2011 Supaloc Classic Targa Adelaide

While the competitive categories were restricted to cars built before 1991, newer cars were able to enter the ‘Tour’ and ‘Regularity’ sections. Local Tanunda residents in the wine producing Barossa Valley had a lunchtime diversion on Wednesday while crews navigated the tight 3km course through the township’s streets. The cars then headed to climb nearby Mengler’s Hill, with their combined time deciding tomorrow’s starting order. Parc ferme at each day’s end was the Adelaide Showgrounds’ Goyder Pavilion, south of the city centre.

Thursday’s route saw competitors headed north-east. The day’s timed stages totaled 62km and included the aptly named Corkscrew Road in the final Castambul stage. Cars ideally suited to this twisty piece of blacktop were the Peugeot 205GTi of David Rudzitis & Dainis Skabe and David Currow & Colin Carati’s Steyr Puch TR Europa. Italian entries included the Alfas of Phillip Endersbee & Dirk Wheaton (1971 GTV 2000) and John Keating & Peter O’Reilly (1971 Spider), the Fiat 124 Sports of Stephen Schmidt/Anthony Young and Guy Standen/Andrew Coles and the sole Ferrari, Philip & Debra Powell’s 1977 308GT4.

Following Friday’s competition, crews headed to Gouger Street in the city centre. With the rally cars parked along the strip, the cafés, pubs and restaurants made the most of the party atmosphere. The final stages on Saturday morning began at Montacute then headed south, before returning to town through the Torrens Gorge. The Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, used by Weeks to win last year’s High Country Targa in the neighbouring state of Victoria, had been restricted to sweep duties by its age, but this didn’t stop it lighting up the show for the patrons of the Scenic Hotel at Norton Summit.

When everyone arrived for the finish at the Intercontinental Hotel alongside Parliament House, the loudest cheer was reserved for the ‘Little Car That Could’, with the finishers’ medals being passed in to Currow & Carati through the Steyr Puch’s roof. Predictably Porsches featured strongly, with Kevin Weeks/Toni Feaver taking the Late Classic and Outright trophies in their 1974 911RS. A creditable 3rd place in the Early Classic category went to Endersbee & Wheaton in their 2000GTV Alfa.

The Australian Targa Championship heads to Victoria’s high country in November for the next round with the modern cars included. Then it’s to Tasmania for the Wrest Point and Targa Tasmania events early in 2012. But event organiser Octagon Australia will be back in Adelaide next spring and space at the Adelaide Showgrounds will be at a premium.