WRC Repco Rally Australia *General Discussion Thread*

[bpratt]

Just found this youtube onboard of Latvala on SS1, which is the Murwillumbah SSS.

[Ian G.]

NIMBY can now be translated as resident of Nimbin.
The unfortunate thing is that the organisers, the NSW govt and police and Rally Auatralia could have carried out a better PR and information campaign in advance of the rally so that theses nutters would have been devoid of the oxygen of making themselves media stars before the event. That goes particularly for the MP and the local councilors who thought they were on a vote winning excersise by stirring up protest. I think they are now rapidly realising that they have made a big mistake in their interpretation of the mood of local people and probably blown their chance of re-election, but, too late probably for the future of the rally.
The other error was to take it into an area that doesn't have a history of rallying. My opinion is it would have been better in the Port MacQuarie/Coffs Harbour are if it was to be in NSW, or even better in the Sunshine Coast hinterland where Rally Qld has been running for many years with almost total public and political support.
The stupid thing about it is that Murwillumbah has a local history with Speed on Tweed, it is the back blocks hippie element that is involved in the protests.

I would have to agree,having lived in the Tweed for the last 20 years(running a Service Station) moving the Rally slightly North or South would save a lot of grief.

[Ian G.]

A few personal observation on the RRA in no particular order.Overall a great sucess and was much better than i thought it would be, Money it bought into the region is mind boggling,multi Millions of $,for the Kyogle Township in particular the Rally was a godsend as they have been doing it tough in recent Years. Local authorities,Council/Police/Politicians etc were shocked with the speed the WRC cars achieve,may be reprocussions there down the track especially if one modifies a Gum tree and the driving crew or spectators are injured or worse.The move to Super 2000 Cars in 2011 may placate some worried people even though there will probaly no difference in KPH. Friends from Sydney,to be honest were more interested in the "Speed on Tweed" bit rather than RRA as they are over 50 and have a circuit background, felt the top speed of the WR cars was dangerous no matter how good the drivers or the safety aspects of the cars themselves and its only a matter of time before a major drama with a gum tree on every corner,i tend to agree.
Local Northern Rivers population are more bemused with the Rally than supportive,many moved to this area for the quiet life, to get away from Sydney/Melbourne pressures,to have the area innudated with "petrol heads",Police riot squad,Helicopters,protestors ,trouble makers from the Gold Coast etc. did not go down well, Tweed Mayor Joan van Leishout(replaced as Mayor last week by Warren Polglase) stated she is not convinced the Rally is a postive for the region and there must be greater community consultation for future events so it not just the Greenies who are anti-Rally.  
All this is MPO of course and i'm certain the remaining  4 events will be held in some form or another,perhaps ,as already suggested,moving the base to the Lismore/Ballina area or even SE Qld is probaly the long term answer instead of waving a red flag in the face of a large leftish/greenie power base.

 

[Ian G.]

Despite all the hype and disinformation Cams have confirmed the 2011(& later) Event is still not confirmed.


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