Apart from a starring role in the hilarious Australian film ‘The Castle’, the small Victorian hamlet of Bonnie Doon doesn’t often feature in the limelight. But all that is about to change with the running of Rally Bonnie Doon on March 29.
Formerly known as the Strathbogie Sprint, the event was born in 2007 under the direction of Scott Spedding and the North Eastern Car Club, running as a round of the Victorian Club Rally Series (VCRS).
With a name change to ‘Rally Bonnie Doon’, the event will be the opening round of the 2008 VCRS, and will again offer a compact, well-designed route that will be both competitor and spectator friendly.
Starting and finishing at the Bonnie Doon Hotel, competitors will face 90km of stages over forest and shire roads, all in daylight. The event will be fully route charted and service crews will again be able to watch the action from the easily accessible spectator points.
“After the success of last year’s rally we have retained all the characteristics that the competitors and spectators enjoyed,” Clerk of Course, Scott Spedding, said. “We have added some extra distance to the route, and we’re confident that competitors will again enjoy the fantastic roads the region has to offer, and the wonderful hospitality of the locals.”
Crews in the 2007 rally rated last year’s event as one of the best they have competed in, and Spedding and the NECC are keen to give them more of the same in 2008.
“VCRS crews are used to competing in navigational events at night, so to offer them an all-daylight, fully route charted rally to start the season with is something I’m sure they are all looking forward to,” Spedding added. “The March date is slightly earlier than in 2007, so the roads should be in ideal condition.”
The rarely-used roads in the Strathbogie Ranges offer a good mix of undulating, tight and twisty roads, as well as fast roads along the top of the range, which offer something for all types of cars, and all levels of driver ability.
“My aim last year was to direct an event which I would want to compete in myself, and I think we provided that,” Spedding said. “We expect the majority of last year’s competitors to enter again this year, and the 70-car field could fill up fairly quickly.”
Entries for Rally Bonnie Doon open on February 18, with an all-inclusive entry fee of just $240.
Supp Regs for Rally Bonnie Doon are available HERE
Spectator Guide for Rally Bonnie Doon are available HERE
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