Below, we ask Gerard about what makes the Targa so special.
Q: How was the drive this year? A: I was in one ofManuel's Alfas , and it was really fast. It’s not a race, and we all try very hard not to make any trouble, but we’re all hauling ass, too! I took many of these pictures doing 80–90 MPH, but most of the time it’s serious “both-hands-on-the-wheel” type driving—you’ve got to pay attention and know what you’re doing. I was going to bring a Duetto Spider, but my friend Manuel was concerned about stone chips on its low nose—he convinced me to take his Berlina and “beat the hell out of it”.
Q: It certainly sounds like you did just that. What’s the atmosphere of the event like? A: Fun, friendly, non-competitive. Everyone’s there to have a good, relaxing time, and no one’s snooty or rude—everyone’s approachable. That said, the driving’s quite “spirited”…you have to be quick to keep up.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about the Targa? A: The beautiful scenery. It changes every five miles—you pass through desert roads, mountain roads, valleys, woods, plains, fields, the cliffs of PCH , and even through snow all in the same day.
Q: What’s the coolest car you’ve seen among the entrants? A: That’s a good question. There are so many cool cars it’s hard to say, but my favorites are the little Mini Coopers, E-types, and old Beemers, especially the 3.0 CS’s and 2000’s. There was an amazing 911 RSR replica this year as well.
Q: What’s your favorite memory this year? A: Our stop at Canepa was incredible. The collection is amazing, so many great cars on display it’s almost overwhelming. I didn’t know where to look first. In past years we’ve visited a Warbird museum where the guy has a few cars on display too, that was very cool but not in the same league as Canepa.
Q: Any advice for potential Targa first-timers? A: No, not really. It’s a relaxed, fun kind of event. There are no secret rules—just don’t be an asshole, don’t be an idiot, we don’t want any wrecks or negative attention. I recommend anyone drive their car for about a week prior to the event, and drive it hard. Change the oil, check the tires, get it all shaken down and ready to be driven at a steady 4,000 RPM almost non-stop. Don’t just take it out of storage and change the oil, that’s not enough. But to sum it up, have fun, be cool.
