Targa West
Encyclopedia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. The event takes its name from the Targa Florio
Targa Florio
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 and 1973...
, a former motoring event held on the island of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, as well as more recent Australian events including Targa Tasmania
Targa Tasmania
Targa Tasmania is a tarmac-based rally event held on the island state of Tasmania, Australia, annually since 1992. The event takes its name from the Targa Florio, a former motoring event held on the island of Sicily...
, now defunct East Coast Targa, Targa New Zealand
Targa New Zealand
The Targa New Zealand is a tarmac rally held annually on public roads throughout the North Island of New Zealand. The main Targa each year begins in the last week of October and is a week-long event which covers around 1500 km of touring and 750 km of closed special stages...
and Classic Adelaide.
The inaugural event was held in 2005 and won by Ross Dunkerton
Ross Dunkerton
Ross Dunkerton is considered Australia's most successful rally driver to date, originating in Perth, Western Australia. He was previously a councillor for the Town of Bassendean, but moved with his family to Cairns in Far North Queensland in late 2007.Ross is married to his wife Lisa has two...
. Dunkerton also won the 2006 event which ran for four days from 7 September 2006 in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX.
2006
After the official start at Forrest PlaceForrest Place
Forrest Place is a pedestrianised square located within the CBD of Perth, Western Australia. The street was created in 1923, and has a history of being a focal point for significant political meetings and demonstrations.-History:...
in central Perth, special stages were held in John Forrest National Park
John Forrest National Park
John Forrest National Park is a national park in the Darling Scarp, 24 km east of Perth, Western Australia. It was the first national park in Western Australia and the second in Australia after Royal National Park.- Name :...
, Gidgegannup, Araluen, Muchea, Chittering, Bindoon and Toodyay.
76 teams entered in one of two classes: Challenge (cars without roll cage
Roll cage
A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built in the cab of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a roll-over. Roll cages are used in nearly all purpose-built racecars, and in most cars modified for racing...
s) and Competition.
The 2006 event was marred by the death of champion driver Peter Brock
Peter Brock
Peter Geoffrey Brock, AM otherwise known as "Peter Perfect", "The King of the Mountain" or simply as "Brocky" was one of Australia's best-known and most successful motor racing drivers. Brock was most often associated with Holden for almost 40 years, although he raced vehicles of other...
who lost control of the car and smashed into a tree in the second stage of the event near Gidgegannup
Gidgegannup, Western Australia
Gidgegannup is a township northeast of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. The name Gidgegannup comes from a Noongar word meaning "Place where spears are made", and was first recorded by passing surveyors in 1852....
40 km (24.9 mi) north-east of Perth at 11.50am on 8 September 2006. Brock and co-driver Mick Hone were in a 2001 Daytona Sportscar. Hone was taken to hospital and made a recovery.
