposed to be over 18 km long but it was shortened at the last minute due to a lack of marshals. Unfortunately, this has happened a lot with this stage over the years. The revised stage has ony one major turn in it so, although its pretty fast, there is no problem. However I fumbled the stop watch a bit at the start and as a result we're 3 seconds off of target time. Still well within our window though.
Stage 1-4 Northwest Brook 10.42 km 75 kph
Another shortened stage, although this time its due to a memorial service being held along the original route. Original version was 29.02 km. Its a bit wet out so we're running at 'Condition 2' Speed is reduced from original of 80 to 75kph due weather. The stage is a bit tight at the start but after that, its just a winding run to the finish. Two seconds off of target time and a stop for lunch at the SUF lodge in Gooseberry Cove.
Lunch at the SUF Lodge
Stage 1-5 Gooseberry Cove 29.02 km 76+ kph
This is the same stage as 1-4 run in reverse. Memorial service is over so its full length now. Its still wet so we're again running condition 2. As a result, initial speed is 76, it drops to 47 for a very short stint then up to 77.8 for the last 18 km. Originally, I was going to drive this stage but, where it had been shortened on the way in, I let Alan drive it for the extra practice. I will drive the last stage instead. Halfway through this stage there is a section called 'The Horseshoes', effectively two hairpins making a major ESS of themselves.... This is the source of this photo, Car 1016 Townsley/Fuhrmann in the Factory Five Cobra.
Worlds most expensive skateboard
We go through with a bit less excitement...
My Mazda3 Sport
Just before the end of the stage, there is a narrow wooden bridge. Alan slows a fair bit as he remembers there being a fair bump from the way in. As we cross the bridge Alan goes back on the power. Engine revs like mad and nothing happens. I think Alan missed the shift but no.. With the rain, the bridge is UNBELIEVABLY slick!! Car is in gear but ZERO traction!! Good thing Alan was driving as, not knowing of the bump, I may not have slowed and that could have been interesting... Ultimately, the slickness of this bridge would send five cars off the road and cause a lot of 'excitement' for many others!! Short run to the finsh and again within two seconds or target.
Stage 1-6 Adeytown 4.74 km 76.1 kph
This is the last stage of the day and the first that I drive. Its basically just a winding run through Adeytown to the finish. Speed reduced from the original 81.1 due to weather. My first experience driving in TN07 and it is challenging. Driving a lot faster than you normally would on roads like this and still facing the unknown of just what the road is like up ahead. 1 second off target time at the end. We transit to Gander with a stop at 'Splash n Putt' for a 'Meet and Greet'
'Meet and Greet'
Leg 1 is complete. The preliminary results come out later that evening. Unfortunately, the big penalty for Placentia is showing on our score and we currently stand in 8th place of 17 with about 62 seconds in penalties... We'll submit a scoring inquiry in the morning....
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