Has Targa NZ come to the end of the road. As a previous Targa competitor, I received an email from Peter Martin in which he stated that unless he has 45 "Expressions of Interest" this year's Targa will not go ahead. This would be a great shame as these events were incredible fun and will be sadly missed.
Allan Cameron
Wow, that is sad. From entries close to 200 when it first ran to less than 50. I certainly enjoyed most of the many I took part in.
It used to be huge and something to look forward to. Great for local communities too, who all got behind it - and a large entry of classics.
Many (circuit) events also seem to have fewer competitors and many grids now have to be combined to make a grid viable - and even then, nowhere near full.
Just looking through the entry list for last weekend's Legend's meeting, shows just how much some grids have shrunk - or haven't grown. The track can take 46 saloons/GT's on a grid - and that is just the original National track.
Formula Open single seaters - 17
Formula First single seaters - 15
Formula 5000 single seaters - 12
Historic FF - Single seaters - 19
Formula Junior - 3
NZ Sports Cars - 14
Pre 65 - 8
Super Mini - 6
NZ Six - 4
Touring Car Masters - 11
HRVA - 17
Heritage Touring Cars - 18
Historic Muscle & Saloons - 14
Roycroft VSCC - 14
BMW 1 Hour - 31
There are several reasons and unless something is done to address those reasons, the sport will continue to shrink, rather than grow.
Race licence fees, circuit hire and therefore race entry fees, excessive safety requirements be they clothing or cars, fuel, travel, accommodation etc., lack of circuits.
Locally, the loss of Pukekohe hasn't helped. I was at Hampton Downs yesterday (Tuesday). Nothing on track, yet in the early days, the track was busy 340 days a year. Private testing/hire costs? From what I've heard, way more than just expensive.
Now that Tony Quinn has a stranglehold on local racing, there is no competition and no track north of HD, even though over a million people live just up the road.
Last edited by ERC; 02-04-2025 at 09:01 PM.
... and it will probably get worse as the younger generation seem to prefer drifting & burnouts. Hope I'm wrong.
the newer drivers are confused with the third pedal and its use, and as it is needed on an event like the targa they shy away as they cannot and will not learn a new skill.
My personal opinion is that (1) there are too many other exciting things to do these days and (2) many of them are much cheaper than motorsport.
Entry fees start at well over $4000 for the Time Trial and are nearly $10,000 for the Targa Competition. It's no wonder there's a shortage of people with the time and money to enter.
Better number's at the Skope meeting at Ruapuna last weekend.Originally Posted by ERC
Formula 5000 - 10
Formula Libre - 31
Harold Heasley Saloons - 23
Historic Sports Sedans - 18
Historic Touring Cars - 26
John Osborne Saloons - 26
Mainland Muscle Cars - 24
VCC - 34
Ron Rutherford Saloons - 22
Ron Silvester Saloons - 24
I gather that the south island entry fees (other than Highlands) are way cheaper than HD too. No wonder so many from the north island head south for the series.
Targa has always been expensive and several were regular supporters in the early days, but after a while, there must be a case of 'been there, done that'.
I can't help thinking that $$$$ is the reason many drivers are retiring not to mention the rising average age. When Chris and James Watson kicked off the 2KCup, it was aimed at beginners and youngsters and was affordable. A great entry level that did not result in the carnage that the critics expected, but it proved that unmodified cars with standard lap and diagonal belts, no roll cage and running on road tyres, with a double layer race suit, helmet and fire extinguisher was adequate.
The entry level cost has rocketed with the need for additional safety clothing and a neck device and a race licence - even if only doing two events a year, now extortionate. Add to that a dumb harness seat belt age replacement rule and as per earlier posts, there are cheaper sport options.
When we mandated a helmet and seat belts, 90% of the potential risk to life and limb was eliminated. A basic roll over hoop probably reduced the risks by another 5%. From then on, it is the law of diminishing returns and no one has yet proved that the risks warrant the outlay. Personal choice on safety has been eliminated.
That's my take on it and even the so called tier one series over the last few years have been pathetic in terms of grid sizes and the crowds have stayed away.
The higher level classic races attract better entries and better crowds.
I too fear for the sport's future.
me to ERC. I notice it starts at the top F1 teams now take 200 people to each race per car. when i did F! we had 3/4 people per car. imagine the cost of flying all the peope to brasil, or japanand the hotel costs. they also have 3 complete teams of staff for the catering, as well a setup and take down crews. when i did F1 food was your own problem untill brabham got Parmalat on board and they came to each team and took a lunch order for each member and delivered it between the practice sesions foc. now you cannot see the cars due to the people who should be working are but just standing around blocking the view. I am more interested in the cars than peoples backs and am fast going off watching
Totally agree 928. F1 even in the 1970's, they were in the paddock at Silverstone for example, working under a van awning. Not even a pit garage!
Read the Alf Francis book 'Racing Mechanic' when he and Tony Robinson had to trailer Stirling Moss's car from track to track, then work on it.
Or in more recent times, Bob McMurray's book.
We have a structure now where only the pinnacle get the support and it is slowly eroding the support from beginners and amateurs.
MSNZ is totally tied to the FIA and there was a time when Targa first started attracting huge support and was being blocked by MSNZ, rather than encouraged, that Mike John was on the verge of setting up an independent organisation. Pity that never came to fruition.
For HVRA our numbers were down for Legends of Speed due to several factors….
Taupo Historic GP was 2 weeks before..41 in total at that meeting which for some was the highlight of the year…
We suffered 6 Engine failures at that meeting..
8 of our team were heading south and did not wish to risk any issues that would put a holt to doing that….
5 of our South Island guys returned home after the GP.
6 of our regular core members are not racing this season due to financial reasons.
We are in an economic downturn and that has a direct effect on numbers at the moment.
Last edited by Spgeti; 02-06-2025 at 06:46 PM.
Makes it an interesting time for the Canterbury Car Club to have launched their bid for significant investment- https://7846074b1.flowpaper.com/Raci...tIssuu/#page=1
another thing I noticed on tv is that nascar races have very few people in the stands. they try to keep the cameras off the stands but you can see that there are very few people. they have changed the seat colours to try and make it look full from a distance but this is not so. Drag racing in the US has died off almost completly with strips closing. some of the more famous strips have closed and the NHRA does not know what to do,side with the track owners, or the drivers, or the paying spectator. the problem is not just here but appears spread all over the globe
Last edited by 928; 02-06-2025 at 10:31 PM.
I've posted this before... British Grand Prix paddock 1973.
When it comes to spectator numbers, Saturday tickets for the Goodwood Revival are usually sold out 6 months before.
My favourite local event in recent years was Leadfoot. Fantastic varied entry and good crowds, but not overcrowded. Sadly missed.
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