Should Targa Tasmania be scrapped? Debate rages again after another race tragedy

[one five five]

Presumably some Targa events may seek AASA sanctioning going forward?

[Casper]

Originally Posted by one five five

Presumably some Targa events may seek AASA sanctioning going forward?

AASA might regret that if they tried it. I expect the Tasmanian event ran out of political will power from the state government and and Motorsport Australia nee CAMS have a history of knee jerk reactions in relation to Rally style events and that is understandable when fatalities occur and headlines are written. When rallies were very popular within the car clubs of NSW CAMS decided to ban them and about three thousand people turned up to the meeting at the ARDC clubrooms in Norton Street Leichardt and caused the street to be closed. I doubt we will ever see that again but it was a fun night.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by one five five

Presumably some Targa events may seek AASA sanctioning going forward?

They may well do. Think that from memory AASA sanctioned Mt Buller Sprint and Classic Adelaide road rally previously, don't know if they still sanction any, or rallying at all.

Don't think that it'd work for Tasmania though, as I think that Motorsport Australia is part of the promoter agreement (again based on an admittedly cloudy memory).

Of course, Motorsport Australia has not said that it won't sanction such events in the future (despite mainstream media over-reaction) but have instead said that sanctioning such events has been suspended whilst a review is conducted (don't know how long that'll take).

Have to say that with 4 deaths in two years they had to do something like that, simply had to.

[GreenMachine]

I have a memory AASA sanctioned TT quite some while back.

Agree, they had to do something. Given the terrain, big accidents are a given in the TT. After last year's enquiry, this again, tells me that the event may not be salvageable in its current form.

So what can prevent the deaths? And what has brought about the spate of deaths? Has there been some regulatory changes which have encouraged more risk taking? What changes were implemented from the review after last year's accidents? Why did they not prevent this year's fatal accident? Questions for MA and TasGov to ponder. But I won't be surprised if TT has been run for the last time.

[gts300]

Australian Tarmac Rally run a number of events in Victoria under AASA sanction. They are running the Snowy River Sprint this weekend. (aside, you may have seen their signs trackside at Winton this weekend).

In the past few days I have seen a comment from the organisers of Targa West who have been caught by the MA ban for an event on June 11th that they had attempted to obtain AASA sanction but in light of the MA ban those insurers were not in a position to cover the event. (unable to find any detail now, but with the Targa West organisers working on te ARC event this weekend more detail may not be forthcoming until later in the week.)

Targa Tasmania had implemented all of the recommendations of last years MA Investigatory Tribunal, I wonder if that tribunal had the right input and if it answered the wrong questions.

I'm sure we are long off hearing the outcomes of this latest incident/event cancellation. Both MA and TT are doing themselves no favours by keeping their competitor base in the dark at the moment.

[GreenMachine]

Originally Posted by gts300

Both MA and TT are doing themselves no favours by keeping their competitor base in the dark at the moment.

If there is nothing to be said (yet), they can't make stuff up.

I think you are seriously underestimating the sporting and political implications of the latest fatality, coming at the earliest opportunity after a major investigation of previous fatalities and the implementation of the ensuing recommendations. It gives the impression that event is unsuitable for that environment, and/or that Australian motorsport is incapable of running safe targa style events there.

I'm sure that MA and the organisers will speak up when there is something to be said, in the meantime take a chill pill, and learn to exercise patience.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by Tourer

Have to say that with 4 deaths in two years they had to do something like that, simply had to.

Deaths in rallying is not a new thing, a blanket ban on tarmac rallies is ridiculous. Most definitely another investigation should happen, but blanket bans sends the wrong message and goes against motorsports “the show must go on” history.

Rallying in general has a threatened future going by the official reaction to this.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by one five five

Deaths in rallying is not a new thing, a blanket ban on tarmac rallies is ridiculous. Most definitely another investigation should happen, but blanket bans sends the wrong message and goes against motorsports “the show must go on” history.

Rallying in general has a threatened future going by the official reaction to this.

There is of course no blanket ban - merely suspension whilst investigation / review is held - nothing has been banned.

Rallying in general has had a threatened future for decades and these days is run in far more restricted and controlled situations than it was in the past - doesn't mean that rallying (including targa style events) won't exist but they way they are run and the roads used may change.

[GreenMachine]

It will be interesting to see what follows from the TT this year, is it five or six deaths, the latest a father and son in a sidecar combination.

[Casper]

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[Casper]

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[Casper]

I will have another go now. The first part of this video which came out today tells it from a competitor view point and how grim the TT can really be. The second part deals with a bu**ered McLaren engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B25M...EPerformanceUK

[Kingair]

Jungle drums are beating that the event, if it run’s next year will be with ten or twenty selected drivers and signposted speed limits observed.

[GreenMachine]

Sounds like a lot of fun. Not.

Unless they are talking about that for the bulk of the field, and a few people at the pointy end of selected class/es compete at full noise.

[275 GTB-4]

Motorsport is Dangerous?