Rally attracts 750 entries

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 22

Rally attracts 750 entries

The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand staged a most successful International rally in Rotorua in 1980 and it was that event which fired the enthusiasm of the nationwide membership to stage a rally to mark the centenary of the motor car. However, a repetition of the 1980 Rotorua rally was Impossible in 1986 because the world body of vintage motoring, F.1.V.A., had already granted world status to another country for this year. Because this was so, F.I.V.A. sanctioned a rally specifically for veteran and vintage motoring enthusiasts of Pacific Basin countries, although the event has attracted widespread interest much further afield.

The rally, for which Christchurch will be the centre point, will be, in fact, the last event with which the Vintage Car Club will be associated to mark the centenary of the motor car. Last year it was associated with the very successful Centenary Tour during which oldtime cars and motorcycles covered the length of the North and South Islands, and also the 1985 Easter Rally. Headquarters for the Pan-Pacific Rally will be the Addington Raceway and provision has been made for the general public to view the 750 vehicles that have been entered in the event during the time they will be in Christchurch.

The rally will begin with an official opening at the raceway on Sunday, February 23 and it will give an opportunity for the public to see the vehicles. On Sunday,. March 2, there will be a Swap Meet Day at the raceway and that also will be open to the public. Finally, the prize-giving ceremony and officialclosing of the rally will take place on Thursday, March 6, and the public will be welcome to attend this function also. The rally committee, all of whose members have had previous experience In conducting an international event, have been working on the rally programme since 1980 and the decision to hold the

event with Christchurch as the base was taken only after long deliberation, for three other New Zealand cities made strong representations to hold the event. Factors which influenced the committee to select Christchurch included the facility for shipping vehicles from Australia to Lyttelton and also Christchurch International Airport, a facility through which many overseas competitors and their crews will reach the city. On the purely local front, one of the major tasks will be the shipping of North Island entrants’ vehicles across Cook Strait to and from the South Island.