Field of 30 in trial

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33981, 23 October 1975, Page 10

Field of 30 in trial

About .30 cars are expected to leave the Press Company in Cathedral Square at two - minute intervals from 9 a.m. on Saturday for the start of the 1975 Press - R.A.T.E.C. Alpine Trial. The Alpine .Trial has always been held during Labour Day week-end and over the years has proved ! very popular with South Island trialists. This year’s field includes one entrant i from Takaka in the north ' and two'from Dunedin. The largest Alpine organised by R.A.T.E.C. was held in 1966. The event had four start points and took competitors around the South Island in four days. On this occasion 97 entrants took part. The organisers believe that the smaller fields in the past few years are a consequence of rising motoring costs. During the years the Alpine Trial has had a variety of destinations which include Nelson, Blenheim, Hanmer, Greymouth and Hokitika. This year’s event is remaining in the Canterbury province, starting and finishing both days in Christchurch. This year’s event has been pruned in length in the interest of fuel conservation. The Saturday will cover approximately , 240 kilometres in six hours. The route will take competitors from Cathedral Square to Hornby in a touring section. The first section of navigation and time-keeping will begin in Hornby and take the field to Yaldhurst. A serious look around Yallhurst and competitors will then head off through West Melton, Burnham and by back roads to their lunch break at Dunsandel. After lunch the cars are scheduled to, return to Christchurch on ; a route through HororataJ The first cars are expected! to finish at Hornbv about 3] p.m. Saturday evening will bej occupied with a cabaret at I the Hornby Trust Hotel. The second day’s event, commences from Hornby ati 10.30 a.m. Competitors will; cover about 120 kilometres; in the Yaldhurst. Belfast! I and Rangiora areas. The;

cars are timed to finish at the Ouruhia Hall about 2.30 p.m. Sunday evening’s function, which includes a dance and the prize-giving, will finish the week-end. During the event competitors will encounter about 150 checkpoints which include speed traps. The checkpoints will be manned by about 30 marshalls. The organisers expect dry. dusty conditions for the event. Plotting has had its headaches with the storms of the winter creating problems with some roads. Bridges have been washed out. and trees blown down in many areas. This caused the replotting of some sections and the cancelling of others. To enter the event the driver must be a member of R.A.T.E.C. or a car club that has been invited to participate. There is an entry fee of $l5 per car and other charges to cover, the cabaret and prize-giv-ing functions. This year’s Alpine Trial is again being sponsored by the Press. Prize money totals $2OO and is awarded over the first 15 places. In addition to the prize money the outright winner of the trial receives the coveted Press Challenge Trophy. The first R.A.T.E.C. member in the placings receives the Alpine trophy. The first three placegetters also receive miniatures. Among the starters in this years event are B. Higham, last year’s winner, L. Kerr, G, Norquay, G. Lock, A. Booth, R. McCaw, P. Browman, I. Cardwell, J. Geary, the Lawless crew from Dunedin and G. Matheson from Takaka. The cars range from the sprightly Minis to Cortinas, Avengers and Mazda* RX2s.