The Historic Rally Association’s George Woods Rally returns for its 40th anniversary with the focus on novice competitors and officials who have an opportunity to try the motor allying for the first time.
Gilderoy resident Glad Fish has been the event’s director for the past 40 years.
“It has been a great time and very rewarding to be organising the rally for the past 40 years. But now it is time to pass on the mantle to the next generation of event organisers,” she said.
“I have always wanted the George Woods Rally to be focused on the beginners and novice competitor and officials alike. It is a great opportunity for people who are interested in motor rallying but don’t want to spend heaps of money to see if they like the sport.”
The rally takes place on Saturday 22 February at the Powelltown Football Ground from 4pm. There will be a daylight division followed by a night-time division, with the total distance of the rally being about 100 kilometres.
Ms Fish said the callout is being made to see local officials and that they wouldn’t need to have nay prior experience.
“This year our goal is to have half of the volunteer officials come from the local area … Being a volunteer official is very rewarding, you have the opportunity to get outdoors, visit places you wouldn’t normally go to for a day’s outing, and be a part of a local sports event,” she said.
“You can enter using your standards car. The event results are based on average speed timing, rather than the competitor with the lowest elapsed time. The winning crew is determined by having the least amount of penalties. Just like the olden day rallies like the famous Monte Carlo Rally.”
Warburton co-driver Deborah Saltmarsh said, “Motor rallying has always been on my bucket list. The first event I entered was the 2015 Alpine Rally of East Gippsland.”
Ms Saltmarsh jumped into the deep end by competing in one of the world’s longest running motor rallies when she teamed up with Tim Sullivan.
“We did a practice run through the forest at normal road speed to see if I could read the route-instruction notes, calculate distances between intersections, keep timing records, not suffer from motion sickness, all while bouncing around in a car on bumpy dirt roads. Co-driving is all about multi-tasking.”
“I was exhausted and excited, having completed a three-day rally. It takes so much concentration the whole time. I’m now hooked on rallying.”
For more information about the George Woods Rally, contact event official co-ordinator Rod McEwen on: rocketwb@iinet.net.au.
