The Australian Lancia Register will stage its 27th Castlemaine Rally this weekend October 20-22.
The event will see Lancisti descend on the local region for the premium biennial event.
The three day rally will culminate with a public car display at the Wattle Flat Reserve (Castlemaine Pony Club) in Richards Road Castlemaine this Sunday October 22 from 10am to 3pm.
This is a free event and the public are welcome to get along and view the cars ranging from the earliest 1920s Lancia Lambda to the more modern Lancia Beta’s and Delta Integrale.
Australian Lancia Register president Angelo Monteleone said this year Castlemaine 27 will celebrate 40 years since the magnificent Lancia 037 last won the ‘World Rally Championship’ in 1983.
“This was under the stewardship of signoro Cesere Fiorio manager of the Lancia Works team. There will be an actual 037 rally car on display on Sunday, which is quite a treat due to their rarity outside of Italy,” Mr Monteleone said.
The 2023 gathering also marks 50 years of the Beta 1972 -2022.
“The Lancia Beta was Lancia’s first new model after the FIAT takeover, commencing the line up with the 4-door fastback saloon (Beta Berlina), 2-door coupé (Beta Coupé), 2-door Targa (Beta Spyder Zagato), 3-door estate (Beta HPE) and improving with various facelifts and sophistication as the years rolled onward finally finishing about 1985 with the VX series of supercharged coupe and HPE,” Mr Monteleone said.
“Our Castlemaine 27 rally poster portrays the Lancia 037 in its Martini livery and the most popular Beta’s being the Coupe, HPE and Spyder versions in the colours of Italian flag,” he said.
As part of the rally Australian Lancia Register members will have the chance to visit Boomtown Wines, Balgownie Estate, enjoy catering by Togs and live entertainment from Meg Corson, and a lunch at Castlemaine Golf Club.
“We like to support local businesses and community groups as part of the rally and many participants enjoy the chance to make a weekend of it staying in local accommodation and touring the region,” he said.
“It will be a bumper weekend in Castlemaine with our event coinciding with the return of the Castlemaine Artists Market at the Western Reserve on the same date. So be sure to catch the Lancias at Wattle Flat and enjoy a jaunt around the market while you are at it!”
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GALLERY: Whole Loddon Love at Baringhup Hall
Famous poet to speak at FOCAL AGM
Renowned local poet, Dr Andy Jackson, will be the guest speaker at the Friends of Castlemaine Library (FOCAL) AGM to be held at the Castlemaine Library this Wednesday night, October 18.The winner of the Prime Ministers’ Literary Award for Poetry (the highest accolade in the land) for his collection “Human Looking” and the ALS Gold Medal, and potentially Australia’s next Poet Laureate. Andy has published five collections of poetry and featured in a number of literary festivals in Australia and overseas.
Long time lover of libraries and local legend Dr Andy Jackson will be talking to MainFM’s Suzanne Donisthorpe.
The AGM will be held at 5pm for refreshments and the meeting will start at 5.30pm.
Cannons net first up win
The Castlemaine Cannons Country Basketball League (CBL) side is looking forward to hosting its first home match for the 2023-2024 season at the Castlemaine’s War Memorial Stadium in McGrath Street, Wesley Hill this Saturday evening, October 14.
The Cannons will be facing off against the Echuca Pirates following a successful first up win against Macedon at Macedon last weekend by 18 points. Trent Leech bagged 18 points, Jack White 16 points and Chris Hogan 15 points.
Cannons CBL player and coach Aidan Brohm said it was great to kick off the season with a first up win.
“We have a strong side and we have been touted as the team to beat this season so we hope to make the local region proud,” he said.
“We’d love to see a big crowd home along and cheer us on in our first home match of the year!”
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Sports Star of the Week: Tamzyn claims Best and Fairest honours!
The Castlemaine Junior Sports Star of the Week is talented Campbells Creek FNC netballer and local basketballer Tamzyn Roser.
Tamzyn recently won the Campbells Creek 11 & Under Netball Best and Fairest honours and finished third in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League vote count. Congrats Tamzyn!
Name: Tamzyn Roser
Age: 11
School: Campbells Creek Primary School
Sport: Netball
How long have you been training? Two years
Can you tell us about some of your sporting highlights? I came runners-up Best & Fairest for my club Campbells Creek last year, this year I got Best and Fairest and also came third in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League 11 & Under Best and Fairest.
Who is an athlete you admire? Dusty Martin
What are your sporting goals? To improve and one day I might get to play on the Melbourne Vixens team.
Do you play any other sports? Yes, Basketball
Any highlights from basketball? I played in two grand finals last month but unfortunately we came runners-up in both games.
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