The thrill of the chase and split-second precision go on display Saturday as Nakusp gears up to host the Targa Tabula Rasa on Saturday, May 14.
Latin for “blank slate,” the Tabula Rasa is the first step towards a multi-day adventure tourism style competition for the region.
Essentially a pilot for what could become a seven-day endurance race, the event will introduce Targa racing to the area. A rally and expo as well as a Rotary pancake breakfast prior to the race’s start is open to the public, set from 8-10:30 a.m. at the Arena in Nakusp.
The event was originally set to include a closed-road flat-out race on Nakusp Hot Springs Road, but organizers ran into time constraints, said event CEO Duane Bentley.
“We couldn’t finalize the road closure agreement with the government. They said they will, but just not on such short notice,” he said.
“We made the choice to remove the application -- it made more sense to focus on the community event and the navigational aspect, and we’ll look forward to getting the performance closure in the future,” he said.
“The original reason we came to Nakusp was on the recommendation of Don Desandoli, because the hot springs road is twisty and there’s not that many businesses on it,” Bentley said.
“Having a race in a community that is supportive makes sense,” he said.
The advantage to having the race on public roads and on tarmac is to have it where spectators can view it more easily, he said.
The precision race is still on. It will lead as many as 50 participants from Nakusp through New Denver and Kaslo.
“It will be more visible, and people outside the area will get to see more of what this area has to offer,” said Jennifer Daly, director of operations for the event.
Competition director Keith Morison said the hot springs road remains appealing for future events.
“It’s got a good character -- there’s lots of challenge driving on it, but it’s extremely easy to control and to make it safe because of a lack of side roads and other stakeholders on the road,” Morison said.
The tarmac opens some unique doors, he said.
“It opens up rallying to a different community. There are racers out there who don’t like idea of what gravel can do to their car. For road racers with exotic race cars or older models, tarmac is easier on the cars,” he said.
As of Friday, the planned route was to go up and down Hot Springs Road, to go to New Denver, then on to Kaslo for lunch, finishing back at the Nakusp Hot Springs in the evening.
That’s 250 kilometres in one day, a grueling race of hairpin turns when precise timing is the key.
The race is divided into “transits” - stretches with generous point allowances, and “regularity sessions” where drivers are given average speeds to travel at and hidden checkpoints. The drivers are penalized for every second they’re off their time.
The times are carefully set after organizers drive the distance several times to determine where they can set “average” speeds for competitors.
The fastest average speed they can set is 10 percent below the speed limit.
“This isn’t about racing -- we get complains about going too slow,” he said.
Racers and volunteers will participate from around Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
The cars will have racing decals on them.
Adventurer and rally Driver Mark Jennings-Bates will be competing in the Targa Tabula Rasa.
He is expected to race in a 2004 Subaru STi.
Jennings-Bates is an “Ambassador” for Rally4Life a Canadian Registered Charity that is currently raising $4 million to save 200,000 lives with the provision of safe water in developing countries. Mark will be participating in international race events this year to raise awareness for the Rally4Life project and will be attempting an aviation Guinness World Record in the spring of 2012.
He said he drives through the Kootenays on business but he’s never raced here.
“Nakusp is a beautiful town -- we’ve come through several times. It’s a lovely part of the world, absolutely delightful,” he said.
“It would be a perfect host environment for an international race,” he said.
“We usually race on gravel, more on back-country forest roads we close for the event. The exciting thing (about the Nakusp race) is that we’ll be on tarmac as well, so that will be a different kind of event for me,” the Peachland resident said.
“As much as it may be a car race or adventure, it ends up being a tremendous social gathering with lots of camaraderie and fine dining, and it helps the local community in terms of economic development,” Jennings-Bates said.
Bentley said response to plans for the Targa Tabula Rasa has been gratifying.
“We’re just amazed by the support … We couldn’t get community support for it in the Okanagan, but I think there’s unanimous support (here),” he said.
Among Targa races, there are six performance events and 12 navigational events in Western Canada each year.
For additional information, go to Targacanadawest.com
Targa Tabula Rasa Event Schedule: Saturday May 14
8am-11am Nakusp Arena
Car Show and Community Breakfast, hosted by Nakusp Rotary Club and Kal Tire.
There will be a full charity breakfast and car show on Saturday morning. Come down to the arena to meet the drivers and navigators and view the ceremonial start. Cars will begin leaving for the rally at 10:30am.
2-3:30pm (approximate) Front St, Kaslo
The rallyists will spend an hour in Kaslo for lunch.
5pm (approximate) Nakusp Municipal Hot Springs, Nakusp
Competitors will be arriving at the Nakusp Hot Springs for their final control of the day, which ends with an informal car show and hot springs soak.
Community Information Online
www.targacanadawest.com/community.html