I have owned my 1968 Triumph TR5 since autumn 2003, having bought it from my brother. Since 2004 I have raced it in historic events, mostly the Historic Roadsports Championship run by the Historic Sports Car Club in the UK, but occasionally venturing into Europe ... this time we're going a bit further. Why?
In 2006 I convinced my wife to accompany me, as Navigator, on a Road Rally in Sicily celebrating the Centenary of the famous Targa Florio road race. Little did we know that we would find out she was pregnant on the very night before we were due to fly out ... anyway the event went well, having never rallied before we actually placed 5th overall and 2nd in our Class - largely because the competitive element of that event was pretty mickey mouse - still it was good fun, we got lots of shiny trophies, and a nice suntan. I shan't forget the last day on the road though, 14 hours in the car, three times up and down Mt Etna on various tiny roads, and some of it with the roadbook on my knees, navigating myself as Nic had fallen asleep as she was just starting to suffer from morning sickness ... she won't forget it either ... someone else is navigating for me this time! (In case you were wondering, Emily is 4 today, and doesn't seem to have suffered from this unusual start to life!)
Whilst we were in Sicily we befriended a group of Australian motorsport enthusiasts who were following the event ... one of them, Scotty Taylor, enthused about an event with 'proper' road-racing that was run in his home state ... my dream of competing in the Targa Tasmania was born there and then ...
A lot has happened between now and then, an abbreviated history will follow soon ...
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