The start of Targa Newfoundland 2024 is now just one month away. About two dozen teams are revving up and raring to test themselves and their machines against the most grueling tarmac rally in North America over 2,000 km (1,240 miles), including about 500 km (310 miles) of closed courses. Competitors are coming to Newfoundland from as far away as Germany, as well as across Canada and the United States, for this year’s Targa from September 12-19.
There’s a lot to prepare in the few weeks ahead. Book the ferry, arrange accommodations, prep the car, and pack essentials. We’ve posted information about all of the stages, tech tips, Newfoundland and Labrador, our communities, places to stay, and how to get here on the Targa website. We recommend Interlane if you are shipping a vehicle from the United States to St. John’s.
This is an endurance rally, not a race, so prepare your car and yourself for long days in the car over varying road conditions and through variable weather. Yes, it does rain in Newfoundland, so make sure your tires can handle wet and dry conditions. These are real roads with sharp turns, dips, bumps and even potholes. Reliable brakes and suspension components are a must. Bring the required safety equipment and some essential spare parts too.
Pack rain gear and a change of clothing. After a full day in the car, you’ll welcome fresh clothes to change into at the end of a long day. Reach out to us if you have any questions about getting ready.
If you’re one of the lucky ones competing this year, we can’t wait to see you. If you missed out this time, apply now for 2025 and save your spot!
‘Come From Away’ stage celebrates Gander’s role in sheltering passengers following 9/11
Targa Newfoundland returns to race the streets of Gander for the first time in years. We’ve named it the Come From Away Memorial Stage to commemorate the town’s role in sheltering thousands of stranded passengers and the hit musical that tells the inspiring story.
Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration closed American airspace, forcing 38 planes carrying close to 7,000 passengers to divert to the airport in Gander, a town of 12,000 people.
Gander was once known as the “Crossroads of the World” due to its perfectly positioned airport. Once the largest on earth, with runways big enough to land the space shuttle, it was a strategic location for refueling and a bustling centre during wartimes. It was this very airport that made the communities of Gander, Appleton, Glenwood and others the focal point for human kindness and generosity, as highlighted in the hit Broadway play Come From Away.
Come From Away, the award-winning musical, tells the remarkable true story of those 7,000 stranded passengers or “come from aways” and the communities in Newfoundland that welcomed them on 9/11. Come From Away is performed at the Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre on Airport Boulevard in Gander through Sept. 1, 2024.
In addition to the Gander stage, we’ll race through Appleton and Glenwood this fall. Read more about the stop in Gander.
Our Communities: Spotlight on Eastport Peninsula
Targa will visit about two dozen communities across Newfoundland this fall. This time we focus on the Eastport Peninsula, which will host the stages on Day Six.
The Eastport Peninsula on Bonavista Bay is one of the special areas of the province and was once home to the Beothuk tribe and other Indigenous peoples. Attracted by abundant fish stocks, Europeans settled there in the 1600s. Known for its rugged shoreline and soft sandy beaches, this area is now a popular vacation destination, with startling coastlines, culture, history, entertainment and a welcoming environment.
Teams will race in the historic communities of Happy Adventure, which may have gotten its name from a pirate, and Salvage, which may be the oldest inhabited fishing outport in North America. We’ll stop for lunch in Eastport, which hosts many well-known local, national and international artists, writers and musicians. After lunch, we’ll run stages in Salvage, Eastport and Burnside before heading east to Port Blandford. Following the multi-stages, we’ll drive to the town of Clarenville for the overnight stay.
Tech Tips – Brakes
If there is a potential Achilles heel to a Targa-prepared car, it’s the brakes. Here are a few tips that will help you get ready and are crucial for ensuring your safety.
You don’t necessarily need to upgrade to high-class, expensive calipers. While they can enhance competition performance, they are not essential unless you’re aiming for that level.
We recommend fully servicing your standard calipers and replacing the standard lines with Aeroquip or other braided brake lines that connect the solid tubular lines on the chassis to the actual brake calipers. Why? Well, you have no idea if any damage has been incurred while driving the car on the road. While performing this upgrade, it’s the perfect time to flush out the old brake fluid and replace it with a high-temperature competition-rated fluid, such as DOT 4. Also check your rotors and pads.
Choose a medium competition-rated pad, but avoid fully hard pads as they are challenging to reach and maintain the proper operating temperature. Plan on changing the pads frequently, so bring extra sets.
Lastly, check the disc and pad wear every evening. Yes, you’ll need to remove the wheels and conduct a thorough visual inspection for wear or damage, such as pad issues, cracked rotors, or calipers. If you have any doubts, seek out a brake professional from one of the teams and ask them to take a look. Consistently following this practice will save you a significant amount of time and anxiety.
Local heroes ready to make their mark on Targa
For over two decades, Targa Newfoundland has attracted racers and volunteers from all over the globe as well as plenty of local talent. No offence to all of our other esteemed competitors, but the spectators love to cheer for their hometown heroes.
This year, teams with drivers and co-drivers from Newfoundland and Labrador include Team Newfoundland MotorHead Racing, with driver Rob Thompson of St. John’s (originally from Point Leamington) and co-driver Justin Ronayne of St. John’s. Rob has been dreaming of Targa since the first time he saw the cars race past his driveway, while Justin is a talented driver in his own right and a Targa veteran. Team WSP Motorsports (pictured) features two avid autocrossers from the west coast of the island, driver Cameron Combdon and co-driver Andrew Keeping, trying their hand at rallying. Even the Florida-based team of M2 Strategies, with brothers Sam and Rick Marshall, have a connection to the Rock. Their granddad came from St. John’s. Plus there are a couple of wiley Targa vets, Paul Abbott of St. John’s and Wayne Lorenzen of Gander, who’ll be providing co-driving duties for other teams. Must be something in that water. Yes b’y.
Read more team profiles here.
Targa Newfoundland makes waves at Regatta
For years now, Targa Newfoundland has been a proud sponsor of teams in the annual Royal St. John’s Regatta, the oldest organized sporting event in North America. It has been a part of Newfoundland history for over 200 years. The first record of an organized event was in 1816, but rowing matches were common among ship crews in St. John’s Harbour since at least the 1700s. These days, the Regatta draws crowds of up to 50,000 people annually to the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake. The 206th running (rowing?) of this event was held August 7. Targa President Joe Dowden is an experienced coxswain, though he’s now busy rowing gears and keeping the wheels rolling before and during the rally. Learn more here.
Car shows bring rally teams and fans together
Throughout the week of Targa, we’ll hold car shows in various communities so local fans can get a closer look at the cars and meet the teams. It’s not uncommon for spectators to treat the racers like celebrities and collect photos and autographs from their favourites. For some communities, Targa is one of the biggest events of the year. At the stops in Clarenville and Gander, we’ll also be collecting food bank donations in partnership with Community Food Sharing Association, which supports food banks across the province. This is another way Targa and its competitors and fans can give back to the communities that welcome us each year. Learn more here.
Check out the Targa Newfoundland website for more information about the event, rules and regs, pricing, accommodations, how to get to Newfoundland and Labrador, and much more!
- From Targa Newfoundland
