The ELE Rally remains a life’s work for Radboud van Hoek. The 63-year-old Bestenaar has been chairman of the organization behind the oldest car rally in the Netherlands for more than thirty years and has combined that role in recent years with a striking additional position: navigator in the competition car.
Van Hoek came to watch the rally as a teenager and rose to the position of race leader through a board position at a young age. He held that role for thirty years. “Then I passed it on to the next generation. They are a lot better at it,” he says with a wink.
Since 1993 he has been chairman of the foundation behind the ELE Rally. In that role, he sees how the event is becoming increasingly complex to organize. Stricter safety regulations, environmental requirements and a more assertive public pose additional challenges. “You have to comply with more and more rules. We move with the times and that is why we have an electric class, for example,” says Van Hoek.
Navigator in car zero
This year, Van Hoek will drive the so-called car zero for the first time, together with driver Michael Smulders. This car does not participate in the rankings, but drives in front of the first participant to check the course.
“The organization had a question about who got into the car for the first participant,” Van Hoek explains. “I think the smooth running of the competition is more important than participating ourselves. We are given the opportunity to intervene if necessary and provide immediate feedback for the organization.”
He sees the combination of driving and sitting in the car as an advantage. “It can be compared to chairmen in amateur football who also play themselves. You immediately see what could be improved.”
Unique mix remains attractive
With 61 editions behind it, the ELE Rally is considered the oldest rally in the Netherlands. According to Van Hoek, the variation in the course is the strength of the event. “The tests are during the day and in the dark, the roads are paved and unpaved and you never know with the weather conditions. I like that mix.”
Despite increasing organizational pressure, volunteer involvement remains high. “We all do it on a voluntary basis out of love for the sport and the event,” says Van Hoek.
Special stages
The first day of the ELE Rally in the Eindhoven region was on Friday, May 29, and the remaining kilometers will be driven on Saturday. There are three categories: the regular ELE Rally, the Opel ELEctric Rally and the ELE Historic Rally. There are fourteen special stages in total.