A "newbie" guide to Targa

In 1992, the Targa Tasmania was run for the first time and I was smitten.   What I didn’t know was that a work colleague had come third outright.  I only found out a few weeks later when lazily watching the TV footage on Nine’s Wide World of Sports as it showed his BMW M5 “daily driver” flying along twisty closed public roads at what seemed like silly speeds.  It was an instant addition to my “Bucket List.”

Fast forward a few decades and, following the mid-life purchase of a mint BMW Z4M Coupe a few years ago, I felt I was finally equipped with the appropriate car to take on the Targa challenge.  Having family living in Mansfield, I decided that the three-day Targa High Country was a good first outing for a “newbie” as I was familiar with the roads in the area and the logistics were relatively simple. 

The next question was which category to enter?  I decided that it was not worthwhile to effectively destroy my classic car with roll cages and other safety modifications, just to drive in a road rally.  The only two categories not requiring major modifications are the competitive TSD (time, speed, distance) category and the non-competitive Targa Tour category.

While the TSD category stirred my competitive juices and required only fitting a $500 RallySafe GPS computer, I decided the safest (and cheapest) option was to enter the Targa Tour category.  An “early bird” entry fee $2,000 was enough for my daughter Emma and I to become “co-drivers” of car number T62.  We also decided to support the BMWDCM and the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation to raise awareness of safe and legal motorsport.  A big thank you to Jo Mawson for help with printing and to Dale at Sign Point in Lilydale for signage.   

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of a “Tour”.  I suspected it was going to be a relatively pedestrian cruise on the closed Targa Rally roads, effectively sweeping them for the “real” competition road rally cars to follow.  I was wrong!

The Targa Tour category is open to any vehicle and does not require any modifications.  All we needed were current driver’s licenses, a roadworthy car, CAMS L2S licenses and an intimidating first aid kit with emergency triangles and “kitty litter” for any oil spills.

The Tour cars are grouped into “packets” throughout the Targa.  Each packet contains about six to eight cars, which run behind a “Packet Leader” in a separate vehicle, which is fitted with a RallySafe GPS computer and is in radio contact with Targa Rally Control.  The packet leaders are experienced road and rally drivers.  Their task was to lead each packet of cars at high speed through the closed-road rally course and ensure that we travel safely between each stage on open public roads without attracting the attention of the Victoria Police.

Our packet comprised a former rally-car Porsche 944S2, three HSV Commodores ranging from 317 to 427 kW, a BMW E46 M3 SMG, a Mercedes E220d and us in a BMW Z4M Coupe.  Other packets included a posse of Porsches, a plague of Lotuses, a herd of V8 Mustangs and a particularly swift group comprising a Ferrari, a new Nissan GTR, and a few other outrageously expensive toys.   We were all followed by a packet including a beautifully restored Mini Cooper S and a Peugeot 205 GTI.

Having completed all the preliminaries of scrutineering and driver briefings we settled down for a very cool evening in the Mount Buller alpine village in preparation for a 7am muster the following morning. 

We were greeted with a bright clear morning of sub-zero temperatures and about 50 teams of drivers happily observing the “ankles to cuff” clothing requirements while being breathalysed for zero blood alcohol prior to the start.

Each of the three days started with a 6.76 km stage downhill from Mount Buller to Mirimbah at the bottom of the mountain.  This was our first experience of using both sides of the closed road.  The ability to apex corners in both left and right turns was a thrill.  Our packet leader, in a lightly race-prepared Golf R, set a pace which we could barely match given our inexperience and desire to preserve our much loved machinery.  This was definitely NOT a cruise-day drive and I was blessing the team at BMW who fitted E46 CSL brakes to the Z4M.   

The 8.26km second stage and 10.52km third stage were conducted on the Eildon-Jamieson Road.  This is a twisty monster of a road well known to participants on BMW drive days.  We were grateful for the 29km transport section between the stages to get adrenalin levels and heart rates back to near normal.  The fourth stage of the morning was a fast 10.38km run near Alexandra, which delivered us to a much-needed break at the Lake Eildon picnic ground.

After a very tasty lunch provided by the Targa organisers, the afternoon comprised four stages basically the same as the morning, but in reverse direction.  Weirdly, the reverse direction didn’t equate to familiarity as the “open corners” became “closed and tightening” and fatigue eroded confidence.  The final stage was an 18.29km blast up Mount Buller from Sawmill Settlement.  It is a road familiar to anyone in an SUV who likes skiing or snow boarding.  The elite racing categories completed it in close to nine and a half minutes.  We took a little longer, but much quicker than I had ever thought possible.

Day One was a total of 83.5km on eight closed road stages with a total 349km driven in the day. 

Day two of the Targa comprised another eight stages with six of them taking the cars out to the north of Mansfield towards Whitfield and a welcome lunch break at the Pizzini Winery.  Frustratingly all teams were required to remain at zero blood alcohol so the winery lunch was a very sober affair. 

The final Targa stage of day two was a street circuit held in the middle of Mansfield.  We actually got to drive past my parent’s old house in Hunter Street at well over the 50kph speed limit and only slightly airborne.  This stage was followed by the “Targafest” street festival.  Here all competitor cars were displayed in the main street and the locals held a carnival while we sought coffee and a cool place to relax. 

An evening transport stage back up the mountain was a tense journey being watchful of both wandering wildlife and the speed-enforcing police.   Many competitors were able to have a “quiet meal” in the Mount Buller village being able to walk back to their accommodation (but mindful of the early morning breathalyzer!)

Day 2 covered 72.2km in eight competitive stages and a total of 233km driven in the day.

The final day of the Targa High Country 2018 was always destined to be a marathon.  Only four competitive stages, but some real whoppers!  As always we started with the quick 6.76km stage down the mountain to Mirimbah, which cleared the cobwebs and warmed the tyres. 

The real monster of the day was found by returning to the Eildon-Jamieson Road.  This time the stage ran for 48.77 tortuous kilometres of twisting, climbing and diving bitumen.  A couple of the Porches and a Lotus decided that “Touring” didn’t required staying on the road and the lunch break in Eildon was extended to allow retrieval of these “sightseers” with a flatbed tow truck.

Thus warned, the Tour group tackled the reverse journey on the same road with a little more respect and some morbid curiosity to see where other had been less careful. These two marathon stages left everyone exhausted and a bit wary as we approached our final run up the mountain from Sawmill Settlement. 

The final Mount Buller stage was a celebration of the three days of apex hunting, tyre burning and brake frying thrills.  Most drivers had secretly timed themselves on the previous run up the mountain so set themselves the challenge to do better in the finale. 

As we shot off up the mountain weaving across both lanes, every part of our Targa experience came together.  A series of tight and fast hairpin bends at the summit saw us drifting across the finish line to wild applause from the waiting crowd.  Medals and beers followed with many promises to ‘see you next year!’

Day three comprised 113km in four stages over a total of 273kms in the day.

As newbie Targarians we safety completed 268.7km of closed road ‘touring’ in three days.  Apart from fuel, entry and accommodation costs, I will need two new rear tyres, some fresh brake pads and about 500ml of lemon juice to get the smile off my face. 

Ewen McConchie |  Member #70
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne