Targa Canada West

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.

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.

Entering Targa Canada West is very accessible for all levels of experience. You and your co-driver (or navigator) each need to be 16 years or older and have valid civilian driver's licenses.

Targa Canada West offers two categories.

Targa Precision Category is for a ‘spirited' TSD-style rally set at a limited target speed: so very little risk to your car, and no requirement to modify it with complex safety gear. Get your car out of the garage... and get behind the wheel.

Targa Performance Category is a full-on contest of epic proportions and yet judged by one simple rule: the fastest time wins. Targa Canada West intends for this to be a fully sanctioned and insured event by the highest levels of Canadian motorsport authority: so full roll cage, HANS device and all safety gear is mandatory in the Performance Category. Targa Performance: the full chance to test your metal... and your mettle.

All teams (in both categories) must have a driver and co-driver, and all vehicles need to be insured and street legal (turn signals, lights, etc.). Basic safety equipment is required, such as two safety triangles, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, etc.

Spectator and competitor safety is paramount in the modern Targas. Targa Canada West's events are sanctioned by the world's highest motorsports standards. So all aspects of competition are shaped and constrained by sanctioning and insurance requirements which enable the event happen.

The competition is about both pace and timing accuracy, and speed is dependant on what category a team is in. In the Targa Performance Category, competitors are aiming for the fastest time, but maximum (195 kph) and minimum instantaneous speeds apply. Full motorsport safety gear required: full cage, HANS, etc. required.

Targa Precision Category, is a TSD-style rally, or a spirited tour, for teams that don't have fully modified race cars, and teams that don't want to risk damaging their cars. There is a limited average speed target at a comfortable pace over the competition stage, and maximum and minimum instantaneous speeds allowed.

The Targa Precision Category is a great way to start and get familiar with the whole event. Importantly, the ability to work with a co-driver/navigator calling out instructions from a Route Book is also an acquired skill.

And if more is better, then the Performance Class will test your mettle. The much faster Targa Performance Category requires more safety equipment, that both the Driving Team and the car are required to be equipped with. As well, access to Targa Performance is restricted by the type, degree, and chronology of motorsport experience your Driving Team possesses.

Suggestions to prepare for Performance Category fall into two areas: team and vehicle. The following is an overview, see Supp Regs for complete rules and regulations.

Team: For the driver, high performance driver education (HPDE) at the track is a good start, with a car club or dedicated race school. After this, additional personal instruction at the track from an experienced coach increases car control and confidence at speed. Seat time is important, since Targa Performance against the clock on unknown stretches of windy road (versus repeating the same corners over and over at a track) takes focus.
License: a CARS rally license (regional or national) is required for each registered driver, or equivalent license from international rally organization.
Current first aid certificate is required: all entrants are considered "first responders" while in the event, and stopping to help is mandatory.
Driver and co-driver safety gear: CARS regulations require approved helmet, head and neck restraint (HANS), race suit, race gloves (not mandatory for co-driver), race shoes, etc.

Vehicle: Invest in safety gear first, then competent brakes, before "go fast" bits. CARS sanctioning requires a full roll cage, fixed race seats, harnesses, saftey triangles, fire extinguishers, first aid kit, etc. 
Highly advised to get an experienced rally shop to do design and fabricate the cage to ensure it meets sanctioning requirements, and help with basics like sump guards and rally computers. Alternatively, consider renting an arrive-and-drive race car. Or for your first Targa Performance car, buying one that is already prepared (with a current log book).

Targa Canada West is committed to motorsports adventure within the safety envelope of our sanctioning rules and insurance. Questions about tech and scrutineering? Email tech@targacanadawest.com!

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" or "turn-key race cars").

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 or rally competition is the most applicable.

Within Targa Perfermance Category, there are three Classes: Ultimo, Modern, and Classic.

Teams/cars select a given Class by virtue of:
- the production year of the vehicle OR extent of modifications
- the Driving Team's past motorsport experience
- the expected pace potential of the car
- the pace the Driving Team are comfortable at.

In Targa Precision Category, all the cars in a given class are 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.

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