1992 TARGA 29 April – 3 May

Cartoons by

Page 1 of 16 Jump to List of Contents 1992 FLAG CAR

The first car (number 101) starting the inaugural from Launceston in 1992 – Dianna Gaze and Catherine Davison-Coad in the 1933 Alfa Romeo 1750 Castagne

Stuart Saunders / John Ould in the 1908 MAB with a V12 aero engine

Called a MAB Special, a French company that originally made bearings and then car chassis and engines, it was one of two that had been imported to Australia and later dumped. “This car had no identification on the remains of its radiator when found in a paddock near Wagga Wagga but all the bearings, bushes and castings were stamped MAB and so that’s what I called it,” Dr Saunders said. “There was very little left of the engine and so a 1918 Packard/Liberty V12 aero engine was installed to build a facsimile of a pre-1910 racing car”.

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Highly respected Australian rally driver Bruce Hodgson driving the 1968 London to Sydney third outright Ford Falcon – KAG 002 (then driven by Ian Vaughan) - on the ‘Ellendale’ targa stage – the last targa stage of the event.

LIST OF CONTENTS

1. SPECIAL TARGA TASMANIA NUMBER PLATES

2. THE COURSE

3. ENTRIES

4. PLACINGS

5. THE ORGANISATION

6. THE COMPETITION

7. RESULTS

8. 1992 FINALE

9. PHOTOGRAPHS

Acknowledgement of the major references I used to research the information from which I have taken direct quotes, and photographs, are: • Targa Tasmania – ‘The Ultimate Tarmac Rally – 1992 to 2001 The First 10 Years’ produced by Octagon Motorsports edited by Michael Browning; • ‘The Legend’ published by Media Productions Pty Ltd, covering the 1992 to 1995 events. • ‘Targa Tasmania 1992-1993’, Clipper Press, Hobart; • Targa Tasmania Official Programs, 1992 to 2003; • Internal event documents from 1993 to 2003 that I have in my possession.

I take full responsibility for the information listed and I apologise for any errors made by me and will be most pleased to hear from anyone seeking to correct any issue – [email protected]

Page 3 of 16 Jump to List of Contents 1: SPECIAL TARGA TASMANIA NUMBER PLATES

To commemorate the inaugural Targa Tasmania a special set of number plates were produced and were attached to the cars during the event. These were printed with the distinctive green and red Targa colours on a white background. The prefix reflected the year of the event (T92-, T93- , T94-, etc) and the plates could be kept by competitors as a memento of the event.

2: THE COURSE

DAY LOCATION - LOCATION DISTANCE 1 Launceston-Launceston 310 km 2 Launceston - Hobart 460 km 3 Hobart - Hobart 210 km 4 Hobart - Burnie 490 km 5 Burnie - Hobart 550 km 2020 km

`Total Targa Stages: 37 DAY 1 – 7 Stages DAY 2 – 10 Stages DAY 3 – 6 Stages DAY 4 – 7 Stages DAY 5 – 7 Stages Legana 5.9 The Sideling 14.2 Longley 7.3 Domain 4.2 Hellyer Gorge 14.9 Latrobe* 4.5 Derby 5.7 Woodbridge 9.0 Colebrook 7.5 Lake Pieman 40.3 Devonport 17.1 Weld Hill 6.6 Oyster Cove 11.4 Jericho 5.4 Strahan 32.8 Sheffield 8.3 Weldborough 11.8 Cygnet 15.9 Poatina 9.8 Queenstown 6.3 Deloraine 10.0 St Mary’s Pass 5.8 Huon Road$ 12.2 Cethana 38.3 Lyell Highway$$ 52.4 Longford# 1.6 Elephant Pass 11.0 Ridgeway Park 5.0 Gunns Plains 15.6 Tarraleah 8.6 Symmons 7.2 Triabunna# 3.3 Riana 35.3 Ellendale 10.0 Runnymede 3.3 Richmond 4.0 Grasstree Hill 7.9 * This was renamed ‘Moriarty’ in 1993 and a new stage called ‘Latrobe’ conducted between the new ‘Moriarty’ and ‘Devonport’ was introduced in 1993. # Town Stage; $ later years known as ‘Longley’; $$ later years known as ‘Mount Arrowsmith’

In 1992 the course covered 2000 kilometres around Tasmania over five days, of which 475 kilometres were competitive, conducted in what were called ‘Targa Stages’. Basically, these statistics were repeated in the following years’ events up to the Millennium Year (2000) and Tenth Anniversary Year (2001) when these years were expanded to six days.

The event, presented to the Tasmanian Government by John Large and Max Stahl as a ‘stately million dollar mobile motor show around Tasmania’ in older classic vehicles, in fact turned out to be something like the renowned whose name is was adapted from – a highly competitive single car road race!!!

Original Plan The original plan – over three days - envisaged by Large and Stahl was: • Day One was to start in Launceston and travel to Hobart through the north-east passes to Scottsdale, and then to St Helens and Triabunna; • Day Two was set to travel via the Great Lake and Central Highlands, then through Deloraine to the north west mountains and so to Burnie; • Day Three was planned for a run down the west coast via Rosebery to Queenstown then along the main highway which links Queenstown with Hobart.

However, after meeting with the Tasmania tourism officials they were keen to see an increase in the number of days by at least two, in order to optimise the tourism benefits to Tasmania, much to the delight of John Large.

Large was enthusiastic about this and so the amended plan became:

Page 4 of 16 Jump to List of Contents • Day One was turned into a loop from and back to Launceston, taking in stages to the northwest and west of the city; • Day Two re-started in Launceston and travelled to Hobart through the north-east passes to St Helens and then south along the coast passing through Triabunna; • Day Three embraced a loop through the channel area south of Hobart, taking in Kingston and Huonville; • Day Four was set to travel via Campbell Town with Symmons Plains circuit nearby, then through Deloraine to the north west mountains and so to Burnie; • Day Five was a run down the west coast via Rosebery to Strahan and Queenstown, then to Hobart via the main highway.

Contrary to those who foresaw huge objections from locals, Large and Stahl were able to convince them – through their shire councils – of the benefit of the event to Tasmania and that they, the residents along the route, would be getting a grandstand view of the ‘multi-million dollar mobile car show’ as it passed their doors!!.

So, the five day Targa Tasmania was born and the seed planted for what would become Australia’s greatest road event, and indeed, one of the world’s greatest such events.

3: ENTRIES

Superstars together in 1992 Targa Tasmania. Roger Clark, , Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme

The ‘superstar’ drivers came home: • 2nd Denny Hulme/Angus McKenzie 1991 Honda NSX • 5th Jack Brabham/John Stoneham 1991 Honda NSX • 9th Roger Clark/Will Hagon 1992 Ford Falcon XR8 • 19th Stirling and Susie Moss 1967 Shelby Ford Mustang

Despite social media communications not yet invented as far as the general public was concerned word spread quickly that something special in the Australian motor sport world was developing in Tasmania, something that could embrace Sports and GT cars (in the main) and in which cars from the beginning of the car in the early 1900’s to the very latest could take part.

Max Stahl organised successful competitor promotions for the event – as was evidenced by the size of the field – and the resultant infectious word-of-mouth enthusiasm spread such that the number of entries took the event out of the extreme financial danger zone as the starting date approach.

Some 235 applications were received by the organisers, headed by John Large and Max Stahl, who had set a vehicle selection criteria and invitations were extended such that there were 196 starters. Not since the early days of the famous Round Australia Trials of the 50s and early 60s had there been such an enthusiastic response from competitors.

Vehicles could be entered in three categories, which were sub-divided into classes based on engine capacity: • Thoroughbred (1900 – 1960); • Classic (1961 – 1976) • Contemporary (1977 – 1992).

Originally the event was aimed at the older Thoroughbred and Classic cars, as well as magnificent vintage and veteran sporting cars. However, as time passed and non-budgeted costs arose this opened the way for more cars, particularly when

Page 5 of 16 Jump to List of Contents manufacturers started to enter them in the New Release (Contemporary) Division (post 1976, which were to be of special significance, mechanically unmodified and not equipped with hi-tech computer-controlled four-wheel-drive or semi- automatic transmission).

Historic Competition - Pre-World War 11 (8 starters) Some wonderful ‘Old Bangers’ were entered in the event: • 1908 MAB driven by Stuart Saunders - see page 2 • 1920 Hispano Suiza driven by Des Dillion • 1927 Delage DM Sports 6 driven by Andrew Cannon • 1929 Alfa Romeo SS Zagato driven by Diana Gaze - The 1992 Flag Car • 1933 Packhard 636 entered by Eizo Nakajima • 1934 Bentley 3.5 Drophead driven by Kazuo Kaneka • 1935 Lagonda Rapide driven by Gordon Lindsay

Classic Competition - Classic (151 starters - including 22 Classic Rally Cars) Entries of rally cars in the Classic Competition included: • Phil Eather 1975 Lancia Stratos 26th • Matthew Philip 1964 Ford Cortina 240 31st • Paul Arnott 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina 36th • George Gethos 1968 Volkswagen Beetle 2.2 38th • Dean Rainsford 1965 Ford Mustang GT 51st • Neil Taylor 1974 Datsun 710 SSS 54th

Modern Competition - Contemporary (59 starters) Ford entered a stock-standard Falcon XR8 for Roger Clarke, Honda NSXs for Greg Crick and Jack Brabham, and a Holden Commodore for Brad Jones. Jack Brabham was provided with the Honda NSX with automatic transmission, in comparison to the NSX of Greg Crick, which was a five-speed manual version.

Numerous entries were from Tasmanian crews and six finished in the Top 20: • Greg Crick 1992 Honda NSX 1st • Richard Youl 1989 323 GTX 7th • Leigh Mundy 1985 Porsche 930 RUF 10th • John Youl 1986 Mazda RX7 Turbo 13th • John Pooley 1992 Porsche 968 15th • Roy Frith 1992 Mazda MX6 20th

International Competitors (13 people) International entries were received from Great Britain (Stirling Moss and Roger Clark), New Zealand (Denny Hulme), and seven entries from Japan, all in cars built prior to 1967.

Female Competitors (52 people) Attracting a variety of wonderful historic and classic cars the field included 52 women in many male/female crews.

Honda NSX crewed by Jack Brabham and Barry Lake This was the personal car of Honda Australia MD Mr Nakamura!

Page 6 of 16 Jump to List of Contents Number of starters Period No Thoroughbred Division A1: Cars Produced before 1 January 1940 7 A2: Cars up to 2600cc Produced after 1 January 1940 8 A3: Cars 0ver 2600cc Produced after 1 January 1940 17 Classic Division B4: Touring and GT Cars up to 1600cc 16 B5: Touring and GT Cars from 1601cc to 2600cc 13 B6: Touring and GT Cars from 2601cc to 4000cc 12 B7: Touring and GT Cars over 4000cc 20 B8: Sports Cars up to 1600cc 8 B9: Sports Cars from 1601cc to 2600cc 15 B10: Sports Cars from 2601cc to 4000cc 11 B11: Sports Cars over 4000cc 15 Contemporary Division C12: Cars up to 2600cc 8 C13: Cars up to 2601cc to 4000cc 26 C14: Cars over 4000cc 20 TOTAL 196

International competitors included (taken from Official Program not Entry List and may not be accurate as the data assembled for printing was well before close of entries)

Car Driver Cty./ Navigator Cty./ Vehicle No. State State 102 Eizo Nakajima JPN Patrick Weir TAS 1933 Packard 636 106 Kazuo Kanaka JPN na 1954 Bentley 3.5 Drophead 125 Hideyuki Matsudaira JPN Naihra Tanasawa JPN 1950 Jaguar XK120 SS 137 Keiji Kaneda JPN na 1954 Jaguar XK120S 203 Munetaka Nikaido JPN Tomoko Nikaido JPN 1972 Datsun P510SSS 245 Sheiichi Kato JPN Morihiro Kato JPN 1965 Honda S800 Coupe 246 Sumio Kawada JPN Yousuke Kawada JPN 1966 Toyota Sport 800 316 Gus Van Lennep NLD na 1972 Aston Martin DBS 327 Stirling Moss GBR Susie Moss GBR 1967 Shelby Mustang 438 Roger Clarke GBR Will Hagon NSW 1992 Ford Falcon XR8 460 Denny Hulme NZL Angus Mackenzie NSW 1991 BMW M5

International Competitors in Event Drivers Navigators Total Historic Pre-1946 0 1 1 Classic 1947-1977 6 6 12 Modern Post 1977 0 0 0 Total 6 7 13

Female Competitors in Event Drivers Navigators Total Total 3 49 52

4: PLACINGS

General Classification Place Car No. Crew Vehicle Min./Sec. Gap 1 459 Greg Crick/Greg Preece 1991 Honda NSX 5:08 2 460 Denny Hulme/Angus MacKenzie 1991 BMW M5 5:17 0:09 3 450 Ross Brindley/Greg Brindley 1990 BMW M5 7:00 1:43 4 442 Barry Fitzgerald/Bob Fitzgerald 1988 Porsche 944 Cup Turbo 7:01 0:01 5 458 Jack Brabham/Barry Lake 1991 Honda NSX 9:21 2:20 6 436 Tim Lynas/John Stoneham 1990 Ford Laser TX3 4WD 10:36 1:15 7 417 Richard Youl/Peter Boden 1989 Mazda 323 GTX 11:30 1:06 8 416 David Cuff/Michael Cameron 1990 Nissan 300 ZX 11:46 0:16 9 438 Roger Clark/Will Hagon 1992 Ford Falcon XR8 12:08 0:22 10 455 Leigh Mundy/Murray Lloyd 1985 Porsche 930 RUF 12:09 9:01

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Greg Preece and Greg Crick victorious at the end of 1992 in their Honda NSX. They repeated the win in 1993.

Category Winners Thoroughbred Division - A1: Cars Produced before 1 January 1940 Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 148 Gordon Lindsay Rory Collins 1935 Lagonda Rapide 2 102 Eizo Nakajima Patrick Weir 1933 Packard 636 3 155 Diana Gaze Catherine Davison 1929 Alfa Romeo SS Zagato

Thoroughbred Division - A2: Cars up to 2600cc Produced after 1 January 1940 Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 139 Ian Begley Peter Mitchell 1958 Porsche Carrera Speedster 2 117 David Gleen Les Wheeler 1949 Austin Healey Silverstone 3 113 Maxwell Hobson Julie Chamberlain 1956 Porsche 356a Coupe

Thoroughbred Division - A3: Cars 0ver 2600cc Produced after 1 January 1940 Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 129 John Moore Gordon Bryce 1960 Austin Healey 3000 Mk1 2 120 Robert Dennis Victoria Dennis 1960 Aston Martin DB4 S2 3 104 Jim McConville Robert McConville 1955 Austin Healey 100 S

Classic Division - B4: Touring and GT Cars up to 1600cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 205 Matthew Philip Peter Coffey 1964 Ford Cortina 240 2 212 Paul Arnott Geoff Full 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina 3 207 Neil Taylor John Strawbridge 1974 Datsun 710 SSS

Classic Division - B5: Touring and GT Cars from 1601cc to 2600cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 229 Michael Catchpole Julie Catchpole 1974 Alfa Romeo Montreal 2 225 Geoff Taylor Lee Bates 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina 3 302 Roger Richardson Wayne Clark 1972 Maserati Bora V8

Classic Division - B6: Touring and GT Cars from 2601cc to 4000cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 240 Max Brunninghausen Ian Horsley 1973 Porsche RS 2 234 Terry Dickens Jim Bromfield 1970 BMW 3.0 CSL Coupe 3 236 Grazer Gascoigne Keith Hawley 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB

Classic Division - B7: Touring and GT Cars over 4000cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 327 Stirling Moss Susie Moss 1967 Shelby Ford Mustang 2 321 Owen Parkinson Kerry Luck 1976 Holden Torana LX SS5000 3 291 William Koppe Peter Hammond 1972 Aston Martin

Page 8 of 16 Jump to List of Contents Classic Division - B8: Sports Cars up to 1600cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 251 Ross Williams Ruth Williams 1964 Elfin Clubman 2 249 Mark Goldsmith Richard Nitschke 1969 Lotus Europa T9 3 248 Gary Ryan Charles Swingler 1963 Lotus Elan S1

Classic Division - B9: Sports Cars from 1601cc to 2600cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 268 D’Arcy Russell Ross Warren 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT 2 263 Phil Eather Carl Reinburgher 1975 Lancia Stratos 3 258 Phillip Tilley Graeme Tilley 1966 MGB

Classic Division - B10: Sports Cars from 2601cc to 4000cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 328 Danny Loypur Paul Sadler 1972 RSR 2 319 Tom Williams Jon Tyhorn 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 3 323 Paul Mauger Warwick Freemantle 1974 Porsche Carrera RSR 2.7

Classic Division - B11: Sports Cars over 4000cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 299 Ian Madden Paul Dohrmann 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 2 289 Bruce Jessop John Brett 1969 Jaguar E-Type Coupe 3 308 Doug Macarthur Kevin Pascoe 1966 Jaguar D-Type Replica

Contemporary Division - C12: Cars up to 2600cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 423 Roy Frith Tony Turvey 1992 Mazda MX6 2 406 Frank Porter Warwick Smith 1991 Holden Calibra 3 415 John Wright Anna Wright 1985 Alfa Romeo GTV6

Contemporary Division – C13: Cars up to 2601cc to 4000cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 459 Greg Crick Greg Preece 1991 Honda NSX 2 460 Denny Hulme Angus Mackenzie 1991 BMW M5 3 450 Ross Brindley Greg Brindley 1990 BMW M5

Contemporary Division – C14: Cars over 4000cc Place No. Crew Vehicle 1 438 Roger Clark Will Hagon 1992 Ford Falcon XR8 2 455 Leigh Mundy Murray Lloyd 1985 Porsche 930 RUF 3 435 Michael Finnis Ray Eastwood 1991 Mercedes Benz 500SL

Targa Trophies 42 competitors (drivers and navigators) emerged from the 1992 Targa Tasmania with targa trophies.

5: ORGANISATION

Clerk of Course 1992 – Tony Wright

Tony Wright, from Burnie, selected as the inaugural Targa Tasmania Clerk of Course, was Tasmania’s most experienced rally director, given his experience in running major Tasmania gravel rallies, including those of the Australian Rally Championship.

Wright’s contribution as the very first Clerk of Course must be positively recognised in view of the difficulties encountered. He had the unenviable task of running a competition quite different from anything he, and indeed everyone else, had done before and with many challenges that no one had even encountered – and in many cases, not even envisaged. Moreover, he ran the event on a shoestring budget when there was a distinct shortage of funds, and with an inexperienced team of officials as regards running an event on tarmac with cars starting stages at 30 second intervals. There being no training manuals officials basically developed their own procedures for running controls with guidance from the Clerk of Course.

Wright set up the basic command structure of the event which was to last well into the future – appointing three Area Coordinators for the three principle areas – North (based at Launceston), North West (based at Burnie) and South (based at Hobart); he set up a network of volunteers and the infrastructure to bring everything together. It was a tough call and inevitably there were going to be some difficulties in making everything work the first time around. Page 9 of 16 Jump to List of Contents

Irrespective of the inevitable shortfalls in the organisation and conduct of the event Targa Tasmania 1992 represented five days that everyone involved with the event will remember forever – whether they were competitors, officials or spectators.

It was a very special event and experience for all those involved.

Unfortunately, due to the difficulties in conducting this first event these created a severe strain in the relationship between Wright and Large, and they mutually decided to part ways after the event.

1992 COMPETITION COMMITTEE Chairman John Large Clerk of Course Tony Wright Event Secretary Zara White Area Coordinator North Terry Bracken Area Coordinator North West Tony Jackson Area Coordinator South Lin Gigney Competitor Relations Manager Keith Morris Chief Scrutineer Eddie O’Sullivan Chief Results Official Jim Seward Chief Safety Officer Gary Burke Chief Communications Officer Phil Clayton CAMS Course Checker Guy Dunstan

Headquarters:

Launceston - International Travelodge

Hobart - Sheraton Hotel

Page 10 of 16 Jump to List of Contents Being the inaugural event and one unlike any other conducted in Australia, if not in the world, there were weaknesses in the organisation structure and major problems began to appear during the running of the event, and there were many delays which resulted in the event running late daily and quite a number of competitive stages were downgraded, much to the angst of those who could not drive them competitively, and of those at the front of the field that did – their efforts were for naught.

In all 10 stages (27% of the total) were downgraded due to accidents by competitors and a running schedule that proved to be too tight on some days and resulted in running out of road opening time allowed by the authorities. Downgraded were: • Day 1: ‘Symmons Plains’ (late running of field); • Day 2: ‘Runnymede’, ‘Richmond’, ‘Grasstree Hill’ (all late running of field); • Day 4: ‘Poatina’, ‘Riana’ (both inclement weather); • Day 5: ‘Lake Pieman’, ‘Strahan’, ‘Tarraleah’, ‘Ellendale’ (all competitor incidents).

Lack of communications contributed to the problems as many parts of Tasmania had no two-way communications from a central location based in Launceston or Hobart prior to the introduction of the event; communications were carried out on a local basis. Additionally, results could not be quickly calculated due to the poor collection of data and further, by the recording errors of times and car numbers by inexperienced stage officials, resulting in holdups and general confusion at controls.

But despite the criticism the event received from competitors, the majority did comment that overall the whole concept was a very good one and considered that once the ‘teething’ problems were sorted out Targa Tasmania had the potential to become one of Australia’s premier rallies – dirt or tarmac. There were many positive comments about the quality and standard of the roads and the excellent reception received from the public

David Gleen and Les Wheeler in the 1949 Austin Healey Silverstone participate in a parade through Launceston. Behind is the 1992 Ferrari F40 of Chas and Robyn Kelly

6: THE COMPETITION

The inaugural Targa Tasmania was an enormous success in terms of its concept and acceptance by the 196 competitors, officials and many of the various communities through which it passed.

Historic Competition Gordon Lindsay, in a sister-car to one that won the 1935 Le Mans, finished first amongst the pre-war two cars and 148th outright, followed in 150th place by Eiizo Nakajima in his 1933 Packhard 636. Third went to the Flag Car, the 1929 Alfa Romeo SS Zagato driven by Diana Gaze (also 155th outright), whilst in 156th outright and fourth Historic was the 1927 Delage DM Sports 6 of Andrew Cannon.

Page 11 of 16 Jump to List of Contents Classic Competition The winning Classic Competition crew were Max Brunninhausen/Ian Horsley in the 1973 Porsche RS 2.8, who also finished 12th Outright, followed by Danny Loypur/Paul Sadler (1972 Porsche 911RSR) just over two minutes later (and 17th Outright), and third in Classic was Stirling and Susie Moss in the 1967 Shelby Ford Mustang (also 19th Outright) exactly one minute behind second place. Although not in contention for outright placings many thousands of spectators turned out at vantage points to see Stirling and Susie Moss in their Mustang, with its exhausts echoing around the normally quiet countryside.

Outright Competition At the end of the event Greg Crick/Greg Preece in their 1991 Honda NSX snuck into first place overall, just nine seconds quicker than New Zealander Denny Hulme, with Angus McKenzie, in a 1991 BMW M5. Third went to Ross and Greg Brindley, just under two minutes behind Hulme, then just a single second to fourth - Barry and Bob Fitzgerald in a 1988 Porsche 944 Cup Turbo.

Potential winner Andrew Miedecke, with navigator Allan Taylor, in the 1974 De Tomaso Pantera threw away all chances of being in the top ten when the car went off the road on the fourth stage of Day One - ‘Sheffield’. The crew lost 17 minutes getting back onto the road. Then on the ‘Riana’ targa stage they had another off into a ditch this time and lost 40 minutes trying to retrieve that helpless Pantera. The car was relatively unscathed and they finished 147th at the end of the event. Miedecke had sweet revenge in the 1994 Targa Tasmania, winning that event.

Somewhat more dramatic happened to Brad Jones, with journalist Wayne Webster, hitting a large fence post with his Commodore on the ‘Devonport’ targa stage, destroying the car’s front left-hand quarter.

THE BIG …. AND …..

Tony Wilson and Tony Kelly in the 1972 Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible 6.7 litre V8 which finished 110th outright

.….THE SMALL

Jack Waldron and Vin Gregory in their ‘baby’ 1955 Fiat Abarth 850cc ‘Road Rocket’ which finished 154th outright!!

The great variety of cars attracted to the event was due to Max Stahl’s promotional genius.

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Whilst there was some angst expressed by locals of having ‘their’ road closed for some four hours for the passage of the Targa Tasmania cars, the public in general accepted the temporary inconvenience that road closures created.

Much was learnt from the first year regarding public traffic movement (school buses, milk trucks, et al) and taken into consideration when planning took place for coming events.

After a number of years everything settled down and the event was warmly accepted by the vast majority of the communities through which it passed, with locals recognising the tourism benefits of the event.

A star car of the event that attracted much attention was the 1992 Ferrari F40 of Chas and Robyn Kelly. Unfortunately, the car hit a tree on the ‘Oyster Cove’ targa stage on Day Three when Kelly put the power down rather too early, and the rear end broke away. A later examination of the scene found a dip in the road and this seemed to indicate why the rear became unstable at the estimated 140km/h. The car was sent back to Italy for restoration, and it reappeared for the 1993 Targa Tasmania.

7: RESULTS

Several key issues emerged as requiring attention for 1993, and one was the inability to issue results at the end of each day, and also the accuracy of what was produced.

Communication, or the lack of it, presented a real challenge in getting the data from the controls around the course to the results centre in Hobart. Many parts of Tasmania had never been explored with the existing state-wide radio networks until Targa Tasmania came along, and whilst much theory was developed about communications in practice things did not work out and data could not be transmitted. This put a huge strain on the results officials as they had to wait until all the day’s control and competitors’ cards arrived – and this then meant an all-night vigil for them. Their task was not made easy because of the many errors on the cards, written by inexperience control officials.

So began a six year nightmare for the organisers in producing timely and accurate results.

One of the most enduring images of the first Targa Tasmania. Andrew Miedecke (Car 314 – 1974 De Tomaso Pantera) overtaking Scott Davis (Car 448 - 1989 Ferrari Testarossa) Page 13 of 16 Jump to List of Contents

8: 1992 FINALE

(quote from ’The Legend’, page 21) “Irrespective of the inevitable shortfalls in organisation, Targa Tasmania 1992 represents five days everyone will remember forever, whether their images were reprinted by direct involvement as competitors, officials or spectators as the result of colourful and sometimes overstated anecdotes from excited participants, or watching the dazzling pictures created on television and in magazines of cars and people pioneering a new motor sport event.

SOME STORIES FROM BOB WATSON Story 1. Ford brought Stirling Moss and Roger Clark to Australia for the first Targa Tasmania. Clark was given a Falcon XR8 to drive, a contrast to the Escorts that made him famous. I was at Ford Broadmeadows when he picked up the car and we took it to some quiet roads near the Ford plant for a try out. I said to him “it won’t be so easy to do a handbrake turn in this monster”, at which he grabbed the handbrake, turned the wheel and we were going back to where we had come from. The remarkable thing was the handbrake was an umbrella type under the dash.

Story 2. While he was in Australia Roger gave a talk at an HRA meeting at the Anchor and Hope pub in Richmond. Someone asked a question – “Roger, what do you do to get fit before a long event like the marathon?” He replied “I walk to the pub”.

Roger Clark, Bob Watson, Ian Vaughan

9: PHOTOGRAPHS

Start from the Novotel in Launceston

8 Bob Leffler in the 1950 Jaguar XK120 - finished creditable 135TH outright “But dear - that nice Mr Large did describe the event as a

Page 14 of 16 Jump to List of Contents relatively stately drive around Tasmania by classic car owners in older vehicles”

Greg Crick and Dennis Hulme At the pre-event media conference in 1992 (Hulme was to die of natural causes when driving at Bathurst in October 1992)

Greg Crick and Greg Preece in the overall winning Honda NSX

Rex and Lynn Carr - 1955 Jaguar XK140

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Graham Wood/Holly Furness - 1967 Lotus Elan 2 + 2

John Spilsbury/Helmuth Haass in a Mercedes Benz 3.5 Coupe

Scott Shearman/Timothy Broome in a Mercedes Benz 300 SEL 6.3

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