Tarmac Rallying Perpetual Thread

[t01-100]

...or a good RB20!

$70 guards, $100 bonnets, $25 bumpers!

[NYLATE]

Bah to 4wd. Blaise and I are going to build a series 8 RX7 with a TD04 and lots of light-weight goodness just for Duttons.

Bring on the skids!!

HKS TO4Z Like this Snowy .... http://www.modifiedcars-export-japan.jp/in.../de0200119.html

[Marlin]

The 34.... she's GONE!!!!

[Snowman]

To whom???

[Marlin]

A dude stepping up from "classics"mate. By the way Snowie, I'm urgently chasing a 34 GTR gearbox bell housing, don't know of one do you?

[Snowman]

I have an entire gearbox going spare if thats of interest?

[Marlin]

Price mate?

[Roy]

So, what are the plans for the GTSt Ben? If you ever sell that car i want it!

[Marlin]

She's on her way up to me right now Roy. Will be here Monday PM Then I'll hop to fitting these bits and pieces I've been collating for it if work time allows!

Entered a sprint day around Lakeside next Sunday (10th), that should be good to bed in the new brakes etc....

As for the "debut" rally, I'm aiming for Rally of Burnie in NW Tassie(or The Tarmac Challenge or something they call it now). It's a round of the ARC this year so should be fun! Hallyer Gorge etc... great pieces of road

If I don't get there, I MAY consider doing Mt Buller, but I need more power to be competetive there so may leave it until Rally Tas in Feb 09. I suppose I'd prefer to have the car really sorted before having a crack!

As for Targa Tas next year, too early to know what I'm doing yet, may even end up navving for someone, just dunno.... As you know mate, budget, budget, budget......

And yeh, you've got dibs. Is that just coz you want your wheels back?

[giant]

hey stuart

are you doing much with the 2000 tasmanian tarmac challenge??

cheers russ

[sav man]

what do people think of the new modern targa stuff (early modern), should make our car compeditive again. And the new fuel rules? I'll be interested to see if the drop to 98 for the top team's will result in a notisable drop in pace.

[giant]

hey ben , what are the major changes?

i am new to all the rules so i have no idea, and just learning now!

i think if i enter i will be in the M1 modern catorgory,

cheers russ

[sav man]

The sup regs arn't out yet, but M1-M3 will now be S1-S3 (apparently there are going to be changes to entice HSV, FPV, Audi and others in), and modern will be split into 2 comps Early and Late. Late is on a rolling 6? year plan (i'll check the proper gap tonight) so 09 Targa will be 03-09- Late Modern, and catigory 8 will extend to 90-02. And 10 Targa will be 04-10, and so and and so forth.

And the max octain fuel will be 98 ron. This will probably piss a few people off, but i don't think it will change the pecking order, as all the top runners are on similar fuel as it is (ELF, VP.....)

I'll copy and past the e-news up when i get home.

Edited August 6, 2008 by sav man

[giant]

thanks Ben

all info appreciated

[sav man]

here we go

Introduction

Well here we go again! After a couple of months finalising and closing off on Targa Tasmania 2008 we have been working frantically behind the scenes to lift the bar even further in our `coming of age’ event in 2009.

Yes, Targa Tasmania turns 18 next year and with the new course being hailed as a resounding success we now have the opportunity to iron out the kinks and make it even better. More on that in the months ahead.

We made massive changes for 2008 so that will undoubtedly see less change and more enhancement for 2009 but there will still be some exciting developments to make the competitions better, the event more exciting and the whole experience more enjoyable! Read on:

Early Bird Entry's

Yes, it is already creeping around to that time! Just a reminder that you have until the 31st August to apply for either a Fully Paid Discounted Entry or an Early Bird Discounted Entry. That is only 4 weeks away so don’t forget as there is a good saving on offer.

Click here to download your Application Form.

New Competitions for 2009

Over the last two events we have implemented long-overdue structural changes to the competitions to ensure all periods of vehicles are encouraged to compete. These changes successfully saw an increase in Category 7 cars and the return of a Vintage competition along with a return of many classic cars from earlier years.

As the years have ticked away and technology has marched on, Category 8 (like Category 7) has become increasingly uncompetitive in the Modern competition, which has lead to reducing numbers from a period that saw the rebirth of true performance cars. Cars that once dominated the Targa roads are far and few between as owners look to keep up with the latest gear to stay competitive.

This year saw just one Category 8 car finish in the top 20!!

This fact combined with a huge growth in very late model cars and a reluctance to implement another complicated handicapping system, we have decided to restructure the Modern competition to form two competitions with a single category in each.

From 2009 the Modern competition will have a rolling time frame of six years, which includes the year of the event. This will avoid the need to restructure again for some years to come and avoid having to introduce a Category 10, which would seem obvious but would mean the total overhaul of our timing and results systems to encompass four digit numbers let alone how silly it would look on door panels and number plates.

So for 2009, the Modern competition will be for vehicles manufactured from 1st January 2003 until the event, 2010 will be 2004 and so on with all cars being Category 9 cars. Like all categories, cars that are fortunate enough to overlap in their model range can choose and cars that now fall before the Modern cut off will still be eligible to compete in Modern if they choose to but will only be able to compete in one or the other.

The 2009 Category 8 (1992 to 2002) will form the basis of the new full podium competition, Early Modern. This will provide owners of mid-nineties cars in particular an opportunity to compete against similar cars for an outright result. The thinking is similar in nature to what lead to an Early/Late split in Classic, which proved very successful this year.

To tie in with this structure, Showroom will use the same cut off dates as Modern and the current split of 2WD & 4WD will become two categories within a single Showroom competition to ensure we retain three competitions for modern vehicles.

In moving to this structure we will ensure that the retained values of both Showroom and Category 9 cars are maintained; having a full competition to compete at the front in as they age rather than becoming increasingly uncompetitive in a single modern competition.

This fear of retained value has been a key reason for a general reluctance to purchase a Showroom based car and the Early Modern competition will provide a great event for these cars once they are over six years old.

Likewise, many cars such as the R32, R33 & R34 GTR’s and Series 6 RX-7’s, long considered uncompetitive will return to the fore as two of the preferred vehicles along with early Evo’s, WRX’s and of course the mighty Porsche 996 Turbo and GT3; the Early Modern field will be as hot as any in Targa Tasmania 2009.

The Early & Late Classic, Outright Classic, Vintage Rallye and Rookie Rallye will all remain the same for 2009.

New Staff

There has been plenty of movement in our Hobart office since the event. We created a new role immediately after the event to increase our service levels to both our competitors and sponsors. With the title of Sales & Marketing Manager, Helen Coad was successful in securing this exciting new role.

Many of you would have met Helen at this year’s event in her role as Functions Manager, a role that she will continue to fulfil in the future. Helen is the competitor’s main point of contact going forward and her great personality and infectious laugh will ensure that all our competitors are kept extremely happy in being a part of Targa Tasmania. Wait until you hear Helen say Hi!!

We also unfortunately lost Lilli Machielse from Finance and Kylie Benson from Competition and thank you to all of you who sent your best wishes to Kylie.

What can only be described as a glowing example of how hard work can pay off, Louise Calvert who worked on the `07 event as a work experience student and returned for the `08 on a part time contract working in our Functions area, has now secured a full time career with us as our Finance Executive.

Lou has grown into a great asset for the event and an absolute pleasure to have around the office. I’m sure for any of you that will need to talk to Louise, you will find a pleasant and helpful voice at the end of the phone.

In a return to a more traditional competition secretary type role, we have appointed Tania Lamont to the role of Competition Executive. Tania will manage all the paperwork and documentation side of the event, working closely with our sporting team to ensure all the technical and rules requirements are covered off along with ensuring smooth processing of competitor paperwork and event documentation.

Tania comes to us with an extensive background in the insurance game combined with a long association with motor sport administration through her work in gravel rallying and circuit racing, working on both the ARC and V8 Supercars, which will ensure that we continue to provide all our competitors with the high level of service you have to come to expect.

Helen Coad Louise Calvert Tania Lamont

2008 DVD Now on Sale

The latest edition is now available for $29.95 plus $4.00 postage and handling. The special features disc is a cracker with some awesome in car footage, great interviews and at least two shots of every single car in the competition.

Click on the link below to download the order form:

http://www.targatasmania.com.au/Merchandise/DVDOrder.pdf

All Your Event Vision on DVD

It appears that many of our competitors are unaware of the fact that you can buy every second of vision captured of your car during the event. Southern Cross will compile a complete DVD, packaged with a photo of your car on the front.

If you’d like every shot, simply email Southern Cross at [email protected] for further details.

They certainly make a great gift for your sponsors to show them what they are getting for supporting you in Targa Tasmania

Corner Cutting

Well, the bluff worked pretty well in 2007 but the problem returned with a vengeance in 2008. We would like to point out that those of you beating up on the modern rally cars for this problem should maybe think again! From all the vision we have seen, this is a problem contributed to by competitors in EVERY category in the field, not just the modern ones.

We have now discussed at length ways to reduce the problem without expensive bollards and without grey rules that are hard to police. It was agreed that 90% of the problem is on 10% of the corners and that if we did more on those corners most of the problem would be overcome, accepting the fact that it is always going to happen in some locations but a bit of grass and dirt never hurt anyone. It is the heavy gravel we want to keep off the road.

So this is the plan:

• From 2009 the worst corners on each day will be clearly marked in your road books (like fixed speed cameras) to warn you that the corner in question will be monitored for corner cutting

• The inside of each corner being monitored will have a white line painted on its edge. This will form a boundary line a bit like a football ground

• A Judge of Fact (umpire) will be placed on each of these corners armed with a video camera to monitor the corner in question

• Like all playing fields, on the line is in and over it is out! In this instance, a complete tyre (front and/or rear) outside the line at anytime will be considered out

• The penalty will start at 30 seconds for the first offence and go up 30 seconds for every offence after that

• It is hoped to have corners selected and the lines marked in time for the start of the main Recce period in early February

We cannot stress enough that we don’t want to penalise anyone for doing this, we just want the problem to go away so EVERYONE has a more enjoyable event. In heavily policing the really bad corners and giving you plenty of notice and warning of these corners, we feel the problem will be greatly reduced (like fixed speed cameras) and everyone will have reduced chipping on their cars, compete in a safer event and enjoy their Targa a lot more.

We are sure you will agree that the above system is a major step forward in overcoming a problem that this year lead to the most and loudest complaints post event.

Tyre Rules

There is always plenty of discussion on the tyre rules with many competitors saying that there should be more allowed based on the simple view of increased safety. This view is not accurate when you look at the crash rates of events with unlimited tyres. The statistics show neither a reduction in crashes nor an increase in safety and in fact the safety is more likely reduced as the cars can simply go faster for longer meaning the speed at the point of impact is generally higher.

Added to this, these same competitors complain about the ease of cleaning the widely accepted 132kph base time on many of our stages, which we agree is a problem. More tyres will just accentuate this problem and eventually see iconic stages lost.

Aside from containing costs, the limiting of tyres has added an `endurance’ element to Targa that cannot be found anywhere else. Like the Tour de France, you need to plan your event and pace yourself, striking at just the right time to ensure victory. It makes Targa like a game of chess where you need to plan your moves well in advance.

And it is for this reason along with ensuring that we continue to deliver a great competition that we are revamping the successful tyre rule to make it consistent across all competitions.

From 2009 the tyre rules will read like this for all competitions:

• Four tyres only will be allowed and these must be checked and marked at pre-event scrutineering except those on the exemption list, which will be allowed up to six tyres, which must be checked and marked at pre-event scrutineering and all tyres must be the same compound and carried in the vehicle at all times

• No `soft’ compound tyres will be allowed. All tyres must clearly show a medium or hard compound marking,coding or similar term

• Minimum allowable profiles have been reduced to assist those with classic cars who have struggled to buy suitable tyres in recent years

• Cars fitted from the factory with 19 & 20 inch wheels will be allowed to run 18 inch wheels to increase the selection of suitable tyres available

• The penalty for a change of tyre will remain at 2 minutes

No doubt the first question many of you will ask is which vehicles are on the exemption list? We are currently working on the list with the aim to release this next month. To give you a general feel though, the list will only contain cars that are large and heavy in both Classic and Modern due to their increased wear rates and our need/desire to ensure that Targa continues to provide plenty of entertainment for the thousands of people who turn out each year to watch. It will also provide a small amount of parity to make these types of cars a little more competitive.

We are determined to protect our iconic stages and ensure the events future whilst making the 2009 event more competitive than 2008. The above changes will assist greatly in achieving these goals.

Modern Technical Regulations

Whilst commonsense tells us that it is smart to retain consistency across multiple events, with the freedom that we now have to enhance the technical regulations and make them more user friendly etc, we will be making some alterations to the current M1, M2 & M3 vehicle listing to provide greater incentives to those cars that we currently only see at Targa on the very rare occasion purely as they are uncompetitive under these regulations.

The specification titles from 2009 onwards will be S1, S2 & S3 with the `S’ standing for `Specification’. None of the major vehicles in the Modern competition will change from their current placement but vehicles from manufacturers such as HSV, FPV, BMW, AUDI & HONDA can expect some fairer treatment to hopefully encourage the owners of these cars to come to Targa in the future.

Added to this are cars at the other end of the spectrum that have not been allowed at all in the past. These exotics will now be allowed at Targa under S1 rules as these cars are a promoters dream. No more obvious example of this was the presence of Adam Kaplan’s Pagani Zonda at this year’s event, which caused pandemonium everywhere it went.

There are some further minor changes, which will be outlined in the Supplementary Regulations due for release in the weeks ahead.

Fuel & Carbon Offsetting

Tasmania is undoubtedly the `greenest’ state in the country with more political representation than anywhere else. Combined with this is the ever growing expectation by the Tasmanian community for all of us to reduce consumption.

With the limiting of tyres at Targa, it is the fuel that has been explored to the maximum to gain a performance advantage. With this has come rising costs and more importantly consumption. This combined with the huge increase in the cost of fuel this year has prompted a major review of what we should do in the future to ensure the events ongoing success.

Our current contract with Events Tasmania comes to an end after the 2009 event and we have begun positive discussions about our next contract that will see Targa Tasmania celebrate its 20th birthday in 2011.

As part of these discussions, 'reduction' and 'offsetting' are already being put forward as two key elements for us to consider. We wish to be highly proactive on this to ensure that in turn we receive the recognition we deserve for having a proactive approach to assisting the Tasmanian environment.

Based on this, the following changes and initiatives will be implemented from 2009:

• Carbon offsetting will be offered as an option for all competitors with the view that it will be mandatory no later than the 2011 event

• A maximum octane rating of 98 will be applied to all fuel used in the event

• Random on the spot fuel testing will take place throughout the event

• A penalty of one minute will apply to the first offence for using higher octane fuel, with a 2nd offence seeing exclusion from the event

• Vintage & Classic competition vehicles can apply for an exemption for 2009 only on the basis of financial hardship to affect an engine change if its required

Why 98? It is the acknowledged maximum for cars sold in Australia so therefore brings us into line with these standards as well as with major motorsport categories such as V8 Supercars.

We are sure that most of you will welcome this proactive approach to ensuring the event survives through changing times and will no doubt enjoy the cost savings that will come with using reduced octane fuel without giving up field position.

It will also contribute to making the 2009 course the most competitive in years with a hopeful reduction in average speeds, particularly on the long stages on Days 4 & 5.

Fuel will be policed heavily by a specialist company recently contracted by us to monitor fuel from 2009. The appointed representatives from the company will be listed as 'Judges of Fact' and will be given the authority to test at anytime, in any location.

You will NOT need to fit a fuel coupling under this change but ask that if you have one already fitted that you leave it in place as it may be used if available.

Pure Tasmania & Strahan

We recently signed a new three year deal with the Federal Group under the banner of Pure Tasmania. This is fantastic news for Targa and will contribute greatly to the events future.

It will mean that the Country Club and Wrest Point will continue to play integral roles each year. It also means that the 2008 overnight stop layout will remain until at least 2012, including the Day 4 overnight stop in Strahan after a highly successful debut this year. We can hear you all cheering from here!!!

Competitors marveled at the beauty of Strahan's picturesque harbourside village - and reveled in the friendly hospitality extended by the locals.

If you’re planning a recce visit, or perhaps a holiday, Pure Tasmania, have the finest tourism accommodation and experiences Strahan has to offer.

Set right on the waterfront overlooking Macquarie Harbour, Strahan Village’s individual cottages and terraces take you back to a time when the wild West was inhabited by miners, piners, fishermen and their families. Sip Tasmania’s finest wines and watch the sunset from your private deck, enjoy fine dining at View 42° Restaurant and Bar, sumptuous seafood at the Fish Café on the Wharf, or a cheerful pub meal at Hamer’s Hotel.

Ride a steam train into history, back more than 100 years when pioneers forged a rail link between the mining town of Queenstown and the port of Strahan. One of the world’s great railway journeys, authentically created with its many timber trestle bridges and the unique Abt rack and pinion system, the West Coast Wilderness Railway crosses the wild King River and climbs through sheer sided gorges on its 35km journey.

Immerse yourself in an intimate Piners and Miners signature experience exploring the region’s nature and heritage, traveling via Hi-Rail on the West Coast Wilderness Railway track, walking through rainforest along Bird River, and indulging in a gourmet lunch in the deserted mining port of East Pillinger.

Take a cruise aboard Lady Jane Franklin II and marvel at the perfect reflections of the Gordon River, take a stroll into ancient rainforest, cruise past a working fish farm, visit Sarah Island and hear stories of convicts, seafarers and piners. To truly experience this wild river, the Gordon River Paddle full day signature experience combines this cruise with a guided sea kayak trip further into the reaches of the Gordon River.

For bookings, visit www.puretasmania.com.au or phone 1800 084 620. To keep up to date with the latest news and offers sign up to the Pure Travel Club newsletter.

Click on the underlined words to go to the relevent web page.

Is it a Dinner, is it a Brunch or is it a Lunch??

Post event celebrations all went a lot smoother this year (we finished in the daylight! Still can’t believe it) and the Brunch/Dinner set up is probably the best compromise albeit still a compromise. Some of you were not thrilled at the lack of a free dinner ticket but keep in mind that things change in regards to sponsorship so therefore the Brunch became the `freebie’. As we thought, many of you enjoyed that set up as it meant it was cheaper for you to `reward’ your crews post event.

We have taken on board all the feedback, both good & bad along with some great ideas from this year’s survey and after some brainstorming came up with what we feel is a great set up and concept for 2009 and beyond:

• The main presentation function will be a `long lunch’ starting at 11am and finishing at 2pm to enable those who want/need to get on the Monday night boat to do so

• ALL awards will be presented at this function to ensure everyone is there to receive them

• This function will be FREE for Drivers and Navigators

• The dress is neat casual and we’d like to see the return of the Targa jacket and finish medallion

• The lunch will include the `Blake Report’!

• Unlike the old dinner ticket structure, additional tickets will be restricted to ensure everyone has an opportunity to buy some for their crew/supporters

• There will still be a dinner……. Read on:

Inaugural Hall of Fame Dinner in 2009

After the recent changes to the plate structure that now sees those who complete 15 events awarded the John Large Memorial Award and automatically inducted into the Targa Tasmania Hall of Fame and those who receive the almost impossible plate of Platinum Diamond further elevated into the `Legends’ section of the Hall of Fame, it was felt that it was time to have an annual Hall of Fame dinner.

What better time to have it, then on the Monday after the event, as the final fling and a true celebration of those who have achieved at the highest levels of Targa Tasmania.

Next year will see the inaugural dinner held at Wrest Point on Monday 4th May and it will also see the return of the gala black tie dinner full of pomp and ceremony.

The dinner will be all about the Hall of Famers and their amazing stories. There will be old videos and photos supporting great interviews, with the true heroes of Targa Tasmania being the `entertainment’ for the night!

Like a Black Tie Gala Dinner should; the night will finish with some great music and some dancing. Hip Hip Hooray we can hear from some of you.

We ask that you all do all you can to attend and recognise the `Legends of Targa Tasmania’ as one day that may be you up on the stage receiving the well deserved accolades for what is a lifetimes work for many.

To make the night as affordable as possible, we have negotiated a great price and it winds the clock back nearly ten years with price of $120 per head.

It will be an amazing night not to be missed!

Tickets will be available soon.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

In a joint project with Tourism Tasmania, we recently had a stand at the world famous Goodwood Festival of Speed to promote Targa Tasmania on the back of the amazing coverage we received in the Daily Telegraph in London.

We received some great interest from numerous classic car owners and we are hoping that we will see an increase in international entries from the UK at next years event and in subsequent years, particularly our 20th anniversary event in 2011.

Targa Facebook Group

It’s everywhere, it’s everywhere! We have discovered that many of our competitors and supporters are active users of Facebook and in fact there is an ever-growing group based on Targa Tasmania.

So we thought it was time that we let everyone know about this group so the rest of you can join in the fun. We encourage all of you to join the Targa Tasmania group and share your stories, post your in car footage for all to see and share your event photos.

It is an ideal spot to meet other Targa competitors and make new friends with the view that you can hook up at the event each year. For those of you that may be considering your first Targa or have only done one or two, it is a great place to meet other competitors who in turn will be able to help you enjoy your Targa experience more.

Log on now to our Facebook group by clicking here and request to join the group to join in the fun.

You will naturally need to set up a Facebook account and profile first before being able to join the group.

Website Revamp

We are working on a new, clearer and hopefully easier to use website as we speak. Keep an eye out for it in the coming weeks. This e-News is an indication of what to expect and we hope you found it both easier to read on screen and printed out.

Please let us know what you think? email Helen at [email protected]

[Marlin]

I'm still going through and digesting it... but looks very promising! 98 octane FTW!!! That's a saving of about 2.5k right there! Now, about that entry fee

(everyone booked Strahan I hope yesterday? I did )

[t01-100]

hey stuart

are you doing much with the 2000 tasmanian tarmac challenge??

cheers russ

Nah not this year Russ... we were thinking of running the Type R there again, but got a bit on with property at the moment and I just bought another car - Evo III... not sure why, but I'll work that out by the time it arrives!

Previously this event has been good fun as nice and tight course that is easy to recce with minimal time. It doesn't interest me so much now with the ARC guys running as it will change all the timing/results system to be more exacting for touring stages etc and not as free and easy as it used to be when based more traditional tarmac system.

[Marlin]

Sweet! I'm navigatoing in Rally Burnie (Tassie Tarmac Challenge) with .....................

[Marlin]

Any news for us Stu???

[giant]

........with me!!!

yes Ben has agreed to navigate for me in Rally Burnie in 5 weeks !!

I can't wait , hopefully we will have a ball, and it will be great to have Ben's experience there.

lots to do though, weld in cage , seats, harnesses, intercom, floor plates, fire bomb, wheel alignment , brakes, tyres, log book and rally rego and more in 5 weeks!

oh yes and learn to listen to pace notes.

hmmm where to start

cheers russ