Porsche Track Days with Brian Redman

by John Glynn | Aug 22, 2010 | Classic Porsche Blog

James Redman recently whizzed me a mail about the Gathering of Legends Racers Symposium being organised by Brian Redman’s Targa Sixty Six, the team behind Rennsport Reunion.

Brian Redman, third from left with Ferry Porsche & team, 1968 Targa Florio

The idea is to gather a bunch of old racing drivers and race fans for five days in the sun with golf, surfing, sunbathing and whatever else you can do at the Hilton Cancun Golf and Spa Resport down in Mexico. It runs from February 2nd to 7th, 2011 and costs $3450 per couple, or $3200 for a single, with a $500 discount for anyone booked and deposit paid by September 10th. Not bad value if you are into historic racing and a bit of golf. The first 25 bookings get a room upgrade!

Drivers already confirmed are Richard Attwood, Derek Bell, Vic Elford, Hurley Haywood, David Hobbs, Brian Redman & Bobby Unser. That is a top lineup, each with their own mega stories to tell. Planned events include three theme banquets:

• Racers’ Tales
• 917s and the making of Le Mans
• The American Scene

Redman and Donhue chat over the Sunoco Porsche 917 in Mid-Ohio, 1974

Golfers will know what a ‘Best Ball Golf Tourney’ means and there is also the chance to take a trip to the Mayan Pyramids. The accommodation is bound to be good and I can’t image there’ll be any limits to the hospitality, so it should be a fun get-together.

Of more interest to me is the three-day track event being held at Palm Beach Raceway later that month. This looks like a gathering to consider flying out for: it is key to the purpose of Targa Sixty Six, and the race driver brotherhood that revolves around Brian’s Florida weekends. Last year’s Saturday night speaker was David Hobbs, a friend of my in-laws (all the kids grew up together). David brought Derek Bell and Vic Elford along with him for the evening: a nice little surprise for the attendees. At $1500 for the three days in 2009, it sounds like a good craic-to-cash ratio.

Brian Redman in the 908 during the 1970 Targa Florio

Brian started Targa Sixty Six in 1991. The idea was to open up racetracks to owners of high modern and classic cars who don’t necessarily want to race them, but who like to drive at speed under controlled conditions, in the company of like-minded others. A big boys’ toys track day club, quite ahead of its time when you think about it.

Targa Sixty-Six’s website gives the programme for each track event like this:

Three days of track use. Normal schedule is 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. (Members can expect to have 6-8 hours of track time each weekend-more if they feel up to it!)

Lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the track. Saturday semi-formal (jacket and tie) evening dinner. Driving instruction, if desired, is available from Brian or one of the other “pro’s” in attendance.

There is often a guest speaker/instructor. Past masters include: Bob Akin, Mr Hobbs, Hurley Haywood, Juan Manuel Fangio II, David Piper, Bill Adam, David E.Davis and Sir Stirling Moss.

Cars on track (split over three categories by speed) have included Ferrari Daytonas and 275 GTCs, Porsche 962s and 917s, D-Type Jags, name a Chevron or a Lola and it’s been there, as well as Indy cars and every half decent classic and modern sportscar you can think of. Sounds like a party to me, right when the UK is at its winter gloomiest!

Brian Redman with Steve McQueen, sharing racing film visions

You can grab more details at gorace.com, or see the blog at www.gorace.blogspot.com/. The pics for this post come from Brian’s site – I have used them to remind you all that this is a HARDCORE Porsche racing fraternity! One day all the oil will be gone, all the tracks will be closed thanks to noise limits and NIMBY neighbours, so get out there and go have fun, while you still can!

Thanks to James for the heads up, and here’s to two great events for Porsche enthusiasts in February 2011. Cheers!