Alpine Rally Of East Gippsland 2019
NEWS BRIEFING 02
21:00 - 30th NOV 2019
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION WINS THE ALPINE
In a 1970 Mazda RX2 that cost only $10,000, the 2017 Australian Rally Champion triumphed over a class field during a bushfire, and rain-shorted, Alpine Rally Of East Gippsland.
Nathan Quinn said: “I built the car, pretty-well from the ground-up ten years ago. It’s got much the same engine I had when I used to deliver pizzas, telling my old man I wanted to be a rally driver!”
His navigator, fellow New-South Welshman, Ray Winwood-Smith has resumed rallying after a twenty-eight year break. It was his first Alpine Rally.
Second place went to Tasmanians Kade Barrett and David Guest in their bright orange Plymouth Fire Arrow. It was Barrett’s fourth Alpine.
Third was Carl Stewart and Matty James in their Datsun 1600. Previous winner of the Rookie’s Award, this was Stewart’s seventh attempt, and best place in The Alpine.
International voice of the World Rally Championship, Colin Clark, told a packed crowd that The Alpine is a unique event on the world stage. “Every time you come to Australia you realise how strong the rally community is.”
“You’ve got to give it to the organisers. They have worked with the two most challenging extremes you can imagine, bushfires on one hand, terrible rain and slippery conditions on the other — and we’ve still had a rally!”
“You’ve got this event that, next time, will be a hundred years old. That’s something to be celebrate, surely.”
The Event Director, Owen Polanski, thanked local officials from all agencies, and from the Historic Rally Association who made the rally possible.
“They all willingly go out at all sorts of weird hours, in all sorts of terrible weather, and they do all sorts of fantastic work for us; sometimes for many, many hours out in the bush.
“I cannot thank them enough, for without them, nothing happens.”
The Alpine Rally has an economic impact of about three million dollars in the region. The next running, of the fourth oldest motorsport event in the world, and oldest in Australia, will be in 2021.
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Winner, Nathan Quinn, Radio Interview: CLICK HERE ( 1 min 18 secs)
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Check all the radio grabs on the RADIO PAGE CLICK HERE
Winners.jpg:
Caption (L to R): “Carl Stewart and Matty James, Nathan Quinn and Ray Winwood-Smith, Kade Barrett and David Guest.” Photo: James Nixon (Free to use with attribution)
Colin_Clark.jpg
Caption: “The Voice Of the World Rally Championship, Scotsman Colin Clark.” Photo: James Nixon (Free to use with attribution)
ChampagneSpray.jpg “Colin Clark broadcasts to the world (right) as the top six place-getters indulge in the champagne spray.” Photo: James Nixon (Free to use with attribution)
Many more images available on the Facebook Page:
CLICK HERE
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PREVIOUS RELEASE BELOW
NEWS BRIEFING 01
16:00 - 27th NOV 2019
ATTENTION:
News Directors / Chiefs Of Staff / Journalists
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WHAT
The Alpine Rally Of East Gippsland
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WHEN
2 p.m. Friday 29th November —
6 p.m. Saturday 30th November
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WHERE
Based in Lake Entrance, Victoria, Australia; the rally cars use closed forest roads, from Bairnsdale Speedway, in the west, through Orbost, to Cann River in the east.
One section has been cancelled due to the Bruthen bushfire on Friday, along with all sections on Sunday. This was to be the day where the majority of stages were in the forest around Bruthen, and the rally was based in the township itself.
The rally will now finish on Saturday evening.
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TYPE
Two-wheel-drive rally cars from the ‘classic era’ —30 years ago— the most exciting rally cars that slide around corners, (see below).
Lots of Datsuns (35), Ford Escorts (14), and a few Holden Commodores (5).
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HOW MANY COMPETITORS
106 cars (212 drivers and navigators)
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FROM
All over Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.A.
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OLDEST
The oldest motorsport event in Australia. The first one was conducted in 1921. The next one (they are held every two years) will be 100 years.
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REALLY?
Only the French Grand Prix (1906), Indianapolis (1909), & Pikes Peak Hillclimb, Colorado (1916), have been running longer.
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TEAMS
Rallying is a team sport: drivers, navigators and service crews must all work together to beat the clock.
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TIMING
Cars are released in two-minute intervals, and timed to the second by RallySafe, the most amazing piece of technology … which comes from Tasmania, Australia.
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RALLYSAFE
Designed and built-in Tasmania. Provides advanced-timing, tracking, vehicle-to-vehicle communications, Push-To-Pass, mobile app and virtual spectating … and instant crash analysis and crew communication.
Used in rallying and speed boat racing worldwide, including the World Rally Championship.
[ A huge story yet to be told ]
https://rallysafe.com.au/
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WOMEN
Women compete equally with men in rallying. We have one female driver, and 19 female navigators in The Alpine this year.
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COMPETITORS
212
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SERVICE CREWS
650
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OFFICIALS
400
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SPECTATORS
2,000
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IMPACT
$2.5 - $3 million to the region. This is significant, given the drought in the area and the recent bushfires.
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RALLY START - Friday 29th November.
Location:
Rotunda Park, Esplanade,
Lakes Entrance, Victoria.
Coordinates
37°52'46.0"S
147°59'42.3"E
13:00 The cars will be assembled.
14:00 Local Member Tim Bull MP, &
Local Councillor Mark Reeves speak.
14:10 Event Director, Owen Polanksi,
conducts the Driver’s Briefing.
15:00 Local Member Tim Bull MP
will flag the cars away.
Email: tim.bull@parliament.vic.gov.au
for a quote,
or use these three audio grabs: CLICK HERE
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EVENING SPECTACULAR - Friday 29th November.
Location:
Bairnsdale Speedway
120 Deptford Rd, Granite Rock VIC 3875
Coordinates
37°46'15.6"S
147°40'30.2"E
From 17:30, three of the top Classic rally
cars will do demonstration runs.
18:00 first Alpine car commences the
KONI Bairnsdale Speedway Spectacular.
The speedway track occurs during the middle
of the special stage and should prove spectacular.
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IN THE FOREST
Five Spectator Points. The free spectator guide
is available from the Rally website:
https://alpinerally.org.au/spectators/
If sending a crew to the forest, please check with
James Nixon 0411 226201, who will ensure you get
the best vision.
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FINISH PRESENTATION - Saturday 18:00.
Location:
Rotunda Park, Esplanade,
Lakes Entrance, Victoria.
Coordinates
37°52'46.0"S
147°59'42.3"E
From 18:00 Winners Champagne spray,
(for first, second and third positions).
Check with us first in case of delay
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LIVE TWITTER FEED
Live Twitter feed will run during the event for updates.
Keeping everyone up-to-date, to the minute.
Official releases from Rally HQ during the event. Just facts:
AlpineRally Updates
@AlpineUpdates
Everything else:
AlpineRally
@AlpineRoEG
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FACEBOOK
Rallying uses Facebook big time. The crews upload video from inside the cars.
https://www.facebook.com/AlpineRallyOfEastGippsland%20/
Have a look, we have pinned a video to the top for a pre-event look at rallying.
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VIDEO
This is what we are talking about: CLICK HERE
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RADIO
Broadcast-quality audio grabs:
TIM BULL MP: CLICK HERE
Officials and competitors will be added during the event.
We've done the work for you, the grabs are 100% reliable.
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IMAGES
We are working with some of the top rally photographers
in the business.
You want images? We can get them to you. Just ask.
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WEBSITE
https://alpinerally.org.au/
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CONTACT
James Nixon
james@CrammondMedia.com
0411 22 6201
Anything you need, we can help.
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SIX DIFFERENT ANGLES:
SIDEBAR [ LOCAL FIRE BRIGADES ]
At the mobile pit-areas (Bruthen, Orbost and Cann River) we donate $500 to each Country Fire Authority (CFA) unit as thanks for their watchful gaze.
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SIDEBAR [ LOCAL SPORTS CLUB ]
At Orbost, the local footy club feeds us. It’s one of their major money-making drives for the year.
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SIDEBAR [ U.S.A ]
Top U.S.A. professional rally navigator, Alex Gelsomino, is reuniting with Australian driver Phil Thomas for the Alpine Rally Of East Gippsland.
The pair first teamed-up at the classic Otago Rally in New Zealand earlier this year, when they came second in class, in what is considered one of the toughest events in the world. Impressive, considering they had never met until only a few days before the event.
Phil and Alex will compete in the beautiful Lock & Load Transport Ford Escort for the prestigious Alpine Rally of East Gippsland, and are looking forward to the challenge on Phil’s home stages.
Alex says: “It will be my first time running a ‘blind’ event in nearly 20 years; that is, without pace-notes, and I can’t wait for the challenge.”
“Phil and his team made me feel truly at home when I competed with them earlier this year in New Zealand. We were able to click from the word go, which allowed us to produce a strong result.”
“I can’t wait to be reunited in what is one of the best Ford Escort Mk2s in the world, with Phil behind the wheel, in the amazing forest stages in East Gippsland.”
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SIDEBAR [ PREVIOUS WINNERS ]
David and Kate Officer (Australian Rally Champions, & past winners of The Alpine):
“To win The Alpine is the best thing,” says Kate: “The tradition. It’s long, it’s hard, it’s hot. The whole team has to work together; the service crew, the driver and navigator.”
In 1984 they won The Alpine, and the championship.
David Officer says, “We’re not running up the top of the field this year. Up there, it’s still expensive. We’ll only be using four to six tires this year. It’s possible to run the whole event for under $5,000. For us, it's fun.”
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SIDEBAR [ COMMENTATOR ]
Ross Dunkerton will be commentating. He is probably Australia’s most successful rally driver and has won the Australian Rally Championship multiple times. His exploits are legendary, and his style is very amusing.
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SIDEBAR [ VISITING JOURNALIST ]
‘The Voice of Rally’ for the World Rally Championship, Scotland’s Colin Clark will be attending The Alpine, (being chauffeured around by Australian Champion Driver Molly Taylor). Ask him what he thinks of it.
https://www.facebook.com/voiceofrally/
https://twitter.com/voiceofrally
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John & Helen Hadden will conduct demonstration runs in their Ford Escort,
a previous winner of the Alpine in the hands of Greg Carr / Fred Gocentas
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Winner of the last Alpine Rally, Ben Barker & Damien Long in their BMW
will start as car number one. ©CrammondMEDIA - Free to use with attribution
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