This Months Stories

Merry Christmas

Targa Wrest Point

Timing System

Trophies Designed

Poster Released

Merchandise

Number Plates

Towing Levy

Course Recce

Supplementary Regulations

Targa Tasmania

20th Anniversary Award

Hall of Fame

E-news

Date Log

The entire Octagon team would like to wish a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to each and every one of our loyal clients. We have had an amazing 2008 thanks to you all. The new more centralised course amongst other exciting changes saw a memorable Targa Tasmania.

Next year sees brand new challenges with the exciting Targa Wrest Point defying the current trends and seeing the largest competition field assembled outside of Targa Tasmania in the last year to contest this brand new event.

In spite of the economic downturn, Targa Tasmania continues to track ahead of 2008 with 220 entered already. Only time will tell if the entries continue to come in early in the New Year. All the great things about 2008 will be back along with our first ever Hall of Fame Dinner. 2009 will also see the introduction of the 20th Anniversary Award (more below) as we head towards the landmark event in 2011.

Entries Keep Coming

There is nothing but exciting news here! Entries ticked over to 120 this week meaning there are just TEN spots left for those last minute entries still thinking about competing or waiting to see the outcome of similar events being held elsewhere.

If you haven't entered yet and you may be thinking about it, please call Helen Coad on (03) 6221 8866 TODAY. You can complete your paperwork early in the New Year but we would hate to disappoint you. Even if you're only a slight chance to compete, let Helen know to avoid missing out.

Helen will then call you back if there is only a spot or two left.

The Application Form can be found by clicking the link below.

http://www.targawrestpoint.com.au/Competitors/Forms.html

Targa Wrest Point is proving to be a success already and bucking the current trends in our sport. The provision of great value for money (less than $10 per competitive kilometre), exciting course and the promise of a true 'Targa' experience are all factors being cited by competitors for entering.

With less than 40 days, recce is in full swing and the event is coming together.

Program

Whilst not being the flashy version we have come to expect at Targa Tasmania, the program will see circulation its 'big brother' can only dream about after a deal was struck recently with the Mercury that will see the program inserted into the Motoring Guide on Saturday January 24.

With a circulation of 80,000 everyone in Southern Tasmania will be fully aware of Targa Wrest Point in the week leading up to the event, which should see record numbers turn out to watch.

It will also mean some great coverage in the Mercury leading up to and during the event with a full colour wrap up post event.

Some exciting news for all those entered to compete. We have decided that in the interests of providing an exciting competition for all competitors that the new Targa Wrest Point will use elapsed time on competitive stages as opposed to the normal base time system used at Targa Tasmania.

We felt that due to the reduced length of this course, the absence of trophy times and our ultimate desire to provide everyone with an awesome event that we needed to ensure there was competition on each stage.

The opening stage at Lucaston will now become like a warm up lap on a race track to get yourself sorted and ready. This stage would have been cleanable under a base time set up.

We are NOT going to A to A timing though with the normal touring stage set up including late time provision being in place just like it is at Targa Tasmania. The only change is after Lucaston every second counts on every stage.

In doing this, we can guarantee an amazing FIVE competition event for all of you to enjoy in hopefully summer conditions.

If you have any questions on this please email them to Mark Perry at m.perry@octagon.com

As we have at Targa Tasmania, it is crucial that the winners trophies were unique and therefore prized by their recipients.

So we got in the man who makes many of the awesome V8 Supercars trophies to design us something unique to Targa Wrest Point.

With a brief of making something that had polished look symbolising the Wrest Point Tower and needing to weigh a lot to give it a substantial feel, Benton Van Dorssler has delivered on all fronts!

All podium winners in all five competitions will receive one of these trophies with only the height changing according to position.

We hope that in the years to come, they will become a sought after award for everyones trophy cabinet.

With the Targa Wrest Point of Navy Blue and White coming together each day we have now completed the poster design for the event. Check it out below:

Blue Gum has again delivered on the merchandise front, coming up with a perfect fit for the overall look of the event.

A limited range will be available at the inaugural event to gauge interest. All competitors will receive a polo shirt as part of their entry. Check out the designs below:

It just wouldn't be a Targa event if we didn't have number plates would it? Part of Targa Tasmania folklore, we have designed a brand new sleek and modern plate for Targa Wrest Point. It will only be available in the slimline format to fit in better with the overall look of Targa Wrest Point; that being a 2009 simple modern look as opposed to the very traditional motorsport look of Targa Tasmania. Check out the design below:

After the successful introduction of a levy (insurance) at Targa Tasmania earlier this year, we again will use this system at Targa Wrest Point.

The levy will cover a full tow/cartage of any competition vehicle back to Hobart from any location on the course. The same late model trucks and operators will be utilised who delivered so successfully at Targa Tasmania

Crane Hire has also been included in the price for the first time.

The cost of this insurance is $97 inc GST and is mandatory. Like all insurance it can save you hundreds of dollars and it gives you the piece of mind of knowing that you will have no costs involved to get your car back to HQ if you need to.

Competitors will be invoiced pre-event to avoid the need to pay this fee at documentation.

Recce Notes are ready for download:

http://www.targawrestpoint.com.au/Competitors/RecceNotes.pdf

Our official notes provider, Rally Notes also has pace notes ready. To purchase your set simply call Ron on roncoenen@bigpond.com.au or 0418 145 707.

Supplementary Regulations are available now simply by clicking the link below:

http://www.targa.com.au/Competitors/Regulations.html

Course Close to Completion

The course is nearing completion and we will have recce notes available early in the new year as normal. The regs are now available simply by clicking the link below:

http://www.targa.com.au/Competitors/Regulations.html

Six Tyre List

As announced earlier this year, in the interests of parity and ensuring that the general public and TV viewers continue to be provided with fantastic entertainment, that we would allow certain types of Classic cars to retain six tyres as in previous events and some Modern cars would be allowed six tyres for the first time.

The vehicles eligible for six tyres at Targa Tasmania 2009 are:

Classic

Alfa Romeo Montreal
Bizzarrini (All models)
Chevrolet Corvette
Ferrari 308
Ford Falcon (All models)
Ford Mustang (All models)
Holden Monaro (All models)
Holden Torana (All V8 models)
Jaguar (All models)

Modern

Aston Martin Vantage
Audi (S4, RS4, S6)
BMW M5
BMW M6
Chevrolet Corvette
Chrysler 300C SRT8
Ford Falcon (All models)
Ford Mustang (All models)
FPV (All models)
Holden Commdore (All models)
Holden Monaro (All models)
HSV (All models)
Mercedes Benz AMG (All models)

* This list does not apply to Targa Wrest Point where the 4 tyre rule applies to all cars

As part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations in 2011, we are hoping to be able to give out a number of 20th Anniversary Awards.

What is the 20th Anniversary Award? Well many of you will remember the Millenium Award for completing all stages in the `98, `99 & 2000 Targa events.

Well this is the same concept with a successful completion of all stages under your trophy time at the `09, `10 and `11 events seeing you receive the 20th Anniversary Award.

The award is in the early stages of design and will be released in the months ahead with all awards being presented on stage at the 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner.

This award does not replace any existing awards and is in addition to wherever you may sit in the Targa Plate system of rewards.

Naturally, you will need to compete in 2009 if you want any chance of winning this unique award that in time will become a rare award to have in your cabinet but still be an award that ALL Targa competitors can win.

Wow, we have had a fantastic response to this and it is also helped us prepare for our 20th Anniversary Event, where we are aiming to have many cars return to Targa to join in the celebrations.

The criteria is that any vehicle that wins 10 Targa Plates for it's owner or owners will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with 15 Plates seeing that vehicle become a Hall of Fame Legend.

If you know of any such vehicles, please email Mark Perry at m.perry@octagon.com

Just a reminder that we have decided to hold this gala dinner on the Sunday night May 3 to enable more competitors to attend.

With the field heading from Strahan again in '09, the dinner should start on time (7.30 for 8.00pm) and will mean that you can go to the dinner without the cost of another night's accommodation.

It will return to a formal Black Tie Dinner and will be a true celebration of the legends of Targa Tasmania.

Tickets are only $120 (3 course meal and drinks) so come along and support your fellow competitors. It may be you one day.

The date in the supp regs will be changed in due course via a bulletin.

Click on the link to get your function ticket order form.

http://www.targa.com.au/Competitors/Forms.html

If this e-news has been forwarded to you and would like to subscribe, simply click on the link below:

http://www.targa.com.au/Newsletters.html

Targa Tasmania is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.
Targa Tasmania is presented by Pure Tasmania