Rallying returns to the Red Centre
This Saturday (October 3) will see an exciting return to Rallying in Alice Springs and Central Australia. The AASA and Central Australian Rally Sports Club together are paving the way to bring rallying back to Central Australia, beginning from the very grass roots with a long term vision.
Whilst there has always been a healthy and active Rally club and plenty of smaller Motorkhana and Khanacross type events in Alice Springs, it has been a very long time since a true special stage type rally has been run by locals, for locals.
In what is hoped to be the first significant step toward organising a longer multistage or multi day rally in the Red Centre, this Rally Sprint will surely be a solid step in that direction. Nine local cars have entered the first Red Desert Rally Sprint which given the remote geographic location and small population is quite impressive. There are thirteen log booked rally cars in Alice Springs and quite a lot of older caged cars that would be eligible and suitable for this level of Rally Sprint.
Clerk of Course, Jamie Lawson is very excited about this event and optimistic about the future of rallying in Central Australia. “Alice Springs does have a long history with Rallying, it just hasn’t been done here for a long time. The 2016 and 2018 Classic Outback Trials were terrific to have on our doorstep, but as there wasn’t anything before or after those events, local cars and participation was minimal. Now we have local home-grown events right from the grass roots level, we can begin to re-build a quality pool of cars, competitors and officials. Either to continue to grow our sport locally or develop their skills to have the option to compete or officiate interstate. The depth of talent, knowledge, experience and resources out here is equal to anywhere in Australia, we just need to tap in, reinvigorate and harness it all. This event has already unearthed a lot of excitement and interest, even from interstate”, Jamie Lawson said.
The Red Desert Rally Sprint is being held at the Alice Springs Offroad Race Club facility 40km out of town. Two sensational stages of 11km and 14km have been carefully hand pick by the organising team. Each stage being run three times with the final two after dark, giving it a true rally look and feel. Right from the outset and the clubs culture is to always focus on and encourage participation from everyone at every level, young and old. In the field of nine cars there are two juniors and four female competitors.
Even though this is a grass roots club level event, competition will be fierce, close and unpredictable. Out of the gate the 4wd’s of Jordan Lawson and Scott Anderson will have the speed and advantage, but close on their heels are the very quick, patient and capable crews of Chris McCormack in his classic Celica and Mitchell Lawson in a tried and proven Magna. Add in Joe Harris and Sarah Kerr in a borrowed but strong and fast Datsun 1600, the three Outright podium spots will be wide open all day.
Jamie Lawson also added; “in a quest to encourage and reward talented and committed drivers, our most prestigious and sort after award will be the ‘Cars Club Cup’ trophy which will be won on a unique handicap system. Quite often a very good driver with loads of talent will be overlooked simply because they do not have the machine and money to put them in the spotlight, or the quantum leap in technology between 4WD and 2WD vehicles. The CARS Club Cup will be an award everyone at every level and budget can shoot for.
Anyone from interstate can keep in touch with this event and future progress by visiting the Central Australia Rally Sports Club Facebook page.
