Driver: Edison Wiltshire
Co-driver: Olivia Wiltshire-Ryan
Car: TBD
Division: Targa Tour
Country: Canada
Faster Pastor remains a fixture at Targa
A fixture at Targa since the rally began in 2002, Rev. Edison Wiltshire returns this year with his grand-daughter and co-driver Olivia Wiltshire-Ryan maintaining a perfect record of participation. Hailing from Random Island near Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Edison has captured the hearts of fans with his love for speed and his strong spiritual values.
“I’ve done every Targa since 2002 when Robert Giannou (Targa owner) asked me to be rally chaplain,” says Edison.
Edison, affectionately known as the “Faster Pastor,” has been a familiar face in the Targa Newfoundland racing scene for years, providing motorsports chaplaincy services to competitors and volunteers.
“I’m called the Faster Pastor by Protestants, while our Catholic friends call me the Flying Father and the Anglican folks call me the Quicker Vicar,” says Edison with a smile. “I’ve provided countless numbers of encouraging chats with folks, especially when they ran out of talent and need a shoulder to cry on.”
Rev. Wiltshire once performed a wedding during Targa. Midway through the intense competition, Edison took a break to unite a couple in matrimony, with all the competitors joining in the celebration.
Edison and his supportive wife, Marg-o, participated in every single Targa Newfoundland together until 2023 when Olivia took over the co-driver seat.
“I started doing it to make Papa happy,” says Olivia, who is the youngest competitor at 18. “I enjoy meeting the people and seeing all the cars.”
“We’ve bonded in a special way through this,” says Edison. “Though we’ve always been close this has brought us even closer now.”
They’ve tackled the challenging roads of Newfoundland in a diverse fleet of vehicles, including an iconic Citroen Traction Avant, Citroen DS Sedan, Porsche 911, Subaru Outback and a Saab 93 Turbo. What ride will they bring this year?
The team were profiled on CBC: Here and Now in Newfoundland in 2024.
Faster Pastor: Racing the roads and providing chaplaincy services for Targa since 2002 | CBC.ca