|
| |
Forest
Rally News |
18 March 2004, Western
Australia.
Classic
Rally adding to the Respect Yourself Forest Rally action Round one of the Globalstar Australian Rally Championship (GARC),
better known as the Respect Yourself Forest Rally which will be held in Busselton Western
Australia 26 to 28 March, has a competitive and experienced Classic Rally line up to add
to an action packed rally weekend.
Adrian Stafford, the Clerk of Course for Telstra Rally
Australia, Australia's round of the FIA World Rally Championship, will once again be
putting his rally driving skills to the test in a Datsun 260Z. Co-driving with Stafford
will be well known competitor Lauren Hayes. Hayes is the daughter of Dennis and Jackie
Dunlop, former West Australian State champions and the wife of current Western Australian
co-driving champion Bill Hayes. Although it has been some time since Hayes sat in the left
hand side of a competition car, she is sure to draw on her significant family rally
upbringing to provide accurate direction for Stafford.
Husbands and wives seem to be the order of the day for this
year's Classic division of the Respect Yourself Forest Rally with almost fifty percent of
the compact field matrimonial combinations.
Kingsley and Roslyn Foster of Boddington have entered in
their newly purchased Toyota Celica, Phillip and Lena Hooper of Mandurah will run their
awesome London to Sydney Datsun 260Z while Classic division architects Ross and Lisa
Dunkerton have entered their Mitsubishi Lancer.
Other cars not to be missed include the very tidy Datsun 1200
coupe of Julian Wright, the Ford Escort of Geoff Leatt-Hayter and the Mitsubishi Lancer of
Derek Reddie.
If last year's reaction is anything to go by, rally fans are
sure to enjoy the sounds and sights of the Classic cars yet again in 2004, particularly at
the Toyota Busselton Super Stage which runs on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 March.
Tickets are on sale now from the Pitstop Bookshop in Perth
(Telephone: 08 9322 5544), Busselton and Nannup Tourist Centres, and Hillzeez Surf Shops
for a very reasonable $10 each. Special weekend rally passes are only $25 and include
entry into the Toyota Busselton Super Special Stage on both nights, and entry into the
Nannup spectator point. For more information about the 2004 Respect Yourself Forest Rally,
visit www.rally.com.au.
|
|
15 March 2004, Western Australia.
Entries closed for
2004 Respect Yourself Forest Rally
Entries have now closed for the much anticipated first round of the Globalstar Australian
Rally Championship (GARC), the Respect Yourself Forest Rally, held in Busselton Western
Australia 26-28 March 2004.
A quality field will give rally fans plenty of pulse racing rally action right from the
start of the season and changes to the some of the teams will spice up the GARC.
There will be 63 starters at the Respect Yourself Forest Rally, including 26 GARC entries,
22 of which will travel to Western Australia from the Eastern seaboard. Making up
the remainder of the numbers will be 30 Western Australian Rally Championship entries, and
seven Classic Car entries to date.
Toyota Team Racing has changed their driver line up this year and three cars are confirmed
to compete at the Respect Yourself Forest Rally. Toyota's veteran driver Neal Bates will
continue his successful partnership co-driving with Coral Taylor. For the first
time, the colourful husband and wife duo Simon and Sue Evans will not be a privateer entry
but will be driving for Toyota this year, as will up and coming youngster Ben Barker with
Damien Long as his co-driver.
Team Mitsubishi Ralliart has Australian-adopted Finish-born rally ace Juha Kangas driving
for them this year, partnering with him is his long-time rally co-driver, Julia Rabbett.
The legend of Australian rallying with more accolades than any other GARC driver,
Ed Ordynski, will continue with Mitsubishi together with Iain Stewart his faithful
co-driver.
Subaru Rally Team Australia, the 2003 Manufacturers' Championship title holder, will be
looking to get a good start at the Respect Yourself Forest Rally. Cody Crocker, 2003
Drivers' Champion, will be continuing with co-driver Greg Foletta and looking for
back-to-back Championship titles this year. Dean Herridge is also driving for Subaru
Rally Team Australia, with usual co-driver Glenn Macneall sitting alongside him again in
2004.
There is also a strong field of privateer entries this year, with Pedders Suspension,
Dunlop Motorsport, Atkinson Racing and Falken Tyres all competing at the GARC round one
event.
Local Western Australian hero, Rob Herridge, will be driving one of the two Maximum
Motorsport Subarus and looking to beat his son, Dean Herridge driving for the Subaru Rally
Team Australia. Rob is two-time WA Rally Champion, and two-time Australian Rally
Champion, and will be battling with son Dean to prove that experience will get him further
than youth.
The Toyota Busselton Super Stage, bringing rally to the people, will showcase the rally
talent competing in the Respect Yourself Forest Rally.
Tickets are on
sale now from the Pitstop Bookshop in Perth (Telephone: 08 9322 5544), Busselton and
Nannup Tourist Centres, and Hillzeez Surf Shops for a very reasonable $10 each.
Special weekend rally passes are only $25 and include entry into the Toyota Busselton
Super Special Stage on both nights, and entry into the Nannup spectator
point.
For all budding engineers and mechanics out there, a visit to the Nannup Service Park is a
must. Rally fans can watch the skilful team engineers perform miracle repairs in
only twenty minutes - sometimes they have to rebuild entire gearboxes in that time!
For Corporate Hospitality enquires, call SMR on 08 9754 6151. For more information
about 2004 Respect Yourself Forest Rally, visit www.rally.com.au.
|
Thursday 25 February 2004
Celebrations
for 30th Anniversary of Australian Rallying in Western Australia
The 2004 Respect Yourself Forest Rally, held 26-28 March, marks the 30th anniversary of
Western Australia (WA) hosting a round of the Australian Rally Championship (ARC).
Celebrations do not stop there! It is also the coming of age as the Busselton based
event celebrates its 21st birthday, and is the 10th year in succession that Respect
Yourself has sponsored the event.
"This year there will be plenty to cheer about during the Respect Yourself Forest
Rally with three big anniversaries to celebrate," said Ross Tapper, Clerk of Course
for Respect Yourself Forest Rally.
"Firstly, it was thirty years ago that WA held a round of the ARC and a reunion is
being organised to celebrate the longevity of Australian rallying in our state.
"Secondly, it's our twenty-first birthday as Forest Rally and rally fans are in for a
treat because we are staging the best event to date in Busselton by increasing spectator
activities which will enhance fan's overall enjoyment of being a part of the first round
of the Globalstar ARC.
"Thirdly, it was ten years ago that we went into partnership with our naming sponsor
and became the Respect Yourself Forest Rally. We are really pleased with Healthway and the
Respect Yourself campaign and look forward to continuing our successful partnership in the
future," said Tapper.
The first Australian Rally Championship event that was held in WA was the Semperit 1600
Rally which was won by Peter Lang in 1974.
To mark the 30th anniversary of Australian rallying in WA, a reunion is being held for all
that have been involved in rallying during the past 30 years and will take place on Sunday
morning 28th March at the Nannup Golf Club. For more information and to register
attendance, interested persons are asked to contact Tricia Dean on 08 9249 7932.
The 2004 Respect Yourself Forest Rally, to be held from the evening of Friday 26 March
2004 until Sunday 28 March 2004, with the popular Busselton Toyota Super Stage at Barnard
Park, now being held on both Friday and Saturday nights, providing spectators with the
opportunity to enjoy the Super Stage twice.
The Service Park, which is free for all to attend, will again be located in the
picturesque main street of Nannup where rally fans and budding mechanics can witness team
engineers performing miracles during the twenty minute services. Sometimes engineers
have to rebuild whole gearboxes in that time!
Tickets are on sale now from the Pitstop Bookshop in Perth (Telephone: 08 9322 5544),
Busselton and Nannup Tourist Centres, and Hillzeez Surf Shops for a very reasonable $10
each. Special weekend rally passes are only $25 and include entry into the Toyota
Busselton Super Special Stage on both nights, and entry into the Nannup spectator point.
Past WA Round of the ARC and Forest Rally Winners
YEAR
EVENT
DRIVER
CO-DRIVER
1974
Semperit 1600
Peter Lang (NSW)
George Shepheard (NSW)
1975
Toms Tyres 1000
Ross Dunkerton (WA)
John Large (WA)
1976
Commonwealth Bank Rally of the West
Dean Rainsford (SA)
Graeme WestSA)
1977
Commonwealth Bank Rally of the West
Ross Dunkerton (WA)
Jeff Beaumont(TAS)
1978
Commonwealth Bank Rally of the West
Ross Dunkerton (WA)
Jeff Beaumont(TAS)
1979
Commonwealth Bank Rally of the West
Greg Carr (ACT)
Fred Gocentas (ACT)
1980
Commonwealth Bank Rally of the West
George Fury
Monty Suffern(VIC)
1981
Rally of the West
Ross Dunkerton (WA)
Jeff Beaumont(TAS)
1982
Sunday Times Safari
Geoff Portman
Ross Runnalls(VIC)
1983
Sunday Times Safari (ARC)
Greg Carr (ACT)
Fred Gocentas (ACT)
1983
The Western Mail Forest Rally (WARC)
John Macara (WA)
David Hatley(WA)
1984
Sunday Times Safari (ARC)
Bob Nicoli (WA)
Peter Macneall(WA)
1984
The Western Mail Forest Rally (WARC)
Clive Slater (WA)
Rod Van Der Straaten (WA)
1985
The Western Mail Nissan Forest Rally
Ross Dunkerton (WA)
Steve McKimmie (WA)
1986
GWN Forest Rally
Wayne Bell (NSW)
David Boddy (NSW)
1987
GWN Forest Rally
Ross Dunkerton (WA)
Steve McKimmie (WA)
1988
BP Visco Forest Rally
Wayne Bell (NSW)
David Boddy (NSW)
1989
BP Visco 2000 Forest Rally
Greg Carr (ACT)
Mick Harker (ACT)
1990
BP Forest Rally
Rob Herridge (WA)
Dale Hynes (WA)
1991
BP Forest Rally
Ross Dunkerton (WA)
Mick Harker (ACT)
1992
Broughton Auctioneers Forest Rally
Rob Herridge (WA)
Mark Nelson (SA)
1993
Broughton Auctioneers Forest Rally
Neal Bates (ACT)
Coral Taylor (NSW)
1994
Broughton Auctioneers Forest Rally
Neal Bates (ACT)
Coral Taylor (NSW)
1995
Respect Yourself Forest Rally
Neal Bates (ACT)
Coral Taylor (NSW)
1996
Respect Yourself Forest Rally
Ed Ordynski (SA)
Mark Stacey (SA)
1997
Respect Yourself Forest Rally
Neal Bates (ACT)
Coral Taylor (NSW)
1998
Respect Yourself Forest Rally
Possum Bourne (NZ)
Craig Vincent (NZ)
1999
Respect Yourself Forest Rally
Possum Bourne (NZ)
Craig Vincent (NZ)
2000
Respect Yourself Forest Rally
Possum Bourne (NZ)
Mark Stacey (QLD)
2001
{Respect Yourself Forest Rally}
{Possum Bourne (NZ)
Mark Stacey (QLD)
2001
{Respect Yourself Forest Rally}
{Neal Bates (ACT)
Coral Taylor (NSW)
2002
Respect Yourself Forest Rally
Possum Bourne (NZ)
Mark Stacey (QLD)
2003
Respect Yourself Forest Rally
Cody Crocker (Vic)
Greg Foletta (Vic)
2004
Respect Yourself Forest Rally
|
Thursday 12 February, 2004
Classics revive
the legends of a bygone era in rallying
Five-time Australian Rally Champion and known personality Ross Dunkerton is spearheading
the establishment of a Classic Rally category run in conjunction with the 2004 Globalstar
Australian Rally Championship.
The Classic Rally category adds to the growing number of stunning support categories that
the Australian Rally Commission (ARCom) has endorsed to complement the outright
championship. This year the Subaru Rally Challenge,
the F16 Championship and the Aussie Cup (all endorsed support categories) will provide
additional thrills for fans in the forest.
The classic category, which features a maximum 15 car field, will give the fans of the
Globalstar Australian Rally Championship a chance to experience the thrills of a bygone
era in rallying and meet some of the Australian
champs who have made the sport what it is today.
For many who rallied in that era, the sound of Weber carburettors, extractors and the
engine note of cars like Datsun 1600s, "Zeds", BDA Escorts and Galants are what
make them tick.
Dunkerton, who was a force in the sport in the 70s and 80s, is excited about the promise
of the classic category and encourages anyone who's had half a mind to give classic
rallying a try, to venture out at the first round.
"I would encourage Australian competitors to get behind this concept. It is a medium
of rallying that will be somewhere for today's champions to go after they no longer wish
to compete at the pointy end," Dunkerton explained
of his rationale behind the series.
"People really identify with these cars. Let's face it we all grew up with some form
of a Datsun, Toyota or even a HK Monaro sitting in the family carport.
"Our plan is to deliver a category of cars that complements the excitement of the
cars in the Globalstar ARC. We don't intend the cars to be the main show in the forest but
rather be one hell of a supporting act to the outright series."
The move to bring Classic Rallying to the Australian fans follows similar moves around the
world. The cars ran in Australia in 2003, and Dunkerton hopes interest will grow further
in 2004.
The best thing about Classic Rallying is that it's not only attracting people who always
wanted to 'give the BDA a go' but also bringing rally names we grew up with back into the
sport.
"Classic Rallying is gaining in popularity around the world. In other international
locations, drivers the likes of Rod Millen from the USA and former World Champions Juha
Kankkunen, Timo Salonen and Bjorn Waldergaard have come back to compete in Classic
Rallying.
"I don't know of any other medium of rallying where Joe Average can run in a field on
equal terms with the calibre of these men," Dunkerton explained.
The category is open to pre-1986 rally cars and Dunkerton says it is designed to attract
the best possible examples of cars from this bygone era.
He says with just 15 spots available for each round, a starting position will be highly
sought.
Dunkerton's intention is that there is at least one former Australian Rally Champion at
each round and says he's already had interest from four former champions all keen to
relive their glorious pasts, as well as enquiries from several competitors from New
Zealand to attend some eastern states events.
Entries are now open for the classic division of round one, the Respect Yourself Forest
Rally on March 27-28. Last year, the series had four eastern state entries and Dunkerton
hopes to see more competitors venture across the Nullarbor
this year.
As an added incentive this year, the winner of the Forest Rally classic division will earn
a Rally Australia package, including a place in Decades of Rallying. This was a new
concept last year where each decade starting with the 1950's, was represented by two cars
from that decade that ran off against each around the Gloucester Park track.
Classic Rally Cars will need to meet the relevant CAMS technical and safety regulations in
order to be eligible to compete. These are framed to ensure cars remain true to the
specification of such cars in the period, yet allow a degree of freedom for modification.
Dunkerton asks that interested competitors contact him on 08 9279 6250 in relation to the
Respect Yourself Forest Rally or ensuing events.
|
| 6 February 2004- Respect Yourself Forest Rally Ready for Entries The start of the 2004 Australian Rally Championship
(ARC) will kick off in Western Australia's (WA) South West 26-28 March. Round One
organisers of the Respect Yourself Forest Rally are pleased to announce that competitor
entries are now open.
Competitors can find all the information they need including
entry forms and the regulations on the newly launched official ARC website, www.rally.com.au .
The itinerary this year will incorporate some of the best rally
roads in the championship around the town of Nannup, which is where the popular Service
Park will be based. Nannup's traditional cafes, tea houses and eateries will be open over
the weekend to welcome rally service crews, spectators and the media.
Heat one of the Respect Yourself Forest Rally has 112km of
competitive stages, and Heat two has 104km of competitive stages, on similar roads to that
used last year.
"We are excited about 2004. The roads around the popular
Service Park in Nannup are some of the favourite stages for the ARC drivers. I'm really
pleased we have been able to put together an itinerary that the drivers will once again
enjoy competing on," said Ross Tapper, Clerk of Course for Respect Yourself Forest
Rally.
It is not only the competitors at the Respect Yourself Forest Rally
that will have a good time, this year there is even more for spectators to see and do. The
crowd pleasing Busselton Toyota Super Special Stage will be run on two nights this year,
Friday 26 March and Saturday 27 March. The on-track line up will showcase Australia's best
rally drivers and classic rally cars from around country. Off-track, more entertainment
than ever before will get everyone's hearts pumping. There will be side-show alley, rides
for children and adults alike, bands, fireworks, and the Hillzeez Wheels Expo featuring a
display by WA's best skateboarders.
"We have spent a considerable amount of time focussing on
spectator enjoyment and we have raised the Busselton Toyota Super Special Stage to another
level with enhanced corporate hospitality facilities, entertainment and on-track
action," said Tapper.
Rally fans are not the only ones in for a treat at the Super Special
Stage. In the afternoon on Saturday 27 March, the track will become host to an exciting WA
Speed Event featuring the fastest performance enhanced race cars in the state.
Tickets are on sale now from the Pitstop Bookshop in Perth
(Telephone: 08 9322 5544), Busselton and Nannup Tourist Centres, and Hillzeez Surf Shops
for a very reasonable $10 each. Special weekend rally passes are only $25 and include
entry into the Toyota Busselton Super Special Stage on both nights, and entry into the
Nannup spectator point.
For Corporate Hospitality enquires, call SMR on 08 9754 6151.
For more information about 2004 Respect Yourself Forest Rally, visit www.rally.com.au.
|
|
|
Thursday 5 Febuary, 2004 - New look rally.com.au launches into 2004
season
The Globalstar Australian Rally Championship is pleased to announce the launch of the new
rally.com.au website to cater to the needs of its growing rally audience.
The 'rally.com.au' name is already recognised as the on-line location for rallying and it
is hoped that the new look site will attract even greater interest in the sport.
The new site is designed to maintain and build on the integrity that the original
rally.com.au site established, as well as developing in areas where the sport needs to
grow. It will maintain some of the traditional areas such as news, history and the
business directory and develop additional areas of interest for competitors - such as
on-line entries and fuel ordering.
The new site (developed by IMG and technology company Eventeq) has a professional
feel which showcases the strengths of the sport and the companies involved in Australian
rallying.
"The original rally.com.au team, Ryan Lahiff and Dusty Rhodes, did a great job with
the site and developed it up over a number of years to include many informative features.
"At the end of 2003 the team decided not to continue with site and to ensure
Australian rallying stayed on-line, rallycorp (rallying's commercial arm) organised for
the domain to be purchased and new site quickly developed with funds attained through
sponsorship," Chairman of rallycorp Steve Ashton explained.
The 2004 site, which went live last night, will continue to grow and develop as the year
progresses and will not only showcase the strengths of the Globalstar Australian Rally
Championship and its supporters, but of rallying as a whole.
Immediately, the site will include features that competitors and supporters need to
prepare for the 2004 season and the Respect Yourself Forest Rally on March 27-28.
The immediate areas of interest for competitors are the ability to enter on-line, order
fuel for the first round, find out information about the Respect Yourself Forest Rally and
keep up to date with the news of the championship.
As the year progresses, rally.com.au will deliver some exciting developments to make the
site more informative and entertaining. One such initiative will be Globalstar's objective
to develop an on-line video streaming system featuring 'live action' footage of the ARC
events broadcast through rally.com.au.
As well as these exciting developments, the following areas of interest will also be
uploaded onto the site as the season approaches:
-Australian Rally Championship history
-Points and results from previous seasons
-The business directory, including For Sale - Rally cars, parts, accessories
-Important links for the championship
-Additional information for competitors just starting out in the sport
-Information to help competitors maximise their involvement in the sport
-Certain areas of multi-media, including a photo gallery
-Additional competitor profiles and pictures
It is an exciting time for the Globalstar Australian Rally Championship and the launch of
the new rally.com.au site is just the beginning of what promises to be a busy and
challenging year for the championship.
|
| |
|
