Targa gets serious

Targa Tasmania 2006

Under perfect blue autumn skies, the 2006 15th Anniversary PureTasmania Targa Tasmania got underway proper today with the first day of multi-stage competition. The day took in eight competitive stages; the first three of which are designed to ease Targa competitors into the event with times set that all the modern field should clear.

By clear we mean meet or better the base time set for the stage. Targa competitions are structured so competitors can only lose time -- not gain it. In other words if the base time for the stage is 5.00 minutes and you complete it in 4.30 or 4.59 then your time is still 5.00. Go over the base time and you start accruing penalty time.

In addition to the base time for modern competitors, Targa also sets adjusted times for drivers of classic and vintage machinery. And then there's the all-important Trophy time. A team needs to beat the Trophy time on every stage of the event to win a coveted Targa 'plate'.

Team MINI jumped in with both feet with its three cars all posting solid times in the first three stages on Launceston's outskirts. Entally (5.62km) was the first, shrouded in morning fog despite the delayed Launceston city start. The sun broke through for High Plains' 4.4km sprint and Moriaty (5.12km) was also bathed in warming rays.

After a lunch break on Devonport's foreshore (a quick one -- the event's moving along at a pace after the 'hurry up and wait' of the Prologue yesterday) it was into the first 'serious' stage of the event.

The 16.04km of the Devonport stage, set in the hills above the seaport, is cleared only by the very fastest teams. In the case of this event, seven-times winners Jim Richards and Barry Oliver (Porsche) and defending champs Jason and John White in their Lamborghini Gallardo were the only teams to incur no penalties.

Team MINI's top performers were Spencer Lowndes and Chris Randell in MINI #993. Though Spencer is officially warming up the car for TV personality Grant Denyer, he wasn't letting the fact get in the way of good times. Just 52sec over the base time of 7.30, the little Chilli Red MINI kept much of the field's 'faster' machinery honest.

Supercar racer Tim Leahey and co-driver Paul Flintoft was close behind in MINI #992 logging a time loss of 58sec. Setting the tone for the day, the two fastest MINIs thereafter traded team honours over the next few stages.

In the Team MINI CarPoint #989 car things got a little hectic once or twice as yours truly re-learned the skill of driving to pace notes. Doing so in competition is quite different than the 'make believe' of recce (reconnaissance).

For the uninitiated pace notes are a verbal 'map' dictated to the driver by the co-driver. This sounds easy but in a bucking sliding and weaving car, the co-driver's job is at best difficult.

When it's working well a good co-driver can build a mental picture of the road ahead's twists and turns for the driver. Justin's one of the best -- I'm not... But we're working on it, and having an absolute ball doing so.

For the record we posted reasonable times on Devonport and 13.2km Sheffield stages and joined the rest of the team to clear the final stage of the day -- a 3.01km sprint around the streets of Longford. We were just 5sec off clearing the 6.6km Quamby Brook stage too -- bugger.

AT THE POINTY END
Subaru WRX driver Steve Glenney proved gravel rally skills are eminently transferable to Targa today with a day-long charge resulting in him finishing the first day of competition in equal first alongside event favourite, Richards.

The 29-year-old Wistow (SA) based 2005 ARC Privateer Championship winner, guided by navigator Bernie Webb in was sitting in second place at the end of the Devonport stage, then advanced on Richards and White on the Sheffield stage.

Glenney beat the two on the stage by 5 and 13-seconds respectively -- equalling Richards' score by the end of the day.

Lambo-mounted White and White closed the day in third after losing time in Sheffield and Nook stages with a slipping clutch.

Despite a spin in the last stage of the day, Bathurst master Peter Brock and navigator Mick Hone finished seventh outright in the Daytona Coupe and now sit 35-seconds behind the leaders.

Finishing fourth today was the Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Lancer Evo IX of Warwick Rooklyn and Linda Long. Fifth fastest time is shared by factory Subaru driver Dean Herridge and Porsche stalwart, Tony Quinn.

Making a move in the Shannons Classic Competition, Temco Prologue winner Bill Pye was second to the New South Wales team of Mike Batten and John Doble in their 1961 Volvo PV544. Porsche driver Pye and his navigator Grant Geelan are well-positioned only 2-seconds back from the leaders. Rounding out the top three is Victorian team Peter and Rebecca Eames in their 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera.

TOMORROW'S ANOTHER DAY
Tomorrow, the Targa route heads down the east coast of the island state to Hobart -- in all 451km with almost 74km of competitive stages.

The day gets underway with one of the most spectacular stages of the event, the 13.97km Sideling. The field will tackle nine competitive stages in total before the overnight stop at Wrest Point Casino.

The tight and twisting Sideling and the three passes we take on tomorrow (Weldborough, St Mary's and Elephant) should suit the MINIs' sure-footed handling. And with the still-new cars yet to loosen up, we'll be hoping for an even better performance from the team's fast guys...

As the kids of Tassie are chanting every time we drive past a school... Go MINI!

TARGA TASMANIA LEG ONE PROGRESSIVE SCORES (END OF DAY ONE, OF FIVE)

Driver/Navigator     Car   Gap

Shannons Classic Competition
1. Mike Batten NSW - John Doble NSW   Volvo PV544  0:00
2. William Pye NSW - Grant Geelan NSW  Porsche 911 Carrera 0:02
3. Peter Eames VIC - Rebecca Eames VIC  Porsche 911 Carrera 0:06

Unique Cars Classic Sprint Competition
1. Stephen Bruce WA - Terri Bruce WA   Morris Cooper S 0:00
2. Peter Bignold Tas - Denis Bignold Tas  HDT Group 3 SS  0:28
3. James Powell-Davies Tas - Nick McShane Tas BMW Alpina 533i 0:40