This Months Stories

Course Finished

Floating Base Times

Entries

Drivers Briefing

Rookie Rallye

Love the Beast

Tarmac Magazine

Tarmac Magazine Scholarship

Targa Corsica

HTCAV Tarmac Championship

Update on Bruce Power's RX-7

Targa Car Leasing

Supplementary Regulations

20th Anniversary Award

Hall Of Fame for Targa Cars

Hall of Fame Dinner Date Change

Kreglinger Wines

Hospitality Villas

e-News

Date Log

Whilst we don't have control of road upgrades, it has become increasingly frustrating this year with so much road work on the go in Tassie.

We apologise for the delays with finalising Day 4, but all of you entered this year should have received your final recce notes via email yesterday. If you haven't, please email Helen at helen.coad@octagon.com

The bad news is that South Riana is going through a major upgrade that could see the stage lost forever due to the straightening of the road in many places. This will be a great shame after the amazing history of this stage, but we will just have to wait and see in the months ahead as to what the road is like upon completion. Already a fast stage, this upgrade could see the famous South Riana just too fast for future use. For 2009 we have been able to retain the first 7k's and now it will be called Lowana.

The good news is that we have received permission from the West Coast Council to use Strahan in a reverse direction for the first time to finish off Day 4. The new stage is called Rinadeena and means that Day 4 is now even longer in terms of competition than 2008!

AND you will still get to run Strahan as the first stage of Day 5.

Another exciting addition is the lengthening of Cethana to 41k's making it the 2nd 40plus k stage in the event. The stage will now be called Cethana/Moina and the length has been added at the end of the previous stage.

All this adds up to the longest competitive 5 day course in the events history and is a great way to mark the 18th event.

The total competitive distance of 461.49 kilometres is 28k's up on 2008 and means that the 2009 course is basically twice as long as any others in the country and as you will read below; it will also be the most competitive course ever with fewer 'cleanable' stages.

After a hugely successful course change for 2008, the only negative comment that seemed to be quite common amongst competitors is that Days 4 & 5 needed to be more competitive and not so easy to clean and then we would have the perfect course layout.

Well, we made the bold statement following this that no one would clean stages other than street stages on the final two days with many of you asking how we are going to achieve this and protect the history and integrity of the event.

We call them Floating Base Times!

A floating base time is a base time that will only be determined after the completion of the stage. The base time on these stages will be the elapsed time of the fastest car on the stage with all other cars receiving a penalty time based on this time.

What this means is that these stages cannot be cleaned.

The only negative is that you will not know your penalty time when you complete the stage in question and how you fared against other competitors, which is really no different to a normal rally.

This set up will not alter in anyway the preset trophy time for those of you focused on winning Targa Plates.

It will also have no impact on handicapping as it is all relevant and handicaps are calculated on seconds per minute.

Ultimately, what this means is that Targa Tasmania 2009 will be fought out in all competitions over the longest competitive distance in the events history and is sure to suit some more than others.

It will certainly add a whole new dimension to thinking and planning your event out around tyre wear, particularly if it is mostly dry and will increase the already gruelling test that Targa Tasmania provides substantially, which just adds further weight to the claim of 'The Ultimate Tarmac Rally'.

This year's winners will all be extremely worthy and will have thought and planned out their event for months in advance.

A list of stages that will be timed using Floating Base Times will be issued in the weeks ahead, but suffice to say, any stages that were easily cleaned from Day 3 onwards in 2008 are likely to be on the list.

In spite of all the economic doom and gloom, things are looking fantastic for this year's event. Whilst we won't reach the overall entry number of 298 from last year, we are very pleased to report that the entry numbers in the Classic & Modern competitions is actually ahead of 2008 (currently 219 with 217 starting in `08). The reduced numbers come totally from the Tour & Rookie Rallye with the Rookie Rallye likely affected by the introduction of Targa Wrest Point.

With so much bad news about the place it is very pleasing for us to report that Targa Tasmania 2009 will be another huge event and we thank all of you who have entered this year for your continuing support.

After making you all get up early on Tuesday for the last two events, we have shuffled things around to bring the Drivers Briefing back into Monday afternoon at the Silverdome at 5pm.

To accommodate this, we are expanding scrutineering and documentation on Sunday 26th April so if this suits you better, please email Helen at helen.coad@octagon.com

No doubt you're all very happy to hear that you don't have to be at the Silverdome at 7am in the morning!

There are still some spots available in the Rookie Rallye with a relatively small field entered so far.

With the incredible prize of a FREE full entry into Targa Tasmania 2010 valued at over $6,000 on offer to the first placed Classic and Modern car, there is a great chance to book your spot nice and early.

With smaller entry numbers, the chances of winning are much greater so if you know anyone who has either not competed in Targa for five years in a Classic car or has never competed in the case of a Modern car, then let them know asap.

Entries close soon...

www.targatasmania.com.au/Competitors/Forms.html

Eric Bana's doco about his car, family & friends will hit our screens nationally at Village from next Thursday 12th March. It is sure to be the single greatest ever promotion of Targa Tasmania and not to be missed!

Please click here to view the cinema locations

If you can't wait until the 12th and you live in Melbourne or will be there this Sunday 8th, the Maserati Car Club have organised a special screening just for you!!

Venue: Rivoli Village Cinema,
              200 Camberwell Road,
              East Hawthorn, 3122. (Melway Ref. Map 45, H12)

Movie start time: 3.50pm
Ticket Price: $16.50 per person

A dinner follows at a nearby restaurant for those wanting to kick on.

Contacts for ticket bookings:   John Aust
                                                     Phone: (03) 9889 5095
                                                     Mobile: 0438 070196
                                                     Email: jwmbaust@bigpond.com

                                          or : Jim Reark,
                                                 Email: jimreark@maserati.org.au

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to be one of the first to see Love the Beast

Is out now so make sure you grab a copy of it for all the latest news on YOUR sport.

Subscriptions are available by visiting the website: www.tarmac-mag.com.au

In its first year, this great initiative to bring young and new competitors to tarmac rallying has been very successful, especially at a time of reducing competition numbers.

There are still some spots left, so if you know anyone keen to give Targa a crack for the first time, go to www.tarmac-mag.com.au for further details.

It is a common theme right now and it is with great disappointment that we advise that Targa Corsica has been postponed due to the current economic environment. With the WRC round planned there for 2010 it could now be 2011 before we see this amazing new event launched in Europe.

We will keep you up to date with all the news in the months ahead.

In another great initiative to promote tarmac rallying to a wider audience, the HTCAV are running a tarmac championship this year for its members. Targa Wrest Point was the first round and the points ended up looking like this:

If you own a pre 1973 car and want to be a part of this great series, please email Brian Dermott at briandermott@bigpond.com for further details.

As many of you are aware, there was an unfortunate theft of a competition car at the conclusion of Targa Wrest Point on the Sunday night.

We are pleased to report that the Hobart CIB has an ongoing investigation in progress and are confident that the offenders will be charged in the near future over a range of offences. Bruce has commended the actions of the Tasmania Police and Wrest Point in assisting the investigations with CCTV vision.

Bruce would also like to thank his fellow competitors who have shown amazing support and camaraderie through a difficult time.

We are very happy to report that Bruce is madly building another RX-7 and will be at Targa Tasmania chasing his Gold Targa Plate and looking to kick some Porsche butt (his words!).

We would like to again confirm that the unfortunate theft of Bruce's car was an isolated incident carried out by a group of professionals and security will be provided on the Sunday night of Targa Tasmania at Wrest Point, as has been the case in previous years.

Haven't got time to get your car ready? Know someone who is keen to have a run at Targa, but doesn't have a car? There are a number of well prepared MX-5's available:

Redback Racing - Targa Race Car Lease Package: "Fast and fun Tarmac Rallying"

The hassle free professional support services let you enjoy the event without having to worry about servicing, washing and maintenance of your car after each day.

2006-09 Mazda MX5 Tarmac Rally Prepared Race Cars.
- Professionally prepared for Showroom Category
- Terratrip 202Plus / SPA fire extinguishers / Terraphone / Sparco Equipped seats and Harnesses
- Full Rollcages

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

www.targatasmania.com.au/Competitors/Regulations.html

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 Millennium Award for completing all stages in the `98, `99 & `00 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 (7.30pm 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

www.targatasmania.com.au/Competitors/Forms.html

Kreglinger Wine Estates are proud to have partnered with Targa Tasmania, with the Ninth Island range of wines becoming the official wine partner of Targa Tasmania 2009. Ninth Island wines have become recognised throughout many markets as a high quality Tasmanian product, just as Targa Tasmania has become recognised as a high quality Tasmanian event. At Kreglinger Wine Estates we are extremely proud of our Tasmanian heritage and we look forward to working with Targa Tasmania to showcase some of the best that Tasmania has to offer.

Kreglinger Wine Estates produce iconic Tasmanian wines Pipers Brook Vineyard and Ninth Island, as well as one of Australia's finest sparkling wines; Kreglinger Vintage Brut. The pristine environment of Tasmania produces wines which celebrate the unique characteristics of our beautiful island. Although it is often shrouded in mist, Ninth Island is visible from our vineyards in northern Tasmania. Kreglinger Wine Estates has earned an international reputation as cool climate winemakers of the highest standard, with 100% estate grown and produced wines which are distinctive of the region and the pristine Tasmanian environment.

The friendly cellar door staff at both Pipers Brook Vineyard and Ninth Island Vineyard invite you to visit for a tasting of the entire Kreglinger Wine Estates range, including Kreglinger, Pipers Brook and Ninth Island. As well as stocking a range of local crafts and wine accessories, The Winery Cafe and Daniel Alps Restaurant are ideal locations to enjoy some of the delicious produce that Tasmania is renowned for.

Pipers Brook Vineyard Cellar Door & The Winery Cafe
1216 Pipers Brook Road, Pipers Brook, 7254
Telephone: 03 6382 7527
cellardoor@kreglingerwineestates.com
www.kreglingerwineestates.com

Ninth Island Vineyard Cellar Door and Daniel Alps Restaurant
95 Rosevears Drive, Rosevears, 7277
Telephone: 03 6330 2388
strathlynn@kreglingerwineestates.com
Bookings recommended.

This year sees the return of the Longford Villa along with new Villas in Devonport and Hobart to go along with the traditional luncheon at the George Town Prologue.

We have appointed a new caterer to manage these exciting Villas, which will provide a great opportunity for you to ensure your sponsors and supporters are well looked after whilst you are competing.

Please have a read of the attached flyer and get in early as seats are limited.

Hospitality Villa Flyer

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

www.targatasmania.com.au/Newsletters.html

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