Targa on TV

Ever wanted to see what Targa Newfoundland is all about? Tune in to SPEED on Saturday, March 27 at 6:00pm (Eastern -- check local listings) to catch the one-hour documentary on the 2009 event. Get a good look at Steve Millen's amazing 620hp Nissan GT-R, the now-famous 'Las Vegas Lucy' Mini and the rain that upset the leader board on the last day as well as some amazing roads and staggering scenery. It was shot and edited in HD by TV2GO; not sure if it airs on SPEED HD at the same time. Again, check local listings. European viewers also get the show on Saturday, March 27 on MotorsTV, but no time details yet.

I think this is one canoe I approve of.

According to some friends who saw the premiere airing on TSN this weekend, it's another good show this year. TV2GO did a great job for 2008.

And if you see a blue new MINI, that's probably Mepham driving We spent a lot of time hanging around at the start of stages in 2008 as our speeds were pretty close to each other so we were seeded together. Not a canoe.

I watched it Saturday on TSN. It was mediocre, at best. I had hoped to see more coverage of all of the cars, but there was really only a focus on the top teams in each class.

Like most rally coverage in NA, there were too many talking heads, and too few shots of the cars in action, without commentary. I had hoped for more, especially given the quality in other years.

In reply to ZOO:

I know lots of folks who disagree; the show has had good reviews almost everywhere.

And a focus on the top teams is pretty much standard operating procedure for every motorsports broadcast. Sports TV is about winners, and motorsports is no exception. You never see detailed coverage of a team struggling to hold onto 17th place. It just doesn't happen.

As a wise man once advised, "There's only two ways to get on TV: Win, or do something stupid in front of the camera." Still true today.

Mepham wrote: In reply to ZOO: I know lots of folks who disagree; the show has had good reviews almost everywhere.

I know lots of people who like Coors Light, too Mercifully, that doesn't mean I have to find it to my taste.

From everything I've read about the Targa (and I haven't been, yet), and the times I've talked to relatives in NFLD (including Greenspond!), I know what a fantastic event it is. I just didn't feel that the spirit of the event was captured in the coverage I saw. Still way too much talking. Maybe I saw a different show?

If it were me -- I'd have at least 30 minutes of actual cars zooming around the island. I'd bet that there is less than 15 minutes of cars doing car stuff in the entire broadcast.

Just for fun, hunt down the 2008 show and see what you think by comparison. Might be good feedback for the producers. The 2006/07 shows were more like travel documentaries than race reports, 2008 was more racing. The event, when you're in it, is about people as much as racing.

But they still didn't show everyone. As Mepham said, you had to break or lead to show up on the show. Or you had to be us, they liked us for some reason.

Keith wrote: Just for fun, hunt down the 2008 show and see what you think by comparison. Might be good feedback for the producers. The 2006/07 shows were more like travel documentaries than race reports, 2008 was more racing. The event, when you're in it, is about people as much as racing. But they still didn't show everyone. As Mepham said, you had to break or lead to show up on the show. Or you had to be us, they liked us for some reason.

I'm starting to wonder if I saw the show you are talking about. I didn't see anything about you, Keith -- and I specifically watched for you and your car. The one I watched was narrated by TSN commentator Vic Rauter, and someone else I didn't recognize.

I'd be surprised if we were in the 2009 show, as we raced in 2008 We were treated very well - I think it helped that I sent the TV crew a tape of interior footage that had already been edited for a half-dozen highlights, including descriptions of time, stage and what happened. There's a little tip for those looking for exposure in the media, make their job as easy as possible!

I haven't seen 2009 yet, it won't air in the US until March 27th. TSN got it this past weekend as you've discovered. Interestingly, the 2008 show had different narrators with the same script when shown on TSN and on Speed.

Keith wrote: I'd be surprised if we were in the 2009 show, as we raced in 2008

That explains that, then . I'll be a little more forgiving in light of that. But not a lot more forgiving.

My wife and I drove up to Kingston (only 40 mins away) to watch it in a bar on TSN. The sound was turned down, so I don't know what was said by the frequent talking heads, but it seemed there was lots of race footage too. Some wonderful shots of Frank Sprongl steering that wild Quatro with the loud pedal, and some great in-car stuff too. Great footage of the filthy conditions on Friday, watch for the lads in the Solstice ground looping on the bridge - that's the one sure way to make the cut.

Very little was shown of us poor schlepps in the Touring division, but I guess that's to be expected. I had been interviewed by the crew while walking away from our broke-down 944 on Thursday, but I guess it ended up on the cutting room floor. Alas, so much for my 15 seconds of fame. Maybe it's not all my fault, a simple electrical failure just lacks excitement, it would have been much more dramatic if we'd been kicking bits of crankshaft into the weeds.

In reply to ZOO: "From everything I've read about the Targa (and I haven't been, yet), and the times I've talked to relatives in NFLD (including Greenspond!), I know what a fantastic event it is."

If you have relatives in Greenspond, you are Targa Royalty! That stage is wonderful. The first year they ran it, I nearly collected the Post Office at a 90-left -- not something I wanted on my resume. I suspect Millen had to fold the mirrors in to get through some of the laneways (at 60mph!).

Just got some amazing footage of the Sprongl A2 quattro in anger on the Gander stage.

You just have to love this:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=352501732399&ref=nf

Mepham wrote: If you have relatives in Greenspond, you are Targa Royalty! That stage is wonderful. The first year they ran it, I nearly collected the Post Office at a 90-left -- not something I wanted on my resume. I suspect Millen had to fold the mirrors in to get through some of the laneways (at 60mph!).

I wish I were Targa Royalty. Sadly the timing doesn't work for me and my occupation. Oh well, only 15 more years before retirement. Let's hope a great thing is not ruined by then.