News

Community groups benefit from International Rally of Whangarei

Next week’s International Rally of Whangarei, running 2 to 4 July, provides a significant financial boost to a co-operative of local community groups around the rural township of Maungaturoto and the Lions Clubs of the Whangarei district.

In exchange for volunteers’ time to help run the event, which uses 285 kilometres of gravel roads in the Kaipara and Whangarei districts, the rally returns a share of the revenue from sales of spectator tickets to the community groups.

The International Rally of Whangarei is open to competitors contesting the 2010 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), 2010 FIA Pacific Cup, 2010 Vantage New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) or 2010 Stilo Top Half Series, and has attracted a 67-strong field for the two-day rally.

A large audience of spectators is expected to come and watch New Zealand’s and the Asia Pacific region’s best drivers in action, says Willard Martin, chairman of the International Rally of Whangarei organising committee. 

“Spectator points are set up at key road junctions and other key points of interest such as Saturday’s Pohe Island super special stage and Sunday’s Hella Bridge prime spectator point on the Wairere stage. Tickets provide access to these spectator areas and the rally returns a share of the revenue from ticket sales to the local community groups who help run aspects of the event,” says Martin.
 
“The two prime spectator areas noted – Pohe Island and Hella Bridge – offer rally fans the opportunity to buy food and drink and enjoy live commentary about the rally action. Easily accessible parking and toilet facilities are also provided, making these excellent family-friendly places from which to enjoy the rally action. Children under the age of 15, when accompanied by a paying adult, have free entry.”
 
Maungaturoto co-operative chairman Jim Rowlands is a key member of the volunteer team which provides catering and marshalling services. Rowlands says up to eight community clubs around Maungaturoto are involved in supporting this year’s rally.

“Each of the Paparoa, Whangarei Mid Western, Maungaturoto and Kamo Lions Clubs, the Maungaturoto Rotary Club, Maungaturoto St John’s Ambulance and Marohemo Hall, the Maungaturoto Country Club and Kaipara Hunt Club are involved,” he says.

“It all goes back in to the community for various things,” adds Rowlands. “Some will go into the schools and play centres, some to our local St John’s Ambulance, for example. The Paparoa Lions are using their funds to develop the local bush walk further. The Maungaturoto Country Club is using funds to develop facilities for their bowls, rugby and other sports clubs.”

Several Lions Clubs around Whangarei, lead by the Kamo Lions Club, get together to help run entertainment at one of the event’s most popular stages, the Whangarei super special stage at Pohe Island on Saturday. A family-oriented day open to the public from 9am, activities include the hugely popular Doug the Digger and his friend Mr Mac, a motorcycle ‘dash for cash’ race, and a mud tug o’ war best-of-the-best competition with the local four-wheel-drive club. Food and refreshments will be on sale all day.

Kamo Lions Club spokesperson Colin Twyman says funds raised from the Pohe Island family fun day this year are going to Project Promise, a Northland Community Trust project that the combined Lions Clubs have pledged to support.

“The aim is to raise $3 million in three years to build an oncology unit in Whangarei so Northland’s cancer suffers can be treated closer to home. By coming out to enjoy the rally action and buying a spectator pass, you are helping support our community, so we look forward to seeing lots of families making the most of this great event next weekend,” says Twyman.

Martin adds: “All of these fun activities on Saturday add to the excitement of seeing actual rally cars in full flight on the Pohe Island stage. Fans can get up close to the action and should make sure they watch the top competitors who get underway on this short, sharp blast around Pohe Island at 11:27am and again at 3:57pm.

“The official map for the International Rally of Whangarei includes detailed descriptions on how to get to all the designated spectator points and clear notes for rally fans to keep themselves safe while enjoying the rally action. Please follow the instructions of the safety marshals and please supervise your children.”

The rally map is available free from the rally headquarters on the corner of Dent Street and Quayside Way, Quayside Town Basin, Whangarei. Tickets can be purchased on the day from spectator points, from the rally headquarters from Wednesday 30 June, or from the official rally bar Salut Bar and Brassiere on Bank Street, which is offering a special prize draw to win a ride in one of New Zealand’s top rally cars around the Pohe Island super special stage during Friday’s official shakedown session. Tickets are available as Saturday rural stages, Saturday Pohe Island special stage or Sunday all stages – each option is $10 per adult, or buy a gold pass for $30 to access all stages. Children under 15 are free with a paying adult. Details on spectator points, the map and stage times can be also downloaded from the event website www.rallywhangarei.co.nz, which is updated with event news on a regular basis.

For further information on the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship: http://www.fiaaprc.com/
2010 Calendar
Rd 1 - 24-25 April - Malaysian Rally (Asia Cup)
Rd 2 - 22-23 May - Rally Hokkaido, Japan (Asia Cup)   
Rd 3 - 3-4 July – International Rally of Whangarei, New Zealand (Pacific Cup)
Rd 4 - 31 July – 1 August – International Rally of Queensland, Australia (Pacific Cup)
Rd 5 - 28-29 August - Rallye de Nouvelle Caledonie (Pacific Cup)
Rd 6 - 25-26 September - Rally Indonesia (Asia Cup)
Rd 7 - 6-7 November - China Rally (Asia Cup)