Targa Newfoundland Under Way: Update

[Northern Rider]

SEPTEMBER 13, 2005

Challenging Leg 1 Narrows Targa Field Only Four Teams Remain Penalty Free

ST. JOHN’S – When the competitors pulled into the Gander Community Centre after a challenging day of Targa competition, only four teams remained penalty free. The parking lot saw more action than the inside of the community centre, with service crews working to keep their crews on the road.

Many familiar names litter the list of those remaining penalty free, including Bill Arnold and Alan Ryall of San Rafael, California. Arnold has toped his division for two years and is the only person in the history of Targa Newfoundland to win a coveted gold plate. Tom Silver and David Fuss are trying to push Arnold and Ryall from the top perch in their 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback . Rounding out the penalty free competitors in the Classic Division is the father-daughter team of Ralph and Alisha Grant in their mighty 1970 Volvo 142 GT, who placed third in their division in 2004.

The Modern division has only one team remaining penalty free – the 1981 Porsche 911 driven by Ernie Jakubowski and Bill Comat of Ontario. There are teams waiting in the wings for Jakubowski and Comat to make a mistake. The brother team of John and Clarke Paynter powered their 2004 Subaru WRX Sti through Leg 1 with only 6 seconds of penalties. With only 14 seconds of penalties, Scott Smith and Peter Guagenti are also craving a win in their 1985 BMW 323i.

The new Unlimited division is seeing some great action as well, although no competitors remain penalty free. The race is tight, with the top two spots going to Ralph Gilles and Eddie Alterman in their 2006 Dodge Charger SRT 8 and Jim Kenzie and Brian Bourbonniere in their 2004 MINI Cooper JCW.

“This year we have fewer competitors coming out of Leg 1 with no penalties,” notes Ross Wood, Clerk of the Course. “We took out the long stages that used to be characteristic of the first day and we replaced them with short, twisty stages that really challenge the competitors. We are constantly refining the route and looking for new stages – this keeps the event new and exciting for spectators and competitors alike.”

Canadian teams are dominating Touring Equipped, with the local team of Bruce Terris and Andy Proudfoot in their 1997 Honda Civic; Goni and Tashko Sarakinov of Ontario in their 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX; and Brian Crockatt and Gail Walker of Ontario in their 1987 BMW 535I holding the top three spots. Touring Unequipped is also an exciting competition, with Robert Kovac and John Galvao in a 2002 Acura RSX-S; David Skinner and Robin Vatcher in their 2001 Audi TT Roaster; and Norman Van Duyn and David Stead in their 1002 Porsche 911 Turbo holding the top three spots.

Today competitors left the City of St. John’s and completed seven stages on their way to Gander. Two new stages thrilled competitors – Marysvale and Conception Harbour/Colliers. An incident on the Marysvale stage forced the cancellation of the stage when a competition car blocked the road with 22 competitors remaining. While driver and navigator were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, both have since been released. It is doubtful that the 1969 Porsche 911 will be able to continue the competition.

Tomorrow is Leg 2: Thrifty Car Rental Exploits. Competitors will leave Gander in the morning with eight scenic, challenging stages in the Exploits Region, passing through Norris Arm, Botwood, Point Leamington, Leading Tickles, Grand Falls-Windsor and Bishop’s Falls. Competitors start their day by re-running the very popular Gander suburb stage. They will also complete a second in-town stage in Grand Falls-Windsor. Competitors will have to stay on top of their game during this 10 km. stage, which boasts many turns and changes in elevations. Once again, the day ends in Gander with a car show in the Gander Community Centre.

Competitors have come from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Holland, the Bahamas and the U.K. for the first three editions of Targa Newfoundland. The rally starts with registration and technical inspection on Saturday, September 10, 2005.

Targa Newfoundland is owned and organized by Newfoundland International Motorsports and is sanctioned by the Canadian Association of Rallysport (CARS).

Comments from Competitors:

The most exciting time was when we were braking for the corner just after the bridge in Brigus. The brakes don’t work well in the air, so nothing much was happening when we hit the bridge!

**** Patterson, driver of car #204, 1959 Austin Mini After crossing a bridge on the Brigus stage with all four wheels off the road.

I loved Brigus totally. That’s the most fun I could have without my wife!

John Paynter, driver of car #901 (Manufacturer Entry – Subaru Canada), 2004 Subaru WRX Sti

I am so happy that this car made it through today. It was a work of passion to get it done – we didn’t really start in until June. We worked our tails off getting our cars here. Now our skid plates are falling, so we are working on those.

Neil Young, driver of car #911, 1987 Porsche 944 Turbo As team of drivers, navigators and service crew worked on vehicle at car show in Gander

INFORMATION:

Media: Ruth Marks (709)576-5790 or Doug Mepham (613)966-4969
Sponsors: Scott Giannou (709)576-7537
Competitors: Frank Nossereau (709)722-2413
Website: www.targanewfoundland.com

Editor's Note: Below is my old nemisis - John "Suff'em" Buffum - notice that all 4 wheels are off the ground!

[Northern Rider]

Latest News on the Gruelling Long Distance Road Race

Scoring Results

[HealeyRick]

NR,

There's nothing you can post that I can't squeeze a Healey into:

http://www.britishcarlinks.com/targa_saga.htm


BTW, I've been "Screeched in"

Rick

[Northern Rider]

Originally Posted by HealeyRick

NR,

There's nothing you can post that I can't squeeze a Healey into:

http://www.britishcarlinks.com/targa_saga.htm


BTW, I've been "Screeched in"

Rick

Screeched in now, have ya, b'y!

Rick, what a great write up! I have done tens of thousands miles of competitive endurance rallying in canada and the US. It is so different from road racing. Many circuit racers enter these events, only to crash or be beat out by a little mini cooper.

[Northern Rider]

Dan Knotts still in contention; Ralph Gilles lags behind in the Charger.

Here are the results as of Thursday evening:

Targa Newfoundland 2005

Partial Unofficial Classification, after Leg 4
Class 1 Unlimited

1. Margin105Kenzie - Bourbonniere 2004 MINI Cooper JCW1 Unlimit.
2. 0401"":"":""902 Pacione - Maxwell 1999 Ford Mustang GT1 Unlimit.
3. 0582018103 Knott - Fletcher 2006 Chrysler 300C SRT81 Unlimit.
4. 0:37:483008101 Esseltine - Esseltine 1973 Datsun PL5101 Unlimit.
5. 1584118409 Scott - Paine 1966 Porsche 9111 Unlimit.
6. 1:49:2651:43:46104 Gilles - Alterman 2006 Dodge Charger SRT81 Unlimit.

[Northern Rider]

While Awaiting Final Results and Details:

[Northern Rider]

Here's some info from the Mini driver, journalist Jim Kenzie:

Our other competition in the Unlimited Category has made it a bit easier for us. Ralph Gilles in the very impressive Dodge Charger SRT8 was already pretty much out of the running thanks to running out of fuel on Tuesday, and earning a "max late" penalty of 30 minutes.The Charger hit a massive boulder which wiped out the skid plate under the engine and much of the rear suspension, then slammed into a vertical steel I-Beam whose original purpose remains unclear. A shame. But a lesson about Targa was learned, albeit the hard way. Gilles's partner, Dan Knott in the Chrysler 300 SRT8, went off a bit later in the day in the quick and scary town stage through Marystown.

"We're pretty much locked in third place in the Unlimited Category," said Knott. "So we're just driving to finish tomorrow, and be on the podium. There's a trophy for that, isn't there?"Indeed there is, Dan, and well-deserved it will be.



Nice pics - lots of cars:

http://www.targanewfoundlandgander.com/T5HCS50912.htm

http://www.targanewfoundlandgander.com/T5J50913.htm