Targa Newfoundland - the best rally in the world

The Targa Newfoundland rally was an event I wanted to run since its inception.  I mean, where else can you take your car on city and country roads and drive the way it was meant to be driven!  I had visions of my own automobile commercial – you know the kind you watch on TV. Not so much caring about the car but the beauty of the roads the “professional driver – do not attempt” was attempting.

It was certainly a joy to get the e-mail and telephone calls from Speed Channel about their entry and I was to be one of the drivers.  Drive is what I love to do and while I have watched World Rally, always thought rally racer Michelle Mouton was a hero, I never really thought of how complicated completing a rally would be.

“A navigator can’t win you the rally but they sure can lose it for you”; Wise words from my navigator Tim Winker, a veteran of the sport.  He would become the only man I’ve ever listened to– my life depended on it.  Cresting the hill at speed I was glad to hear his words of direction.  He was a calming effect for the nerves I felt to achieve the best results.  He was supportive and enthusiastic to taking that car just that one step further. His professionalism was awe inspiring as I watched him spend hours on calculations.  A route book is useless unless you have a navigator that knows.

The Car:
After learning we’d be in a 2004 Hyundai Canada Tiburon I admit I was a bit disappointed.   Where was my Lancia Delta Integrale, famed rally car from days gone by?  But I was assured by Hyundai race car driver Jeff Lorriman that the car is superb on the track.  But a road and a track can differ.  In Newfoundland the roads posed more of a threat.  Pot holes and gravel challenged the way and left us with wide grins after safe passage through.

The Tiburon Tuscani, with its six speed manual transmission had perfect gearing.  Acceleration was smooth and quick during short town stages with many twists and turns. Horsepower was 172 at 6000 rpm – sure, 488 less than a Ferrari Enzo but don’t roll your eyes.  This car handled and performed beautifully.  Add that to the price and incredible warranty and you have yourself one of the best vehicles to grace your driveway. 

Newfoundland roadways tested the car and the Hyundai Tiburon and it passed with flying colours.

The people: 
Driving into that school the first day after a morning of fast driving and my heart just skipped.  Row upon row of young children waving, cheering presenting their beautiful race inspired artwork, I was in awe.  A more warming welcome could not be found.  But that was a part of the Targa – the open hearts and homes.  Each stop would result in being greeted by a smile.  Any turmoil or trouble and not only were fellow competitors the first to jump in to help but residents and new found friends would tireless be there to aid in any way possible.  Oh how those other racing series could learn from this!

By luck I was next to the 1999 Mustang of Robert Pacione and his remarkable team.  Bonds formed early as they continued to bribe me with strong morning espressos with a smile as a chaser. How they put up with my constant banter was a miracle.   While they were out for the Targa crown and I was in Touring unequipped it didn’t mean we weren’t competitive and I soon learned of the strength and loyalty of fine team work.  Just a bit of bad luck and their car was damaged badly but that didn’t stop the “boys”.  Pacione was short for passion which the team showed in getting that car back on track, drivable and ready to compete the next day.   The spirit of Targa award was well deserved by the whole gang there.

The Fans:
It’s certainly humbling when a young girl asks you for your autograph. I’ve never felt I was more than a car girl and certainly not up to the standards of the 200 racerchicks on the site.  But as one of only two female drivers in the Targa ( so I was told) it set my standard high. I was to make sure I would try my best and more – dedicate anything accomplishment to those that believed – especially the young fan  I may not be a movie star but I felt like a million dollars at ever port of call when a young girl say “cool, a girl driver!”.

The people behind the scenes were even better.  I mean many were called “CRO’s – but competitor Relations Officers were in charge of the search for the holy grail….and with them they would find it!  Any issue, problem complaint or kudos and they were there.

The Roads:
<drool>  Where else can you let your car experience its potential.  Safety was top priority with a large pool of incredible volunteers that would make sure you enjoyed the machine you were to push.  The learning curve was helpful –as the first day wet your whistle and the last day humbled you.  It was a drivers rally – a road presented to you like a magic carpet and I was certainly ready for that ride.

So my fellow racerchicks – I have rambled enough about all this.  In a nutshell it was a fantastic event – tailored to you, your driving ability and your love of the open road.  Think of this as an open invitation to all of you – let’s show them racerchicks perseverance and drive

Warmest regards

Nika

 www.targanewfoundland.com

Special thanks:

Tim Winker – the greatest navigator in the world – enough said!

Pacione Racing – Thanks for being big brothers to me and my race car – the morning espressos were my octane boost you guys are the best

Melissa Hurley- Miss Newfoundland.  You truly shine, my pilot friend

Carol Anne Ford – Winner of the Racerchicks.com award and $500 – you worked tirelessly to help everyone – your smile was contagious

Hyundai Canada – That car was a rocket – indestructible! Thank you!   What a great car for a great price!

Speed Channel, Persona and Rogers High Speed Internet – thank you for the opportunity to represent you as your driver.  All of you worked so hard to make it happen. Carl, Hawley – you rule!

Targa organizers, representative, workers and volunteers: Thank you Frank for nagging me to come out, and then to all of you for putting up with me while there.

Newfoundland residents: Thank you for the hospitality.  The beauty of the province is only surpassed by the big hearts of the people.

Thank you to the many drivers/cars that generously placed a racerchicks.com sticker on your car – your support of our site was so kind.  Ross, Eli – wait until next year!

Courtesy of the Toronto Star:

Chicks Rule, Go Nika Go'`Chicks Rule, Go Nika Go'

ST. JOHN'S, Nfld.—"Girl power" is my mantra, as I explained to little Ashley.

She had come out with her family to Confederation Park on demonstration day for the Targa Newfoundland to get up close to the cars and was thrilled to see a female driver.

I was apprehensive that day, knowing all too well that it would be a grueling week of fast driving and little sleep. I would be in a car I'd never driven before, next to a stranger that I would have to listen to and trust completely if I was to stay out of the Atlantic Ocean.

After listening to Jim Kenzie flap about the Targa for the past two years, I admit I really wanted to try my hand, or rather my heavy right foot, at the rally.

It turns out I was one of only a handful of female competitors and, in Ashley's eyes, even a superstar. With only a couple drivers, a few navigators and a mechanic of my gender, it was good to see the young female fans so keen about the rally.

As a driver, I had it easy.

Alisha Grant, navigating for her father in a 1970 Volvo, "had butterflies" after the first day. "Once it was over, I got a chance to breathe. It was really fun."

Tanya Clyde, a crew mechanic for an airline, was wrenching for the Pacione Motorsport 1999 Mustang. She knew it wasn't going to be an easy week after driver Robert Pacione did some stunt driving and found himself, his navigator and his car in a ditch. But, in true spirit of the Targa, after some very late nights, the battered and bruised car made it to the last stage.

This is a cruel event. While camping for me was always a weekend at a resort, I wondered how I would survive. If this was a reality TV show, I would have asked to be voted off the island if it wasn't for one thing: the driving. It was exhilarating!

Each stage posed a new challenge — from small town streets to long stretches of beautiful road. Bumps and gravel along the way gave an adrenaline rush like no other.

This clearly made up for the lack of a Starbucks, a Four Seasons hotel and restrooms along the way. I was assured that no poison ivy grew in Newfoundland and I would be safe.

The Targa would be a life-altering event, head honcho Robert Giannou told me, but I was quick to dismiss it. That is until the first morning of competition came to an end and we met at a local school.

No one can describe the feelings that go through your mind as you are greeted with such enthusiastic cheering from a group of young children, many waving their Targa-inspired artwork at the line of cars.

But I was blessed with a familiar face, Ashley. Her artwork was more inspiring as she had spent the night before painting her shirt with the words: "Chicks Rule, Go Nika Go".

One last hug from my posse and we were off. I could hear her and her friends chanting my name. While the Toronto International Film Festival has its glamour, celebrities and paparazzi, I have my own little fan club in St. John's that I won't ever forget.

I hope they, too, will remember the one thing I told them, "Girls can race cars, too!"