remember explaining to him that Tasmania was very much a picture of Newfoundland in that they had a decimated fishery and declining population as a result and that Targa turned things around for a lot of local businesses there. From that point on, we have put somewhere in the neigh- bourhood of – and this depends on how you count it – about 90 million dollars into the province of Newfoundland. This is our 16th year – we call it the Sweet Sixteen. We had our 15th anniversary last year, which was a big year, so this year’s event will be a little smaller, we think. But what’s inter- esting to think about this year is we have eight different nations coming to compete. We have people from Belgium, Monaco, Switzerland, Turks and Caicos, the U.S., and more. Nearly 90 percent of our competitors come in from outside Newfoundland. Over the years, we’ve had as many as 700 different teams here. We’ve covered a lot of roads and a lot of places. I believe that over the years, we’ve run some 690 stages at Targa Newfoundland. “Targa is about people who want to persevere with life.”
Unfortunately, we receive absolutely no assistance or support whatsoever from the government here in New- foundland – totally nothing. I realize it is a tough time for the province, but we are a contributing event in that we bring new ‘found money’ into the province. Businesses that do that should be encouraged and supported. However, it is what it is and despite that we have with everyone’s passion kept the event alive. How many stages are there, Robert, and is there some- thing, a tour, for drivers who are new to rally racing? Well, the first thing I’d like to say to anyone who has concerns is that we are actually sponsored by our insurance company – which is really good. It says a lot about the safety record at Targa Newfoundland. We even run a two-day optional motorsports school before the various tours start. That’s taking place September 7 th and 8 th in Flatrock. We’ve created different ways for people to experience Targa Newfoundland like Grand Touring. We have to be inclusive simply because there are a lot of people who don’t want to tear up their cars by putting roll cages in them – these are drivers who just want to complete the run. The Grand Touring Division is a time-speed- distance rally that runs the same course, the same closed-roads at slower
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AUGUST 2017 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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