Condolences Australia Targa Tasmania.

[Bill Douglas]

Tasmania (state in) Australia has a much loved and enjoyed Targa rally. But sadly a Porsche driver has died in the race.



https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/04/28/driver-dies-in-australian-rally-4th-fatality-in-2-years/

[Matt Smith]

Thanks for posting Bill. My thoughts go to the family and friends of the deceased, so sad to die driving in this day and age.

[zelrik911]

Not a Porsche 944
Car was a Lotus Exige. Driver had smacked a curb with the car when competing the previous day.
A good friend had one & got rid of it. These model Lotus are very fragile and have twitchy handling.

"Tony Seymour, a long-time rally enthusiast from Brisbane, has been identified as the man who died in an incident at a rally in Tasmania.

Sandra, Seymour’s wife, was in the front passenger seat of their 2013 Lotus Exige when it crashed on Wednesday afternoon at the Targa Tasmania tarmac rally meet.

When the automobile crashed 20 meters down a steep embankment on an isolated stretch of road in Mount Roland, in the state’s northwest, she was unharmed.

In the same car, he and co-driver Sandra finished second in the rookie category last year, and 22nd overall in the event.

After two rounds of racing prior to the crash, the couple was in second place in the modern car category."

[Tobra]

Must have landed driver's side down, lucky she was not hurt, very lucky.

[sc_rufctr]

This is very bad news. The Targa Tasmania has an appalling safety record.

IMO At some point they'll pull the plug on the whole event.

[LakeCleElum]

Very sad. Thanks for posting Bill.

[Jeff Higgins]

Such sad news. Condolences to their family and friends.

We lost a local vintage racer just this last Saturday, driving a 911 on my "home" race track, Pacific Raceways. I cannot remember the last racer killed on that track, on the road course at least. We lost an NHRA alcohol dragster driver on its drag strip a few years ago.

Stark reminders of the potential dangers we face when playing with these machines. We're all just gearheads trying to have some fun... be careful out there, guys and gals...

Isn't the Targa Tasmania the race in which Eric Bana wrecked his Holden, the one he had owned as a youth, later found, and restored? I watched a program that documented all of that some years ago. I remember there were a couple of cars that were wrecked in addition to Bana's, and they commented then on the dangers of that race.

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

This is very bad news. The Targa Tasmania has an appalling safety record.

IMO At some point they'll pull the plug on the whole event.

It does not have an "appalling safety record", you are misinformed.

There have been six fatals in 30 years. Sadly, three in last years event over 2 days. I can recall at least four in Classic Adelaide over the years.

Tarmac rally is dangerous. No one makes any one do it.

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Isn't the Targa Tasmania the race in which Eric Bana wrecked his Holden, the one he had owned as a youth, later found, and restored? I watched a program that documented all of that some years ago. I remember there were a couple of cars that were wrecked in addition to Bana's, and they commented then on the dangers of that race.

Jeff, there are many - many - cars left worse for wear after tarmac rally events, more in Targa Tas because its so long. Five days, many racing miles. THis years event has now been down graded to a touring event, I imagine the competition class cars will just pack up and go home. The events of the last two years may have destroyed the business model these events operate on.

Bana's "The Beast" was an XB Ford Falcon coupe, and like many big heavy "Classics", understeeered straight off the road. Bana is a Porsche guy, owns many.

[Jeff Higgins]

Thanks Stuart, for your insight on these tarmac rallies "down under".

This reminds me of the situation on the Isle of Man. Yes, it's dangerous. Yet there is a years deep waiting list to be allowed to compete. As you say, no one makes anyone do it.

I watched a very compelling interview with the Chief Minister on the Isle of Man several years ago. That was essentially his message - "nobody makes them do it". He explained how, in a world dominated by the "safety police", the Isle of Man was providing what some men (and women) still seek. If you object, nobody is making you watch. Find something else to do and leave us alone.

It sounds as though there is that same element in your tarmac rallies. "Good on ya, mate."

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

This reminds me of the situation on the Isle of Man.

The big difference is that those guys are completely fkn nutz.

[Jeff Higgins]

Well, yeah...

[sc_rufctr]

As always you've misunderstood what I wrote so I'll try again.

Compared to ANY other Motorsport event the safety record of the Targa Tasmania is appalling.

Originally Posted by stuartj

It does not have an "appalling safety record", you are misinformed.

There have been six fatals in 30 years. Sadly, three in last years event over 2 days. I can recall at least four in Classic Adelaide over the years.

Tarmac rally is dangerous. No one makes any one do it.

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

As always you've misunderstood what I wrote so I'll try again.

Compared to ANY other Motorsport event the safety record of the Targa Tasmania is appalling.

Sure.

But in keeping with your fact free, totally opinionated Sky after dark approach, whatever you do, dont look at the Paris Dakar, Isle of Man, MotoGP or WRC numbers.

Tarmac rally is dangerous. It says so on the ticket.

[Jeff Higgins]

I guess I'll never understand those who decry others' desire to challenge themselves in potentially lethal pursuits. Motor racing seems to attract particular attention in this regard, with the hand-wringing "Karens" demanding others stop doing things that may hurt them. There are countless other pursuits, of course - mountain climbing, scuba diving, hang gliding, running with scissors. It baffles me why anyone else would care, outside of my family and friends - all of whom have discussed these thing with me already and, while maybe not comfortable with my decisions, at least accept them as my decisions. Why an uninvolved third party would try to save me from myself defies me. It must be some kind of a control thing. I cannot imagine having a direct, first person relationship with such an individual. Nor can I imagine it would last very long...

[stuartj]

As some hack writer once said..."“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.” Ofcourse Ernest never saw a wing suit.

It is funny- I think horses kill more people than motorsport each year. But I have no facts to offer in supprt of that statement, so Im in good company crapping on about things I clearly know absolutely nothing about and havent given a nanoseconds thought before flinging open my trap to spout innane nonsense.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I guess I'll never understand those who decry others' desire to challenge themselves in potentially lethal pursuits. Motor racing seems to attract particular attention in this regard, with the hand-wringing "Karens" demanding others stop doing things that may hurt them. There are countless other pursuits, of course - mountain climbing, scuba diving, hang gliding, running with scissors. It baffles me why anyone else would care, outside of my family and friends - all of whom have discussed these thing with me already and, while maybe not comfortable with my decisions, at least accept them as my decisions. Why an uninvolved third party would try to save me from myself defies me. It must be some kind of a control thing. I cannot imagine having a direct, first person relationship with such an individual. Nor can I imagine it would last very long...

I agree. It's about personal freedom. If people know the risks then they should be allowed to do whatever they want.

[Jeff Higgins]

Horses. Dirt bikes. I ride both. When in the company of my equestrian friends, the topic of shared trails in our mountains and woods will, without fail, cover just how destructive those damn dirt bikes are to those trails.

I'm here to tell you, however, that horses are far in a way more damaging. And yes, they injure - and probably kill - more people per hour of exposure than any dirt bike ever will. There is a reason we gave up on them, and sought better. But they are very romantic...

Genghis Khan got killed falling off a horse...

And yes, absolutely - people should be "allowed" to take whatever risks they like in their pursuit of freedom and fulfillment. I say "allowed" in quotation marks because "allowed" implies others have some level of "authority" over others' decisions in this regard. They don't. Thus, "allowed" is probably the wrong word.

[dewolf]

Horses are a-holes. Sister in law has had her boy for 24 years. They know each other well. Still doesn't stop the prick from biting her when he's in a bad mood. Or kicking her in the face. Eight hours of reconstructive surgery later, she still loves him. "Oh he was just having a bad day".....really?? I would've sent the prick off to the dog food factory.

[stuartj]

All tarmac rally events in AU have now been suspended by the governing motorsport body.