trouble at the targa
Trouble at the Targa is our route week film project, driving the Targa Florio while Sicily turns into a rolling celebration of heritage and speed.
We are not in the official race. We are the American echo. A California built Vintage Supercar with a big V8 voice, slipping through the same hill towns and countryside stages as the classics. Picture small displacement elegance and chrome detail, then imagine the moment our car arrives with a deeper note, a wider stance, and a kind of confidence that feels handmade.
Our car has several times the horsepower of the average entry. That is not a boast. It is the contrast that makes the film worth watching. It is the sound of a new story moving through an old one, without disrespecting it.
We ship from California, handle the logistics in full view, and drive the route respectfully and legally on public roads while the week unfolds. You get the spectacle, the scenery, the people, and the miles.
Rally Itinerary
Wednesday 14 October
Early scrutineerings (optional) and road book distribution
Thursday 15 October
Scrutineering and road book distribution
Free lunch
Welcome dinner
Friday 16 October / First Leg
Start of First leg
Lunch stop
Arrival in Palermo
Dinner at the hotel
Saturday 17 October / Second Leg
Start of the Second Leg
Lunch Stop
Arrival in Palermo
Gala Dinner
Sunday 18 October / Trofeo and Award Ceremony
Start of the Trofeo
Prize giving Ceremony and Light Lunch
*The program may be subject to changes.
monday 19 october - saturday 24 october : the long way home (optional)
Our journey home will pass through Cantanzaro, Lecce, Bari, Campobasso, and L’Aquila before heading to Castiglione del Lago.
FAQs
What cars are you taking on the rally?
We’re taking our hero car, the Banshee AKA IL Lupo Nero. It’s a California built Vintage Supercar with a classic 1960s silhouette and a modern Chevrolet LS3 drivetrain paired to a T56 manual. Built for real miles and real roads, this car is exactly what the Trouble at the Targa demands.
Do you need special insurance or a driver’s license to drive the route in Italy?
No special license beyond what a U.S. driver needs to drive legally in Italy. I travel with my valid U.S. driver’s license and an International Driving Permit, and I keep both with me any time I’m behind the wheel.
On insurance, yes, I do need proper Italy and EU compliant coverage, and I will have it in place before the car turns a wheel on the route. I’ll carry proof of coverage with the car the same way any responsible driver would.
I’m also in active talks with Hagerty to secure the right Italian insurance solution for this project, because this is a specialty car and I’m treating the logistics with the same seriousness as the build.
What level of driving experience do you have?
I’ve been building and driving small, high power cars for more than 35 years. That includes plenty of seat time in lightweight cars with serious horsepower, and track driving at racetracks throughout California. I’m comfortable managing a car that’s quick, loud, and unforgiving if you treat it casually.
I’ve also been driving the back roads of Italy for over 10 years. I know what those roads demand: tight towns, narrow lanes, changing surfaces, blind corners, and the rhythm of how Italians actually drive. This project isn’t me “trying something new.” It’s me doing what I’ve already done for years, just with a bigger story and a camera rolling.
How does shipping, customs and timing work?
I handle shipping like a production, not a gamble. The car ships from California through a professional vehicle shipper and freight forwarder, and I lock the timeline early so we are not rushing at the last minute.
Customs is managed through the forwarder and a customs broker. They prepare the export and import paperwork, coordinate inspections if required, and clear the car into Italy before it ever touches the road. I carry duplicates of every key document in both digital and printed form.
Timing wise, I am building backwards from the October start date. Shipping and customs clearance are scheduled far enough in advance to allow for delays, local registration and insurance steps, and a full shakedown in Sicily before we begin the route week.
What on route support and safety measures are provided?
I run this like a real road program, not a casual joyride. Before we ever get to Sicily, the car goes through a Europe ready shakedown so I am not discovering problems on the side of the road.
On route, I carry a focused road kit with the tools, spares, and fluids that matter for this car, plus proper safety gear. I drive conservatively through towns, save the harder driving for open roads, and I map service points and towing options in advance so support is never an afterthought.
I also own a home in Italy and have friends there, so I have a local support network and a solid base to operate from.