Over the next few weeks campervans and motorhomes will be coming in droves to Forbes for the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) Solos Network rally.
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About 350 vans are expected to converge on Forbes Showgrounds for the week-long rally from March 14 to 21.
The Solos Network is a special interest group within the CMCA, for people who travel alone in campervans or motorhomes.
When the CMCA have a rally, the Solos Network organise one around the same time within 100-150 kilometres of the mother club, or the “grown-ups” according to Forbes rally team event coordinator Rainey Parsell.
“They’re the grown-ups and we’re the teenagers, the solos,” Ms Parsell said.
“They choose first and they chose Bathurst (in April), so we look at a circumference of about 100-150km and visit every town in that circumference until we find one that has what we need such as showground facilities, a council willing to help us and who want us to come.
“And they’re all starting to want us because we bring so much money to the town.”
The Solos will normally spend on average in excess of $100,000 in the host town of their week-long rallies.
“We try and spend all our money in the town,” fellow rally team organiser Al Carroll said.
“We get a receipt and put all our receipts in together to work out how much we’ve spent.”
Ms Parsell said Forbes will really benefit from the rally.
“People will look at Forbes and think, ‘my god I’m going to come back’,” she said.
“Our motto is, we’re here to have fun and spend money in your town’.”
Throughout the week of the rally there will be a program of events with activities on every day.
One of the biggest days scheduled will be the open day and markets held at Forbes Showground on Saturday, March 19.
Everyone is invited to go along and check out some of the vans and talk to rally members about their lifestyle.
There will also be food and market stalls and entertainment by Solos members and locals including school students and Forbes Country Music Singers.
The rally team are currently looking for stallholders for the markets, so if you are interested contact Rainey Parsell on 0406 169 869.
Other events on throughout the week include a welcome dinner at Forbes Services Memorial Club on Monday night, on Tuesday night Forbes Shire Council will be putting on a film, Wednesday night will involve Old Time/New Vogue dancing at Forbes Town Hall, there will be a trivia night on Thursday, a themed dinner dance at Forbes Golf and Sportsman’s Hotel on Friday night, an Elvis tribute show Saturday night
and a talent night and closing ceremony on Sunday.
Throughout the days Solos members will have the opportunity to go on day tours, as well a variety of activities such as walking, tai chi, meditation, rock n roll classes, line dancing classes, belly dancing classes plus seminars on health, safety on the road, cooking demonstrations, van maintenance etc.
“It’s a full week,” Ms Parsell said.
