HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that 2010 brings all the things you want, just be careful what you wish for…
No, you didn’t miss the December Newsletter – I did – We have been busy refining the Rally course and getting things into shape for this year’s Rally and December is silly season anyway.
All of you who have provided a Registration of Interest have had your place in the rally reserved to this date.
Included with this newsletter is your official Entry and Payment form to confirm your participation; you will need to complete these and return ASAP to secure your place.
As mentioned in our last communication ROI’s have us at almost capacity and I know a small group of you are intending to return this year but have still not put in your ROI. So if you are intending to re-join the ICT party you will need to jump in with your entry form now!
You will note after holding the fees to the same levels for the past two years we have had to increase fees a bit.
We have been running at a loss for those two years and this year we have upgraded the arrival activities including reserving the Piazza Italia on Lygon Street and upgraded our Victory Dinner venue to a downtown restaurant on Lygon plus we have added a PR element so we need to try and at least cover our costs.
I am now also actively seeking some cash sponsors to assist any suggestion in this area would be gratefully received.
Pre-Start Re-Union Dinner
Lido Russo rally winner 2008 and founding member of the ICT has confirmed our Re-Union Dinner is on again. I will get numbers who are attending later. It will be similar to last year a Beer and Pizza occasion for around $20.00 a head – pay on the night.
Another big thank you to Lido
The Start
Everything is in position for a great start.
This year we will be putting on a rally breakfast for all crews and guests in Piazza Grande at the Italian Forum
Driver briefings will be held in the beautiful new Concert Hall of the Italian Cultural Centre also within the Italian Forum.
Melbourne competitor’s accommodation in Sydney is included your fees.
The Route
Jeff Whitten has been working hard on the route re-visiting the routing of the rally to ensure you get a great drive, keeping the favourite roads in the itinerary and adding some new and challenging routes.
Gundagai
We had a very successful visit to Gundagai where we met with enthusiastic Council representatives.
Motorkhana Confirmed
We have confirmed a good Motorkhana location which Council is happy with indeed they suggested it.
There might be a bit of a surprise regarding the timing of the Motorkhana if we can get the Council to agree, more on that later.
Our dinner venue will be the Gundagai RSL Club – they have new caterers whom I have met and the food looks fine. We will also have our own area for Dinner but we will be inviting townsfolk to join us (their cost of course).
Myrtleford
Myrtleford is once again turning it on for us. Noel Stone is again surrounding us with La Fiera the Myrtleford Italian Festival that was inspired by the Rally’s arrival into Myrtleford in 2007.
Motorkhana
This year the event has been expanded and in consultation with Fiera organisors we are holding the Motorkhana on Saturday Afternoon at the height of the Festa.
Jeff and Peter Whitten and I along with Noel Stone have surveyed and approved a new Motorkhana location which provides plenty of space for an exciting and challenging event.
The dinner venue may change this year. The local AFL club is going through a big upgrade and if it is ready by May that will be our dinner venue.
After a good breakfast and briefing we will be leaving early for the final leg to Melbourne.
Lygon Street – Melbourne
As we will have left Myrtleford earlier than on previous years we will arrive at the Piazza Italia earlier in the afternoon (about 2.30 pm).
On arrival after check-in you will join the visiting clubs’ display so the public can check out your machines.
Some other things will be happening during the afternoon which will be announced a bit later.
The dinner venue in Lygon Street is still being scoped out. There are not a lot of restaurants that can accommodate us as we will have around 100 people to feed but we have identified the ones that measure up in quality and size and we will announce which one we have selected in the next newsletter.
There are some other extra exciting things in the wind that I will confirm with you once they are confirmed.
Our Charity
It is now time for us to consider how we are going to raise money for the Duchenne Foundation.
Merchandise is available:
Wristbands, Walking Stress Balls, Tee Shirts and Balloons are currently in their inventory, also a good stock of brochures.
Other suggestions include
Raffle, Auction items for the Victory Dinner, sponsor to pay on points, decal display on your car ( you might already be using this to get sponsorship for your car), Collection tins.
I will be bullying all the councils who are sponsoring us and the local businesses to have items for sale from mid May into June.
Don’t forget we have a target of $100,000 for the rally to raise for the Duchenne Foundation next year.
There will be a great prize for the crew that raises the most money –
You will have the choice of either an advanced driving course or a high performance master class with Racing Champ John Bowe. For a Victorian winner it will be at Winton and for a NSW winner it will be at Wakefield Park
You will receive more information relating to obtaining merchandise and more detailed arrangements regarding this aspect in the next two weeks.
ENTRY FORMS
NOW IS THE TIME TO CONFIRM YOUR PLACE IN THE 2010 ITALIAN CONNECTION RALLY – FILL IN THE FORMS AND RETURN TODAY
There will be more news next month – drive and enjoy but stay safe.
Contacts
Robert Gunn – Event Producer – Tel: (02) 9960 1733 Fax: (02) 9960 1744
Email: Robert@italianconnection.com.au
Jeff Whitten – Clerk of Course – Tel: (03) 5722 1250
Email: jeff@rallysportmag.com.au
