Boaden & Harris Win Rally of the Manning Valley

[kam_baker]

The Wauchope Motors entry of Michael Boaden & Peter Harris driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 7 dominated the field to take victory in the third round of the NSW State Rally Championship - the 2005 Rally of the Manning Valley.

A class field of 53 rally crews faced the starter's flag last Saturday 23 July 2005 to contest the rally held over 8 special stages covering 125km competitive in the forests of Taree & Dingo Tops. The rally attracted the states top crews with valuable points on offer for the much sort after State Rally, Clubman North, Novice, Gemini and Northern NSW Series.

Rally crews were flagged away from Midcoast Ford at 1:00pm with 1 stage to complete before the first service at Wingham. Right from the start, pace was on with Stage 1 Cow Hill being won by Boaden from Dave Darby & Brian Everingham in another Lancer then Miles Sandy & Bernie Webb in a Subaru WRX in third with the first 10 being split by only 12 seconds.

During the first service the first retirement of the rally occurred, Gavin Croker who was the current leader in the State Championship would travel no further suffering gearbox failure to put him out of the rally, a long trip from Ulladulla to go no further.

Stage 2 Knodingbal Up covering 25km was dominated by Boaden setting a record time for the stage leaving Darby to run second again 11 seconds behind, then another 10 back to Kelvin Croker & Dale Moscatt in a Lancer Evo 3.

The 3rd stage Blue Knob Lookout over 20km was again won by Boaden, and now held the overall lead from Darby then Kelvin Croker.

Stage 4 Potoroo covering 11km was again dominated by Boaden with another record time Darby 4 seconds behind, Boaden was building his lead in a comfortable fashion.

During the second service Sandy would travel no further developing an engine knock only to see him withdraw. No other crews reported any major concerns, so the lights were fitted for a push to challenge the run away leader. Crews headed out from the service to contest another stage.

Stage 5 Cowhill Reverse saw a change with Kelvin Croker winning the stage by 7 seconds from Boaden & Paul Bray who dead heated on time in the short test.

Stage 6 & 7 were repeats over Knodingbal Road & Blue Knob Lookout and were once again dominated by Boaden, although stage 7 claimed Kelvin Croker after an off causing a front control arm to be bent and no further travelled at the 7km mark. Stage 7 also claimed another top 10 runner with Richard Opie in a Lancer Evo 4 having an altercation with a large solid piece of timber (tree).

Stage 8 was a new stage called Dingo Run which ran down the Dingo Tops Forest Road to finish the night. Boaden once again put down a fastest stage time, an only 4 seconds in front of Darby and the next nearest crew 2 seconds in arrears.

Final out right placings were Boaden/Harris first, Darby/Everingham in second and Michael South/Julia Rabbett rounding out the top three.

The Central North Coast Sporting Car Club would like to thank the following businesses and organisations, for their valuable assistance with the event Midcoast Ford, Taree Leagues & Sports Club, Marlee & Wallaby Joe Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade, Taree Wingham Clay Target Club, Wingham Rotary, State Forest of NSW and all the great assistance from dedicated rally officials from all over the state who came to help.