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Community fun all part of International Rally of Whangarei

The rally action on roads around the Whangarei and Kaipara regions is the main focus of this year’s International Rally of Whangarei, running from 2 to 4 July, but an international event of this nature offers the region’s communities numerous opportunities for fun and involvement.

The rally’s colouring competition for school-age children remains a hugely popular activity with three age-group winners enjoying a ride to school in a rally car.

Willard Martin, chairman of the International Rally of Whangarei organising committee, says hundreds of children enter the competition, which sees the three winners able to choose two friends to join them for a ride to school in a convoy of rally cars on the morning of Friday 2 July.

“First, the winners, their friends and the drivers visit the studio of Northland’s Classic Hits radio station for a chat with breakfast show hosts Will and Jax. Then it’s off to their three schools, arriving in true rally style where they’re greeted by classmates. The drivers make sure they have a good supply of the official rally posters to sign for all the enthusiastic students. The colourful entries then go on display at rally headquarters (in the old regional council building) over the weekend of the rally, freely available for all to come and see,” says Martin. “The colouring competition continues to be a fantastic, fun way to raise awareness for the whole event and build enthusiasm for the sport of rallying. The drivers and the children love the whole thing.”

Friday morning also sees more locals enjoy the chance for a high-speed ride in a rally car when the winners of ‘shakedown rides’ from competitions run on Classic Hits and in the Northern Advocate collect their prizes.

“Shakedown in the official test session for teams before the event starts and as part of this session, we can offer a few lucky people the chance to be strapped into the co-driver’s seat for an exhilarating lap of the Pohe Island super special stage,” says Martin. “It’s a real once-in-a-lifetime treat and leaves the participants with a wide grin for the rest of the day, believe me!”

Next up on Friday’s promotional schedule is the rally convoy through the streets of central Whangarei. Starting at 12:30pm from the Cameron Street Mall, teams and their cars join the convoy led by Classic Hits’ Will and Jax. Also joining in the fun are Variety Bash participants with their madcap vehicles and the ZM’s ‘Black Thunder’ 4WD.

“The convoy is another entertaining way to let Whangarei locals know that the event’s on over the weekend,” notes Martin.

There’s one last important, non-motorsport test for teams before the rally begins: the annual waka challenge. On the water of the Town Basin starting at 1pm, the hotly-contested waka challenge pits New Zealand crews against their international counterparts, all paddling outrigger boats for the honour of being first across the line.

“Friday’s promotions continue with the hugely popular driver autograph signing session in the Cameron Street Mall. All free, this is a wonderful opportunity for rally fans of all ages to meet their favourite drivers and have them sign the official rally poster which is published in the Northern Advocate on 30 June. Starting at 3:30pm, the session runs for an hour before the official start ceremony commences.

“Whangarei’s mayor Stan Semenoff welcomes all competitors, and then every car in the 67-strong field crosses the start ramp with their crews being introduced by expert commentators. The rally counts as a round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Champion, the Vantage New Zealand Rally Championship and the Stilo Top Half Rally Series, so there is a huge and interesting line-up of cars which cross the ramp in reverse running order with top seed Japanese driver Katsu Taguchi expected to complete the line-up at around 6:00pm,” says Martin.

While the competitors head off from the service park at the Quayside Town Basin at 8am on Saturday, bound for the first of eight special stages for the day, 20 prize winners from ZM’s ‘rally cardboard box race’ promotion enjoy the rally action with a guided bus tour to select viewing locations.

Sunday’s eight stages includes the iconic Hella Bridge prime spectator point on Swamp Road, part of the ‘Wairere’ special stage (SS10 and SS14). It’s also a popular location for the rally’s corporate hospitality team where guests can enjoy the action as drivers tackle the high-speed hump bridge.

Over in Whangarei, rally organisers have made sure there’s something for the service crews who do all the hard work on the rally cars.

“With the rally itself nearly complete, service crews can switch their focus for a little while and get into some race action of their own with a raft race. With the race starting at 1pm on Sunday, crews are restricted to building their raft from materials found in their travelling kit supplemented by inflated inner tyre tubes. Last year’s inaugural raft race saw the Town Basin embankment packed with on-lookers for a hard-fought win by the Motor Image rally team.”

With the rally stages complete, competitors return to Quayside Town Basin for the 3:30pm ceremonial finish. Celebratory bubbles are sprayed and the numerous class and overall winners congratulated. The weekend’s action wraps up at the official rally bar, Salut Bar and Brasserie, with the open-to-all rally after-party from 8pm Sunday.

For further information on the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship: http://www.fiaaprc.com/
For further information on the Vantage New Zealand Rally Championship: www.nzrallychamps.co.nz