6 replies to this topic

[Mystic]

Targa is over for another year and the papers are again full of the normal complaints, mostly from folks living in the cities. I thought it might be interesting to see what our members think of this event, the impact on our state, benefits, and pitfalls.

Personally I am not too fussed about Targa. I think the benefits to tourism are limited, especially in the rural areas, which also suffer the greatest disruption. A couple of streets closed off in a place like Hobart is annoying, but consider the west coast... if you wanted to go north last Saturday, best of luck to you, it would have been very difficult with what is essentially the only road heading north blocked for most of the day. On Sunday, there is only one road east, and two racing stages along that road meant you would have had a very hard time heading to Hobart, or coming home.

For a town like Queenstown, where there is no actual racing stage inside town, the tourist dollar is not really attracted. Our access is cut off, the cars drive through, and keep going, on a touring stage, and the town becomes a bit noisier. Last year Shane and I were at the finish line of a stage that ended just inside the town limits of Rosebery. The "crowd" consisted of about 5-6 locals, nope, no real tourist dollars there either, and the cars had to keep going to get to the start of the next stage, just the other side of town, so not even the drivers or support teams were spending their money in town. But we did notice that some of those in the "crowd" were actually people waiting for the highway to re-open so they could head north.

Targa could be good for Tasmania, but it is poorly promoted, and does not attract the tourists or the local interest as much as it could potentially do so. This is common with all types of tourism around Tasmania though, yet while other tourist interests are promoted reasonably well inside the state, Targa is even poorly promoted here. Perhaps it could be improved by creating posters for local store windows and notice boards advising locals and tourists alike of both road closure details, and best vantage points for spectators in the local racing stages. Unless you know the area, you are unlikely to know where you might be able to get a decent position where you will be allowed to watch a racing stage safely.

I am not fussed either way about Targa, not big on cars, if it were a motorcycle race, I would be far more interested. Now, a bike race around Tasmania, could bring some huge crowds to the state, but Targa is for four wheels and not two unfortunately. I don't think it really brings as much income to the state as promoters would have us believe, and certainly is more likely to have more of an income impact in the cities. I would like to see it better promoted, and perhaps a few changes made to overnight stops each year so that smaller towns can reap some of the tourist rewards. Over here, they always overnight at Strahan, which takes the most tourist income under normal circumstances anyway, but a town like Queenstown could possibly handle the accommodation and catering requirements for drivers and crew and so maybe it would help spread the cash around a little if they alternated overnight locations each year.

Though it does not really hold too much interest for me, I think it would be sad to see Targa dropped. But, if you are not going to promote it effectively, then maybe it is more of a hindrance than a help to us.

What do others think?

[dave]

do the crew and drivers stay in motel/hotel accommodation, the targas and climbs held here bring forth the largest of motorhomes imaginable and park in free camps setup by the local council just for them, as for tourist dollars unless you are the company that owns the ferry I dont think you would see too much dosh,

the company that used to run the Adelaide hills road rage has gone belly up owing millions of dollars, apparently running insolvent for many years,

I can see little benefit for locals or fly ins with an event such as this, I think it is designed so that folks with money can drive their cars like hoons on public roads, personally I see no sense in the event at all! as for tourists spending heaps, I dont think so!

[Mystic]

Am pretty sure they use hotel/motels as I have never seen any great processions of motorhomes and such when Targa passes through.

On the other hand, Tasmania seems to attract a lot of vintage and classic car clubs, usually with at least 50 cars and maybe 100-200 people involved all up. These clubs do tend to stop at a lot of smaller towns, buy fuel, drinks, food, trinkets, etc. I think smaller towns see more income from such rallies than they ever will from Targa.

[dave]

yep when we were there in January/February last year we met a group of 2 door MG tourers enthusiasts, about our age, we got on like a house on fire, there were 25 of them, all cashed up and just looking to have fun, I am sure Tasmania would have gained more benefit from them than any targa event

[Shane V]

So can I be selfish to start with? well I'm gonna be anyway

I really enjoy the 4 hours I see of the cars every year, for the last 3 anyway. Trying to get the perfect car shot...practising panning, sometimes I even get it right. The smells and sounds, for me, are something else. I can enjoy the great outdoors, combine that with a few photos and then there's the cars racing through as well. ok enough of being selfish

It would be a very interesting sociological study. how many people actually support Targa and how many don't? (just talking about people here, not businesses) When I came home from the lookout, which was about and hour before the last car was supposed to come through, the only people I saw were sitting in a garage/tyre place. there were a few cars parked around, not many, and they had set up some deck chairs inside the workshop, so they wouldn't get wet while waiting for the cars to come past. There was about 10 people all up that I saw, that is out of about a population of 2000 (?). I didn't go to the other side of town, there may have been a few more people over there. But still does that say something? You will always have the die-hard and the non supporters. Everyone is different.

Maybe better advertising would help everyone out. Raise the profile, bring more money into the towns and cities Targa visits. Attract more people?

[bandi]

We had a similar thing this year up here with the Australian leg of the World Rally Championship being run just near my parents place. That draw a much larger crowd of course, but there was still a lot of complaints from locals. Not sure what the wash up from it was though...

[islandhome]

My opinion of Targa is not too good. We live in one of those areas that is often totally cut off by the various Targa courses. The maps provided online do not cover the whole course.. and due to this I missed an important prac at Uni last year. there is no phone number listed on the Targa site to ring and find out if you are going to be cut off... etc. I think it really sucks big time, that we who are most inconvenienced have no say in it at all. Can't see it brings much money..... haven't heard any businesses spouting about how great their profits were during a Targa event......