Another solid showing from Plant Assessor in the Kidney Kar Rally!

This year our Technical Director, Paul Dean (who ran 7th last year in another car) teamed up with the leader of our Professional Services Team, Matt Ireland who was competing in his first rally. They drove car number 264, ‘Cogman’ (named after our company mascot) which is a 2001 Commodore SS Ute. Cogman was also completing its first Kidney Kar event.

Each year the Kidney Foundation coordinates a major fundraising event to raise money and awareness for Kidney disease. The Kidney Kar Rally has been held every year since 1989 and has generated millions of dollars to help run the Kidney Kids Camps, Kidney Kids Capers and Young Adult Programs. These programs allow children with kidney disease to enjoy fun filled days of activities whilst still receiving life-saving medical care.

Plant Assessor’s fundraising effort contributed almost $8000 and close to $600,000 was raised in total. Thanks to all of you who contributed to this great cause.

The rally follows a different route each year and the 2018 participants travelled from Goulburn to Queanbeyan (normally an easy 90-minute drive!) via Ballarat – a round trip of just over 3400 kilometres.

Day 1 – 467km around Goulburn

Day 2 – 478km Goulburn to Merimbula via Narooma

Day 3 – 550km Merimbula to Sale via Orbost

Day 4 – 582km Sale to Ballarat via Yea

Day 5 – Rest day in Ballarat

Day 6 – 380km Ballarat to Nagambie via Castlemaine

Day 7 – 468km Nagambie to Albury via Mansfield

Day 8 – 507km Albury to Queanbeyan via Tumut

The rally is a time and points-based challenge that works on average speed, per section and each section ranges in distance from around 30 to 200 kilometres and there are up to five sections each day.

The routes are through private property, National Parks, stock routes and public roads and most are unsealed. Each team starts with 1000 points and you lose points for falling outside the average times for each section. Each section is rated (classed) and each class has an upper and lower average speed. All vehicles that finish the section with an average speed between this range have their time counted and they are deducted one point every minute you fall behind this average time for the section. Points are also deducted for 4wd vehicles and for vehicles that are less than 20 years old.

All up, 45 rally cars were entered and 41 finished the event.  The Plant Assessor vehicle also had a mechanical challenge along the way and spent time on a hoist on the rest day in Ballarat as the clutch was seen to. A big thank you to A & P Kochskamper Motor Engineers in Ballarat for their help last Wednesday.

Plant Assessor has made the Kidney Kar rally one of the regular annual fundraising events we get behind. We will share more details towards the middle of next year.