Epilogue: Targa Newfoundland 2003

Cars lined up on George Street in downtown St. John's following completion of Targa Newfoundland.

TN03 lived up to expectations, and in some cases exceeded them. There were few problems, and with the second running, Targa Newfoundland can now rightfully be called "Annual". Plans have already begun for TN04, both on the part of organizers and competitors. There has been plenty of discussion among those who have been a part of the first two blasts around the rock, most of it centered around the proper strategy to be competitive on the week-long event, as well as how Targa could be tweaked to make it better still.

There are, of course, a few local naysayers, who were quick to point out the first day crashes and opined that all that display of speed would only lead to aggressive behavior on the highways by non-rallyists. Same can be said for aggressive behavior in hockey, football, baseball, or most any sport. Heck, even golfers, tennis and chess players get a burst of adrenaline once in awhile!

The numbers tell the story. Sixty competing teams, eager to complete the course at all costs. Teams who suffered terminal damage to their cars quickly regrouped and came back with service vehicles, running the remainder of the event as part of the Touring category, but running nonetheless. Thousands of people coming out to see the cars, on the stages, at the overnight stops, parked along the transit sections and waving as the parade of numbered machines drove past. The provincial government of Labrador and Newfoundland is happy to sponsor the event as it will bring an estimated five million dollars in tourism money to the area. Amd those motorsports fans who watch the one-hour TV program in Canada and on SPEED channel in the U.S. will get a chance to see the beauty and the friendly folks that are standard fare in Newfoundland.

There really is no event quite like Targa Newfoundland. It is part rally, part race, part scenic tour, part car show in action, part floating party. It's sort of like running an entire season of amateur competition in one week. Targa Tasmania and Targa New Zealand have been around long enough that they are now dominated by a few teams with lots of money and support, but Newfoundland is still new enough that any amateur motorsports team can be competitive. Sure it takes a fast, reliable car, an able driver and an equally able co-driver, but at the end of the week most novices can easily see where they could run with the front pack with a bit more work.

And everyone starts to make plans to be back next year....