Call going out for helpers to work for Rally Wairarapa in June

ORGANISATION for the biggest event of the Wairarapa motorsport year is cranking up, with just four months to go to the Wairarapa Rally.
From 90 to 120 competition cars will descend on the region at Queen's Birthday Weekend for two days of high-speed action on gravel roads around Eketahuna to the north and Pongaroa to the northeast of Masterton.
With two people in each car, and three or four in each service crew, plus spectators, news media and officials, anything up to 1000 people can be involved. Their need for food, accommodation and fuel make a significant impact on the local community.
The logistics of controlling all that action are mind-boggling. Thousands of gateways on the rally route have to be taped off, and dozens of roads leading on to the course have to be blocked. There will need to be at least eight block marshals for each stage. Every landowner and occupant along the 13 special stages has to be contacted.
They need to know what is happening and when, and they also have to be reassured that they can get help quickly in the event of an on-farm accident when roads are closed for the rally.
"We'll have 20 highly-trained paramedics on the rally, and if there is a problem on a farm we can get help to them more quickly than the normal emergency services can," rally manager Bernie Keith said.
In previous years jobs like block marshaling and taping have been handled by local clubs, which receive a donation for their efforts.
"It also helps the locals take ownership of the rally," Mr Keith said. The average donation for clubs helping out is around $500. Fuel vouchers will be provided and individuals' expenses will be reimbursed.
The rally gets generous support from Trust House, he said, and it's good to put that money back into the community.
Mr Keith also hopes residents will volunteer to join the timing crews, which once again will reduce the number of people the club needs to bring in from outside the area.
Specialised training will be given a month before and a week before the rally, he said.
The rally was first run by a committee comprising members of the Wairarapa, Kapiti, Hutt Valley and Wellington car clubs. That grouping is now a club in its own right, Rally Wairarapa.
The rally is actually several events in one, including the national championship classes, classics, maybe the new Fiesta class, Rally Xtreme allcomers and a combined Top Half/Central Region round. With some cars competing on both days and others on just one keeping up with the action is a real task.
The club hopes clubs and people who have helped in previous Wairarapa rallies will come forward again.
I have been nominated as a contact point for these people and others who want to become involved. The work is not onerous and the reward for community groups from around the region ? sports and service clubs, school committees, Young Farmer groups and so on ? is good.
To offer your own, or your organisation's services, please phone me on (06) 377-1236 or email at wtakevin@wise.co.nz