Bathurst RSL Club Rally - 29th/30th May

[crowleyaj]

Fingers crossed Drew is writing a report (stealing the road book off me is usually a good sign). I'm sure we'll hear more from Jme and 180b shortly, otherwise I'll write something later on (not enough blood in my alcohol system yet).

Not a bad field of 36 (I think the State Round wasn't much bigger?), although they badly need more starters to get back to the glory days of the late nineties. Ron Moore and the team from AMSAG put on a great event (186 km competitive minus one cancelled stage of 12.7km). Results below:

1st - Gareth Morgan-Thomas/Linden Forrest - VH Commodore
2nd - Grant McAlpine/Tiffany Shopland - Datsun 180B
3rd - Grant Inwood/Andrew Rendall - Datsun 1600
4th - Mick Lipping/John Chezzi - Datsun 1600
5th - Jamie Waterhouse/Luke Ferris - Datsun 240Y
6th - Tony Jordan/Scott Jordan - Triumph Stag
7th - David Aitchison/John Doble - Datsun 1600
8th - Drew McPhee/Andrew Crowley - Mitsubishi Sigma
9th - Stuart Lobsey/Diane Sharkey - Datsun 1600
10th - Peter Vlandis/Andrew Johnson - Datsun 1600

I think we've finally worn out most of the 9 year old rubber we got off Drew's Dad, looking forward to see how we go at Port Macquarie in August with some 'slightly newer' second hand rubber.

Commiserations to Brad Arnold and Stuart Smy in the yellow 1600, a nasty roll in stage 4 and very emotional speech at Saturday night's dinner. Also well done to Michael Long from HDCC, 1st in Class A and 16th outright in the Datsun 1200. Peter Butler was doing fairly well in Raymond Day's old Lancer, but a broken leaf spring in the last stage put him back to 22nd.

Great weather, a bit of rain during the week kept the dust down, and no snow like last year.

Awesome weekend!

[Jme]

Yeah Great rally.

We left the road and rolled down a gully..... could have been nasty, but it wasn't. Missed three stages last on Saturday.... fixed the car (sort of) and ran Sunday.

Bones Mc Alpine was unlucky... a few punctures- but the story of the rally was Gareth Morgan-Thomas in a Commodore (despite leaving the road on Hen and Chicken Ln and going through a fence)..... only his fourth rally, but he did a bloody good job to win fairly easily.

It was a battle of the locals, with Morgan-Thomas, Inwood and Ed Collins (who made a late appearance in the FJ20 1600), going hammer and tongs at each other for most of Saturday until Ed's car failed.

Pete Vlandis was impressive. Watched him early on Sunday and he was really quick. Pauly Taylor in the 1200 was on fire, but struggled with punctures.

Drew and AJ put in a fine drive..... Brad Arnold hit really, really hard...... and will be on the sidelines for a while.

Karen O'Hara won the women's driver award from Lyle Topliff.

The social atmosphere was great- AMSAG do this brilliantly. Families and Kids at the tables being served chips and burgers, before the main meals, and dessert, then the reading out the results in reverse order to build suspense, followed by a copy of the results almost instantly for EVERY person.... was just first rate.

Seriously..... I'm thinking of building a Datsun just for AMSAG- the new committee is on the right track, and there is a meeting planned in a few weeks to continue to build on what has been started at Bathurst. It's all fairly exciting from a competitors point of view.

Lot's of "ex" competitors were floating around at Bathurst, and I've got a feeling that Oberon in September??? will be a very big rally.

Intersting was the Observation that now AMSAG is pretty much Bathurst Light Car Club and Hills District Car Club..... with representation from Thornleigh CC. It has a very different "flavour" to it.... and it's gaining support. Ben Ruggles was up there with his truck. Mitch Hefferenen, Dave King 1, Dave King 2, Kev Gavin, Jon Parker, Goldy, Pete Grindrod, Simon Prince, Rod Jones, Brendan Wade, Carlos Casmiri, Jason King amongst others were all officalling or spectating -so if we can get a few of these guys back in cars, AMSAG will come alive.

[crowleyaj]

Bathurst Photos here

[Spac]

And I thought rallying a FWD was dirty and wrong:

http://geoff2795.tripod.com/MotorSpo...s/P5292285.htm

Good to see the old Fatty-mobile still being driven the way it's used to:

http://geoff2795.tripod.com/MotorSpo...s/P5292362.htm

[Matt Dyne]

I thought a Triumph stag was a RWD V8???

[Spac]

It might be RWD*, but it is weird, floppy bodyshell pommy stuff.

Suprised that it made it far enough to have two photos taken - my money would have been on either (A) It blowing a head gasket or two, or (B) Catching fire due to electrical faults.

*It is. And I beleive the V8 in these things is basically two TR7 motors grafted together - twice the weight, twice the problems!
Makes rallying a 250ci, non cross-flow, XB Falcon with three flat tyres look appealing!

Sorry to Mr Pedantic, who's weird pommy car loving sensibilities must be deeply offended right about now!

Edit: http://geoff2795.tripod.com/MotorSpo...s/P5292467.htm
Drew looking a little... too focussed, and it's great to see the nav with his mind firmly on the job. You can imagine the call through the intercom: "Oh, look at the pretty colours!". Or "Oh, she's pretty cute!".
You should have a talk to EggNog, AJ.

[gloworm]

Originally posted by Jme

..... Brad Arnold hit really, really hard...... and will be on the sidelines for a while.

Steve spoke with Brad earlier. They hit a tree and rolled (numerous times??). He is still feeling pretty sore and sorry. Apparently the only straight panel left is the boot lid and both seats are broken. We should get to see the car later this week to fully appreciate the damage.

[bob moore]

Originally posted by Jme
Yeah Great rally.

The social atmosphere was great- AMSAG do this brilliantly. Families and Kids at the tables being served chips and burgers, before the main meals, and dessert, then the reading out the results in reverse order to build suspense, followed by a copy of the results almost instantly for EVERY person.... was just first rate.

Lot's of "ex" competitors were floating around at Bathurst, and I've got a feeling that Oberon in September??? will be a very big rally.

Intersting was the Observation that now AMSAG is pretty much Bathurst Light Car Club and Hills District Car Club..... with representation from Thornleigh CC.

What's wrong with these AMSAG events? Why isn't this thread clogged up with people bleating about dust and passing in controls?

Instant results? Outrageous!

However, is it true that AMSAGgers don't go out in the dark? If so, is this recognition of age-related darkness (i.e. where you'd have sworn that someone pinched the 100W bulbs out of your Super Oscars that were just brilliant in 1980, and put in those nasty 25W bulbs?)

The CAMS world demands answers!!!


Grumpy, etc

[crowleyaj]

Originally posted by Spac
It might be RWD*, but it is weird, floppy bodyshell pommy stuff.

Suprised that it made it far enough to have two photos taken - my money would have been on either (A) It blowing a head gasket or two, or (B) Catching fire due to electrical faults.

Spac,

Normally I'd agree with you on the Triumph call - one of the guys in TCC has a TR7 V8 road car that has given him no end of trouble since he bought it. However, have a look at the number on the side of the Stag, he is seeded at No.8 for a reason.

That thing is an absolute weapon of a car, meticulously prepared, that finishes every rally and gets driven (from Goulburn I think) to and from every event, even as far away as Port Macquarie. Great looking, great sounding, a real crowd favourite that stirs up the Commodores quite well.

I've got video footage of it in action, I'll show you next time I'm in Canberra, which could be very soon indeed.

Originally posted by Spac
Drew looking a little... too focussed, and it's great to see the nav with his mind firmly on the job. You can imagine the call through the intercom: "Oh, look at the pretty colours!". Or "Oh, she's pretty cute!".
You should have a talk to EggNog, AJ.

I know, it looks bad mate. However, when you've just had a spectacular lose at the end of a long 5th gear straight in front of spectators, it's always polite to wave to your service crew as they give you the thumbs up. We were almost stopped and grabbing 1st gear, plenty of time to look around before it was back to work. We got that corner perfect the next morning, but alas no camera present at the time. Bugger.




Bob,

With regards to night driving, I think they used to do a night stage on the Friday as a prologue to work out Saturday start order, but would be better to ask someone who's been in the club longer.

Rod Jones directed a rallysprint at Black Springs in 2002 that had night driving, and everyone had a ball, so no, AMSAG are not afraid of the dark.

I think they run all daylight in keeping with the social/family feel of the weekend. Saturday's rallying is usually 9 to 4ish, which gives all competitors and officials plenty of time to get back to motels and cleaned up, cars prepped for Sunday before the sit-down dinner at 7ish. Everyone from the crew of 000, right through the competitors to the recovery vehicles, service crews, control officials, road closers, director etc all have a feed and a drink together at the RSL or function centre depending on which rally it is. The people doing scoring are usually working flat out in a corner, but the reading out of every car's position at end of day one from last to first is one of the highlights of the night.

Did I mention that all officials get Saturday lunch and dinner, Sunday breakfast and lunch supplied free for their trouble?

Jme, Drew, 180b, more thoughts on day/night?

[Ric Cary]

Two day rally, convivial atmosphere officials getting looked after for there efforts, swapping in control,restarting later if you have a drama.What is this a rally designed for the competitors christ the entry fees must be high...................whats that you say it includes food as well..................... it must be exhorbitantly priced.......................... about the same as a clubman round how do they do it.......................Ah CAMS isn`t involved now I understand if only they would let new fangled whistlin and cracklin 4bs in.

[Lyndall]

Originally posted by crowleyaj
With regards to night driving, I think they used to do a night stage on the Friday as a prologue to work out Saturday start order, but would be better to ask someone who's been in the club longer.

I competed in the full AMSAG series in 1999, and it was the same 2 x all daylight format that it is now. Rallying at night would cut into valuable AMSAG drinking time.

[Jme]

Originally posted by Ric Cary
if only they would let new fangled whistlin and cracklin 4bs in.

At the moment they do Ric..... it's just that you can't lay claim to any awards.

There is a meeting in Penrith in a week or two to discuss the direction AMSAG is to take in the immediate future. As with any club, there is a mix of opinion and feelings on how the events should run, and how to attract more entries. I'm not involved with AMSAG, but Davo King is on the steering committee and the impression I get is that anyone is welcome to turn up and give an opinion etc........ even you Ric!

A few of the idea's I have heard that may be floated is a pacenoted event, a longer 2 day "safari" style event, and opening AMSAG up to modern cars and 4WD's.

Maybe I should suggest that AMSAG head down to the ACT for an event as a means of attracting competitors........ The AMSAG Rally of Canberra 2005.....

[fro]

Thread splittage.

See Manufacturer rivalry (was:Bathurst RSL Club Rally) for a discussion leading from the results of the aforementioned Triumph...

[Matt Dyne]

Wow...you're loving your thread splittage at the moment...

8)

[Spac]

I am tempted to divert lots more topics, simply to see what new thread titles Fro comes up with... Like the one that's now "Manufacturer Rivalry", I'd have called "Dirty British Rally cars and why they're wrong", or sumfin like that.

Oh, am I doing it again?