The ice-covered gravel roads surrounding Rocky View County will be home to a day of high-speed action as the Cochrane Winter Rally rolls into the region March 12. As of press time, there were 17 cars entered into the annual rally organized by the Calgary Sport Car Club, each with a driver as well as a co-driver who will navigate and give directions to the man behind the wheel.
According to rally co-organizer Brad Derzaph, there are usually nearly 30 teams in the rally, but this year’s numbers are down because the rally takes place on the same weekend as the Rally Guanajjuato Corona, a World Rally Championship event in Mexico. Several regular entrants in the Cochrane event will be skipping it to attend that professional event. Several other drivers who have competed in the past will also be passing on this year’s event to focus on the Canadian Rally Championship, the nation’s professional series.
While many of the veteran teams won’t be in attendance, three brand new teams will make their stage rallying debut, according to Derzaph.
This year’s rally will consist of 10 stages, which is down from last year. Derzaph said the number of stages had to be decreased this year because there are fewer volunteers than in previous years. Volunteers are still needed to help with registration, car inspection, timing and to host sponsors and media representatives. Volunteers will also be needed to secure the roads during the rally action, help with spectator safety and monitor service parks for safe practices. Organizers are in special need of people with qualifications as amateur radio operators, emergency medical technicians and advanced first aid.
The event is a blast for spectators, according to Derzaph, who noted there are typically between 20 to 100 spectators, depending on the weather.
“It’s always a social outing. People come out and they bring firewood, chairs and coolers and make a day of watching the cars go by,” he said. “Speeds will hit 120 km/h and higher, but the average speed will be slower than that. It will all be on gravel and there will likely be a mix of ice at that time too, which will make it pretty entertaining.”
The route will consist of forestry and oil service roads that Derzaph said can be tricky and unpredictable. There is no fee to come out and watch the rally and organizers will usher fans into safe areas, where they can still get a great view of the action.
According to Derzaph, the rally has been running in the Cochrane and Rocky View County area for more than 30 years, although the exact year it started isn’t known.
The rally weekend starts on Saturday, March 11 when competitors will have an opportunity to do a reconnaissance of the course. This is when co-drivers make their pace notes about turns and elevation changes, which they will then dictate to their driver during the rally. Competitors are allowed two passes down the route to make notes, according to Derzaph.
The competitive rallying starts on Sunday, March 12 at 8:30 a.m. from Camp Kindle near Water Valley. The event runs until approximately 6:35 p.m. and will follow a route down Waiparous, Harold Creek and Hunter Valley roads. As of press time, the spectator areas had not been determined.
The Cochrane Winter Rally is the opening event in the 2017 Western Canadian Rally Championship. The season will continue with the Rocky Mountain Rally May 27 and 28 in Invermere, B.C., the Pacific Forest Rally Sept. 29 and 30 in Merritt, B.C., the Kananaskis Rally Oct. 28 and 29 and the Big White Winter Rally Dec. 8 and 9 in Kelowna, B.C.