Targa is one of the big events in Tasmania each year and brings a lot of visitors to the state. I’ve never been a petrol-head but now that we have time on our hands, it seemed like a good idea to have a look at one of the stages. The rally is run over 6 days with 38 separate stages and covers some of the most interesting and challenging roads in Tasmania. We decided to check out Stage 8, which travelled through Western Creek, about 20 minutes from where we are camped at Deloraine.
Jamie has been working on Targa since he joined Southern Cross TV. He co-ordinates all the images which come in each day and puts together a ‘package’ for the evening news. At the end of the event, he edits and produces the official DVD. As you can imagine, he loves the show and looks forward to it each year. Stage 8 is a 4.78Km stage which covers a pleasant country road with some tricky corners. The road is closed to all traffic from 12.16pm and not opened again until about 4.15. The plan is to get in before the closure, find a good viewing point, and have all the food and drink needed for the afternoon. We were lucky enough to find a little church, with ample parking, a good view of one of the fast straight stretches and, most importantly, a toilet! We shared the space with some keen enthusiasts, driving 2 Porsches and a Jensen Interceptor.
The cars were fantastic, and ranged from classics from the 1930’s up to state-of-the-art Lamborghinis. I was pleased to see a 1961 Vauxhall Cresta, similar to one we owned in the early-1970s, and a 1962 Mini, the same model as our first car which I bought new in 1962. At that time, all Minis were imported and could be told apart from the later Australian-built models by the fact that the high-beam indicator light was blue in the imports and red in the locals.
Sadly, the Mini was stolen from outside our house in 1966 and was found later in Katoomba after being raced at Bathurst. When it was found it had no petrol, no oil, and no water in it. Even after a lot of repairs, it was never the same car. As the day wore on, the cars became faster and faster until the last few were simply screaming past us. The Lamborghini of Jason White had flames shooting out of the rear as it as it roared past. What a treat for all the repressed racing-car drivers who follow the rally from town to town.
When the faster cars made their appearance, a helicopter arrived with a cameraman strapped on outside the door. The cars travelled about 500m from the start, into a left-hand turn and when they straightened up again, they saw this helicopter at their eye level moving backwards away from them. Unless they were expecting this to happen, it would have been a terrible shock. Jamie tells me the pilot is a Scotsman and as mad as a cut snake. You would need to be to fly like that. I think about the cameraman who just has to grin and bear it. And, up there, is there anyone to hear him scream? When the ‘copter buzzed us, we could see the cameraman’s bare knees hanging in mid-air. I don’t think I would have chosen to wear shorts if I knew I would be tied to the outside of a helicopter. There will be 8 more stages tomorrow, including the notorious Sidelings stage which always sees some cars coming to grief. We’ll probably head for Longford in the afternoon for the final stage which is around the streets of the town.
Jamie has been working on Targa since he joined Southern Cross TV. He co-ordinates all the images which come in each day and puts together a ‘package’ for the evening news. At the end of the event, he edits and produces the official DVD. As you can imagine, he loves the show and looks forward to it each year. Stage 8 is a 4.78Km stage which covers a pleasant country road with some tricky corners. The road is closed to all traffic from 12.16pm and not opened again until about 4.15. The plan is to get in before the closure, find a good viewing point, and have all the food and drink needed for the afternoon. We were lucky enough to find a little church, with ample parking, a good view of one of the fast straight stretches and, most importantly, a toilet! We shared the space with some keen enthusiasts, driving 2 Porsches and a Jensen Interceptor. 
The cars were fantastic, and ranged from classics from the 1930’s up to state-of-the-art Lamborghinis. I was pleased to see a 1961 Vauxhall Cresta, similar to one we owned in the early-1970s, and a 1962 Mini, the same model as our first car which I bought new in 1962. At that time, all Minis were imported and could be told apart from the later Australian-built models by the fact that the high-beam indicator light was blue in the imports and red in the locals. 
Sadly, the Mini was stolen from outside our house in 1966 and was found later in Katoomba after being raced at Bathurst. When it was found it had no petrol, no oil, and no water in it. Even after a lot of repairs, it was never the same car. As the day wore on, the cars became faster and faster until the last few were simply screaming past us. The Lamborghini of Jason White had flames shooting out of the rear as it as it roared past. What a treat for all the repressed racing-car drivers who follow the rally from town to town.
When the faster cars made their appearance, a helicopter arrived with a cameraman strapped on outside the door. The cars travelled about 500m from the start, into a left-hand turn and when they straightened up again, they saw this helicopter at their eye level moving backwards away from them. Unless they were expecting this to happen, it would have been a terrible shock. Jamie tells me the pilot is a Scotsman and as mad as a cut snake. You would need to be to fly like that. I think about the cameraman who just has to grin and bear it. And, up there, is there anyone to hear him scream? When the ‘copter buzzed us, we could see the cameraman’s bare knees hanging in mid-air. I don’t think I would have chosen to wear shorts if I knew I would be tied to the outside of a helicopter. There will be 8 more stages tomorrow, including the notorious Sidelings stage which always sees some cars coming to grief. We’ll probably head for Longford in the afternoon for the final stage which is around the streets of the town.
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