Ohakune to erupt with motorsport action

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 631, 9 April 1996, Page 1

Ohakune to erupt with motorsport action

The 1996 New Zealand Rally Championship slides into action on Saturday 20 April with the first round being ran in and around Ohakune. "The Powderhorn Chateau Snowline Rally '96", run by the Wellington Car Club, kicks the Rally season into high gear, and will set the scene for what is to come — the top contenders . getting their first opportunity to see how their new and improved machinery stacks up against the competition, and to gain vital first round points for the Championship. " The question for rally followers is, will former National Champion, Joe McAndrew be able to retain his Powderhorn Chateau Rally title? With an impressive record of six consecutive wins, this is his rally. The top challenger trying to take his title will be current national champion Reece Jones in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III, the first driver

to take the National Championship in a Group N car. But these two won't be the only ones to watch out for. A whole gaggle of top national championship contenders will be right there ready to pounce at any time. With late entries still to be confirmed, there are no less than 13 national championship entries taking the start line. Drivers like Will Orr, Bruce Herbert, Lewis Scott, Stumpy Holmes, Geof Argyle, David Thexton, and Marty Roestenburg will be there. The competition will be fierce. This year's rally route takes in 1 80km in nine Special Stages over both gravel and asphalt. The now-traditional feature of the blast up the Ohakune Mountain Road is back, but is this year being run in daylight. This spectacular stage rises Turn to Page 2

Ohakune rally action

From Page 1 1 100 metres over the 1 6km up to the Turoa ski fields — a New Zealand version of the Pikes Peak race. Then, in a new twist, the cars will race back down the mountain as well, although starting part-way down. For spectators the best place to be will be at the Powderhorn Chateau. With the start and finish ramp, two special stages racing right past the front door and entertainment during the day, this venue offers almost non-stop action, say rally organisers. Activity starts at 9am on Saturday morning with the presentation of prizes for local competitions, including the Ruapehu Bulletin "Win a Ride in a Rally Car" quiz (See entry form in next week's Bulletin ) with the first of the rally cars starting at 9.30am. Then at 10.30am the first of the rally cars come screaming back on their way up the Mountain Road, and later back down again. In addition there will be various other competitions, entertainment and refreshments running all day. Rallying is no longer just a spectator sport, not with the "Sega Rally" video game running in the Powderhorn Chateau. See if you can beat the best times of the rally drivers. The rally cars finish back there at approximately 9pm. Who will have survived? Who will be the winner? These questions will await answers at that time. Full spectator guides, including maps and the best places to watch from will be published in the Ruapehu Bulletin in a special Rally liftout, available free in Ohakune. Rally information and updates will be being broadcast throughout the day on Peak FM 95.8 Ohakune and 99.4 Taihape.