The club holds two rallies in Australia each year, selecting a different host city each time. 

Bathurst Rally manager and resident Colleen Walker said Bathurst was the perfect place because it was the home of Mount Panorama, had fantastic facilities and was in close proximity to the region’s cultural attractions. 

Volunteers started arriving earlier in the week to get a start on establishing all the activities that will be part of the rally.

A mayoral reception was held last night at the National Motor Racing Museum to welcome the guests to the region.  

“We’ve got about 280 volunteers in at the moment to prepare the site ahead of the rally,” Ms Walker said.

“It’s a hive of activity up here.”

So far, 992 registrations have been recorded for the Bathurst Rally, with members expected to start arriving from as early as today, even though the rally doesn’t officially start until Monday.

“Because Anzac Day is the Monday, they’ll be coming in on Sunday. That’s when we’re expecting the balance and then there will be a few stragglers during the week,” Ms Walker said. 

While an open day will be held on April 30 for members of the public to attend, the majority of the activities at the rally are designed purely for the members of the CMCA to take part in over the course of a week. 

Members of the CMCA will have the opportunity to enjoy commercial exhibits from more than 70 traders, workshops, seminars, dancing and a craft barn with sewing, painting and jewellery classes.

There will also be a Women’s Shed and a Men’s Shed established, featuring workshops, demonstrations and talks to suit each gender.

Ms Walker said the weather is “spectacular” up at the Mount and will go a long way to creating an enjoyable atmosphere for the members of the CMCA.

For more information about the rally, visit www.cmca.net.au.