Perth, WA – September 2023
A Day at the 2023 Targa West Rally in Perth, Western Australia
Some days leave a mark so deep you find yourself replaying them months later, long after the dust has settled and the engines have gone quiet.
September 2023, Perth, Western Australia.
One of those rare afternoons where everything clicks into place — the sun shining just enough, a light breeze tumbling through the city, and the sound of engines filling the streets without a hint of hurry or stress. It was, quite frankly, one of the most idyllic experiences of my life. Not just as a car enthusiast, but as a human being trying to soak it all in.
The Targa West Rally is what happens when a city understands that driving isn’t just transportation — it’s culture. It’s craft. It’s connection.
And Perth got it absolutely right.
What Makes Targa West Special?
The Targa West Rally isn’t your typical fenced-off race track experience. It’s a four-day love letter to cars and community, laid out across the heart of downtown Perth. No barriers between you and the action — just real streets, real people, and real machines carving their way through the urban landscape.
Entry? Free.
Parking? Free.
Vibe? Impossibly good.
From sunrise runs to night sprints, the rally stitches together a cityscape that feels alive, electric, yet somehow relaxed all at once.
It’s organized as a charitable event, with proceeds going toward local causes — a reminder that motorsport doesn’t have to be a gated club. It can be — and should be — for everyone.
A Rolling Museum
Part of the magic is in the mix.
One minute, you’re watching a ’70s Alfa Romeo four-wheel-drift through a corner. The next, a Tesla Model 3, stripped down and tuned for battle, is whispering its way across the same tarmac.
Vintage. Modern. Electric. Analog.
All sharing the same roads. All given the same respect.
It’s the kind of event that fits perfectly with the spirit of Patina Adds Value — where age isn’t a flaw, it’s a feature. Where old and new aren’t rivals, they’re co-conspirators in keeping the joy of driving alive.
Racing Among the Skyscrapers
What struck me most wasn’t just the cars, or even the racing. It was the setting.
There’s something surreal — and oddly beautiful — about seeing a WRX on race slicks blaze past a coffee shop, or a vintage Escort RS wind its way between modern glass towers.
Downtown was still downtown. Shops open. Families wandering. Life happening around it all.
But for those few days, the city didn’t fight the rally — it embraced it.
It’s rare to see urban spaces opened up like this without the heavy hand of overregulation squeezing the life out of it. Perth trusted its people to enjoy the moment. And they did.
A Note to Fellow Travelers
If you ever find yourself in Western Australia around September, make time for this rally.
Even if you’re not a car person (yet), Targa West is the kind of event that might just change your mind. It’s joyful without being forced. Thrilling without being exclusive. Nostalgic without being stuck in the past.
And if you are a car person?
Well, you already know.
There are a few rare days in life where the sun hits just right, the engines sound a little sweeter, and you remember — maybe for the first time in a long time — that sometimes, machines can add meaning, not just miles.
Targa West was one of those days.