Media Release
    12 September 2002
    Autosport Club (Inc.)

    REV UP FOR HANMER MOTORSPORT WEEKEND

    The start button will be pressed at 10:00am, Saturday the 28th of September 2002, and the first event of the Hanmer Motorsport Weekend will rev up and be off and racing. At that time the first car in the Autosport Club Hanmer Rally leaves from the Hot Springs Hotel, 2 Fraser Close Hanmer Springs, to do battle in the forest roads.

    The Rally consists of 91km of special stages. This will be run over 2 stages, each repeated 4 times. One stage will be run on the roads used in last year's successful event, and the second stage will be roads used in years passed, fondly referred to by some as "the old days at Hanmer".

    With a reasonable entry fee and very little navigation difficulty, the rally is also attractive to beginner rally drivers. As we saw last year, beginners can provide much entertainment, both in terms of achievement as they learn to handle the cars and corners, and on the odd occasion when newly discovered "camera courage" kicks in at spectator points!

    The service park on Jollies Pass Road will be used for all rally car servicing throughout the day and provides a focal point for the crews as well as for spectators. This is the place to meet the drivers and see close up detail of the cars and the trouble that they can get into. Hanmer Springs School will be running a sausage sizzle for hungry service crews and spectators at the service area during the rally.

    The rally will finish at the Hot Springs Hotel with the first car expected around 3:30pm. A social function and prizegiving will be held at the hotel in the evening with all crews and spectators welcome to attend. Entries for this enjoyable clubmans rally close on the 18th of September.

    Spectator maps will be available later in September from the Hot Spring Hotel Hanmer. Rally regulations are available now from the Autosport Club website, www.autosport.org.nz or by contacting the Rally Secretary, Simone Trezise on (03) 313-3346.

    David Fletcher
    Event Publicity
    Autosport Club (Inc)
    (021) 261-0082