Friday 18 th May 2007
Planning for the 2007 Alpine Rally is well advanced and with almost 80 expressions of interest already received from competitors, this year's event is set to be one of the biggest and best ever.
The weekend of November 24 & 25 will see Lakes Entrance play host to 100 of the best Classic and 2 wheel drive rally cars and crews in Australia as they compete over arguably some of the best rally roads this country has to offer. There will be 380 km of competitive stages including an awesome 35km stage on bitumen.
Spectators will once again be treated to a host of exciting vantage points including 1 point within 5 minutes of the start/finish location at Kalimna and some new, never before used points that should keep the excitement flowing all weekend.
Stuart Lister has once again agreed to oversee the event in the new position of Chairman with experienced East Gippsland local Andrew Roberts again filling the all important position of Road Director. There is also a host of experienced and enthusiastic people already in place to look after the huge task of making the ‘Alpine Magic' come alive.
With the support of many communities in East Gippsland the Alpine Rally will also help to showcase the region which was badly affected by bushfires last summer but is now ‘Open for Business' and keen to show what a fantastic destination it is. Accommodation is being handled by the East Gippsland Visitor Centre and can be organised by calling 1800 637 060 or visiting www.lakesandwilderness.com.au
If you are intending to compete you better be quick. Download the expression of interest from either www.alpinerally.org.au or the HRA website www.hra.org.au and get them back to us ASAP as places are filling fast and we would hate to see you miss out on experiencing some ‘Alpine Magic'.
For more information contact either:
Owen Polanski on 0408 037 505 or owenp@vicnet.net.au
or
Andrew Roberts on 0432 799 495 or andykat@bigpond.com
This site
Designed and Maintained by: Tintank Web Design
Here is a photo of Ken Harper and Norman Hamilton taken at the start of the 53 Redex Round Australia. This was the same car that they ran in the 52 Alpine.
This photo is of Gilbert's Dirty Dozen Rally Team at the start of the 2005 Alpine. You will note Stuwie Lister there as well as Gil Davis's wife Marcia. Gil was a stalwart of Australian Rallying and a former VRC Champion. He died the year before this, the car we surround is his old 180B rally car so we put together a team and named it after Gil as the Alpine was his favourite event. In 2007 the team will run again with only a few changes.
Cheers Kim Harper
Ken Harper Alpines Again
At 82 years old age is Ken Harper the Oldest Rally Driver in the world?
Ken Harper can't exactly remember how many Alpine's he has actually driven in but its 15 or 16. He does remember doing his first 56 years ago in 1951. In 1952 he drove the first Porsche in Australia for Norman Hamilton in that years Alpine.
In which case was he the first driver in the world to be paid to drive a Porsche?
Ken's motor sport history is as long as your arm, starting in club events in the 1940's driving a M.G T.C. He competed in nearly every Round Australia event in the 1950's plus the more recent Round Australia's. In the 1960's he was a car builder and driver for the Ford Works Team competing in state and national events as well as the 1963 East African Safari. In 1962 he was in the Ford Team that came second outright in the Armstrong 500 which later became the Hardie Ferrodo which is today known as the Bathurst 1000.
Ken had a couple of decades off rallying (a miserable time) but was an early member of the Historic Rally Association (HRA) when it formed in the early 1990's. His first project was to build a 69 Mustang for forest events. Ken drove this big red beast to 3rd outright in the trial section of the 1995 Round Australia with son Kim along side. The Mustang has since been converted to a bitumen rally car and gets the occasional outing include a string of 1st, 2 nd and 3rd outright in the Forest Classic over the last number of years. To achieve this he has been ably assisted by navigators of the calibre Nick Wright and Graeme Vaux.
(above) Ken Harper and his son Kim in front of Kim's Twin Cam Escort at the start of the 2005 Alpine. Photo courtesy of Bob Hulyer
In 1996 he built a Twin Cam Escort for son Kim which has competed in over 60 events. In 2000 he completed the White Mrk 1 RS2000 Escort that he will drive in this years Alpine.
These day's, when Ken and his wife Olive are not in Queensland escaping the Melbourne winter Ken can be found in his Glen Iris garage tinkering with Escorts and other stuff. Ken's continued involvement in motor sport has been a great boost to the other senior members of the HRA by supplying them with an in-built excuse to keep rallying, namely; “but darling, of course I'm not too old to keep rallying I'm 20 years younger than Ken Harper”.
For the 2007 Alpine Ken's usual navigator, his son Lee is unable to compete due to a commitment to co-drive in Classic Adelaide. David McAdam, a HRA member and all-round motor sport competitor will be calling the corners for Ken. David said “I reckon we will have a ball”.
Alpine Merchandise
Just thought that a gentle reminder might be needed to some that there is a cut off date for ordering of merchandise for the event. If you haven't made arrangements/orders please do so asap by going to the website and printing the order form, filling it out and despatching to the address on the base. All question re this can be directed in the first instance to Golly and thereafter to Stuart. Also if you are aware of any officials/spectators etc who may need to order, please give them a not so gentle prod!
Details on the competitor/officials page..... here
The Woollard family enjoying a break at Orbost
Sponsors of the Woollard Entry
For all your equipment hire needs in Bairnsdale and Sale see Neil McDiarmed - Branch Manager neil.mcdiarmed@coates.com.au
5152 6522 or 0418 351 765
2007 Alpine Rally Accommodation Deals
As the organising team continue putting the final details of the 2007 Alpine Rally together we have managed to secure some great deals on accommodation for competitors, crews, officials and spectators. So if you are planning to be in Lakes Entrance for the Alpine try these great deals out.
The Esplanade Resort & Spa are offering 20% off a 2 night stay and 30% off a 3 or more night stay for the duration of the event, just mention the Alpine Rally when you book. The management have also donated an accommodation package worth $810.00 as part of a generous sponsorship deal for the event.
The Esplanade Resort & Spa. Perfectly located between two pristine stretches of water forming the eastern end of the Gippsland Lakes at Lakes Entrance, The Esplanade Resort offers the perfect Lakes Entrance Accommodation. For more info or to make a booking visit www.esplanaderesort.com.au or call 1800 557 759
Other accommodation is being handled by the East Gippsland Visitor Centre. No matter what your budget the Visitor Centre will find a package to suit, from caravan park cabins, peaceful B & B's or 5 star opulence. To use this great service simply call
1800 637 060 or visit www.lakesandwilderness.com.au
With a larger field limit and more spectators expected don't wait till the last minute to book your accommodation as all the good deals will go quickly. Both these organisations are valued supporters of the Alpine Rally so please support them.
For more information contact either:
Owen Polanski on Mob: 0408 037 505 or owenp@vicnet.net.au
or
Andrew Roberts on mob: 0432 799 495 or andykat@bigpond.com
Alpine Rally Website www.alpinerally.org.au
Thank you and welcome to John Hansen Real Estate