KEY POINTS:
The annual week-long Targa New Zealand rally, which starts from Papakura on October 22, has attracted up to 200 entrants.
The rally, which covers most of the North Island, is over six days and is for cars from the 1950s to today's models.
The rally began in 1995
and has grown from a single event to a series, with the first two rounds being held in Rotorua in June.
The rally has evolved to be the largest closed motorsport event in Australasia and is based around 10 categories broken into two competitions: classic and modern.
The competition has closed special tarmac stages where the cars compete against the clock.
The event attracts people from all walks of life and some compete in standard road-going vehicles.
The pressure to compete well is only brought on by the competitors themselves, said organiser Mike John.
Two types of people compete, the serious and the casual. Crashes happen but it is a very low percentage and the cars have roll cages and safety gear.
In the Narva Targa tour, for first-time competitors, roll cages are not required, and they drive under the guidance of the Narva tour leader.
Younger drivers have not been left out in an attempt to encourage boy racers to compete in a controlled manner in a safe environment.
As part of the classic competition there are a variety of six-cylinder Austin Healys battling against Fiat 124s, Mazda 2 and 3s, the odd Hillman Avenger or a Holden Torana and even a Chrysler Valiant Charger.
This year there's a Renault Alpine racing, the only one competing in Australasia.
In the classic section spectators will also get the chance to see a very quick Reliant Scimitar, several Porsche 911s, a Ferrari 308 GT4, a DeTomaso Pantera and an unlikely sounding 1967 Toyota Corona. If Targa Rotorua was anything to go on, keep an eye on the Corona, it could surprise a few people.
The modern section, or more to the point all-comers category, is where pretty much anything goes.
The most hybrid car probably belongs to NZV8 competitor Clark Proctor. He's entered a 1970 Ford Escort powered by a 1990s V6 Nissan Turbo delivering its power to the road through a Nissan Godzilla gearbox via a Ford Falcon rear end. Thankfully it has full-on NZV8 brakes.
Another NZV8 driver, Paul Manuell, has entered a supercharged VE Commodore livered to look like a V8 Supercar.
Not to be outdone, VIP Petfoods is challenging for a podium in a 2007 4WD Porsche 911. Defending Targa champion Joe McAndrew will be there in his 2001 Skyline.
Two entries that are bound to turn heads are Paul Halford's Maserati Trofeo and Richard and Jenny Mehrtens' Mercedes CLK 55 AMG.
The locals will not have it all their own way. There's a couple of overseas drivers determined to take the title.
Two competitors from Japan, Kobayashi and Take, have their eye on the prize in an EVO9 and a Nissan 350Z respectively. Two Australians will have a go, one in a Holden HSV Maloo Ute and the other in a race-breed Escort RS1800.
Two Canadians, Bruno and Mario Criveller, are taking part in a 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera.
There's action every day and spectators get to watch millions of dollars worth of cars racing on the road, rather than sitting static in a showroom or museum.
