Winning any competitive division of the legendary Targa Newfoundland rally requires a combination of preparation, endurance, teamwork, concentration, and luck. Six grueling days on the road covering about 2000 km total distance and about 500 km of competitive stages puts every team and car to the test and winning typically comes down to mere seconds. Jim Kenzie, who has won Targa three times and also suffered DNFs, shares his wisdom.
My usual “first piece of advice” for Targa newbies is to remember there are no prizes for the Indy 495, the 23 1/2 Hours of Le Mans, or the 4 1/2 days of Targa Newfoundland. Another way of phrasing the oldest cliché in racing: to finish first, first you must finish. Targa’s history is littered with cars crashing out on the afternoon of Day Five. We won one of OUR titles that way!
Finishing and success are sometimes about the car. Everybody knows you have to look after the machinery. Make the car as bullet-proof as you and your crew know how to make it. Bring critical spare parts with you. That’s doubly important if you’re driving something exotic or rare. You’re not going to find a Maserati dealer in Leading Tickles, Newfoundland, and Amazon.ca can only do so much. Nut-and-bolt and fluid levels checks every night are critical. Same goes for proper allocation and rotation of the six tires. Cleanliness is next to godliness, which also makes the scrutineers’ jobs easier. No point in pissing those people off!
Sometimes it’s about the crew. That starts of course before you even leave home. What a lot of newcomers don’t understand, at least not fully, is the toll the stress of a week-long race has on the team. Both physical and mental. Not just on the driver and co-driver, but also on the service techs. Be as fit as you can be, which means starting some sort of fitness regime at least six months ahead of the event. Getting proper sleep during the week is critical for everyone, both for in-car and out-of-car team members. Yeah, that’s difficult; sometimes, an all-nighter is necessary. Been there, done that. Avoid alcohol and other “stimulants” during the week. Hold off on the celebrating until you’re on Water Street.
Sometimes it’s just knowing the rules! We won one of our titles because my co-driver Brian Bourbonniere knew the rules better than the “referees”!
Be REALLY nice to your CRO – Competitor Relations Officer. You might well need to rely on them at a critical juncture, and best to keep them on your side.
Likewise, be nice to the people of Newfoundland. If you have never been there before in a Targa or even on vacation (highly recommended, by the way) – you won’t believe how warm, friendly and welcoming Newfoundlanders can be. They are closing their roads so you can race on them! Would YOUR neighbours do the same in front of their houses? Yeah, you might not understand a word they’re saying once you get 100 klicks out of St. John’s (“Lard tunderin’ jaysus byes!”). Sure, you’ll find a few people who don’t want the event there. Be as civil as you can be, and don’t get into an argument with them, or remind them that Targa has brought millions of dollars to the province in gasoline sales, hotels, restaurants, etc. Yeah, tow trucks too. Again, been there…
Most important? ENJOY YOURSELF! It’s hard not to.
Read more about the course, including information on the rally stages, rules and regulations, tech tips, and more on the Targa website.
Meet the Teams: Spud Performance and Double R Racing
Targa 2 will feature a battle of the MINIs this fall with Spud Performance, the reigning title holder, and Double R Racing, a new team with long ties to Targa.
Keir Pollard and Lance Campbell of Prince Edward Island had never done a rally before they entered Targa Newfoundland in 2024 but they went home with a trophy. Despite their lack of experience, they claimed the Targa 2 title with a quick, consistent, and clean performance in a 2006 MINI Cooper JCW that once belonged to Targa co-founder Doug Mepham.
When Spud Performance returns this fall to defend that title, it will face some stiff competition from several teams including some rally veterans. Keir will also have a new co-driver as Lance is not available this time.
Keir says last year the goal was simply to learn about the rally and survive but this fall he’ll be ready for battle. “We were really just going for learning and making it through clean, not breaking the car, not breaking ourselves or breaking anybody,” says Keir. “I can’t wait for (this) year. We’re gonna tear it up.”
Double R Racing is short for Roger Roger Racing (you’ll have to read the online profile to get the story behind the name). The team is made up of two friends from different parts of North America who met on a vacation and bonded over a common love of motorsport. Now, Canadian Wayne Lorenzen and American Aaron Ayotte will run Targa Newfoundland in a MINI Cooper S that is a past rally winner.
Wayne, who lives in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, started racing in Targa in 2010 and has since participated in 15 events including the full Targa Newfoundland and Targa Bambina. The retired aviation safety specialist is also the volunteer registrar for the rally. His buddy Aaron hails from Texas and is also a gearhead who has participated and volunteered in Targa several times. They share a love for motorsports, Targa and Newfoundland. This fall they’ll also share driving and co-driving duties.
“I love Targa,” says Wayne. “It’s such a unique, dynamic motorsport event. The location on the island of Newfoundland makes it different. It’s not just about the stages and closed roads, it’s the adventure, the scenery, and the people – the whole package. You’re not going to find this situation anywhere else in the world.”
Rearview Mirror: The rebirth of the Ferrari Enzo that went for a swim
Spectators were awed by the sight and sound of the rare and exotic Ferrari Enzo in 2011. (Photo: Ralph Saulnier)One of the most famous, or perhaps infamous, chapters in Targa’s 23-year history was the Ferrari that went for a swim. In 2011, ZR Auto owner Zahir Rana of Calgary, Alberta brought his rare and expensive Ferrari Enzo XX Evolution to Targa. The exotic beast was a crowd favourite on the streets and roads of Newfoundland. Unfortunately, gobs of Italian horsepower and gravel on the road in Marystown were its undoing as Zahir lost control, sending his supercar spinning into the Atlantic Ocean.
“I shifted into second gear and was full throttle when I took a bad spin on a lot of rocks,” says Zahir. “There was no way I could control it.”
The story attracted international media attention and has become the stuff of legend ever since. But in case you were wondering, that wasn’t the end of the Enzo.
“At the time it was like my car life had come to an end,” reflects Zahir. But not long after the car was lifted from the water he was already thinking of how to repair the Ferrari and make it even better. “When Roland (Linder, co-driver) said it doesn’t look that bad it brought magic to my ears and I thought I can fix it and make a nicer car.”
Three years later the car was rebuilt into the one-of-a-kind ZXX and it still rolls the streets of Calgary. Now we just need to convince him to come back to Targa!
Shipping your car to Newfoundland
If you don’t have the time or inclination to drive your car to Newfoundland, then shipping your car is a great option. We recommend Interlane if you are shipping a vehicle from anywhere in Canada or the United States to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Interlane will give you a quote on any car shipments and will provide exclusive pricing to Targa competitors. Interlane provides a full turnkey service, including customs clearance, door-to-door across Canada and the U.S. Also, since they are a Canadian company, they handle transport coast-to-coast within Canada too.
Our Communities: Notre Dame Bay
On Day 5 of Targa, teams will race through communities along Notre Dame Bay in Central Newfoundland. They’ll start the day in the former logging community of Glenwood on the Gander River, then proceed to stages in Bobby’s Cove, Pleasantview, Point Leamington, Leading Tickles and Glover’s Harbour before ending the day in Appleton.
Glenwood, the second oldest inland community in Newfoundland, is located about 20 km from Gander. Glenwood is a playground for the outdoor adventurer. Surrounded by natural beauty, the town hugs the shoreline of the mighty Gander River and Gander Lake. The river is one of the world’s best Atlantic salmon fishing destinations. The vast boreal forest attracts hunters from far and wide. Nearby is Mount Peyton, a favourite attraction for tourists.
Natural beauty abounds in this area. For those who love the outdoors, Point Leamington has much to offer in the way of sport salmon fishing, boating, hiking, hunting, or snowmobiling in winter. For a relaxing drive “off the beaten path”, Point Leamington offers scenic views, relaxation and friendliness to all visitors. Local attractions include the marina and Rowsell’s Hiking Trail.
Leading Tickles is a fishing community on the northeast coast of Newfoundland. Many of the residents work in the fish plant in the summer months. Local fishermen catch mainly cod, snow crab, and lobster, with some mackerel, herring, squid and capelin when regulations permit. Tourism is a big draw to this beautiful area in the summertime. The area boasts three beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and camping. Area cliffs and lookoffs provide views of whales as well as icebergs in spring and early summer. A tickle is a narrow saltwater strait, in case you were wondering.
Glover’s Harbour, formerly known as Timble Tickles, was settled in the second half of the 19th century and has remained primarily a fishing village throughout its history. It’s famous as the Home of the Giant Squid. In 1878, a 55-foot-long giant squid washed ashore there and was subsequently recognised as a world record by Guinness. Glover’s Harbour has a small heritage centre and “life-sized” sculpture dedicated to the giant squid.
First settled in the late 1800s after a lumber mill started operations there, the Town of Appleton is located on the Gander River. You can enjoy a beautiful sunset against the water as people fish or you may see the dragon boats training. Running through the centre of Appleton is the Trans-Canada Trail, which you can walk, ski, snowmobile, or drive your ATV on depending on the season. The Riverfront Peace Park features artifacts and written histories from Appleton’s past including a four-metre piece of steel from the Twin Towers donated to the town for its role in taking in passengers from flights diverted after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
The continuing adventures of Terry the Targa Puffin
Kurt Penner holds onto Terry’s feet so he doesn’t fly away on the road to Tofino. Lu Penner and Terry ponder life’s mysteries at Long Beach on Vancouver Island such as why aren’t there any other puffins there.
Terry the Targa Puffin is soaking in the sights of the West Coast with his current guardians, Kurt and Lu Penner from British Columbia. He’s travelled a long way from his home on the rocky shores of Newfoundland. Recently he enjoyed a trip on the Spring Roll Car Tour to Vancouver Island, Gabriola Island, Pender Island, Mayne Island, and Salt Spring Island. Terry got his first look at the Pacific Ocean but was disappointed he didn’t meet any other puffins on the West Coast. While Kurt and Lu are enjoying their time with Terry, they look forward to handing him over to the next caretakers – the team that has the first off at Targa 2025.
Shop Targa Merch
Show your Targa pride with branded hats, shirts, jackets, toques (that’s Canadian for beanie), license plates, hoodies, and more. Heritage Targa hats are now available from several years! Click here to shop the site.
Want more information about Targa?
The Targa Newfoundland website is your main source for information on the event, including rules and regulations, tech tips, Newfoundland and Labrador, our communities, places to stay, how to get here, and much more!
