In the 6 months since Australian Classic Events (ACE )acquired the Targa Florio Australian Tribute (TFAT) events management rights from 2019 to 2022 in Victoria ,they have focused on great driving roads that deliver a 4-day festival that excites and delights the senses, replicates the Italian event and brings the style, culture and spectacle to Australia with a uniquely local flavour… and La Dolce Vita!

The Melbourne based Lawson family, well known for their passion for owning, restoring and racing classic Italian cars in Australia and overseas, own and manage ACE, and through their wide connections in the classic car sector, are confident the TFAT will develop into a major international event within the next four years.

For as long as Andrew Lawson can remember the Targa Florio and Mille Miglia and everything that the events represent has been an important part of life. With a grandfather that raced Indian bikes in the 1920s and a father with a passion for pre-war cars and in particular historic Italian cars, the love of these famous Italian rallies has been entrenched from very young ages.

Andrew Lawson ,ACE’s Event Director said “We wanted to ensure the rally had a grand finale –Lygon Street was a logical venue for the finish given the Italian connection with Targa Florio’s Sicily origins and Melbourne’s  Italian historic links, but also to combine with the 2019 Carlton Italian Festa – the perfect finish to 2 great events.

This Italian connection together with Melbourne’s Official  Sister City status with Milan since 2004, according to Andrew, “is a key base for our future strategy to expand this important Italian cultural and classic car connection to promote Victoria , clearly Carltons ’Lygon Street and the Royal Exhibition Building are entrenched in history and the perfect setting for international standard  Italian and European Classic car rallys and displays.”

2019 TFAT Event Overview

Set in mid-November the  2019Targa Florio Australian Tribute is an excellent opportunity for people to enjoy a unique classic car event that combines driving experiences with great food and wine and the enjoyment of life.

The 2019 route has been planned to ensure that great driving roads are highlighted over each of the 4-day event.

Thursday 14 will see cars winding there way along the Great Ocean Road, celebrating 100 years since the start of construction and then back for lunch in Queenscliff and across Port Phillip Bay on the Ferry to Cape Schanck. 

Friday 15th highlights circles Western Port bay through Flinders Tooradin and West Gippsland and arriving at the Phillip Island race track to complete a great day driving.

Saturday  16^ththe event takes to the mountains – driving through Gippsland to the Haunted Hills Racetrack, and then an exciting drive up over Mt Donna Buang and down into the Festa Verde in Healesville.  A stage with interviews, a 500 strong Italian and local car display and a grazing evening highlighting the Yarra Valley’s premium food and wine will ensure a night to remember.

Sunday  17^thcompletes the cloverleaf around Melbourne with the Ferrari fleet enjoying a drive through Lancefield, Malmsbury fair, Mt Macedon, to Williamstown and finishing to the cheers of 30,000 lovers of all things Italian at the Lygon Street Italian Festa.

As per the Italian Event, there are 3 categories:

• Classica Trofeo: For vehicles from 1906-1976. A showcase of classic vehicles that are a crowd favourite.
• Ferrari Tributo: For vehicles from 1977-present. A superb collection of beloved Ferraris in one place.
• Supercar Trophy: For vehicles from 1990-present. Superb power and prestige on display.

This year’s event will see a field of 100 – 120 cars across the 3 categories.  To add to the competition 2019 will see the introduction of “La Corsa Scuderia” Team Award.  Teams are made up of 3 cars with the team aggregate competition scores added to determine the winner across the 3 categories.

The event’s website www.targaflorioaus.com has been rebuilt and is a wealth of information on the event.

For more  information on the 2019 event, Andrew can be contacted on 0412 299 678 or via email on andrew.lawson@targaflorioaus.com

To view John Lawson’s ( Andrew & Paul’s Father) tribute article  to the first Targa Florio Australian Event held in Nov 2017
https://italianautoicons.com/targa-florio-australia-tribute-2017-by-john-lawson/ 

Andrew  Lawson
Event Director, 2019 Targa Florio Australian Tribute
Melbourne, Victoria

These Lawson family-owned historic cars participated in the Targa Florio Australian 2017 &2018 Tributes

1936 Delage Le Mans

1951 B20 Lancia Aurelia

1929 Alfa Romeo 1750 SS Zagato

Andrew & Paul Lawson joint drivers in the 2018- 1000 Mille Miglia with their 1929, 1750  Alfa Romeo SS Zagato.   Photos were taken at Brescia, Italy, May 2018. They came 129th out of 450 entrants.