We're on the calendar . and ready to do it in the dirt !!

The Southern Cross Rally returns to Port Macquarie on July 1 - 3, 2005

The sixties and seventies were exciting times for motor rallies world-wide and
the Southern Cross International Rally was regarded as one of the world's best
during this "golden age" of rallying.

The pilgrimage to Port Macquarie 'for the 'Cross' each October was the highlight
of the Australian rally calendar during the 1970's and second only to "Bathurst"
as the 'must be there' motor sport event.

The rally was last held in 1980. Decades have passed, yet the memories remain,
as vivid as ever!

Now twenty-five years later, we intend the Southern Cross Rally again will
become an event not to miss.

Our biggest challenge has been to meld the essential character of the 'Cross,
and rallying, "as it was back then" with the expectations of competition
nowadays and the current safety requirements of motor sport (. and dodge the
rain).

In times long past, car rallies were conducted throughout the night hours,
travelling lengthy sections on gravel roads through farming country and forests.
Crews entered these events with the aim to follow the correct course, mostly
using maps, and arrive at the end of each section within the time allowed to
avoid penalty points for late arrival.

During the seventies, rallying evolved to place greater attention on the
reliability and handling skills of both car and crew. This proved to be
thoroughly enjoyable and affordable for many enthusiasts. Regular car club
competitors had several opportunities on their home ground each year to contest
major events along with the very best of the international factory teams
fielding their 'works' cars and European and World Rally Champion crews.

The Southern Cross Rally was an adventure that typified the endurance aspect of
rallying a quarter of a century back - very different from rally competition
nowadays. Events were long and gruelling . and memorable! To stay the pace in
a 200 kilometre-plus competition section, knowing this was but one stretch of
the many hundreds of kilometres of competition driving on the mountain forest
roads before the night's run was completed, remains clearly imprinted in our
minds forever.

In true 'Cross tradition, the victory celebrations that followed each event were
even more memorable!

25 years on, and the 'Cross is ready to get underway again ...

The three-day program of the 2005 Southern Cross Rally will commence on Friday,
July 1, and wrap up on Sunday, July 3 with a barbeque lunch and Awards
Presentation on the riverbank at Port Macquarie.

Then, once again, it's time to party!!

The 2005 Southern Cross Rally will be a National Non-special stage rally, based
at Port Macquarie and using the magnificent forest roads to the south and west
in the Hastings and Camden Haven Valleys.

The 'Cross in 2005 will be much shorter than the rallies of earlier times;
nevertheless by today's standards it still will be regarded as a long event.

The complete route will cover 1055 kms, almost half of which will be
competitive. The divisions (or heats) range from 105 kms to 140 kms of
competition, and transport distances are similar.

A number of options of entry will be available. Entrants may nominate to
compete in the entire event (the 'long' course) or their selection of heats.
The Sunday Finale is the compulsory heat for all entrants in the event.

The Entry Fee for the 'long' course will be $1100, and includes the registration
for two (2) service vehicles. For individually selected heats, the entry fee
will be $300 each heat.

The Founding Members of the Southern Cross Rally Association will receive a
rebate on their entry fee and concessions will apply for the 'Early Bird'
entries.

Incentives will be available for team entries consisting of three crews entering
with a common theme (e.g. car club / vehicle model / sponsor / etc.), with
various awards for the best of the team themes.

Just have a run in the Sunday Finale, if that is to your liking. There'll be a
great party afterwards.

Currently we are negotiating with the various CAMS Advisory Panels regarding our
proposal to include a sub-event that is designed to bring together the older
competitors and the newcomers to the sport. This is the way it was when the
legends of the sport first went rallying - there were the "Golden Oldies", and
"mouldy auldies", with years of rally know-how that was passed on to the then
new kids on the block (and out in the forests).

We will keep you posted on the outcome of these negotiations.

If you don't have an 'older' rally car ...

Of all the ideas we received regarding today's version of the Southern Cross
Rally, by far the largest proportion of interest concerns vehicle eligibility.
In some aspects, motor sport never will change!

We were prompted to recognise that the 'Cross of old was an event that showcased
the vehicles in current production at that point in time, and this should apply
today just as it did back then . rightly so!

Along with the classifications that were listed in the 2004 event regulations, a
number of the current production (Group N) vehicles will be eligible also to
compete in the 2005 Southern Cross Rally.

Several conditions will apply to the 'moderns' in order to reflect the basic
features of vehicle entry in the events several decades ago. Turbo boost
technology was still very new at the time and four-wheel drive vehicles were
banned from rallying.

With this in mind, current production (Group N) non-turbo two-wheel drive models
will be eligible to compete in the 2005 Southern Cross Rally.

This is a brief resume of the 2005 event.

If you wish to be placed on the Mailing List to receive ongoing information with
the view to entering the 'Cross, please fill in the form below and forward to
the Southern Cross Rally Office along with your registration fee of $55-00
(incl. GST).

This will assist the cost of preparation and postage of printed matter related
to the event and your payment will be credited to your entry fee for the 2005
Southern Cross Rally.

The Founding Members of the Southern Cross Rally Association and entrants for
the proposed events in 2004 have been included already on the Mailing List for
Entrants and/or Competitors.

[Those wishing to register as officials or media may use this form. Tick the
boxes as indicated; no fees apply.]

We are looking forward to seeing you at Port Macquarie, for the return of the
'Cross on July 1 - 3, 2005.

Dan and Rosie White

Southern Cross Rally

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*NOTE:

To register your interest on the 2005 Southern Cross Rally Mailing List

as an Entrant and/or Competitor, please include payment of $55-00

(incl. GST) with the registration slip below.

Cheques/postal notes are to be made payable to "Southern Cross Rally".

Electronic funds transfer facilities are available.

Contact the Southern Cross Rally Office on (02) 6581 4595 for the bank

account particulars.

For your information, our email address is thecross@...

Please forward your application slip and registration payment as required to:

Southern Cross Rally

PO Box 5626

PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444

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2005 SOUTHERN CROSS RALLY

FRIDAY - SUNDAY, JULY 1 - 3, 2005

MAILING LIST REGISTRATION

NAME(S): ..............................

POSTAL ADDRESS: ..........................

......................... Postcode: .......

Email : .................................

Please tick your preference/s:

q General Information;

q Media Personnel;

q Event Official;

*q Entrant and/or Competitor.

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