Are there any Targa events in the United States?

[409industries]

One of the most famous ones i know if its Targa New Foundland and that is:

1) not in the US
2) over 3000 miles away from California

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posteddriving/0925-Targa.jpg

So are there any other Targa events around these days? I never hear about them... maybe because they dont exist. There's just something amazingly cool about a 4+ day endurance road rally...

One day i want to do one. It would be cool to know which to shoot for.

[rollo]

Yeah, slim pickings. Alcan? La Carrera Panamericana if you wanna go south. I'd love to do Targa Newfoundland. That would be awesome.

[williaty]

I've been asked by the boss to go run Targa Newfoundland next year. I haven't decided if it's going to happen. It's a BIG commitment and even to turn in the non-speed class, there's a lot of prep work to the car.

[Azewaldo]

I've been asked by the boss to go run Targa Newfoundland next year...
Your boss asked you to run a rally!? I want your job!

[Ty Ty]

Most places in the US are filled with many self centered American folk...very hard to close down so many roads for so long.

Hard enough getting permission to use logging roads and trails out in the middle of nowhere for a gravel rally...

[williaty]

Your boss asked you to run a rally!? I want your job!
Yes, yes you do. I get paid to design go-fast parts, test them, and bull**** about cars all day.

[409industries]

Yeah, so i think Targa NF is on my "to-do" list of car related antics that mus be completed before I die.

Recently i watched a video with Targa Tasmanina in it (MConte05 tipped me off to "Love the Beast" check it out if you have time its good) so i watched some online video of this year's running:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laq8OZaFsMo

Got some wheels turning in my head. Its just a shame that NF is sooooo unbelievably far from where i live.

[d'cheat]

I hate to say it, but its most likely that we will never see a Targa style event here in the states. Hell, even Nevada has put the kibosh on open road racing. Its getting extremely difficult to even set up a simple hill climb race on tarmac here. The american people are just too damn self centered and prudish to allow us to close off a road for a few hours, and have *ghasp* Loud fast cars drive by.
Even getting permission from the BLM to have a gravle rally miles away from any houses is like pulling teeth at times.
Canada and Mexico have open road, targa style rallys all the time. But again, thats out of the way for allot of people.
I think people who can drive cars, let alone a race car, wont fit into the cubicle of life that the average joe lives in. And that just pisses people off. Thus, thy wont let us race. :eek:

[punkrockerjohn]

Targa New Foundland has always been my dream race. Probably won't happen until I'm way past my prime but I would chop the tip of any of my fingers off to get a full ride up there.

[Jaynen]

Isnt there one in Mexico?

And what about the Silver State Challenge Races in Nevada?

http://www.sscc.us/

[d'cheat]

Regretfully, All open road / targa style events have been canceled indefinitely in Nevada. A couple bad crashes at 200+ mph caused Harry Reid to have a fit and put a ban on them. A few event organizers are fighting this, as well and searching other states for roads that they can close off for a race.

I know the Mexico has the Chiuahua Express. A wonderfull open road race that I highly reccomend!

[Jaynen]

That sucks I guess the website I linked is not up to date then since it still lists 2010 dates

[d'cheat]

I just checked a few of the sites. Holy Crap! Looks like open road is BACK!
Last year they announced the suspension of all open road racing. Looks like enough trees got shook to allow them again. :D :D

[409industries]

I had never heard of the Silver State Classic Challenge. Sounds pretty awesome!

[RATechnology]

Aaron Best suggestion I can come up with is to do something like Targa Tasmania. Rather than use your own car rent one for the week from a local.. There's a few people in OZ that do this now.

Least then all you'll have to worry about is getting the time off and the flights to get there and back.

Still a long way to go but well worth it. I've been once spectating and it's on my list of things to do one day!

[Tim.Flat4]

There was a right up on Moto IQ from someone that attended the Silver State Classic if you're interested in how it all works.

[409industries]

Aaron Best suggestion I can come up with is to do something like Targa Tasmania.

Not a bad idea but i could probably do that with Targa NF.... Flights sure would be cheaper!

There was a right up on Moto IQ from someone that attended the Silver State Classic if you're interested in how it all works.

Tim, do you have a link to the write up?

[rollo]

There's tons of info on the link Jaynen posted:
http://www.sscc.us/

I've been looking at those events for a few years now.

[BigGreenMachine]

Ahem, Targa Newfoundland! Newfoundland being all one word. lol

[409industries]

Ahem, Targa Newfoundland! Newfoundland being all one word. lol

Did you even read my opening post? :roll:

[rollo]

I think he was correcting your spelling.. check his location ;)

[garyp]

Rally Tennessee is a 2 day tarmac rally run by NASA.

http://www.rallytennessee.com/2010

[Safe Drives]

There was going to be a Targa Canada West in BC but that was cancelled.

I have Rent to Own HNR customers that do the Open Road Racing events and they appear to be well run events with long history.

Wiki has the Targa events down pretty good it looks, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targa

[pigpen]

there are a few all-tarmac rallies out this way, but I'm guessing you already knew that, and I would assume they have some out west, too. I guess I don't really understand the difference between a tarmac rally and a targa event, since I've only seen targa events on TV. I do know they seem to have a much more interesting field of cars, and I would love to get up to Newfoundland to see that race.

a Targa event in BC would be awesome. I hope the idea for a future event hasn't completely died yet.

and I'm pretty sure Mr. Newfoundland's post was in direct response to your opening post...

[d'cheat]

"Tarmac Rally" As we know them is really just the Best time aka Fastest time wins
"Targa Event" Timed rally. Each class competitor must complete the race in an exact amount of time. Points are added for each second over that time or under. Closest to the set time wins.

[OjNK]

Not entirely true. There's two competitions at the Targa Newfoundland rally. Touring, which is TSD 'accuracy' style and Targa which is foot to the floor.

Targa class doesn't have under time penalties (Though there are speed restriction zones, of course) but there are increasingly difficult target times over the week that have to be met in order to get your 'Targa' time. By Friday you're talking super tight windows that will really make you pedal.

I've been over at Targa NF for 7 years now and photographing it for 3. My wife is a navigator back for her second year starting this weekend. Its a hell of an event and you should do it while its still available. As the Targa Canada West folks found out, there's very few places on earth where these kind of events can get off the ground. In Newfoundland they actually close down schools so the kids can come out and watch the cars go through! Its like nothing else.

Steve Millen ran last year in his amazing GTR
http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/d/9764-2/IMG_6122.jpg

Its a very Impreza friendly event
http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/d/9804-2/IMG_8118.jpg

You can't beat the scenery, or the people. Amazing place.
http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/d/9866-2/IMG_9039.jpg

This Escort used to belong to Sebastian Loeb
http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/d/9844-2/IMG_0900.jpg

Multiple Canadian/North American rally champs the Sprongls
http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/d/9950-2/IMG_2642.jpg

[dirtydog]

well if you plan on running tarmac
i have the perfect tarmac tire for sale
they are used
butthey are in perfect condition
some are still brand new
use by travis pastrana for the x-game practice runs
set of 4 $350.00
17'

[OjNK]

Targa 2010 just ended Friday. Just got back from shooting it. Not many Subarus this year, not nearly enough by half!

http://www.gordonsleigh.com/targa/

http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/d/14619-2/IMG_9965.jpg

http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/d/14708-2/IMG_3822.jpg

http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/d/14750-2/IMG_4973.jpg

http://pics.spoon.org/gallery2/d/14852-2/IMG_6706.jpg

Next year is the 10th anniversary, big incentives to come out, they're aiming for 100 cars!

[Dan McGinn]

Targa Newfoundland is also on my bucket list, I've heard great things about the roads and I've heard that the people of Newfoundland are an amazingly friendly bunch.

[OjNK]

You have no idea until you experience it. Its amazing place like no other I've been to.

[BobOfTheFuture]

If you want some insight on how the TNF goes, Go to Grassrootsmotorsports.com. Theres a guy named Keith who posts there who runs the event often in a Miata. He missed it this year, but still the report from the inside is top notch.

[409industries]

I love this event.

[shakes]

Need to be made out of money so I can spend my life running events like this all over the world.

[neckstrap]

The original question about Targa type events in California is something we have been trying to do in the Into the Night Rally Team. I wrote and sponsered a rally through the Santa Monica mountains last year called the "Oceans Eleven Rally". I tried to make it as close to Targa Newfoundland as possible without the open speed sections. Our team puts on a few of these events on every year and the next one is coming up in October 2011. Check out our website http://www.itnrally.org.

[02wrxRally]

My 68 MGB GT is sitting in my parents garage waiting for me to have space in my garage so I can finally begin to build it one day. It needs restoration, and I initially bought it to polish up and make a fun summer cruising toy out of, but it's no MG Midget - my first toy. No, this one will be built for Targa Newfoundland and most likely used for vintage racing in between targas....if the Targa is still legal by the time I get to this project.



big ass edit: will be picking up a 99 miata next spring to add to the stable. I could have that ready sooner than the B...