Rally of the Tall Pines Goes Green

It’s no secret that people are showing more concern and care for the environment these days than ever before.

Environmentally-aware behaviour is rapidly becoming an integral part of the simple decisions we make every day, from recycling paper products to turning off lights in the home. We all want to play a part in reducing consumption because it’s an important issue – now and for the future.

Of course, the automobile industry is not exempt from environmental concerns and neither is a motorsports event like the Rally of the Tall Pines. This is why the organizers are proud to announce that Tall Pines will be the first rally in Canada to implement a brand new Green Initiative.

In an effort to recognize the environmental impact the rally has on the local area, a portion of the entry fees paid by Tall Pines competitors will go towards a donation already made to the Bancroft Area Stewardship Council. The Council runs a Tree Planting program in the Bancroft area and the funds have been applied to this program. The rally organizers have also paid to off-set a portion of the total carbon dioxide emissions from the event. Through the website www.carbonfund.org, the Maple Leaf Rally Club/Rally of the Tall Pines registered for a small business carbon dioxide off-set commitment.

In addition, everyone affiliated with the rally we be making a conscious effort to reduce, reuse and recycle over the course of the weekend. This effort will be aided by the Town of Bancroft, which has committed to providing many more recycling receptacles for use by the rally. Also, as in previous years, competitors and fans will be encouraged to make every effort to clean up all garbage from the service and spectator areas after the event.

As the organizers of a long-standing Canadian motorsport event, it’s imperative that we take a leadership role in showing respect for the environment. Collectively, we have great passion for the sport of rallying; therefore, it’s our responsibility to demonstrate that we can pursue this passion, stage events such as the Rally of the Tall Pines and protect the environment at the same time.

We encourage all those associated with the sport of rallying – including competitors, fans, sponsors and volunteers – to join us in assuming this leadership role.

The Rally of the Tall Pines has been run every year since 1971 and is organized by the Maple Leaf Rally Club. For more information, visit http://www.tallpinesrally.com/ or contact one of the following event officials.