Ever say yes to a suggestion before you know quite what you are getting yourself into?
Sometimes it really works out well…this was one of those times.
On the monied greens of the Pebble Beach Concourse known throughout the United States as the number one event in the country if not the world at large. Someone makes a suggestion about an event in his home country, enter Gus Carfi of Melbourne. Having no idea what it would entail but knowing well that trips to a foreign land are always full of new experience my wife Celesta and I said yes.
Gus was kind enough to offer a car from his collection for us to drive originally a choice between an XKE convertible or a 911 Targa from 73. As it turned out the weather was threatening rain for most of the week. Having owned several E types over the years we elected not to subject the car or the passengers to the “trial by precipitation” in the Jag. The alternative although not a sports car was Carfi’s award winning 1968 Mercedes 280 SL, an automatic. You now may figure dear readers that none of us knew what to expect on the Targa Tasmania Tour.
Suffice to say that all 4 contestants and both vehicles not only completed the event but came through with no damage to machine or person. As for the four of us, Gus Carfi and his co driver/navigator Lindy Share, Celesta and I had the time of our lives.
The tour as a whole encompasses what I think is bout 3/4 of the most well traveled roads and sites Tasmania has to offer. The excitement of the event is palpable from first light most days until the last “Targa” stage and its requisite “touring stage” back to the finish line each day.
On the coldest days of the tour one may find their palms are a bit damp during the “Targa” stages. Just about the time your heart rate normalizes you realize not only was that an amazing experience but you have several other Targa stages left to drive that day.
For the uninitiated the “Targa” sections are closed roadways over mountain passes and even a town center. They are closed to normal traffic at both ends and participants may drive both sides of the roadway. You are invited if not encouraged to drive just short of the driver, navigator and vehicles limits with the commensurate safety in mind.
Are your palms damp yet?
The event organizers as well as the staff and the other participants made us feel not just welcome but part of the event from start to finish.
If you were to ask what our “take away” from the experience is, well we are currently planning our trip back for the next event.
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