2006 TARGA TASMANIA

Daytona Sports Cars first event with Peter Brock was a real insight into what Peter went threw as a celebrity driver, and how amazingly he dealt with his fame. Every stop he made in the car, his first priority was his fans. Immediately he would take out a pen and start signing autographs. Any technical talk was done during photo's and signings. It was also as if the The Coupe was having it's official unveiling. Although the car had competed in Targa Tasmania many times before, and had finished in the top 5 twice, with Peter in the driver's seat, all eye's were on Brocky's Daytona as if it were being driven for the first time.

April 25th 2006 - Prologue
Peter and Mick finished the Prologue 6th fastest, with a time of 2:56:40 only 6.2 seconds behind fastest qualifier Jim Richards. Unfortunately, an inappropriate choice of tyres meant that Peter was going to have to be very careful to conserve his tires for the remainder of the event.

April 26th Leg 1
Mathew Flinders Northern Loop

A 316km Launceston to Launceston route, with a total of 59.4 competitive kilometres. Peter and Mick had a solid day, only a spin on the final stage to slow them down. They finished the day 7th Outright, 35 seconds behind the leaders.

Entally =1st
High Plains =1st
Moriarty =1st
Devonport 9th
Nook =1st
Sheffield 7th
Quamby Brook =1st
Longford =1

April 27th Leg 2
The Captain Nicolas Baudin North Eastern Trundle

451km Launceston to Hobart, with 73.89 competitive kilometres to run over nine Targa stages. Peter and Mick put in a wonderful day, moving up to 5th place overall.

The Sideling =15th
Legerwood =6th
Weldborough Pass =8th
St Marys Pass =5th
Elephant Pass 6th
Cranbrook =1st
Triabunna =1st
Grasstree Hill 1st
(2 seconds quicker than
Richards in 2nd place)
Bonnet Hill=1st

April 28th Leg 3
Bruny D'Entrecasteaux Southern Loop

The southern loop saw Peter and Mick travel from Hobart back to Hobart, a 198km round trip, with 59.4km of timed competition. Peter and Mick dropped back a little today, finishing equal 7th.

Howden =5th
Oyster Cove 7th
Woodbridge Reverse =11th
Flowerpot Reverse =14th
Cygnet Short 16th
Longley 10th
Ridgeway Park 8th

April 29th Leg 4
George Bass North West Challenge

Day 4 is said to be where Targa is won or lost, as competitors make the 485km journey from Hobart to Burnie, clocking up 110.09 Targa kilometres Sadly for Peter, Mick and the Team, Day 4 would mark the loss of a potential podium finish, as gearbox failure meant that Peter had to drive the final 2 Targa stages in only 4th gear.

Colebrook =1st
Ross Reverse =1st
Symmons Plains =7th
Mole Creek Long 10th
Cethana 15th
Gunns Plains =10th
South Riana Short =23rd
Natone =15th
Hellyer Gorge =21st

Peter and Mick limped into Park Ferme that night, faced with the prospect of having to drive a full day with only one gear. Team boss Richard Bendell left it up to Pete to decide if he wanted to pack up or press on.

It was with some surprise that Peter explained 'We came here to drive, let's keep going'. When most professional drivers would have certainly retired from the event, if placed in a situation such as Peter's, it was a thrill for the team, and a credit to the man, that he would persevere.

April 30th Leg 5
Abel Tasman West Coast Enduro

The final day of Targa Tasmania 2006 saw competitors make the 515km journey from Burnie back to Hobart. 145.27 competitive kilometres stuck with only 4th gear was an unenviable situation for Peter Brock and his first time navigator Mick Hone, but amazingly, they posted some incredibly quick times, and lost only a few positions, finishing the event 12th Outright, from 123 Modern starters.

Mt Black =14th
Rosebery =1st
Strahan 13th
Queenstown =40th
Mt Arrowsmith 22nd
Tarraleah =30th
Ellendale =1st
New Norfolk =1st
Total Penalty Time (hh.mm.ss) 00:20.48
Outright Position 12th
Category Position 9LMS 8th
Class Position 9LMSD 7th
Targa Trophy achieved

For the Daytona Sports Cars team, Targa Tasmania 2006 was a supremely enjoyable experience. Despite finishing a little further down in the final standings than expected, a Top 15 result is still some achievement, particularly given the tyres and gearbox problems. As most Targa Tasmania competitors will tell you, just finishing the event is something to be proud of.