Targa to Sicily

[juicersr]

The run was all too brief, and ended with a group of guys doing final checks and smoking cigarettes before the first stage at the bend in the Targa route as it headed to Caltavaturo away from Montemaggiore. We pulled up and parked, and Antonio went over and spoke with the co-pilot of the Martini RS we had been following, who, as it turns out it was his nephew. Couldn't resist the shameless photo op and yet more pix of these great cars in such a beautiful and historic setting...

[av winans]

Originally Posted by t6dpilot

Now that is VERY cool! I think I would have hung out there for a little bit.

Aaron, the 69's will roll in Europe.

Hell yes let the 69s roll or 914 whatever is running.

[juicersr]

Originally Posted by av winans

Hell yes let the 69s roll or 914 whatever is running.

Just be prepared for the rockstar attention you'll get everywhere. With a 914 in the group, you may need a police escort through towns, as they are really rare over here.

[juicersr]

As i found out last year, Hillclimbing Sicilian Style - Taste of the Targa Florio there are few things more enjoyable than sitting on a hillside in the warm Sicilian sun, munching on a prosciutto and provolone pannini, drinking 'vino locale', hanging with 'paisano', and watching vintage racecars driven at speed through the countryside. If they happen to be 911's, even better. In Sicily, whole families come out for the day, as events like the Targa rally take on the same importance as going to church and watching football in the afternoon. Unlike in the US, where vendors serve greasy microwave corndogs, and $hitty fried dough or some other crappy product, along with overpriced watered down bud light (if you're lucky), here you have a choice of fresh fruit, olives or salami, proscuitto, parma or veal panninis, accompanied by your choice of wine, beer, cappucchino or espresso, if you prefer good sir. They have truly refined and elevated watching motorsports to a fine art.

It was in this setting Saturday morning that Antonio and I feasted our senses on all that is wonderful about motorsports in general, and vintage racing in particular... the smell of newly combusted race gas mixed with the aroma of burned rubber. The cacophany of revving engines followed by squealing of tires as the LSDs hook up. The shrieking and wailing of motors reverberating off the hillsides as drivers cane them to their limit. The different mechanical symphonies, from our beloved flat-6's, to webbered OHC 4s, to raucous, raw and phenomenal Italian V6s.... all making their beautiful music. Surely, there are few better ways to spend a day.

'Would you like an espresso before your run, senore?'


It doesn't get any better than this... turn up your speakers
YouTube - Caccamo 053
YouTube - Caccamo 054
YouTube - Caccamo 055

The 3 liter class
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upn9YsUo3Po
YouTube - Caccamo 056
YouTube - Caccamo 343
YouTube - Caccamo 348
YouTube - Caccamo 339


The fantastic 2 liter class
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq2jj3q3d14
YouTube - Caccamo 057
YouTube - Caccamo 344
YouTube - Caccamo 347


The Lancia Stratos... any questions?
YouTube - Caccamo 345

[t6dpilot]

Now that just made the hair on the back on my neck stand up. Very, very nice... I love what sounded to be a little boy in one of the video clips shout, "Bella, bella!" I wholeheartedly agree!

[911 tweaks]

I have goose bumps on my neck in addition to the hair on my neck tingling...
Way cool Justin... just wwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy cool!!
Bob

[Rikao4]

?, those flares on the yellow and blue cars..
are those the one out of France that TRE is working on..

Rika

[juicersr]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

?, those flares on the yellow and blue cars..
are those the one out of France that TRE is working on..

Rika

Yes.

They were on the blue and white car as well, and looked quite nice.

[juicersr]

Originally Posted by t6dpilot

Now that just made the hair on the back on my neck stand up. Very, very nice... I love what sounded to be a little boy in one of the video clips shout, "Bella, bella!" I wholeheartedly agree!

Yeah, that little kid about 8 or so was hilarious, and he actually knew his cars. He was shouting 'Porshaa, Porshaa' as the different 911's went by, but when the Stratos appeared, he actually yelled 'Ferraree! Ferraree!' LOL, they teach them well in Sicily!

[juicersr]

With the events of the past two days fresh in my mind, i decided that there was only one thing left to do on what was my last day in Sicily, and that was to run the old route of the Targa Florio. I felt that i had experienced so much of the passion and history of the race, that this was the only way that i could end the trip. One last run, on what was once one of the world great racetracks, in a car not only named after the race, but one that had dominated it until the end.

So, with the girlfriend and Caccamo still fast asleep, i woke up early Sunday morning at sunrise and went and fired up the old SC. While she warmed up, i walked around and looked at all the road grime, brake dust and exhaust soot on the tail and decided that yes, this was indeed the only fitting way for her to end the trip.

So, with exhaust resonating off empty cobblestone streets, i headed out to meet the Targa. Ever since i had been interested in Porsche, i had heard of this race, this 'Targa Florio' with which the history of the marque had been inextricably intertwined. Now, i would finally get to drive the route. Would there be anything left or signs of the old race? Would it be anything remotely similar to pix and vids i had seen? I would trace the entire route of the Targa, starting at just before Cerda, winding up to Caltavuturo, then down to Scillato and through Collesano, with a final run straight down the mountains to Campofelice di Roccella

All this floated through my head as i drove through the beautiful Sicilian countryside at dawn. The landscape of the island is particularly striking at dawn and sunset, with farmers doing what they have been doing since Roman times. Being so close to the ocean, there is a thick mist which enshrouds the landscape and mountains around Caccamo at sunrise that i find particularly picturesque.




Sunrise on the road to the Targa



At first it looked like it was going to be a clear day, but the weather can change quickly on Sicily, and clouds rolled in and drops fell as i finally arrived at the starting line where i had been the last two days. Being sunday morning, the road was pretty much deserted as I wound my way up the first part of the route, just as i had the day before. I wasn't able to push it very hard, as the road was fairly slick from the light rain.

From this 1973 documentary YouTube - Targa Florio 1973 documentario francese 3 parte, you will see that the main obstacles back then were farm animals and slow moving traffic... the road looks like it was in excellent shape. However, the main thing slowing you down on the Targa Florio road today, is the presense of numerous cracks, dips and irregularities in the road due to the instability of the soil in the regions. There had been a lot of rain recently, and this compounded the problem.
Other than that tho, the road is THE same road as that on which the Targa was last run 36 years ago. More building have been built in some parts, but not many, and if you look at pix and vids from the 60's/70's, most of the same features are still there, as i found out.

Through Cerda at not quite the speed as the day before or the Ferrari pilot in the video


Drizzle on the first stretch between Cerda and Caltavaturo


And then, magically, the rain and clouds dissipated and the sun came out and a great stretch opened up and i was able to really drive. The road truly is stunning, with the Madonie mountains all around you and getting closer

The route to Calatavuturo in the tracks of Elford, Mueller, and all the greats...

[juicersr]

More great road...



Had to stop for some pix, as the setting and scenery was just too inspiring. How did these guys keep their eyes on the road during the race with such incredible beauty around them?




Some race tape on the guardrail from the day before... the Targa still lives in spirit.




One of my favorite shots of the trip as the route neared Caltavuturo


As the road gets closer to Caltavuturo, the route gets more demanding, with multipe switchbacks and tight turns, as this Porsche archive film with great footage but completely cheezy music shows 908's winding up the same road.
YouTube - Targa Florio 1970 - Porsche 908/03 #12




Then, just before Caltavuturo, the road turns, and you are on the leg which heads across to Collesano. This surely must have been one of the favorite legs of the Targa for most drivers, cause it sure as hell was one of mine... a mix of sweepers and gentle turns that really lets u get some speed...except for the dips and ruts, as you see in the vid
YouTube - Caccamo 360

[TRE Cup]

following this from the beginning

fantastic voyage!!!

thank you very much

[juicersr]

Racetracks don't come much more scenic than this...



The road to Collesano


Just outside of Collesano, i passed this old building still proudly emblazoned with Ferrari pilot (and the master of ceremonies at this weekends event) 'Nino' Vaccarella's name... proof that memory of the Targa is still alive and well after 36 years.


The town of Collesano is where many of the great photos of cars in the Targa Florio were taken, including one that has vivdily stuck in my mind over the years of an RSR rounding a corner in '73.


I entered Collesano, and wound through town on the route. Then suddenly, rounding the corner, there i was in the exact same spot.


Look closely at the race grafitti on the building in the right side of the above pix from 1973, and then look closely at the building in the background of this pix... it was still there after 36 years.


As much as i wanted to linger in such a great spot, i had to move on, as my car idling in the road was waking the neighbors who started poking their heads out of windows just like in the pix from '73

[juicersr]

The road from Collesano leading down to Campofelice was just brilliant, with a mixture of curves and straights...
YouTube - Caccamo 362



But it had started to rain again, and by this time in the morning, more traffic and farmers were on the road, so my fun was cut short.

When i got down to Campofelice, the road shown in so many vids of cars racing through the center of town YouTube - Targa Florio 1973 documentario francese 1 parte (BTW, some excellent footage in this vid of RSR's in the race), was actually a one way during the day, so i just skirted the town.

Whereas during the Targa, the boyz would scream along the coastal SS, this road was cluttered, so i hit the Autostradale for one last 120mph blast back to the turnoff to Termini and Caccamo. As i passed the exit for Cerda, i saluted all those who had made the Targa Florio the amazing event that it was.

[juicersr]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

following this from the beginning

fantastic voyage!!!

thank you very much

My pleasure and you guys are welcome.

BTW, just finished reading about your TdF ST re-creation in Excellence on the flight home... simply stunning work of art.

[911Freak]

What an amazing journey you're having! We're all green with envy

Thanks for taking the time to journal this epic adventure for all of us...seriously

We are all with you in spirit!!!

Safe travels and keep it coming!


From one 911Freak to another, I salute you!!

[MikeD930]

That's one great ending salute to Targa. I know you would make a great guide for whoever visits Sicily or Europe. Hint...hint!

[juicersr]

911Freak, thanks bro, thought it was the least i could do for all that the Pelican board given me over the years. Love your sig quote BTW, its what i live by.

Mike, yeah, i thought was the only way i could end this great road trip. Are you coming to Okturbofest? Would love to see that sweet ride. As for guiding in Europe, who knows what the future will bring... Definately will be at LeMans classic next year tho, and would love to get together with some of you guys then.

[pkracer21j]

Justin, your Targa Run post has sent chills over me! Epic man!

[Par911]

Great thread and nice job with the write up! It is truly an inspiring story.