Targa California Article

This was written for Car Clubs but I felt it should also be here.

My visit to L.A. for Targa California was inspired by the offer of David Bouzaglou of TRE Motorsports to dedicate Targa California 2012 to my wife Lisa when she passed away on October 26^th 2011. Lisa had made a great number of friends in the USA during her 3 visits and her participation on the Early S and Pelican forums. The response to the news of Lisa’s passing was, to say the least, overwhelming and at the same time re-assuring.

 

Our friend Chuck Miller offered to host me for the week plus take me on Targa California. I arrived in L.A. just after 7.00a.m. Sunday 8^th April. Chuck was waiting for me at LAX, the first thing he did was take me to the Woodland Hills cars and coffee (similar to Breakfast club). Then back to Chuck’s house to unpack and a little rest. The afternoon saw us head off to the Little Tujunga Canyon and a taste of what I would be in for, lots of fun, in a car that works well, and is driven well. Sunday night we dined with Chris and Leila Tallon, who Lisa had spoken fondly of, and I had been in contact with Chris, it was like a reunion of old friends a very relaxed time with good conversation.

The tone was set for the next three days of touring through the nearby Hills and Canyons, and visiting a number of people, places and businesses of interest. The back roads in California are generally well cambered, narrow and in quite good condition, but very undulating. 

Some of the places we visited were TRE Motorsports, TLG Auto, Galpin Ford’s museum/collection, Singer, John Esposito’s panel shop, Dick Gulstrand’s Corvette repair shop. In all we had a very busy few days before the start of Targa.

Wednesday was relatively quiet with an early start on packing and final checking of the car and then an easy night in preparation for an early start in the morning. 

Thursday morning was an early start with everyone meeting at Thousand Oaks for the start of this adventure. I was able meet a few more people I had previously been in contact with, this was a great opportunity to put names to faces! With all the formalities out of the way it time for the start and our first stop was Ojai. Our route was a good mix of roads from straight, twisty and flowing curves with undulating surfaces. At Ojai we stopped off at a private collection where there was a large variety of cars and motorcycles from many eras. The most interesting of these to me was the D type Jaguar which had Victorian Australia registration, I recognized the car as the ex Reg Hunt car (Reg Hunt is a very big car dealer and ex racer). Next stop was Button Willow Raceway, located on the open plains of Button Willow it appears from nowhere like an oasis. I had previously done some study and liked the look of it and was intrigued with the layout and the versatility of it.

Chuck had booked me to drive here and it was really good to be able to sample his car from the driver’s seat and one of California’s racetracks.

The run to Paso Robles was just as enjoyable as the mornings drive. Dinner was at the Pioneer Museum which has a very interesting display of vehicles and memorabilia.

 

Friday, what a day! We awoke to find a wet and dismal day this set the scene for the day. The field was faced with rain, roadside snow, mud, floods everything imaginable. These roads were the pick of the event, and the most challenging and diverse we would face, ranging from super tight and twisty to open and flowing. I have never seen roads like some of these. Australia has very different terrain to California so it proved to be a huge novelty for me! Baja Cantina in Carmel, was our lunch stop this is the ultimate car Pub/eatery, with its décor and atmosphere. The afternoon cleared and the convoy made its way to Monterey and another collection viewing.

 

Saturday, was a short day with the final section of section being the run to the Estrella Warbird Museum for lunch. This proved to be another great drive for most. Dave Bouzaglou really didn’t judge his fuel consumption very well and missed the end by 15 miles! Chuck and I had to do a fuel run for the rescue!

I really must thank Chuck for his hospitality, Dave for his gesture to dedicate Targa to Lisa, and his organization and co-ordination of the event.

A new toy coming

Since attending Targa California I have been re-enthused and inspired to get a fun car again.
My enthusiasm had never wained but a multi use fun car is not the easiest of things to find, in my browsing around the web I found a BMW E36 325i’M’ manual.
So here it is

Seven Days in California Days 2 and 3

Monday 9th April 2012.
A sleep in for me was very welcomed even if it did reduce the available time in the day. Chuck took me up into the Santa Monica Mountains along Stunt road, which is a tight and twisty road that in places opens up into a fast and flowing piece of bitumen winding its way up the lookout at the summit. From the lookout you can see across to the Pacific and Santa Monica, the other direction you look toward Los Angeles across the Canyons and Hills. From the lookout we drove down to the coast road and along the coast. On our return to Chuck’s house we we to visit Dave Bouzaglou at TRE Motorsports, who organizes Targa California.

well this one is self explaintary

looking acoss toward Santa Monica

looking back toward L.A.

The coast road near Santa Monica

The story of the rotor

Ed Roths Rotor

Mysterion again the Hot Wheels car

Ed Roths Mysterion

Reminisant of the Munsters?

Tuesday 10thApril 2012
Today was the day for shopping and more visitations, after lunch we went to Galpin Ford where after looking through the Boutique we managed to be able to look through their collection/museum which had some amazing cars in there from the Ed Roth built Hotrods and custom cars.
The next place to visit was that of TLG Auto, I had met Tony at Woodland Hills, now it was time to meet Marco which was a great experience as we had been in touch previously by email and Facebook. when we did meet it was like old friends being reunited! Across the lane from TLG is the panel shop of Paul Esposito who is a really good guy too and does some sensational work on a variety of cars from a selection of Porsches to a Steyr Puch!

Seven days in California day 1

My reason behind going California for 7 days, as many know, was to honor,the memory of Lisa, by attending Targa California. Targa had been dedicated to her this year thanks to the kind jesture of Dave Bouzaglou from TRE Motorsports who runs the event. A friend, Chuck Miller offered to be my host for the week and we attended Targa California in his 1973 911S.
Chuck met me at LAX just after 7.00 a.m. on 8th April in his very original Chev Malibu and the first place we visited was Woodland Hills Cars and Coffee. There was quite a variety of cars there from an Ultima road car,many Porsches and Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Muscle cars all the way to an electric Sprite and a Toyota Sports 800. The Toyota Sports 800 is a 2 cylinder air cooled flat engined 2 seater.

The front of the Toyota S800

Toyota Sports 800 2 cylinder engine

A monster truck at the traffic lights?

The electric Sprite!

After a rest from the flight, Chuck took me for a drive through the hills around Little Tajunga Canyon to demonstrate the manner in which we would spend much of the time spent in the 911 for the coming week! Dinner that night was had with Chris and Liela Tallon who I had contact with some time ago and it was like seeing old friends.

An afternoon at Murray and Tinnies

After a Weekend of the noise, smells, thrills, and excitement of Phillip Island, it was quite a contrast to spend the afternoon at Murray and Tinnies in their back yard Birch Forest. They had a Harpist playing, and 60 or so friends were invited to soak up the atmosphere. Afternoon tea was had and the conversation flowed after the recital. A very relaxed and friendly time was had by all! The Harp is said to be 160 years old and is a work of art. It was played skillfullyand sounded wonderful, such a contrast from the previous few days.