Cochrane Rally of the Ranchlands
Cochrane, Alberta
March 20-21, 2004
Round 1 of the 2004 Western Canada Rally Championship

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2004 Cochrane Rally of the Ranchlands

Starting in the picturesque town of Cochrane, the 2004 Rally of the Ranchlands will kick off the Western Canadian Rally Championship as it’s never been done before.

The rally will show off the cars and drivers with a Car display Sunday morning right in downtown Cochrane, followed by four in-town stages for the spectators. The competitors will then head north to the forestry and oil roads in the familiar Fallen Timber forestry area. The timing of the rally – once known as ‘The Winter Rally’ – provides road conditions that will be tricky and unpredictable. Gravel, snow, and lots of ice are virtually guaranteed.

2004 marks the first time in recent years that competitors will be allowed to take to the roads with studded tires. Normal street studs will greatly improve traction on the ice, perhaps replacing some of the ‘show; with some ‘go’.

Also adding to the speed and uniqueness of this years rally is the use of pace notes. The Rally of the Ranchlands is the first regional rally of it’s type to allow reconnaissance and pace notes, as is done in most of the world.

This will give teams a chance to see the roads on the day before the event and make their own description of the stage. The ability to mark hazards and make a knowledgeable tire choice should make the event faster and safer, and will definitely be a learning experience for most of the crews.

Saturday morning, a pace noting classroom session will be held to walk the crews through the basics of pace noting before they hit the roads.

With the growth of interest in Rallying, the 2004 Cochrane Rally of the Ranchlands is drawing a great level of interest and we are looking at record breaking participation. The competition looks fierce, with a number of old favorites returning to the field and a number of brand new competitors kicking off their careers.

The Rally is on Sunday March 21st, and will have spectator areas in the town of Cochrane and on Hunter Valley road. Competition is open to any CARS or SCCA legal car and crew.

The Western Canadian Rally Championship consists of The Cochrane Rally of the Ranchlands, The Rocky Mountain Rally, Mountain Trials Rally, Pacific Forest Rally, The Bighorn Rally, and the Kananaskis Rally.