A busy weekend ahead for S Canty

It will be a case of "no vacancy" signs around the district this weekend, with Timaru and Waimate preparing for an influx of thousands of visitors attending a range of events.

Biggest in the events book will be the second round of the V8 championships being held at the Levels raceway.

Raceway manager Karen Paddon said with 120 competitors taking part, the number of competitors and crew was likely to top 1000.

Mrs Paddon said most of those people will be in town for five nights, as they arrived on Wednesday in time to take advantage of yesterday's practice day.

The car club is hoping for between 8000 and 12,000 spectators although she could not say how many were likely to be from out of town.

As well as putting money into the local community in the form of accommodation, fuel and food, Mrs Paddon said several local groups would also benefit financially. While the event requires about 150 volunteers to assist with the actual racing, a further 200 people from school and sports groups ill raise funds from assisting with tasks ranging from gate and parking duties, through to staffing the food outlets.

And while this weekend will be busy for the car club, Mrs Paddon said the truck racing on April 5-6 is expected to attract even more visitors as it is the only truck racing event being held in New Zealand, and she is aware of spectators coming from Auckland, and buses from Invercargill, Nelson and the West Coast.

While there may be a few bed and breakfast accommodation options still available, Central South Island Tourism reported motels are fully booked for the weekend.

Organisers of this weekend's March Hare Motorcycle Rally at the Waimate Showgrounds are expecting about 4000 people to take part, up 1000 on last year.

Waimate's second annual Wood Expo is also being held on Saturday, with the date having been shifted to coincide with the rally, and hopefully attract those taking part, Waimate District Council's community service's manager Carolyn Johns said yesterday.

The March Hare event has grown since it was moved into town from a nearby farm, for last year's rally, Ms Johns said.

The change of venue had been profitable for the town, as some people were opting to stay in accommodation in Waimate, rather than overnighting at the rally.

"A lot more people were seen in the town itself last year, and seeing what the town had to offer," she said of the added trade local businesses had reported.

The 40th anniversary of the last train journey from Fairlie to Timaru is being marked with a major vintage event at the Pleasant Point Museum and Railway tomorrow.

As well as the steam trains and all the the rolling stock being on display, about 70 vintage and veteran cars, tractors and vintage aircraft are all expected to converge on Pleasant Point.

On Sunday, people will have the opportunity to walk through the Winscombe railway cutting, a landmark on the old Fairlie railway line.

Saturday is also a big day out for the rural sector with the Temuka and Geraldine A & P show being held at the Winchester Showgrounds.

There's plenty of two wheel activity this weekend as well. Tomorrow is the final day of the three-day Central South Island charity bike ride, with close to 150 riders taking part.

And also in the district on Sunday will be the hundreds of cyclists taking part in the 35km cross country Pass to Pub event.

The Burkes Pass to Albury Pub event is now one of the largest in the country, with it attracting more than 900 riders last year.

- © Fairfax NZ News