July Club Meeting

The July meeting will feature two guest speakers, who both took part in this year’s Targa Tasmania, which was abruptly cancelled after the death of a competitor on the second day.

Blair Healy and his wife Mary competed in their 404, Pedro, entered in the time-speed-distance section of the event.

This meant they had a minimum speed of 30kmh and a maximum of 130.

“We could keep up, but just,” he told Torque.

The open section has a maximum speed of 200kmh and no minimum.

Blair, who spoke to the December meeting last year, came away from the shortened Targa with some controversial views on the way the event is run.

Without flagging what he might say, it is obvious that Blair is concerned about the speeds some relatively inexperienced drivers from interstate are allowed to drive on Tasmania’s roads in autumn.

“The road that accident happened on was a 14-15km mountain climb on a very narrow, slippery road when it was raining,” he said. “You need to be a very experienced driver.”

Some of the roads never dry out.

“The Tasmanians say you need to need to know the road because that climb was through a state forest with trees that overhung the road, with moss on the road and it had been raining. I could feel that in the 404, which is very stable.

“They are very dangerous and the people who tend to come out on top are all Tasmanians.”

The crews had completed eight of the 32 Targa stages when it was called off.

Pedro will be at the July meeting for members to inspect.

Callum O’Callaghan-Daft also took part in the 2022 Targa and he will also tell of his experiences in his 205.

As usual, there will be a free barbecue before the meeting and supper afterwards.

So come along and catch up with your Peugeot friends.

Meetings are held on the first Friday of every month (except January) at the VDC Clubrooms, Unit 8, 41-49 Norcal Road, Nunawading (Melway 48 G10), commencing at 8pm. Visitors are most welcome.