Autoblog runs the 2009 Targa Trophy rally... in a Hyundai Genesis Coupe!

[اخبار مصر موتورز]

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Hyundai

2009 Targa Trophy Los Angeles - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honestly, our team - Team Korean War Machine - had low (to no) hopes going into the Los Angeles leg of the 2009 Targa Trophy. Sixty cars were entered and even though our Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 was packing 306 horsepower, most of the other cars were in the 500-horse range - *gulp.* But first, a little history before we begin.

The Targa Trophy rally started in 2007 with about 70 cars running from San Diego to Palm Springs and back. The idea, according to founder and principle Jason Overell, was to create a "One day format that offered all of the event amenities of other rallies [Bullrun, Gumball 3000], but with more of a focus on real driving scenarios that would test the cars capability, the drivers skill and really utilize the [presence] of a navigator."

The rally expanded to two events in 2008 and we would be participating in the final leg of what they're calling the Southern California Triple Crown - the last of three 2009 rallies. Not only would there be seven winners from the day's event, but three overall 2009 Targa Trophy Triple Crown winners would be, well, crowned.

All any of us on Team Korean War Machine knew is that Fiesta Agent and former Jalopniker Andy Didorosi had arranged for myself, Nada Guides' Road Test Editor Jeff Glucker, and all around car freak Tim "Mad Science" Odell to run the Genesis Coupe alongside his feisty green Ford Fiesta (a special case exception to the usual "hand-selected" entries that are allowed to participate "based on their level of sports car credibility" - a Smart Car also joined in on the fun) in the Los Angeles portion of the three-part event. As a team, we had no planning, no strategy and really no conception of what was going to be happening on this hot, Southern California Saturday. Worse, none of us had spiky hair gel and/or flat-brimmed ball caps. And our morning really wasn't going very well.

AMG showed up at the Roosevelt Hotel to let the Targa Trophy runners play with their latest big V8 toys. And while I enjoyed my ten minutes in the new, faster-than-words E63 AMG very much, Odell enjoyed himself a little too much in the C63, getting pulled over on Hollywood and Highland. After a little explaining, the officers took pity on poor Tim and wrote out a ticket with a figure considerably less than what the radar registered. It wasn't a lose your license offense, just a lose your savings and the respect of your wife infraction. Meanwhile, I managed to back the Hyundai up into the only other press vehicle in attendance - a Porsche 997 S Cabriolet - scratching the hell out of the Genesis' paint in the process. Glucker, not content to just rest in peace, spilled coffee all over his pants. And the rally wasn't even set to start for another twenty minutes...


Gallery: 2009 Targa Trophy Triple Crown Los Angeles


[Photos: Tim Odell & Ryan Siu]
Continue reading Autoblog runs the 2009 Targa Trophy rally... in a Hyundai Genesis Coupe!
Autoblog runs the 2009 Targa Trophy rally... in a Hyundai Genesis Coupe! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


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