News release # 1

Preparations are well under way for the Bega Valley Rally, to be conducted over the long weekend in June 2010, as a round of both the New South Wales and Victorian Rally Championships.

A course has been surveyed that expands on the successful 2009 event, conducted exclusively in the forests near Eden. It encompasses a total of 370km with almost 185km competitive distance, or 50%, over eight stages (no double usage) and uses some of the best roads available for championship rallying. The course is subject to final approval by NSW Forestry.

A shorter course covering 138km competitive will cater for those crews who don’t want to do the full distance. “Stage lengths vary from 19km to 27km and the course includes a number of new stages on superb roads, not unlike the shire stages around Bega but surrounded by forest rather than paddocks, providing an exhilarating high speed drive that sweeps through undulating country”, Clerk of Course Tom Snooks said recently after returning from his third course drive in mid-January. 

“We have consulted both State Rally Panels on the style of event that would best suit the championships, and approximately 180km overall was recommended as the maximum length, one that would provide a reward for those making the longish trip to Eden”.

The major service area will again be based at the spacious and popular Edrom Road ‘log dump’ with catering, toilet and refuelling safety facilities available. This service area will be visited four times.

The Bega Valley Rally is planned to start at 9am at the Eden Wharf, where a number of cafes are ideally located for early morning coffee or breakfast.

The finish will be back in Eden at the Fishermen’s Club from about 5pm (first car). The Club will provide a similar atmosphere and facilities to the Bega RSL that the rally has enjoyed since the seventies, and the event presentation is scheduled here for approx 9pm.

Rally headquarters and rally control will be based at the Club, which has a first class restaurant serving quality food. With Eden being serviced by a number of quality motels and caravan parks, the Bega Valley Rally provides a great opportunity for families to enjoy the long weekend in a picturesq setting, with rally action only a score or so kilometres away. Whilst Eden has much more accommodation than when the event was based at Bega, early accommodation bookings will be essential due to other actitities that will be conducted in the town on the long weekend.

Enquiries for accommodation can be made to the Eden Visitor Information Centre on (09) 6496-1953, or by email to info@edentourism.com.au.   The Eden Tourism website is http://www.edentourism.com.au

For further details contact Tom Snooks at kemdot@iprimius.com.au or 0428 165 275