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John Doutch - Rally Photographer
Written by John Doutch
John Doutch
Southern Mountains Rally, 2008
| Above: Paul Batten spins the Datsun |
This rally was run on November 1st and 2nd, based in the coastal town of Eden, New South Wales, and was the first step in
Gerald Schoffield's plan to revive the great Southern Cross International rallies run in the 70s. Unfortunately, the car club that
'owns' the title Southern Cross Rally would not permit its use, hence the new designation Southern Mountains Rally. However,
the forest roads in the mountainous country behind Eden, stretching west as far as Bombala, were no less challenging, and the
competition no less fierce over the two days and night stages.
The field comprised of 50 cars, mostly older highly-modified two wheel drive cars, similar to the type of cars that would have contested
the original SC rallies.
After 320 competitive kms, over two days, a mere 46 seconds separated winners Brad & Ash Goldsborough, in a very rapid Datsun 1600,
from 2nd placed Paul Batten & Leigh Garrioch, also in a Datsun 1600. Third place went to Ian Hill & Phillip Bonser in a Mk2 Escort RS.
The stand-out performance went to Jeff David in the Porsche 911, who broke a throttle cable on the way to the start, and had to use a shoelace
as a temporary repair for the first 2 stages. The lace eventually stretched, and no longer provided full throttle. David will have competition-grade
shoe laces for the next event! He put in an amazing drive to salvage 9th outright.
This first event was deemed to be a success by all involved, and will be run every second year, alternating with the
Alpine Rally run in Victoria. For many of the Victorian crews, this was their first experience of a rally run outside the
CAMS umbrella, and it was generally felt that this simplified AMSAG style of event had much to offer.
Gerald Schoffield's plan to revive the great Southern Cross International rallies run in the 70s. Unfortunately, the car club that
'owns' the title Southern Cross Rally would not permit its use, hence the new designation Southern Mountains Rally. However,
the forest roads in the mountainous country behind Eden, stretching west as far as Bombala, were no less challenging, and the
competition no less fierce over the two days and night stages.
The field comprised of 50 cars, mostly older highly-modified two wheel drive cars, similar to the type of cars that would have contested
the original SC rallies.
After 320 competitive kms, over two days, a mere 46 seconds separated winners Brad & Ash Goldsborough, in a very rapid Datsun 1600,
from 2nd placed Paul Batten & Leigh Garrioch, also in a Datsun 1600. Third place went to Ian Hill & Phillip Bonser in a Mk2 Escort RS.
The stand-out performance went to Jeff David in the Porsche 911, who broke a throttle cable on the way to the start, and had to use a shoelace
as a temporary repair for the first 2 stages. The lace eventually stretched, and no longer provided full throttle. David will have competition-grade
shoe laces for the next event! He put in an amazing drive to salvage 9th outright.
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| Porsche 911 Jeff David / Grant Geelan |
Nissan Skyline Mick King / Shane O'Hara |
Commodore Russell Winks / Mel McMin |
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| Datsun 1600 William Kamper / Sue Kelly |
Datsun 1600 Brad Goldsborough/ Ash Goldsborough, Outright Winners |
Datsun 200B Neil Cuthbert / Rod McEwan |
This first event was deemed to be a success by all involved, and will be run every second year, alternating with the
Alpine Rally run in Victoria. For many of the Victorian crews, this was their first experience of a rally run outside the
CAMS umbrella, and it was generally felt that this simplified AMSAG style of event had much to offer.
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 |
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| Datson1600 Carl Stewart / Mark Forbes |
Toyota Levin Barry MacLean / Amanda Howlett |
Nissan Stanza Russell Woollard / Rowan Woollard |
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| Datsun1600 Paul Batten / Leigh Garrioch, 2nd Outright |
Porsche 911 Jeff David / Grant Geelan |
Nissan Skyline Mick King / Shane O'Hara (V8 engined!) |