the Cœur de France rally can count on its volunteers

The 27th^e Cœur de France rally will take place from Friday September 27 to Sunday September 29, on the Vendômoises and Sarthoises roads.

Behind this sporting and popular event, a well-established organization for several years supported by numerous volunteers, the linchpins of well-oiled cogs. Among them, the Pavée family, René, 67 years old, and Baptiste, 36 years old, father and son, volunteers from the start.

From the age of 14

The adventure began in 2002. René is passionate about motor sports, especially motorcycles. It is therefore quite natural that he lends a hand to the organization of the rally in his town, Sargé-sur-Braye. He will then be responsible for security, taking his son, then 14 years old, with him. “ But the adventure ended in 2005, the rally route was modified. In 2015, it’s the transition to 2^e division of the French championship and there was a need for additional events. Sargé applied. And here we go again ! With Florent Odeau and Julien Dorison, two friends, we formed a team of young people », remembers Baptiste. Since then, he has led a staff of around thirty volunteers, in charge of “ to dress the special » longue from 14.3 km.

“Luckily the postman doesn’t come by on Sunday”

If Julien takes care of the logistics, “ I’m in charge of proposing the route of the race and the administrative part: going to town halls, warning local residents that the roads are going to be closed but also the nurses who provide home care, the veterinarians, we have to think about all those who use these roads… Fortunately the postman does not come on Sunday”, smiled Baptiste.

And René? « Je continues to give some advice but above all I execute. I am the commission agent”he explains. Helping hands that he gives in the company of his grandson Augustin, 8 years old. Succession is assured. Sunday, September 29, the alarm will ring at 4 a.m. for the volunteers who will give their time, of themselves, to make the event exist and continue. Because, if the pilots occupy the light on the stage, this work in the shadows is essential.