Rally Racing at its Best

By Michael Schlee

For 7 years now the Targa Newfoundland Rally has been running with great success. Every year the event seems to get bigger and far more popular.

Photo: Michael Schlee

They key to its success? Grass roots style racing. In this event the cars, people, and scenery are like no other racing series.

Where else can you watch a race between a brand new Lexus GS450h Hybrid, a 1983 Audi A2 Rally Monster, a 1953 Austin Healy 100 and a 1989 Honda CRX Si? Where else can you watch professional drivers compete with media personalities and everyday schmo’s? If you don’t have access, or the funds, to field a race car in the rally, there is always the time based Grand Touring division. A relatively stock Mazda 3 Sport won the non-equipped class in 2008.

At the auto show the Lexus GS450h, Audi A2 Rally and Dodge Challenger SRT-8 were all on display at their respective dealership booths; further proof of the growing popularity of this event. This year’s rally runs from September 12th-19th. I’m already counting down the days and scrounging up money for a plane ticket. For more information, visit :

Targa Newfoundland Rally