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COMPETE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Targa Canada West is a groundswell... communities that seek adventure tourism and drivers that want to safely compete on closed, public roads.
 
What does the word "targa" mean?

Targa is an Italian word that translates to trophy or plate. Its best know from the Targa Florio events. Florio was an aristocrat who sponsored grueling automobile competitions over Sicily's twisty closed public roads. Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Lancia, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Porsche all built their reputations upon Targa Florio glory.

Since 1992 the term Targa has been adopted by the week-long multi-stage competitions on twisty closed tarmac roads in Tasmania, and later in New Zealand and Newfoundland.


Can anyone enter?

Sicily's Targa Florio events certainly featured the factory teams and top drivers of the day. However, the large entry fields were primarily local and visiting adventurers competing in their own daily drivers.

Bambina will also attract many top Targa teams. Nevertheless, entering Targa Canada West is very accessible for all levels of experience. Car-wise, your daily driver will do. You and your co-driver (or navigator) each need to be 16 years or older and have valid civilian driver's licenses. Motorsport approved helmets are required. (An intercom system between the helmets is highly recommended, especially if your car is loud inside).


Can competitors drive at any speed they choose?

No. Motorsport safety is paramount in the modern Targas. The TCW competition is about both pace and timing accuracy. In each of the six Speed Classes, there is an average speed to target over the competition stage, and maximum and minimum instantaneous speeds allowed.


So, we try it and like it. Can we go faster next year? (Or what if we already have other motorsport experience?)

The one-day Bambina format is a great way to decide if the Targa-style of event in right for you. The faster of the six Classes your team proposes to compete in, the more safety equipment the Driving Team and the car are required to present. As well, the access to the faster Classes is restricted by the type, degree, and chronology of motorsport experience your Driving Team possesses.

(Driving around the same race track lap-after-lap is a very different challenge from competing against the clock across stretches of windy roads you have never seen before. The ability to work with a co-driver/navigator calling out instructions from a Route Book is also an acquired skill).


What are the avenues into the faster classes?

Assuming you don't already have the requisite gear and car, there are competition shops and competition outfitters keen to help you along buying/building your own. Some even offer short-term lease options from their in-house fleet of competition cars, competition equipment, and support crews, (called appropriately, "arrive-and-drive").

Then if you don't have the requisite motorsport experience, you'll need that too. There are any number of clubs, tracks, schools, and other business models through which you can access more motorsport experience. Prior Targa competition is the most applicable.


Our team will enter a concours condition 1965 Acme Sunspot. Does the Targa Canada West class structure mean we compete against more modern cars, and modified cars too?
Cars end up in any given Speed Classes by virtue of:
- the safety equipment of the car and Driving Team
- the Driving Team's past motorsport experience
- the expected pace potential of the car
- the pace the Driving Team are comfortable at.

So all the cars in a given class are there for legitimate reasons, and they are all trying to go EXACTLY THE SAME AVERAGE SPEED. The entries with the best teamwork between the driver and co-driver/ navigator will have the most success. The newer or more modified vehicles have no inherent advantage.

What cars typically enter the respective Speed Classes?

Our experience in Targas around the globe indicates experienced competitors in a near-stock Mazda Miata, BMW E30, or Porsche 944 run competition stages all day long in the 95-110 kph average range, (Class 1-2-3). You may wish to benchmark off this estimate.

Another benchmark is lap times at Nurburgring (Nordschleife circuit). Various websites record best times: Nordschleife.nobridgetogantry.com. We estimate TCW Class 6 winners will lap faster than 8 minutes....Class 5, faster than 8 minutes 30 seconds.....Class 4, faster than 9 minutes.

I am incredibly stoked to enter a Targa, and have been for years. Any suggestions on finding a co-driver / navigator?

If spending quality time with a spouse/ child/parent/sibling/best man/ friend/ business partner is on your "to do" list-it is tough to beat a Targa as a memorable life experience. You're also assured of encountering other like-minded driver /co-driver pairings at the Event.

If you are having trouble finding a co-driver, there will be experienced and would-be co-drivers looking for the opportunity to compete in Targa Canada West. Contact our offices, or check out forums such as at www.specialstage.com