Targa Tasmania 2018

[Colin Byrne]

Hi guys so back from Targa Tasmania 2018, great event , quick run down
Both cars started well, we got second on the first competitive stage but after that fell down to 6th place, our main competitors were an old "GMC Jimmy special" on a crazy handicap, a Ferrari 308 GTB, a Volvo 122s that we have had many close battles with, a crazy fast 2002 BMW, a BMW E30 a GTS Monaro , V8 supercharged Studebaker, and a Fiat 131 Rallye
The competition was very close this year and after the first couple of days we were still in 6th place but with small gaps still in the hunt.  The 2002 was flying out in the lead (apart for the GMC but that was not really a fair fight with the handicap) but on day 3 was out with a broken clutch.  This put us into 5th place with My dad sitting around 12th.   
We got second place in the longest stage of the event, Mt Arowsmith and won the short stage before it "Queenstown"  at lunch we discovered that the fiat had blown a tyre and was out for the day putting us into 4th place with the other car in 11th
So the last day around Hobart was pretty epic, we one a couple of stages, including nearly getting a 1-2 result with the 2 alfas on 1 stage!  The GMC was having mechanical issues and the Ferrari was looking a bit sad after an off, but still going.  The fiat had re-joined the run, and was flying but missed a turn right 3 and hit a bank extremely hard, both ok apparently it will be in need of a new shell. We gave it a good crack (had 2 wheels in the air at one stage) but wasn't to be as both cars finished and we couldn't make up the time so got into to Hobart in 4th place with the old man in 11th.  Not on the podium, but super happy with the result.
Both cars ran amazingly well, my dad had an electrical issue possible caused by a worn kill switch, but was quickly bypassed.  I had a total alternator failure but managed to swap it during a lunch break, and of course I broke my extractors again, but a quick weld on the street outside a Microbrewery in Hobart and we were as good as new.  Totally dry event but both cars managed to get through on 1 set of Dunlop softs!
Anyway probably the best Tassie adventure we've had to date, massive event, super competitive this year, but so much fun, both cars home with out a scratch, except the front guard on my car were I kissed a white post on the apex, but I'll take that any day!

[Colin Byrne]

so whats wrong with the navigator in this picture?

[GTV-074]

Colin,
Congratulations to you and your father, great effort.

Both cars are a credit to you both.

Keep the Alfa flag flying!

Cheers,

Paul.

[bazzbazz]

so whats wrong with the navigator in this picture?

Ohh so many one liners come to minds but I dare not.     

[aggie57]

Well done Colin, sounds like you had a lot of fun.  Thanks for the regular updates on FB as well, how you find time during the event to do that I don't know.

[Neil Choi]

Well done Colin and team.  Love the updates and pics, and kept watch on website.

And what is a GMC Jimmy Special.

I can only find this!!!

[Neil Choi]

Ah, this?

[bazzbazz]

Oh for the love of . . . . .   

[Paul Gulliver]

" And what is a GMC Jimmy Special."

Yeah , you see one of those on back roads every day of the week . Pity it didn't snow this year , that might have evened things up.
Hardly a classic , can anybody remind me of their rich racing history ( preferably post WW2)

[Colin Byrne]

Thanks for all your comments guys, nice to know we had a bit of a following

yea we were doing a rain dance every day, but no effect unfortunately, bit of rain would have been very interesting!

haha, yes, there was a fair bit of discussion surrounding the "special" by our fellow competitors as you can imagine.  Hopefully that's the last time its given such a crazy handicap a Volvo/Ferrari/Alfa podium would have been much more  fitting for the classic class.

[Paul Gulliver]

If they are letting in " Specials " , you might have to leave the Alfa in the garage next year. Enter the CLASSSIC TUNED SPECIAL . An Austin A40 with Audi Quattro underpinnings

[David Mills]

Congratulations Colin to you and your dad. I enjoyed following your progress through the results posted each day on the Targa site. (I didn't know about the fb site).
You should consider yourselves to have achieved 3rd as the 1st place car is a wholly invented hot rod. A press article here described it as having a 1934 Chev chassis and a WWII army duck truck engine. Goodness only knows where the other bits came from.
GMC is a brand limited to trucks until the 70's or thereabouts when it was extended to big SUV's and utes.
I doubt the GMC brand has any credible classic racing record.
Maybe next year they could include classic go karts and dirt track midgets?

[carlo rossi]

well done guys! the scratch "she'll buff out"
that billy cart has to go
nothing special about it except possibly the tenessee
occupants

[bazzbazz]

I don't know what would have contained more creativity, building the GMC itself, or the entry form for it!   

[Colin Byrne]

Couple of photos from the event, should also get some video in the next couple of weeks