Another voice from the past!

[greenvc]

Hi everyone, Jim Middleton here.

Long time punter of many and various Commodores over the years. Is there any other type of rally car?

Oh yeah, that's right, I started off in a Datto 1600.

I've rallied in every state and territory in Australia including ARC's in Qld, NSW, Vic, SA, WA, and 11 years on the trot at Rally Tasmania ('84- '94). Also the WRC forerunner in Perth 1988.

Ran the ex Ray Lance Repco Trial VB Commodore in 1982 NSW State rounds with an L34 5 litre fitted with a Turbo 400 auto with manual shift kit with 36 feet of braided hose going from the transmission to the bootlid spoiler mounted coolers and back. Still couldn't keep it cool enough though!

Went from the VB to OUV-999, the ex Bridgestone Precision Driving Team VH SL/X that Dunkerton had used to win the PRC class in the '83 Alpine and thus the ARC title that year. That had a screamer of a 253 V8 in it with a standard M21 box which was it's only weak point. I lent this car to Greg Carr and Fred Gocentas in '84 and '85 to take to Perth for the ARC round to boost their standing by knocking off Ed Mulligan, when points were equal whether you ran Group G or PRC.

Built a proper rally car in late '85 from a shell, this being the Formula Blue Les Vagg Holden (my employer) PRC 'SS', still with the L34 engine but a Super T10box and Harrop floater with Detriot Locker. Had a ball in this car in particular, ridiculous amount of horsepower, tore rear tyres to shreds, but it didn't seem to matter. No mortgage then I guess!

Sold that car circa 1987 to Andrew Nicholls, then ran an ex Mobil HDT VK mock up display car for a short time. I distinctly remember the Bay Stages in '87 or '88 when Coral Taylor navigated for me. She purposely didn't tell me about the night spectator point with the prize for the most spectacular because she knew what I was like, but we got the prize anyway!!

Went from that car to a succession of ex Bridgestone stunt cars, usually GMH-06 the 2 wheeler, 'cos that had done the least work. Had 2 x VN's, a VP (which was at Cowra Amsag) and the VR. Ran all these cars virtually standard, 5.0 EFI, T5 5 speed, tightened up LSD, with a chip, exhaust and Bilsteins. Shared the cars with Paul Bramble, he'd prepare them, I'd supply the cars and bits, he'd run one event, I'd run the other. Fantastic arrangement and a great testimony to Paul's preparation skills, I honestly can't remember one DNF! You could drive the absolute clacker out of these cars and they never let us down!

Highlights include the Mobil Round Australia Trial in '95 when Phil Morley and I were privileged to be unofficially taken under the wing of George Shepheard and the factory team when we were in 9th place at Alice Springs and 2nd Commodore. Very special to be out there running with Brocky and the boys, something I'll never forget! Even got pulled up with along with Brock for speeding in the back blocks of SA! Cop let PB go, so he had to do the same for me! Eventually finished 11th overall.

Cured me from rallying for a while, well not really, just takes a bit out of you, 21,000 klms in 3 weeks.

Then I discovered Amsag!

Also discovered an ex '79 Repco Round Australia VB (one of the 18 factory built cars) in the Trading Post. Never went in the Repco (one of 3 that didn't). Bought it for $1000 still with the Detroit Locker!! OK it had grass growing through it and it was too rusty to go on with, but another old road car from the bush soon fixed that problem and Paul and Mark Bramble made one from 2!

Competed in most Amsag events from 2003 to 2006 in that car, which re-ignited my passion in no uncertain terms! Just the best events you could hope for, rallying just like it used to be!

Officiated for the next 3 seasons while building (slowly) the current ride, the red VN V6 that I've been running since Oberon at the end of last year. Decided to run a 6 this time for a change, also IRS. Bit lighter over the front wheels, engine a bit further back. First time with Proflex (which I bought on ebay!), just sensational! It's no V8, but doesn't chew the tyres as severely either. We've just done Sunday of Bathurst, Hampton Rallysprint (2 drivers) and all day Saturday at Cowra, plus driving the car to all events back and forth to Newcastle on the one set of tyres!

Navigators over the years, in no apparent order, include: My old school mate Simon Howe, Vince Mamone, Mark Unsworth, Mal Sinfield, Phil Morley (of Morley's Tours), Jon Thomson, Peter Young, Jim Gleeson (reunion coming up Eden and Oberon!), Dale Hynes (WA), Paul Bramble, Mark Bramble, Dave Robinson, Dale Payne, Diane Elven, Coral Taylor, Garry Marshall (senior and junior), Graeme Walker, Michelle Thompson and most recently Kate Murphy.


Looking forward to many more Amsag events to come. Those of you who haven't tried one yet DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING!!!

See you in the forests and great to be here on the Brindabella forums!

Jim.

[Mickb83]

Originally Posted by greenvc

Navigators over the years, in no apparent order, include: My old school mate Simon Howe, Vince Mamone, Mark Unsworth, Mal Sinfield, Phil Morley (of Morley's Tours), Jon Thomson, Peter Young, Jim Gleeson (reunion coming up Eden and Oberon!), Dale Hynes (WA), Paul Bramble, Mark Bramble, Dave Robinson, Dale Payne, Diane Elven, Coral Taylor, Garry Marshall (senior and junior), Graeme Walker, Michelle Thompson and most recently Kate Murphy.

Jim, jim, jim...

Did my time with you mean nothing.... Remember when you tried to burn down the VB a few years back at Oberon, and im sure there was another event i did with you.

Hmmmm, what, cause im in a Mitsubishi now you've forgotten about me... Shame on you jim. :-D

[greenvc]

Originally Posted by Mickb83

Jim, jim, jim...

Did my time with you mean nothing.... Remember when you tried to burn down the VB a few years back at Oberon, and im sure there was another event i did with you.

Hmmmm, what, cause im in a Mitsubishi now you've forgotten about me... Shame on you jim. :-D

Oops! Sorry Mick, knew there'd be one or two I'd forget in my little compilation! (It was getting late). Also recall Howard Grove had a stint too. That's when we figured 2 drivers were better than one.

Just trying to work out who the "rally tart(s)" is or are here. Me or those of you in this plethora?

[sparko]

Hey Jim, welcome to the forums

Now you've turned **, shouldn't you be thinking about retirement?

As you know we go back a loooong way - all the way in fact. We may just yack about the "good old days" at Eden - Andrew and I are dipping our toes in the AMSAG water.

I guess you don't remember that time at Port Macquarie when you had the tyres AND mudflaps beautifully blackened before the event.....

[greenvc]

Originally Posted by sparko

Hey Jim, welcome to the forums

Now you've turned **, shouldn't you be thinking about retirement?

As you know we go back a loooong way - all the way in fact. We may just yack about the "good old days" at Eden - Andrew and I are dipping our toes in the AMSAG water.

I guess you don't remember that time at Port Macquarie when you had the tyres AND mudflaps beautifully blackened before the event.....

................. and if I remember correctly there was a small problem in running out of petrol.

But heck, those tyres and mud flaps looked good!

Looking forward to catching up John. (lucky we only live 2 suburbs away!).

You just wait 'til you've done an Amsag event - there'll be NO turning back!

Regards,

Jim.

[kingy]

hi everybody , yes another voice from the past ,
a few of you will remember me & my dad ,, steve & john king , nsscc
, now jim middleton , i didnt get a mention as 1 of your navs(state rnd datto cant remember the year) but that may be due to running out of fuel then late time then wrongslotting us on the transport back to port macquarie ,
but hey i musta still been one of the youngest navigators in nsw maybe the exception was gary marshal jnr ??
anyway a big hi to john sparkes , & brother sid , remember i started out nav for danni traucki in the colt ??
just to keep you updated im in qld now , still got my old escort & curently building a new aston martin sports sedan , i had a few years away from cars , as i drove & built offshore powerboats ,just like rallying with no brakes !!!
ps hope you like the avatar of me & dad @ amaroo rallysprint circa 1985 ???

[sparko]

Originally Posted by kingy

ps hope you like the avatar of me & dad @ amaroo rallysprint circa 1985 ???

Looks like your Dad weighed a bit more than you

[Nighto]

Am i correct in remembering you at the amaroo circuit motathlons in a blue Mk 1 escort.?


nighto..........

[kingy]

Originally Posted by Nighto

Am i correct in remembering you at the amaroo circuit motathlons in a blue Mk 1 escort.?


nighto..........

yep spot on nighto , yu have a good memory
i think i got a 2nd outright one year
i got FTD on the dirt circuit , FTD on the hillclimb , about 7th or 8th on the main circuit & about 897th on the motorkhana????
escort gearboxes were never cut out for 1st reverse 1st reverse gear changes , crunch crunch !!
ps did you run any of those motathlons ?