Step back in time

GET THAT GRAVEL FLYING : The Silver Fern Rally is set to bring an international field of classic cars to the district at the end of the month — cars like this Ford Escort Mk2 RS 1800 manned by Australian Stewart Reid and Kiwi co-driver Dave Neil, who were second in the 2016 rally. The field will race over the gravel rural roads west of the district and will park up in the city on November 30 for an overnight stay before heading to the finish line at Rotorua the next day. Picture supplied

MOTORSPORT

THE heyday of New Zealand motor rallying will be relived again at the end of this month when the 2018 Silver Fern Rally races its way over gravel roads to the west of Gisborne and, as always, it will be a test of driver and car.

The 1970s were a memorable time for the sport in this country when the world’s best came here to test their skills out on roads rated up with the best in the world for rallying.

“To keep that memory alive this rally is about the classic cars of that era and there has been a worldwide resurgence in this type of event,” said Silver Fern Rally spokesman Paul Shanahan.

“This is the first time we have staged it in the North Island. Usually it’s only run in the South Island.”

The organisers will pay a bond of $50,000 to Gisborne District Council for the right to run the event over the district’s roads.

That bond is designed to meet the costs of any damage caused to the roads.

The 2018 rally starts in Hamilton on November 23 and finishes in Rotorua on December 1.

It will drive through Tairawhiti on November 30 and December 1 as the last leg.

Pehiri, Wharekopae, Tahora, Rakauroa, Ruakaka, Parikanapa and Taumata roads will be closed to the public during the event.

It has been anticipated the rally will bring around 500 spectators to the region, as well as the 45 teams taking part.

“We designed this rally to replicate the old Heatway Rally, and like that one, this is purely run on unsealed roads,” Shanahan said.

“The cars are all from the 70s and 80s, and they are rear-wheel drive, which makes them quite challenging to drive.

“Thirty percent of the drivers will be from overseas — places like Australia, Wales, Ireland and England.”

Shanahan said it was a free event for the community to go along and watch.

“People will be able to see a truly international motorsport event at no cost.

“The average spend by our overseas competitors would be around the $100,000 mark to take part, and many of the cars are worth over that sum.”

Gisborne mayor Meng Foon said the national television coverage of this event would be positive for the region.

Money could not buy the coverage the district would get from a helicopter flying above and TV commentary about what a beautiful place this is, he said.

Activate Tairawhiti said the event would create positive economic benefits directly and indirectly to the Tairawhiti visitor economy.

The rally arrives in this district after travelling through Wairoa on Friday November 30, with a finish at Harry Barker Reserve at 5pm that day.

Competitors head to the rally finish in Rotorua the next day.