By: JAMES BRESNEHAN on April 15, 2008
Original Article: MERCURY, THE (HOBART)

BY the time Targa finishes on Sunday, its competitors and officials will be running on empty thanks to long days, numerous social occasions and 2000km of competition.

But even before Targa kicked off with the prologue in George Town today, event director Mark Perry was out of gas — thanks to his work car.

Perry did not even make it out of the driveway of his hotel when his car conked out yesterday. He was sprung pushing it to the side of the road and trying to hitch a ride.

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AN incredible $8.5 million worth of automotive ambrosia turned up at Symmons Plains yesterday to take Targa sponsors and VIPs for a spin.

The showcase included the $1.5 million Pagani Zonda supercar, a $500,000 Porsche GT2, two $400,000 Lamborghini Gallardos, a $200,000 Nissan GT-R, and two $190,000 Mustang Saleens from the US.

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Surely a motoring writer fresh to our shores would want to drink in all that is Targa Tasmania on arrival.

Not Peter Hall of the UK’s The Daily Telegraph.

He went straight to Aurora Stadium on Sunday to see the battle between Hawthorn and Adelaide — his first live taste of AFL footy, having been an avid viewer of Aussie Rules on TV back home in England.