Report and photos by Vince Johnson
The inaugural Supaloc Classic Targa Adelaide, held 14-17 September 2011 in South Australia, was the opening round of the Australian Targa Championship. Entries in the four-day tarmac rally were limited to cars twenty years or older, grouped into Early, Late and Contemporary Classic categories. More modern cars contested the Regularity section, nominating an average speed and attempting to match it throughout the event. Competitive stages were run on closed public roads in the hills surrounding the city with crews returning to Parc Ferme each day at the Adelaide Showgrounds.
Prior to the competitors being flagged away, road cars in the ‘Tour’ group drove each stage, untimed and limited to a maximum speed of 130kph. With Porsche Australia celebrating their 50-year anniversary, many of the Stuttgart factory’s classics took to the course, enjoying the opportunity to use all of the road. Not surprisingly, the ubiquitous 911 in its many variants was also a common sight when the clock took over.
A two stage Prologue through Tanunda and up Menglers Hill in the Barossa Valley on Wednesday determined the following day’s starting order. Next morning, cars were released in each category at 30 second intervals with the slowest first, over 8 stages through the north-east hills. Heading the time sheet at the end of the day was local driver Kevin Weeks, in his 1974 Porsche 911RS. Weeks, whose company Supaloc Steel Building Systems was event sponsor, faced stiff competition from Targa Tasmania winner Tony Quinn in his 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R and fellow local Matt Selley, also in a 911RS. In the Early Classic category, the 1964 Mustang of Michael Lamprell and Cameron Wearing held its own against the newer Ford Capris and Datsun Zs.
Friday’s route took competitors south to McLaren Vale and Willunga, returning to park in town for the Gouger Street Party. As in the halcyon days of the much loved Classic Adelaide Rally, last run in 2009, the public relished the opportunity to mix with the cars and crews. During the 78km of timed stages on Saturday, navigators had their work cut out. Toni Feaver’s calls saw Weeks’ pace never headed. Eventually, second went to Selley and Claire Ryan ahead of another 911RS in the hands of Tolley Challis & Greg Flood. Quinn and Adam Tillett came heartbreakingly close while running a safe second, but no cigar, when their Nissan’s engine let go on the final stage. The Japanese company’s honour was restored with Tim Possingham & Ben Scott’s Skyline GT-R win in the Contemporary Classic category.
Things were mighty close in Regularity. Over three days, with 200km of timed stages, one second separated the first three placegetters. John & Cintra Amos (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) tied with the Porsche Cayman S of Peter Mayer & Patricia Melzer, heading Bill & Kathy Gill (Porsche 911 Carrera) home by the narrowest of margins. After the medals were presented to finishers and Targa Plates to winners and placegetters at the Intercontinental Hotel, the celebrations began.
Supaloc Classic Targa Adelaide 2011 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
Supaloc Classic Targa Adelaide 2011 – Final Results after Day 3 (provisional)
Shannons Classic Outright (1947-1986) Rnd 1 CAMS* Australian Targa Championship
1. Kevin Weeks (SA) / Toni Feaver (WA), 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
2. Matt Selley (SA) / Claire Ryan (SA), 1974 Porsche 911 RS, +3m17s
3. Tolley Challis (WA) / Greg Flood (WA), 1974 Porsche 911 RS, +3m33s
4. Donn Todd (QLD) / Dean Tighe (QLD), 1971 Ford Capri Perana, +3m37s
5. Nick Streckeisen (SA) / Mike Dale (SA), 1985 Porsche 944 Turbo, +5m44s
Supaloc Overall (1947-1990) after Day 3
1. Kevin Weeks (SA) / Toni Feaver (WA), 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
2. Matt Selley (SA) / Claire Ryan (SA), 1974 Porsche 911 RS, +3m17s
3. Tolley Challis (WA) / Greg Flood (WA), 1974 Porsche 911 RS, +3m33s
4. Donn Todd (QLD) / Dean Tighe (QLD), 1971 Ford Capri Perana, +3m37s
5. Tim Possingham (SA) / Ben Scott (SA), 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R, +4m47s
Shannons Early Classic (1947-1971) Handicap Results after Day 3
1. Michael Lamprell (SA) / Cameron Wearing (SA), 1964 Ford Mustang
2. Donn Todd (QLD) / Dean Tighe (QLD), 1971 Ford Capri Perana, +1m19s
3. Philip Endersbee (VIC) / Dirk Wheaton (VIC), 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000, +1m54s
4. Greg Cocks (NSW) / Guy Chick (NSW), 1971 Datsun 240Z, +5m42s
5. Richard Woodward (NSW) / Neil Gibson (SA), 1969 Holden Monaro GTS, +5m50s
Shannons Late Classic (1972-1985) Handicap Results after Day 3
1. Kevin Weeks (SA) / Toni Feaver (WA), 1974 Porsche 911 Carerra RS
2. Nick Streckeisen (SA) / Mike Dale (SA), 1985 Porsche 944 Turbo, +55s
3. Steve McClintock (NSW) / Jann Skinner (NSW), 1985 Mazda RX7, +1m44s
4. Matthew Selley (SA) / Claire Ryan (SA), 1974 Porsche 911 RS, +3m15s
5. Tolley Challis (WA) / Greg Flood (WA), 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS, +3m31s
Regularity Results after Day 3
=1. Peter Mayer (SA) / Patricia Melzer (SA), 2007 Porsche Cayman S
=1. John Amos (SA) / Cintra Amos (SA), 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
3. Bill Gill (SA) / Kathy Gill (SA), 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera, +1s
4. Tony Rogers (Vic) / Trevor Montgomery (Vic), 1994 Porsche 911 Carrera 2, +43
5. Colin Zytveld (SA) / Wade Zytveld (SA), 2005 Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo, +53s
Supaloc Contemporary Classic (1986-1990) Results after Day 3
1. Tim Possingham (SA) / Ben Scott (SA), 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo
2. Stewart McAuley (Vic) / Matthew Woods (Vic), 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera, +4m44s
3. Adam Kaplan (NSW) / David Kaplan (NSW), 1988 HSV Group A SS, +5m17s
4. Brian Canny (VIC) / Paul Crosbie (VIC), 1989 Porsche 944 S2, 8m21s
5. Brian Shearer (TAS) / Nick Shearer (QLD), 1990 Porsche 944 S2, 9m44s
*Confederation of Australian Motor Sport
Classic Targa Adelaide 2011 – Report and Photos
