Nightmoves revved up and ready to roar

NISSAN Nightmoves is back in the Heathcote District on Saturday 17 June and the event will see rally teams pit their skills against the challenges of the Redcastle, Rushworth, Graytown and One Eye forests.

Clerk of course Kim O’Halloran said Nightmoves attracted high-calibre competitors and provided some great opportunities to view them in action.

“We’ve been lucky to catch the eye of Australian rally champion Nathan Quinn who always comes down,” she said. “He just loves the event, it’s his favourite, he puts on his calendar every year.

“He’ll be there again this year in his Mazda and that’s always worth a watch.

“Especially at night, the atmosphere’s amazing, it’s pretty exciting.”

She said there were designated spectator points on the corner of Paveys and Old Coach Roads, Redcastle and on the corner of Hookes Lane and Burnt Track in the One-Eye State Forest.

“The first one runs twice, firstly at 6pm and then again at around 8.30pm, the One-Eye is at 8 pm,” she said.

“We will have spectator instructions available online and at the rally headquarters at Heathcote showgrounds.”

Ms O’Halloran said Nightmoves had a reputation across the rally community for being a well-run event.

“The roads in the area offer a really good challenge that people love,” she said. “In the past few years we’ve had competitors come down from Queensland and New South Wales as well as South Australia.

“It’s also unique in that it’s the only event, at the moment, that runs at night, that’s what rallying used to be.”

This year’s rally will raise funds for Fight MND with beanies for sale at the showgrounds.

“One of the early directors of the event, Peter Whiteley, passed away from motor neurone disease towards the end of last year,” Ms O’Halloran said.

“He was a good friend, he taught us a lot and he was the man who took the rally up to Heathcote.

“We miss Peter, he was always up there helping even when he was sick.

“We’re just trying to raise some money for a good cause because they were so good to Peter and his family when he was unwell.”

For more information visit nissancarclub.org.au.