Winning any competitive division of the legendary Targa Newfoundland rally requires a combination of preparation, endurance, teamwork, concentration, and luck. Six gruelling days on the road covering 2000 km total distance and about 500 km of competitive stages puts every team and car to the test and winning typically comes down to mere seconds. Jim Kenzie, who has won Targa three times and also suffered DNFs, shares his wisdom.
My usual “first piece of advice” for Targa newbies is to remember there are no prizes for the Indy 495, the 23 1/2 Hours of Le Mans, or the 4 1/2 days of Targa Newfoundland. Another way of phrasing the oldest cliché in racing: to finish first, first you must finish. Targa’s history is littered with cars crashing out on the afternoon of Day Five. We won one of OUR titles that way!
Finishing and success are sometimes about the car. Everybody knows you have to look after the machinery. Make the car as bullet-proof as you and your crew know how to make it. Bring critical spare parts with you. That’s doubly important if you’re driving something exotic or rare. You’re not going to find a Maserati dealer in Leading Tickles, Newfoundland, and Amazon.ca can only do so much. Nut-and-bolt and fluid levels checks every night are critical. Same goes for proper allocation and rotation of the six tires. Cleanliness is next to godliness, which also makes the scrutineers’ jobs easier. There’s no point in pissing those people off!
Sometimes it’s about the crew. That starts of course before you even leave home. What a lot of newcomers don’t understand, at least not fully, is the toll the stress of a week-long race has on the team. Both physical and mental. Not just on the driver and co-driver, but also on the service techs. Be as fit as you can be, which means starting some sort of fitness regime at least six months ahead of the event. Getting proper sleep during the week is critical for everyone, both for in-car and out-of-car team members. Yeah, that’s difficult; sometimes, an all-nighter is necessary. Been there, done that. Avoid alcohol and other “stimulants” during the week. Hold off on the celebrating until you’re on Water Street.
Sometimes it’s just knowing the rules! We won one of our titles because my co-driver Brian Bourbonniere knew the rules better than the “referees”!
Be REALLY nice to your CRO – Competitor Relations Officer. You might well need to rely on them at a critical juncture, and best to keep them on your side.
Likewise, be nice to the people of Newfoundland. If you have never been there before in a Targa or even on vacation (highly recommended, by the way) – you won’t believe how warm, friendly and welcoming Newfoundlanders can be. They are closing their roads so you can race on them! Would YOUR neighbours do the same in front of their houses? Yeah, you might not understand a word they’re saying once you get 100 klicks out of St. John’s (“Lard tunderin’ jaysus byes!”). Sure, you’ll find a few people who don’t want the event there. Be as civil as you can be, and don’t get into an argument with them, or remind them that Targa has brought millions of dollars to the province in gasoline sales, hotels, restaurants, etc. Yeah, tow trucks too. Again, been there…
Most important? ENJOY YOURSELF! It’s hard not to.
Jim wrote an auto/biography, In The Driver’s Seat, which includes a history of Targa Newfoundland. Find out more and order a copy here: https://www.facebook.com/jim.kenzie.
Check the Rules and Regs page for more details on what is required for each division. If you have more questions, visit our FAQ and Event Info pages or contact us at info@targanfld.com.
Click the red button below and let the fun begin.