Brian Redman’s Targa 66 is Coming Feb. 21-23

by Cyndi Paceley Share
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EmailPalm Beach, FL — Former racing champion Brian Redman knows that vintage drivers crave a place to drive at speed, especially in the winter months. That’s why he started Targa 66 nearly 29 years ago.



The annual event — coming Feb. 21-23 to Palm Beach International Raceway — is specifically for owners of vintage and modern high performance and collector cars who don’t necessarily wish to race their cars but who enjoy driving at speed under controlled conditions with other like-minded drivers.

It’s an annual membership-based event that provides members (plus one other immediate family member) with 6-8 hours of track time each weekend, plus lunch. A Saturday semi-formal dinner is also on the schedule. Driving instruction from Redman or other professionals is available.

Cars are placed into three groups: Group A is high-performance cars, including IndyCar, IMSA, Ferrari F40, Ford GT40, Lola T70, etc; Group B is for cars of a lower performance or owners who wish to drive at a more moderate pace; Group C is for slower cars, such as Mini Cooper, Fiat Abarth, Porsche 356, Lotus 7,MGB, etc.

Get more information and register now.

 

Targa Sixty Six Rocks It at Palm Beach Int’l.

by D. Randy Riggs Share
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EmailStory by James Redman | Photography by Chuck Anderson

Jupiter, FL—As February drew to a close and Palm Beach prepared for one of the largest golf tournaments in America— the Honda Classic—another group of snowbirds headed south to escape the northern cold.
1961 Ferrari GTO. “Period re-body.” Teft Smith. Photo: Chuck AndersonBrian Redman’s Targa Sixty Six Club descended on Palm Beach International Raceway February 21-23 for its 29th consecutive year of this popular motorsport gathering.
2013 Patron Honda HPD RX. Robert Blain. Photo: Chuck AndersonTarga is a place for motorsport enthusiasts to mingle, swap stories and stretch their legs and those of their cars before the 2020 season gets underway, with more than 100 fantastic cars taking to the track.
1976 March 62 Formula 2. Robert Blain. Photo: Chuck AndersonA cool, rainy Friday morning gave teams and drivers a few minutes longer to prepare before heading out to start three full days of exciting on-track action. Targa Sixty Six is non-competitive track days with cars split into three groups.
1997 Williams FW 19 Formula 1. Ted Zorbas. Williams Heritage team including Jonathan Williams. Photo: Chuck Anderson

 

1997 Williams FW19. 1997 drivers and constructors champion with Jacques Villeneuve. Ted Zorbas. Photo: Chuck AndersonSome of the quickest cars in attendance included recent Formula 1 and LMP cars. Most notably a 1997 Jacques Villeneuve, Rothmans Williams Renault F1 (’97 Drivers and Manufacturers World Champions) taking to the track supported by the Williams F1 Heritage team from the UK, led by Sir Frank Williams’ son, Jonathan. Brad Hollinger was also in attendance with his F1 Benetton and Jordan with Tommy Byrne taking a few laps in the latter. Greg Galdi brought his ex-Redman/Merzario Ferrari 312 PB, McLaren Senna and BMW E46 GTR.
1985 Porsche 962 003. The most successful factory 962 including winning Le Mans. Tommy Byrne/Malcolm Ross also 2020 McLaren Senna GTR. Malcolm Ross. Photo: Chuck AndersonIn contrast to the banshee wail of the Formula 1 engines, three UOP Shadow Can-Am cars shook the ground with their thunderous American V8s. More modern cars included longtime Targa member Malcolm Ross in a McLaren Senna GTR and his slightly older and historically significant factory Rothmans Porsche 962. New to Targa, experienced historic competitor Bob Blaine joined Targa stalwart Joe Hish, with a pair of Honda HPD LMP2 cars, Scott Sharp coming to offer advice.
1962 Stanguellini Formula Jr. Joe Colasacco. Photo: Chuck AndersonJoe Colasacco has always brought magnificent cars here, thrilling all in attendance driving Lawrence Auriana’s superb 1965 Ferrari 1512 1.5 liter F1 (with which he has won at the Goodwood Revival) and 1962 Stanguellini F2.
“Leonidis” 1935 MG PA/PB. 1935 Le Mans class winner. REVS Institute. Driver Gunnar Jeannette. Photo: Chuck Anderson

 

1969 Porsche 917 PA. The first Porsche Can-Am car. REVS Institute. Gunnar Jeannette. Photo: Chuck Anderson1967 Porsche 911R factory car. 1969 winner of the Tour de France with Gerrard Larrousse. REVS Institute. Gunnar Jeannette. Photo: Chuck AndersonOne of the true stars of the weekend was in Group C, with the appearance of Miles Collier’s supercharged 1935 MG PA/PB, “Leonidis,” arguably the most famous prewar MG in America. Originally it was one of three MGs in Captain George Eyston’s “Dancing Daughters” female class-winning team for Le Mans in 1935. In 1938 Miles and Leonidis won outright the ARCA’s “Round the Houses” race at Alexandria Bay. The year following, at the wheel of Leonidis, Miles became the first American in a decade to race at Le Mans. The REVS Institute also brought a Porsche 911R, 718 RSK, 910/6 and 917 PA, all being exercised by Gunnar Jeannette.
1972 Brabham BT38 Formula 2. Paul Skilowitz. Photo: Chuck AndersonTarga events are known for the gathering of friends and racing legends at the Saturday evening dinner. Guest speaker Australian James Davison had guests hanging on his every word as he shared his family racing history and his plans for this year in NASCAR and IndyCar. Divina Galicia MBE and Derek Bell MBE added to the fun as they, Brian Redman and Targa members swapped tale tales.
1973 Alfa Romeo T33/3. Joe Nastassi. Photo: Chuck Anderson

 

Simeone Museum Spirit of Competition Award Honoring Brian Redman

by VM Staff Photo: Steve HavelockThe Simeone Museum’s Spirit of Competition Award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions in the world of motorsports. This year’s recipient, Brian Redman, has won nine sports-car road-racing championships over his 60 years of competition. He will be honored at the Spirit of Competition Award ceremony on December 1 at the Simeone Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Redman was chosen for his achievements on behalf of the sport and his dedication to excellence in racing, both on and off the track, exemplifying what it means to be a Champion.

Brian Redman is the only driver to win three straight championships in SCCA Formula 5000 and has raced in nearly every category of sports-car racing, including Formula One. The Englishman began racing in the 1960s and collected his first major championship—the 1970 South African Springbok Series title—while driving a BMW-powered Brabham. Brian went on to dominate the SCCA Formula 5000 (FF) Series in the mid-1970s, scoring three consecutive titles (1974-1976) driving a Lola T332 Chevrolet.

Redman also drove a Lola T530 to victory in the 1981 IMSA Camel GT race at Riverside International Raceway. Brian is considered to be one of the greatest British endurance racers in the history of the sport. In addition to his four victories at Spa-Francorchamps, Brian has overall wins in the 1970 Targa Florio, the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1975 and 1978, has been a three-time winner at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and holds three class victories at Le Mans.



Brian retired as a pro driver following the 1989 season, but still continues to race, although these days he prefers to complete in vintage and historic events. Brian also keeps himself busy through his management of the Targa 66 Club, which organizes races around the country for the owners of high-end and high-performance sports racing cars. In 2016, Brian authored a memoir with Jim Mullen titled “Brian Redman: Daring Drivers, Deadly Tracks,” which portrays a vivid account of his varied racing exploits.

In 2002 Brian was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 201