Rob McAuley
01-28-2004, 02:21 AM
January 16, 2004
MEMO
To: all CARS clubs licence holders
From: Terry Epp, President
Subject: 2004 Canadian Rally Championship Season
The CARS Annual General Meeting (AGM) and awards luncheon was held this past weekend in Montreal. During the weekend, the National Organizers Committee (CNRC) and the CARS Board held both joint and separate sessions with the 2004 CRC as the principal topic. As a result of the meetings as well as a presentation by Rally Development Group (RDG -Jud Buchanan and Keith Townsend are the two principals) last Friday, several important decisions were taken in regard to the Canadian Rally Championship (CRC) and the 2004 season. What follows is meant to outline the decisions that were taken last weekend by the CARS Board, with the support of the CNRC, and the direction the 2004 CRC will take.
At the beginning of 2003, the CARS Board signed a five year agreement with TV2GO to act as the promotion agency for CARS and the CRC with TV2GO being responsible for finding and securing new sponsorship for the CRC for 2003 and beyond, the television production for eight rallies and providing the photography and press services for the CRC. CARS committed the funds to provide for the televising of eight of the nine events on the 2003 calendar. TV2GO was unsuccessful in securing new sponsorship for the series and both TV2GO and CARS agreed to exercise the escape clause at the end of the first year of the contract. Since both the Subaru and Yokohama contracts were expiring at the end of 2003, CARS attempted to secure Subaru and Yokohamas continued sponsorship of the CRC into 2004 and beyond. However, in early December, Subaru indicated they would not sign with CARS for 2004, but had contracted RDG to look after their motorsport involvement in 2004 and would be interested in continuing to support the CRC if RDG could put a package together that they could support. Meanwhile, negotiations with Yokohama continued and are still ongoing at this time.
This past Sunday, the CARS Board indicated to RDG that CARS is prepared to enter into an agreement to licence the promotion and broadcast rights of the CRC to RDG upon the successful completion of a written agreement between the two parties which would commit RDG to fulfilling an ambitious program for the 2004 CRC. In a joint meeting on Sunday, RDG and the CARS Board concurred that there is agreement in both the direction and intent of both parties to enable a mutually beneficial agreement and that the agreement should be completed quickly. RDG has indicated to CARS that they have the agreement of Subaru Canada for a significant portion of the funding needed to carry out RDG's program for the 2004 CRC.
2004 Canadian Rally Championship: We had announced a seven round championship for 2004, but this will be amended to a six round championship with the announcement of the withdrawal of the Makita Bighorn Rally from the 2004 CRC.
While some filming at the Perce Neige Rally will occur, there will be five rally programs produced for 2004 with a recap of the Perce Neige being shown on the Rocky Mountain Rally program. Each show will be of 30 minutes duration with the possibility of a 60 minute French language show. There is also the possibility of a year in review show being produced. Details about which production company, programming content and which networks the programs will be aired on will be the responsibility of RDG.
RDG will be announcing a $50 000 tow fund to help competitors who travel long distances to compete. Details of the programme will also be forth coming from RDG in the near future.
RDG will also be working on an improved media and promotion package for the series.
A new and updated CARS web site is also planned to help focus attention to the CRC and the site will contain a lot of exciting features. It appears the CARS and RDG will work together to create this new CARS web site.
CARS, as a result of an innovative and totally separate program sponsored by an anonymous source, has proposed to the six events of the 2004 CRC that they move to full reconnaissance and become pace note rallies. At this point in time, there is the possibility that as many as four events may join Defi and institute reconnaissance and become pace note rallies. While details will have to be worked out regarding rules for reconnaissance, it is clearly an exciting possibility for the series and the future development of our drivers. It would also open the door for participation of drivers from around the world and, in particular, the United States.
MEMO
To: all CARS clubs licence holders
From: Terry Epp, President
Subject: 2004 Canadian Rally Championship Season
The CARS Annual General Meeting (AGM) and awards luncheon was held this past weekend in Montreal. During the weekend, the National Organizers Committee (CNRC) and the CARS Board held both joint and separate sessions with the 2004 CRC as the principal topic. As a result of the meetings as well as a presentation by Rally Development Group (RDG -Jud Buchanan and Keith Townsend are the two principals) last Friday, several important decisions were taken in regard to the Canadian Rally Championship (CRC) and the 2004 season. What follows is meant to outline the decisions that were taken last weekend by the CARS Board, with the support of the CNRC, and the direction the 2004 CRC will take.
At the beginning of 2003, the CARS Board signed a five year agreement with TV2GO to act as the promotion agency for CARS and the CRC with TV2GO being responsible for finding and securing new sponsorship for the CRC for 2003 and beyond, the television production for eight rallies and providing the photography and press services for the CRC. CARS committed the funds to provide for the televising of eight of the nine events on the 2003 calendar. TV2GO was unsuccessful in securing new sponsorship for the series and both TV2GO and CARS agreed to exercise the escape clause at the end of the first year of the contract. Since both the Subaru and Yokohama contracts were expiring at the end of 2003, CARS attempted to secure Subaru and Yokohamas continued sponsorship of the CRC into 2004 and beyond. However, in early December, Subaru indicated they would not sign with CARS for 2004, but had contracted RDG to look after their motorsport involvement in 2004 and would be interested in continuing to support the CRC if RDG could put a package together that they could support. Meanwhile, negotiations with Yokohama continued and are still ongoing at this time.
This past Sunday, the CARS Board indicated to RDG that CARS is prepared to enter into an agreement to licence the promotion and broadcast rights of the CRC to RDG upon the successful completion of a written agreement between the two parties which would commit RDG to fulfilling an ambitious program for the 2004 CRC. In a joint meeting on Sunday, RDG and the CARS Board concurred that there is agreement in both the direction and intent of both parties to enable a mutually beneficial agreement and that the agreement should be completed quickly. RDG has indicated to CARS that they have the agreement of Subaru Canada for a significant portion of the funding needed to carry out RDG's program for the 2004 CRC.
2004 Canadian Rally Championship: We had announced a seven round championship for 2004, but this will be amended to a six round championship with the announcement of the withdrawal of the Makita Bighorn Rally from the 2004 CRC.
While some filming at the Perce Neige Rally will occur, there will be five rally programs produced for 2004 with a recap of the Perce Neige being shown on the Rocky Mountain Rally program. Each show will be of 30 minutes duration with the possibility of a 60 minute French language show. There is also the possibility of a year in review show being produced. Details about which production company, programming content and which networks the programs will be aired on will be the responsibility of RDG.
RDG will be announcing a $50 000 tow fund to help competitors who travel long distances to compete. Details of the programme will also be forth coming from RDG in the near future.
RDG will also be working on an improved media and promotion package for the series.
A new and updated CARS web site is also planned to help focus attention to the CRC and the site will contain a lot of exciting features. It appears the CARS and RDG will work together to create this new CARS web site.
CARS, as a result of an innovative and totally separate program sponsored by an anonymous source, has proposed to the six events of the 2004 CRC that they move to full reconnaissance and become pace note rallies. At this point in time, there is the possibility that as many as four events may join Defi and institute reconnaissance and become pace note rallies. While details will have to be worked out regarding rules for reconnaissance, it is clearly an exciting possibility for the series and the future development of our drivers. It would also open the door for participation of drivers from around the world and, in particular, the United States.