OSCC Rally News — April 2019
Greetings Rallyists,
Spring is on its way (I think), and it’s time to shake off the cobwebs and plan some rally fun for the season.
RSO March elections
The AGM and elections ushered in a new president, Warren Haywood, who is very well known in the Ottawa region. Replacing him in the role of Vice-President, Performance, is award-winning co-driver Alan Ockwell. Continuing in their roles are Vice-President, Navigational Darin Mayes, Treasurer David Maynard, and Kelly Mathew as Secretary. We thank Bruce Leonard for his years as President!
At the RSO AGM, attendees voted to include OPRC award-winners at the 2020 CARS AGM. For the first time in my memory of 20-odd years in the Rally world, it will be held in Ottawa! You’ll have to read on to see why this might be happening now.
Race/rally medical at Calabogie Motorsports Park
If you need your medical and can’t make it out to LHFR, why not contact OSCC member and race doctor, Dr. Mike Dolan, who is taking appointments for May 4. The cost is $100 and the money will go to fund equipment needed by the CMP Safety Team. To make an appointment, go to https://racelicencemedical@
2019 SPDA Lanark Highlands Forest Rally
As if being RSO President weren’t enough, Warren Haywood is again organizing the SPDA Lanark Highlands Forest Rally. Race day is on May 4, with teams going through registration, tech and reconnaissance on Friday, May 3. It’s a terrific event, the first of the standalone regional rallies of the season, and it’s very popular with Ontario and Quebec teams. You can also expect to see teams from the U.S. and maybe the Atlantic provinces and further afield.
Learn more about this popular event at www.rallysport.on.ca/LHFR and watch for the latest news on the 2019 Lanark Highlands Forest Rally Facebook page.
Lots of volunteer workers are needed for LHFR. Can you come out and help? We’d love to show you the ropes if you’re new to this. Please contact Volunteer Co-ordinator Jason Crandall for more information at lhfrvolunteers@gmail.com. About 15-20 people are needed to help with setup and recce on Friday, and everyone who is able to come out will be needed on Saturday.
We need amateur radio operators, Start and Finish timing control marshals, traffic control marshals, and crowd control marshals. Working an event is the best way to see the action!
Rally HQ will be at the McDonald’s Corners Agricultural Hall, 194 Cameron’s Road, McDonald’s Corners, Ontario K0G 1M0. It’s about 20 minutes NW of Perth.
Join OSCC and then get your CARS rally licence!
If you are busy getting your CARS Rally licence and need to update your OSCC membership, go to http://members.casc.on.ca or check here first: http://www.
The World Stage: WRC in Canada?
In February, the OSCC was invited to a special meeting. Six of us attended: Darryl Malone, Mike Koch, President Richard Muise, VP Dale Pasternak, husband Jim Morrow and I. Also in attendance were a number of influencers representing the national Quebec rallies. We were there to discuss the possibility of holding a WRC event that would include Quebec and Lanark Highlands rally roads. Everyone there was interested, and the organizer left the meeting with plans to pursue the initiative further.
Back to what I said about the CARS AGM coming to Ottawa: I suspect that a number of decision-makers will be driving the rally roads in the Lanark Highlands and Quebec to better acquaint themselves with their characteristics.
The group spearheading this exciting initiative is called the Rally Promoter Association of Canada (RPAC). They are being funded by donations at this time. To find out more, go to https://rallypromoter.ca/rpac-
And there’s more!
If you’d like to know when rally-type events are being held in Ontario, please visit https://www.rallysport.on.ca/. Check for navigational rallies, rallysprints, rallycrosses and stage rallies. There’s an event calendar for quick reference at https://www.rallysport.on.ca/
Later this summer or in early fall, OSCC will be holding the Lanark Highlands Tour. My job is to navigate the vast number of dates to find one that allows the greatest number of people to enter. Challenge accepted!
There’s a lot to look forward as we get through the Spring melt and back onto dry road surfaces. What are you planning for the summer season? Please let me know. Maybe I’ll see you there!
Jeannie MacGillivray
OSCC Rally Chair
rally@ottawasportscarclub.ca