NOVEMBER 9 TO 18 - Tom Snooks · 2019. 8. 17. · 18 Jim Sullivan / Gary Clarke NSW 1971 Ford...
Transcript of NOVEMBER 9 TO 18 - Tom Snooks · 2019. 8. 17. · 18 Jim Sullivan / Gary Clarke NSW 1971 Ford...
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NOVEMBER 9TH TO 18TH
DULUX RALLY TROPHY
FOR WINNING CREW
more commonly known as the ‘Elephant Penis’
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Before anyone slings off at Tom, be informed that he was navigating;
the driver (and photographer!) was Toby Bent, of Castrol Motor Sport fame at race circuits.
Toby Bent, a very wise gentleman, drove Tom
on all of the 1972 Dulux Rally course surveys
and was wonderful company.
Conducted in November, the Dulux Rally 72 was directed by Tom Snooks, who carried out the administration of the
1971 Dulux Rally, and who had become Secretary of the Australian Sporting Car Club. Oran Park’s Circuit Manager,
Allan Horsley, was the event's Race Director. Geoff Sproat was the CAMS Course Checker, and he did a very
thorough job in making sure the instructions were accurate.
The Dulux Rally, with its format of constant variation and continually fluctuating placings, had captured the imagination
of a far broader section of the community than the pure enthusiast. Somehow, it even smacked of the old ‘pioneer’
image of the Redex Trials of the fifties, with the additional entertainment of leading motor sport personalities pitching
their skills in a travelling motor sport circus so that more than just a privileged few of the population who attended race
meetings and rally spectator locations could see them.
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The major competition organisers - Tom Snooks and
Allan Horsley confer at the Hume Weir Circuit
At Hume Weir Circuit – Chief Officials Sandra Hand,
Tom Snooks, Dianne Lewis
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THE ORGANISERS
Event Director: Tom Snooks
Race Director: Allan Horsley
Publicity Officer: Roy Waters (Dulux Australia Ltd)
Chief Scrutineer: Robert Kerr
Chief Timekeeper: James Horman
Rally Secretary: Margaret Payne
Committee: Lynn Stanley, Elizabeth Arundel, Dianne Lewis, John Whitton
THE COURSE
Stage 1 - Thursday 9 November - Brisbane to Grafton (440km)
- Surfers Paradise Raceway
- Grafton Mountain View Hillclimb
Stage 2 - Friday 10 November - Grafton to Sydney (720km)
- Closed road special stage at Woolgoolga
- Silverdale Hillclimb
Stage 3 - Saturday 11 November - Sydney to Wollongong (180km)
- Oran Park Raceway
Stage 4 - Sunday 12 November - Wollongong to Albury (700km)
- Dapto Hillclimb
- Mt Ginn Circuit at Canberra
Stage 5 - Monday 13 November - Albury to Tumbarumba to Albury (520km)
- Night Rally Division
Stage 6 - Tuesday 14 November - Albury to Hume Weir to Albury (50km)
- Hume Weir Raceway
Stage 7 - Wednesday 15 November - Albury to Wangaratta to Albury (360km)
- Night Rally Division
Stage 8 - Thursday 16 November - Albury to Warburton (440km)
- Winton Raceway
- Lakeland Hillclimb
Stage 9 - Friday 17 November - Warburton to Cowes (360km)
- Night Rally Division
Stage 10 - Saturday 18 November - Cowes to Melbourne (145km)
- Phillip Island Raceway
Distances are given in kilometres, although the imperial system of measurement (miles) applied in 1972.
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ENTRIES
At some circuit racing the field was split into two Groups – Group A for the faster cars and Group B for those that were
substantially slower – in the main necessary due to the track density regulations established by CAMS.
Although there was much interest in the event only 27 crews made it to the start, a disappointing field. Of course, the
costs of entering and participating were very high and being conducted at the end of the motor sport year funds were
not readily available. All the entries had service crews, whose vehicles outnumbered the competitors!!
NO CREW STA YR MAKE MODEL VE CL RAC
E GP
2 John Roxburgh / Mike Mitchell VIC 1972 Datsun 180B SSS D 3 A
3 Edgar Herrmann / Roger Bonhomme EA 1972 Datsun 240Z D 4 A
4 Bruce Hodgson / Fred Gocentas NSW 1971 Ford Escort TC C 1 A
6 Paul Older / Brian McElhinney NSW 1971 BMW 2002 D 3 A
7 Peter Janson / Peter Waring-Smith VIC 1971 Holden Torana XU1 C 2 A
9 David McKay / Garry Connelly NSW 1972 Ford Capri RS2600 D 4 A
10 Bob Holden / John Dawson-Damer NSW 1970 Ford Escort TC C 1 A
11 Peter Brock / Frank Kilfoyle VIC 1971 Holden Torana XU1 C 2 A
12 Bob Watson / Jeff Beaumont VIC 1971 Renault 12 Gordini E 6 B
13 Stewart McLeod / Adrian Mortimer SA 1972 Holden Torana XU1 E 6 A
14 Colin Bond / George Shepheard NSW 1972 Holden Torana XU1 C 2 A
17 Allan Hogan / Bryan Liersch NSW 1971 Ford Escort TC C 1 B
18 Jim Sullivan / Gary Clarke NSW 1971 Ford Cortina TC E 5 B
19 Erl Calver / Norm Syme NSW 1970 Ford Falcon GT C 2 B
20 Gary Cooke / Bruce Cheeseman NSW 1969 Mazda R100 D 6 B
21 Keith Goodall / Joe Kearney QLD 1969 Ford Falcon GTHO E 6 B
23 Ian Wallace / Warwick Smith VIC 1971 Holden Torana XU1 E 6 B
24 Brenda Haigh / Gwen Dunlop NSW 1971 Holden Torana XU1 E 6 B
25 Chas Lund / Murray Coote QLD 1972 Mazda RX3 C 2 B
26 Carolynn Wallace / Cheryl Schmiedte NSW 1970 Holden Torana GTR E 6 B
27 Jon Leighton / Brian Allery VIC 1970 Morris Cooper S C 1 B
29 Jack ‘Milko’ Murray / Brian MacIlvenna NSW 1972 Holden Torana XU1 E 6 B
31 Stephen Taylor / Arthur Taylor NSW 1970 Holden Torana XU1 C 2 B
32 Ron Row / Bob Johns NSW 1964 Ford Cortina GT C 1 B
33 Allan Cameron / Peter Mill NSW 1970 Holden Torana XU1 E 6 B
34 Arch Shearer / Brian Mepham NSW 1971 Mazda Capella C 2 B
37 Sue Ransom / Christine Cole NSW 1972 Ford Escort GT1600 C 1 B
Numerous crews consisted of a rally driver and a circuit driver; in the following text the driver listed first in the entry l ist
is shown when the results/times are listed; Notable crews with a rally driver and a circuit driver were:
11 Peter Brock/Frank Kilfoyle
20 Gary Coke/Bruce Cheeseman
37 Sue Ransom/Christine Cole.
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Christine Cole Sue Ransom Bruce Hodgson Bob Holden
Peter Janson Peter Brock Frank Kilfoyle Colin Bond
Edgar Hermann Bob Watson Stewart McLeod John Roxburgh
VEHICLE ELIGIBILITY
Vehicle eligibility was based on CAMS 3rd Category – Production Cars:
- Group C Improved Production Touring Cars - Group D Production Sports Cars (Open and Closed)
- Group E Series Production Touring Cars
Classes 1, 3 and 5 were for cars up to and including 2000cc
Class 2 and 6 were for cars from 2001cc to 6000cc
SUMMARY
Starting outside the Brisbane Town Hall in torrential rain on 9 November with Lord Mayor Clem Jones waving the cars
away, the course passed through three states - Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria - to the finish in
Melbourne, on Saturday 18 November, after covering some 4000 kilometres.
The 1972 Dulux Rally was won by the then all-conquering pair of rally aces, Colin Bond and George Shepheard, in a
Holden Torana XU1, with 116 points. This followed their win in the 1971 Dulux Rally, as well as winning the 1971 and
1972 Australian Rally Championships and the 1971 Southern Cross International Rally. Completing a great 1-2 result
for the Holden Dealer Team was the second place of Peter Brock and Frank Kilfoyle, also in an XU1 (188 ½ points).
To cement Holden’s XU1 domination of the event was the City State Team (Adelaide) of Stewart McLeod and Adrian
Mortimer, losing 229 points. Fourth was the only international driver, Edgar Herrmann (East Africa), with Roger
Bonhomme, in a Datsun 240Z, on 268 points.
For Bond it was a fairly tense event. Though he and Shepheard led from start to finish they were challenged
throughout by no fewer than five crews who, at one stage or another held second place.
Sydney journalist David Mckay, accompanied by CAMS NSW State Secretary Garry Connelly, was regarded as
Bond’s biggest threat with his specially imported German Ford Capri RS2600/2900, which was unquestionably
superior on the racing segments and, in the final race at Phillip Island, finished over a lap ahead of the Toranas,
breaking the outright Touring Car record in the process. On the rally segments, however, the Capri suffered numerous
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suspension problems, causing McKay to complain bitterly of the conditions. McKay/Connelly eventually finished fifth
with a loss of 313 points, just ahead of sixth placed Paul Older/Brian McElhinney in a BMW 2002, on 320 points.
The Capri was a Ford factory entered vehicle, the team headed by Howard Marsden. It was an RS2600 bored out to
2900, with 275bhp. It was rallied in Europe and carried fibreglass panels, rose-jointed suspension, ZF 5 speed box,
LSD, 9” mag wheels. It was clearly the ‘hottest’ car in the field.
Ford Capri RS2600 with 2900 engine
David McKay
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THE SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Conducted: 9 -18 November 1972
Starters: 27
Length: approximately 4000 kilometres
Thursday Start Brisbane
Thursday Surfers Paradise circuit racing - 1 x 6 lap (Cat 2) and 1 x 20 lap (Cat 3)
Thursday Grafton Mountain View Hillclimb - 2 runs (Cat 2)
Friday Closed road special stage northwest of Coffs Harbour (Cat 3)
Saturday Silverdale Hillclimb - 3 runs (Cat 2)
Saturday Oran Park circuit racing - 1 x 4 lap (Cat 2), 1 x 6 lap (Cat 3), 1 x 8 lap (Cat 3) at race meeting
Sunday Dapto Hillclimb - 3 runs (Cat 2)
Sunday Dirt circuit racing at Canberra (Mt Ginn) - 3 runs (Cat 3), then to Albury via Snowy Mountains
Monday (night) Rally division from Albury to Tumbarumba and return (Cat 3)
Tuesday Hume Weir circuit racing -1 x 10 lap (Cat 3), 1 x 20 lap (Cat 3)
Wednesday (night) Rally division Albury to Wangaratta and return (Cat 3)
Thursday Winton Raceway circuit racing - 1 x 6 lap, (Cat 2), 1 x 15 lap (Cat 3)
Thursday Rally division Benalla to Warburton (Cat 3)
Friday Lakeland Hillclimb - 3 runs (Cat 2)
Friday (night) Rally division Warragul to Phillip Island via Western Gippsland (Cat 3)
Saturday Phillip Island circuit racing - 1 x 20 lap (Cat 3)
Saturday Finish Melbourne
Category of activities
Cat 1: Transport sections
Cat 2: Hillclimbs, rally divisions, shorter circuit races, sprints
Cat 3: Very competitive rally divisions, longer circuit races.
THE ACTION
Stage One (Thursday – Brisbane to Grafton
Surfers Paradise Raceway
From the start the competitors went to Surfers Paradise where they participated in 1 x 6 lap and 1 x 20 lap races over
the two kilometre track, with all the cars together as the track density permitted this.
The Surfers Paradise track has long disappeared.
During practice McKay’s Capri suffered a persistent misfire due to the humidity and Brock took pole position with a
1:26:00 with McKay second on 1:26:02, then came Bond, Janson, McLeod, Older and Leighton.
In the two races Colin Bond was first and then second, whilst Peter Brock was second and then first. David McKay in
the exciting Ford Capri RS 2600 was third in both races, followed by Stewart McLeod and Paul Older in both races.
In the second race, run in looming darkness and slight rain, McKay’s Capri was firing on all six cylinders but he could
not make an impression on the Toranas of Bond and Brock.
From the start Brock tucked himself in behind Bond then on the third lap lost his wiper blade so he shot past his
teammate on a straight to get out of the water thrown up by the slipstream and went on to win.
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6 laps
1 14 Colin Bond 6 9:04.6
2 11 Peter Brock 6 9:04.9
3 9 David McKay 6 9:28.8
4 13 Stewart McLeod 6 9:29.3
5 6 Paul Older 6 9:46.5
6 27 Jon Leighton 6 9:48.8
7 3 Edgar Herrmann 6 9:50.9
8 10 Bob Holden 6 9:51.3
9 2 John Roxburgh 6 9:54.0
10 21 Keith Goodall 6 10:11.2
11 4 Bruce Hodgson 6 10:12.6
12 12 Bob Watson 6 10:19.0
13 7 Peter Janson 6 10:22.6
14 25 Chas Lund 6 10:29.6
15 23 Ian Wallace 6 10:34.3
16 37 Sue Ransom 6 10:34.7
17 18 Jim Sullivan 6 10:37.0
18 20 Gary Cooke 6 10:45.8
=19 33 Allan Cameron 6 10:50.1
=19 29 Jack Murray 6 10:50.1
21 17 Allan Hogan 5 9:04.9
22 19 Erl Calver 5 9:06.0
23 34 Arch Shearer 5 9:08.0
24 32 Ron Row 5 9:20.3
25 24 Brenda Haigh 5 9:48.8 26 Carolynn Wallace DNF 31 Stephen Taylor DNF
20 laps
1 11 Peter Brock 20 29:44.6
2 14 Colin Bond 20 29:45.0
3 9 David McKay 20 30:21.0
4 13 Stewart McLeod 20 31:00.4
5 6 Paul Older 20 30:01.9
6 10 Bob Holden 20 30:13.5
7 2 John Roxburgh 20 30:17.6
8 3 Edgar Herrmann 20 30:18.8
9 27 Jon Leighton 19 30:19.7
10 4 Bruce Hodgson 19 31:13.0
11 12 Bob Watson 19 31:17.7
12 21 Keith Goodall 18 30:32.1
13 7 Peter Janson 18 30:33.2
14 25 Chas Lund 18 30:34.4
15 23 Ian Wallace 18 30:44.7
16 17 Allan Hogan 18 30:45.8
17 37 Sue Ransom 18 30:46.7
18 33 Allan Cameron 18 30:47.1
19 18 Jim Sullivan 18 31:02.5
20 34 Arch Shearer 18 31:03.6
21 20 Gary Cooke 18 31:26.4
22 19 Erl Calver 17 30:37.8
23 32 Ron Row 15 30:15.5
24 24 Brenda Haigh 15 31:19.8
25 26 Carolynn Wallace 14 30:37.3
26 29 Jack Murray 14 35:37.3 31 Stephen Taylor Retired
Race times were:
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
6 laps 14 Colin Bond 9:04.6
11 Peter Brock 9:04.9
9 David McKay 9:28.8
13 Stewart McLeod 9:29.3
20 laps 11 Peter Brock 29:44.6
14 Colin Bond 29:45.0
9 David McKay 30:21.0
13 Stewart McLeod 31:00.4
Stephen and Arthur Taylor, driving a Torana XU1, dropped out of the event due to engine problems and Paul Older’s
BMW blew a tyre on the last lap of the first race but he managed to bring it over the finish line in fifth place. Jack
Murray’s XU1 blew its clutch just before the finish of the 20 lapper but the Taylor brothers donated theirs and Murray
was away again an hour or so later.
Results at the end of Day One were:
Bond 5, Brock 5, McKay 9, McLeod 12, Older 15, Holden 20, Roxburgh 23, Herrmann 23, Leighton 24,
Hodgson 31, Goodall 24, Watson 39
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Stage Two (Friday - Grafton to Sydney
Grafton Hillclimb
Then it was onto Grafton to overnight and early the next morning to the 535 metre tricky climb/descent switchback
course known as the Mountain View Hillclimb for two runs, the times being added together to give the total times from
which the outright results were calculated.
Bond (a former outright record-holder in a Lynx Peugeot) took 71.02 seconds, Herrmann 71.81, Brock and Leighton
73.35, Older 74.36, Roxburgh 74.66, Watson 74.77, Hodgson 74.90, Janson 75.28 and McKay 75.69.
Place Car No
Driver Run 1 Run 2 Total
1 14 Colin Bond 35.62 35.40 71.02
2 3 Edgar Herrmann 36.32 35.40 71.81
=3 11 Peter Brock 36.93 36.42 73.35
=3 27 Jon Leighton 37.16 36.10 73.35
5 6 Paul Older 37.32 37.05 74.37
6 2 John Roxburgh 37.23 37.43 74.66
7 12 Bob Watson 37.20 37.57 74.77
8 4 Bruce Hodgson 38.19 36.71 74.90
9 7 Peter Janson 39.16 36.12 75.28
10 9 David McKay 37.87 37.82 75.69
11 10 Bob Holden 38.33 37.76 76.00
12 13 Stewart McLeod 37.95 38.33 76.28
13 37 Sue Ransom 39.04 37.80 76.84
14 33 Allan Cameron 39.16 38.41 77.57
15 17 Allan Hogan 39.30 38.31 77.61
16 23 Ian Wallace 39.91 38.19 78.10
17 25 Chas Lund 40.78 39.01 79.60
18 18 Jim Sullivan 41.00 38.87 79.87
19 32 Ron Row 40.15 39.83 79.98
20 20 Gary Cooke 40.94 39.22 80.16
21 19 Erl Calver 41.81 40.38 81.10
22 29 Jack Murray 42.65 39.58 82.23
23 21 Keith Goodall 46.84 36.13 84.07
24 24 Brenda Haigh 46.19 44.70 90.89
25 26 Carolynn Wallace 48.50 46.71 94.21
26 34 Arch Shearer 41.86 retired
Arch Shearer/Brian Mepham, with a blown O-ring in the Mazda Capella, following its apparent over-revving at the
Surfers Paradise, retired from the event.
Closed Road Section near Woolgoolga
A long drive along the coast took the field to Sydney, taking in an officially closed 13.5 kilometres public road 'special
stage' with timing (which in rallies/trials was normally to the minute) to the (then) incredible quarter minute, at
Woolgoolga (north of Coffs Harbour). This was a rare occurrence that public roads were officially closed in New South
Wales for such an activity. This proved that second timing was needed for 'special stage' rallying but this was not to
come for some years until the Don Capasco Rally based at Canberra in 1974, organised by Peter Lang, the first event
to officially use timing to the second.
The road contained many tight corners, tricky crests and the surface was generally loose and three crews came equal
first - Edgar Herrmann, Bruce Hodgson and Stewart McLeod with 8 min 45 sec, and they were followed by Peter
Janson, David McKay, Bob Watson, Bob Holden, Colin Bond and Ian Wallace, all equal second on 9 min. Then on 9
min 15 sec came Chas Lund and Sue Ransom and on 9 min 30 sec were Peter Brock, Paul Older, Jon Leighton and
Alan Cameron,
The section almost saw the demise of John Roxburgh/Mike Mitchell when their Datsun miscued on an unsighted left-
hander and slipped off the road damaging its front end. The incident cost them 10 minutes but they pressed on and
had the car repaired later in the day. The same corner almost trapped Bond but he saved the XU1 in time. The section
moved McLeod to be equal first with Bond with Hermann a close third.
Progress results after the Grafton hillclimb were:
Bond 6 pts, Brock 8 ½, McKay 19, Older 20, McLeod 24, Herrmann 25, Leighton 27 1/2 , Roxburgh 29, Holden 31,
Hodgson 39, Watson 46, Janson 51, Lund 59, Wallace 61, Ransom 64, Goodall 67, Cameron 69, Hogan 71, Sullivan
73, Cooke 80, Calver 87, Shearer 89, Haigh 97, Wallace (Carolyn) 110, Murray 136.
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Place Car No
Driver Time
Min/Sec
=1 3 Edgar Herrmann 8:45
=1 4 Bruce Hodgson 8:45
=1 13 Stewart McLeod 8:45
=4 7 Peter Janson 9:00
=4 9 David McKay 9:00
=4 10 Bob Holden 9:00
=4 12 Bob Watson 9:00
=4 14 Colin Bond 9:00
=4 23 Ian Wallace 9:00
=10 25 Chas Lund 9.15
=10 37 Sue Ransom 9:15
=12 6 Paul Older 9:30
=12 11 Peter Brock 9:30
=12 27 Jon Leighton 9:30
=12 33 Allan Cameron 9:30
16 29 Jack Murray 9:45
=17 20 Gary Cooke 10.00
=17 32 Ron Row 10:00
19 19 Erl Calver 10:15
=20 18 Jim Sullivan 10:30
=20 21 Keith Goodall 10:30
=22 17 Allan Hogan 11:45
=22 24 Brenda Haigh 11:45
24 26 Carolynn Wallace 11:45
25 2 John Roxburgh 19:30
Area for Closed Road Section (near Woolgoolga)
The remainder of Friday saw the field continue to Sydney, stopping at Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie,
Taree and Newcastle. At the latter city huge crowds turned out to greet the crews, a result of the solid radio and press
promotion by Dulux Australia. Shortly after midnight the field reached Bondi Beach, where (on a balmy night) many
people turned out to check the cars and crews.
Progressive results after the closed road section at Woolgoolga were:
Bond and McLeod 32 pts, Herrmann 33, McKay 45, Hodgson 47, Holden 57, Brock 62 ½ , Watson 72, Older 74,
Janson 77 and Leighton 81 ½ .
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Stage Three (Saturday - Sydney to Wollongong)
Silverdale Hilllclimb
After overnighting at Bondi the field headed to the Silverdale Hillclimb at Wallacia (West Sydney), followed by practice
at the Oran Park Raceway in preparation for participating in a night race meeting.
Silverdale Hillclimb – Bob Watson in the Renault R12
After three runs up the 652 metre Silverdale Hilllclimb David McKay came out the overall winner, followed by Colin
Bond, Peter Brock, Peter Janson, Bob Holden and Jon Leighton. The three run times combined were McKay 115.45
seconds, Bond 117.50, Brock 117.84, Janson 122.08, Holden 123.50, Leighton 123.61, Herrmann 124.96, Roxburgh
125.05, Hodgson 125.21 and Older 125.26.
Place Car
No Driver Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Total
1 9 David McKay 38.69 38.24 38.52 115.45
2 14 Colin Bond 39.29 39.41 38.80 117.50
3 11 Peter Brock 39.07 39.36 39.41 117.84
4 7 Peter Janson 41.06 40.54 40.48 122.08
5 10 Bob Holden 41.48 41.21 40.00 123.50
6 27 Jon Leighton 41.38 40.92 41.31 123.61
7 3 Edgar Herrmann 40.71 40.44 43.81 124.96
8 2 John Roxburgh 41.56 41.75 41.73 125.05
9 4 Bruce Hodgson 41.19 41.47 41.55 125.21
10 6 Paul Older 41.82 41.64 41.80 125.26
11 13 Stewart McLeod 41.85 41.35 43.23 126.43
12 33 Allan Cameron 45.42 43.72 42.75 131.00
13 25 Chas Lund 44.55 43.84 43.56 131.95
14 23 Ian Wallace 44.57 44.13 44.47 133.17
15 37 Sue Ransom 45.23 44.43 43.07 133.53
16 12 Bob Watson 45.15 44.38 44.31 133.84
17 21 Keith Goodall 45.08 44.93 44.46 134.47
18 18 Jim Sullivan 46.77 45.40 45.83 138.00
19 20 Gary Cooke 46.52 45.81 45.93 138.36
20 29 Jack Murray 46.36 47.02 48.52 141.00
21 32 Ron Row 48.87 47.97 47.22 144.06
22 24 Brenda Haigh 49.22 48.48 48.33 146.03
23 19 Erl Calver 50.74 49.78 48.30 148.82
24 17 Allan Hogan 50.17 50.45 49.24 149.86
25 26 Carolynn Wallace 55.01 53.40 51.68 160.18
Oran Park Night Races
Following confidence gained from the Surfers Paradise racing, and from the 1971 Dulux Rally, Race Director Alan Horsley
(Promoter of Oran Park Raceway), organised for the event to take part in six of the 14-race night meeting. The field was
divided into Groups A (faster cars) and B (slower cars) and each Group participated in three races each.
Edgar Herrmann/Roger Bonhomme – Datsun 240Z – at Oran Park Raceway
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Oran Park Raceway Circuit in 1972
Anyone attending the meeting will remember the great racing provided by David McKay, Colin Bond and Peter Brock.
McKay won all three Group A races (6 laps, 8 laps and 4 laps) conducted over what in future years became known as
the 'short circuit', as this was before the circuit was extended. The dicing between the three was enthralling. Bond was
second twice and third once, with Brock being second once and third twice. McLeod was fourth, Paul Older was fifth
and Bob Holden was sixth, in all three races.
At the wet Oran Park Raceway, at night, Bob Watson holds the Renault R12 tight through
BP Bend with Ian Wallace (Holden Torana XU1), Sue Ransom (Ford Escort GT 1600)
and Alan Cameron (XU1) following.
GROUP A
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
6 laps David McKay
5:28.4
Colin Bond
5:29.1
Peter Brock
5:32.6
Stewart McLeod
5:33.4
8 laps David McKay
7:04.2
Peter Brock
7:06.6
Colin Bond
7:07.2
Steward McLeod
7:22.2
4 laps David McKay 3:37.9
Colin Bond 3:38.9
Peter Brock 3:39.3
Stewart McLeod 3:45.7
GROUP B
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
6 laps Ian Wallace
6:01.5
Allan Cameron
6:02.5
Bob Watson
6:06.2
Sue Ransom
6:09.0
8 laps Ian Wallace
7:58.9
Bob Watson
8:00.8
Allan Cameron
8:02.7
Sue Ransom
8:04.1
4 laps Bob Watson 4:04.9
Sue Ransom 4:06.1
Ian Wallace 4:06.4
Keith Goodall 4:13.0
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RACE 1 6 LAPS
RACE 2 8 LAPS
RACE 3
4 LAPS
Place Car No
Driver Group A Time Group B Time
1 9 David McKay 5:28.4
2 14 Colin Bond 5:29.1
3 11 Peter Brock 5:32.6
4 13 Stewart McLeod 5:33.4
5 6 Paul Older 5:42.9
6 10 Bob Holden 5:49.6
7 3 Edgar Herrmann 5:51.2
8 27 Jon Leighton 5:51.9
9 23 Ian Wallace 6:01.5
10 33 Allan Cameron 6:02.5
11 4 Bruce Hodgson 6:06.1
12 12 Bob Holden 6:06.2
13 2 John Roxburgh 6:06.7
14 37 Sue Ransom 6:09.0
15 25 Chas Lund 6:12.4
16 20 Gary Cooke 6:16.3
17 18 Jim Sullivan 6:17.1
18 29 Jack Murray 6:34.0
19 21 Keith Goodall 6:34.6
20 32 Ron Row 6:55.4
21 26 Carolynn Wallace 7:05.5
22 17 Allan Hogan 7:06.1
23 24 Brenda Haigh 6:18.9 (5 laps)
24 19 Erl Calver DNS
Place
Car No
Driver Group A Time Group B Time
1 9 David McKay 7:04.2
2 11 Peter Brock 7:06.6
3 14 Colin Bond 7:07.2
4 13 Stewart McLeod 7:22.2
5 6 Paul Older 7:24.6
6 10 Bob Holden 7:35.5
7 27 Jon Leighton 7:36.3
8 3 Edgar Herrmann 7:45.4
9 2 John Roxburgh 7:47.4
10 4 Bruce Hodgson 7:56.5
11 23 Ian Wallace 7:58.9
12 12 Bob Watson 8:00.8
13 33 Allan Cameron 8:02.7
14 37 Sue Ransom 8:04.1
15 25 Chas Lund 8:05.0
16 21 Keith Goodall 8:23.5
17 20 Gary Cooke 8:24.5
18 18 Jim Sullivan 8:25.6
19 29 Jack Murray 8:39.2
20 19 Erl Calver 8:48.3
21 32 Ron Row 9:03.0
22 17 Allan Hogan 8:16.2 (7 laps)
23 26 Carolynn Wallace 8:23.8 (7 laps)
24 24 Brenda Haigh 8:43.2 (7 laps)
Place
Car
No Driver Group A Time Group B Time
1 9 David McKay 3:37.9
2 14 Colin Bond 3:38.9
3 11 Peter Brock 3:39.3
4 13 Stewart McLeod 3:45.7
5 6 Paul Older 3:46.2
6 10 Bob Holden 3:53.6
7 3 Edgar Herrmann 3:55.1
8 27 Jon Leighton 3:55.8
9 2 John Roxburgh 4:01.4
10 4 Bruce Hodgson 4:01.9
11 12 Bob Watson 4:04.9
12 37 Sue Ransom 4:06.1
13 23 Ian Wallace 4:06.4
14 21 Keith Goodall 4:13.0
15 20 Gary Cooke 4:22.0
16 15 Chas Lund 4:22.7
17 33 Allan Cameron 4:23.2
18 18 Jim Sullivan 4:24.5
19 29 Jack Murray 4:25.7
20 19 Erl Calver 4:33.1
21 32 Ron Row 4:37.4
22 24 Brenda Haigh 4:52.4
23 26 Carolynn Wallace 4:52.9
24 17 Allan Hogan 4:53.0
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Chas Lund and Murray Coote retired their Mazda RX3 with a blown O-ring, whilst Peter Janson's Torana XU1 suffered
from severe engine problems and did not compete but he rejoined at Hume Weir on the Tuesday, taking a penalty of
500 points for each control that he missed.
Stage Four (Sunday - Wollongong to Albury via Canberra and the Alpine Way
Dapto Hillclimb
After staying over Saturday night at Wollongong it was out to the 660 metre Dapto Hillclimb for three runs. The
hillclimb was located on private property and required plenty of brute power to accelerate from the sloping startline. A
largish crowd was on hand to see the unique display of fully laden rally and race cars charging up the challenging
ascent. David McKay was the fastest overall, followed by Colin Bond, Peter Brock, Edgar Herrmann, Stewart McLeod
and Bruce Hodgson. The combined three run times were McKay 84.01 seconds, Bond 85.50, Brock 86.90, Herrmann
87.79, McLeod 90.91, Hodgson 92.32, Roxburgh 92.99, Goodall 94.85, Older 94.87 (after fumbling his third run).
Place Car
No Driver Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Total
1 9 David McKay 28.53 27.67 27.81 84.01
2 14 Colin Bond 28.77 28.38 28.35 85.50
3 11 Peter Brock 29.19 28.71 29.00 86.90
4 3 Edgar Herrmann 29.66 29.07 29.06 87.79
5 13 Stewart McLeod 30.72 30.21 29.98 90.91
6 4 Bruce Hodgson 30.96 30.83 30.48 92.32
7 2 John Roxburgh 30.96 31.06 30.07 92.99
8 21 Keith Goodall 31.34 31.00 31.61 94.85
9 6 Paul Older 30.46 30.25 34.16 94.87
10 27 Jon Leighton 31.70 31.54 31.81 95.05
11 29 Jack Murray 32.26 32.75 32.21 97.22
12 10 Bob Holden 32.30 32.35 33.43 98.17
13 23 Ian Wallace 33.01 33.40 33.22 100.53
14 33 Allan Cameron 34.26 35.32 33.10 102.60
15 37 Sue Ransom 34.25 34.04 34.57 103.76
16 19 Erl Calver 34.77 34.85 34.59 104.21
17 24 Brenda Haigh 35.67 34.48 35.00 105.15
18 12 Bob Watson 36.59 35.16 34.77 106.52
19 17 Allan Hogan 35.10 36.46 35.94 108.40
20 18 Jim Sullivan 36.04 36.93 36.77 110.54
21 20 Gary Cooke 37.57 37.17 38.99 113.73
22 32 Ron Row 38.60 38.53 43.30 120.52
23 26 Carolynn Wallace 38.93 40.42 47.34 126.69
24 7 Peter Janson DNS DNS DNS
Run from Wollongong to Canberra
After racing at Oran Park the placings were:
Bond 46, McKay 51, McLeod 63, Herrmann 77, Brock 78 1/2 , Holden 92, Hodgson 108, Older 109, Leighton 125 1/2 ,
Watson 147, Wallace 154, Ransom/Cole 189, Roxburgh 190, Cameron 198, Cooke and Goodall 250, Sullivan 261,
Row 287, Calver 294, Hogan 297, Murray 313, Haigh 335, Cheryl Wallace 355 1/2 and Janson 706.
The progressive results after the Dapto Hillclimb were:
Bond 49, McKay 52, McLeod 68, Herrmann 81, Brock 81 ½ , Holden 104, Hodgson 114, Older 118, Leighton 135 1/2 ,
Watson 165, Wallace 167, Roxburgh 194 and Ransom/Cole 204.
40
Following what was then a steep highway climb over the Macquarie Pass (it was almost a long hillclimb in its own right
in those days – a narrow road with no speed limits, which came into force in 1973!) and across to Canberra via
Robertson, Moss Vale and Goulburn to the Mt Ginn dirt circuit, where a degree of controversy arose. To keep the dust
down for spectators, the circuit officials put a light layer of oil around the course. The tar, of course, was thrown up
and stuck to the cars, causing some concern to some of the competitors. A car wash was hastily arranged by the
organisers in Albury for the next day.
Mt Ginn Dirt Raceway
Mt Ginn was classified as a speed event with a good crowd of spectators enjoying the spectacle - for the Canberra
forests were becoming to be used extensively for rallies and the sport was becoming very popular in the nation’s
capital city.
David McKay’s Ford Capri RS2600 at Mt Ginn
Colin Bond (14) and Edgar Herrmann (3) fight it out at Mt Ginn
Jon Leighton, 3rd on the day, was to figure in an off-track drama at the Winton Raceway later in the week.
Bob Watson, followed by Bob Holden and Paul Older
41
Following the controversy of the oiled track it was decided to conduct the competition as a 4-car Autocross, with cars
starting one second apart, the fastest from the practice sessions went first. Three races were contested, with some
reshuffles being made as some drivers became faster.
Not unexpectedly Colin Bond was quickest over the three runs, followed by Stewart McLeod, Jon Leighton (not so
expected as he was mainly a bitumen circuit driver), Peter Brock, Edgar Herrmann and Bruce Hodgson. David McKay,
who made a big, big fuss about the tar refused to continue after his first run and was scored heavily for not doing so,
but everyone else had a ball.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Run 1 Stewart McLeod
2:19.1
Jon Leighton
2:19.2
Colin Bond
2:19.6
Bob Watson
2:22.5
Run 2 Colin Bond
2:17.6
Jon Leighton
2:18.5
Peter Brock
2:19.0
Stewart McLeod
2:19.1
Run 3 Peter Brock
2:17.6
Stewart McLeod
2:17.8
Colin Bond
2:18.6
Jon Leighton
2:19.5
Place Car No
Driver Run 1
Run 2
Run 3
Total
1 14 Colin Bond 2:19.6 2:17.6 2:18.68 6:55.0
2 13 Stewart McLeod 2:19.1 2:19.1 2:17.8 6:56.0
3 27 Jon Leighton 2:19.2 2:18.5 2:19.5 6:57.2
4 11 Peter Brock 2:22.8 2:19.0 2:17.6 6:59.4
5 3 Edgar Herrmann 2:25.2 2:21.2 2:21.7 7:08.1
6 4 Bruce Hodgson 2:24.5 2:21.1 2:22.6 7:08.2
7 37 Sue Ransom 2:25.5 2:23.0 2:25.0 7:13.5
8 12 Bob Watson 2:22.5 2:27.6 2:26.4 7:16.5
9 10 Bob Holden 2:23.4 2:29.7 2:28.1 7:21.2
10 6 Paul Older 2:26.0 2:29.5 2:26.0 7:21.5
11 33 Allan Cameron 2:27.2 2:28.2 2:26.8 7:22.8
12 2 John Roxburgh 2:31.4 2:28.1 2:25.8 7:25.3
13 21 Keith Goodall 2:31.2 2:30.2 2:27.1 7:28.5
14 17 Allan Hogan 2:30.4 2:31.5 2:26.9 7:28.7
15 23 Ian Wallace 2:27.6 2:31.2 2:32.5 7:31;3
16 18 Jim Sullivan 2:31.0 2:34.6 2:29.1 7:34.7
17 29 Jack Murray 2:36.5 2:33.2 2:33.6 7:43.3
18 20 Gary Cooke 2:35.6 2:34.3 2:34.5 7:44.4
19 19 Erl Calver 2:33.2 2:40.6 2:37.4 7:51.2
20 32 Ron Row 2:37.6 2:34.4 2:40.4 7:52.6
21 24 Brenda Haigh 2:34.3 2:40.6 2:40.9 7:55.8
22 26 Carolynn Wallace 2:44.6 2:36.0 2:37.5 7:59.0
23 9 David McKay 2:35.7 DNS DNS
24 7 Peter Janson DNS DNS DNS
Competitors then made the long run from Canberra to finish in Albury late into Sunday night, travelling through Cooma
and Jindabyne to Khancoban and then using the Alpine Way (in those days a great dirt road from just west of
Jindabyne to just before Khancoban - the road wasn't closed but there was no traffic and no speed limits!). Then the
course following the Murray Valley Highway, which wound on the south side of the Murray River, to Albury. In all this
was some 620 kilometres of great open road driving in the dark, albeit not part of the competition.
Canberra to Albury – 620 kilometres in the dark
Progressive results after Mt Ginn were:
Bond 49 pts, McLeod 70, McKay 75, Brock 85 ½ , Herrmann 86, Holden 113, Hodgson 120, Leighton 138 1/2 ,
Watson 173, Wallace 182, Roxburgh 209, Ransom 211, Cameron 223, Goodall 271, Cooke 289, Sullivan 297, Calver
329, Rowe 330, Hogan 336, Murray 341, Haigh 374, Cheryl Wallace 405 1/2 , Janson 5177.
42
Late at night the crews booked into the Albury Travelodge to spend three days and four nights of pleasant relaxation
coupled with three competitive segments (two night rally divisions – Monday and Wednesday, and racing at Hume
Weir on Tuesday).
Stage Five (Monday - Albury to Tumbarumba to Albury)
After resting throughout Monday (and cleaning the cars!), the first of the night rally divisions was conducted.
Monday Night Rally – northeast of Albury
This was a loop from and back to Albury via Wymah, Talmalmo (later made famous as the home of Datsun/Nissan
rally driver George Fury, the local school bus driver!), Jingellic (with two special sections between Talmalmo and
Jingellic over magnificent dirt roads) to the Carabost Forest (north west of Tumbarumba) where extensive use was
made of the forest roads, resulting in five special sections. Heavy atmospheric conditions resulted in thick dust.
Area for the Monday night rally
From Carabost the course continued to Rosewood (where, unfortunately, the hanging dust drifted from the Carabost
Forest and turned a householder’s white sheets hanging on a clothes line into red sheets - this really required some
community PR work the next day to pacify the poor housewife!). Then onto Ournie, Jingellic (again), across the river
into Victoria and then picking up special sections as the competitors passed through Burrowye, Shelley to Bullioh. A
great section was conducted between Bullioh and Granya; then back in New South Wales onto Bethanga (famous for
the 'Bethanga Stampede' of the 1968 Southern Cross Rally, where Director Bob Selby-Wood set some four stages
around the village, all starting in different directions from its main street - but that's another story!). Then back into
Victoria (running around the Hume Weir) to Tallangatta (more special sections) and so returning to Albury.
George Shepheard, navigating for Colin Bond, lodged a protest, on behalf of the Holden Dealer Team, about the
location of a passage control in a Carabost Forest stage and Event Director Tom Snooks took the opportunity on the
Tuesday morning to dash to the forest to examine the situation. Unfortunately for Snooks his car was carrying Dulux
Rally decals and was spotted by the irate housewife in Rosewood and he copped a real earful about dust that covered
her washing on the clothes line. This probably was the start of a sort of phobia that Tom Snooks developed about
running around in 'event marked' cars - one that he maintained throughout his organising career! George lost the
protest, by the way.
43
The irrepressible Peter Janson shrugged off his 5000-plus points loss and pressed on in his usual exuberant style; he
might have finished last but his will to compete saw him finish despite the major engine problems at Sydney.
The results of the night rally of 515 kilometres (of which some 35% were competitive) were Stewart McLeod (with
navigator Adrian Mortimer) with 10 points lost was fastest, followed by Edgar Herrmann (Roger Bonhomme) on 11
points; equal third on 12 points were Bruce Hodgson (Fred Gocentas), Bob Holden (John Dawson-Damer) and Colin
Bond (George Shepheard); equal sixth was Peter Brock (with 1969 Australian Rally Champion driver Frank Kilfoyle)
and 1970 Champion Bob Watson (Jeff Beaumont), both on 13 points. John Roxburgh (Mike Mitchell) followed in
eighth place on 16 points, and then David McKay (Garry Connelly) in ninth on 17. Rounding the top ten was Paul
Older (Brian McElhinney) on 21 points.
John Roxburgh (CAMS President 1977 – 1982) / Mike Mitchell in the Datsun 180B SSS
A tricky right-hander trapped Allan Hogan’s Escort TC and he spun every which way. However, it wasn’t the incident
that cost him time – it was the time spent in repairing the farmer’s fence!!! The Escort of Ransom/Cole had its
alternator fall completely off its bracket and landed on wiring and burnt it all out. They were in plenty of trouble and
finally had to be towed back to Albury, losing many points.
Place Car No Driver Time Lost
1 13 Stewart McLeod 10
2 3 Edgar Herrmann 11
=3 4 Bruce Hodgson 12
=3 10 Bob Holden 12
=3 14 Colin Bond 12
=6 11 Peter Brock 13
=6 12 Bob Watson 13
8 2 John Roxburgh 16
9 9 David McKay 17
10 6 Paul Older 21
11 33 Allan Cameron 23
12 32 Ron Row 28
13 18 Jim Sullivan 29
14 21 Keith Goodall 30
=15 19 Erl Calver 32
=15 29 Jack Murray 32
17 27 Jon Leighton 44
18 23 Ian Wallace 46
19 24 Brenda Haigh 65
20 17 Allan Hogan 73
21 26 Carolynn Wallace 3945
22 37 Sue Ransom 6531
23 7 Peter Janson DNS
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Stewart McLeod / Adrian Mortimer – Holden Torana XU1
Stage Six (Tuesday - Albury to Hume Weir to Albury)
Hume Weir Raceway
After resting through Tuesday until early afternoon the competitors then headed to the 1.3 kilometre Hume Weir
circuit, laid out beneath the towering Hume Weir.
After practice the scene was set for twilight racing before a good crowd in which the Group A and B drivers
participated together in two races - a 10 lapper and a 20 lapper. And what racing it was too!
David McKay really turned it on with some glorious driving in both races. He had Peter Brock, Colin Bond and Stewart
McLeod in their XU1s snapping at his heals all the way.
By Albury the Holden Team (under control of the 'Silver Fox', Harry Firth) had decided that Colin Bond was to have
the opportunity to win the event for the second time, meaning that Peter Brock was to play 'second fiddle'. After the 10
lapper it was essential to Bond's chances that he finish as best he could in the 20 lapper. BUT, Brock gave chase to
David McKay and on the last lap was ahead of Bond.
Firth was fixing the heal of the shoe of one of Snooks' secretaries (Sandra Hand) towards the end of the race, and
stopped (hammer and tacks poised to fix the shoe) and mumbled "Brocky, don't do it, Brocky, don't do it, BROCKY
DON'T DO IT", when Brock came to the finish line and slowed right down to let Bond through to be second and then
he followed to be third. Shades of Bathurst in 1977 between Bond and Moffat!!!
Overall Classification at Albury after Monday night rally:
Colin Bond was leading the event with 65 points lost, followed by Stewart McLeod (74), Edgar Herrmann (94), David
McKay (111), Peter Brock (111 1/2), Bruce Hodgson (136), Paul Older (168), Bob Watson (199), Jon Leighton (206
1/2) and John Roxburgh (241).
45
10 laps
1 9 David McKay 10 9:11.8
2 11 Peter Brock 10 9:14.1
3 13 Stewart McLeod 10 9:18.0
4 14 Colin Bond 10 9:22.8
5 6 Paul Older 10 9:26.3
6 27 Jon Leighton 10 9:37.8
7 10 Bob Holden 10 9:45.3
8 7 Peter Janson 10 9:46.6
9 21 Keith Goodall 10 9:53.0
10 33 Allan Cameron 10 9:55.0
11 2 John Roxburgh 10 10:00.4
12 23 Ian Wallace 10 10:02.9
13 37 Sue Ransom 10 10:07.8
14 12 Bob Watson 10 10:08.3
15 3 Edgar Herrmann 9 9:29.2
16 29 Jack Murray 9 9:20.8
17 17 Allan Hogan 9 9:28,8
18 18 Jim Sullivan 9 9:30.7
19 24 Brenda Haigh 9 9:44.4
20 32 Ron Row 9 9:52.5
21 19 Erl Calver 9 9:58.2
22 26 Carolynn Wallace 8 9:25.8
23 4 Bruce Hodgson DNS
20 laps
1 9 David McKay 20 18:17.1
2 14 Colin Bond 20 18:19.0
3 11 Peter Brock 20 18:19.5
4 13 Stewart McLeod 20 18:37.6
5 6 Paul Older 20 18:53.1
6 10 Bob Holden 19 18:25.4
7 7 Peter Janson 19 18:34.4
8 21 Keith Goodall 19 18:55.9
9 2 John Roxburgh 19 19:00.1
10 12 Bob Watson 19 19:05.5
11 3 Edgar Herrmann 19 19:09.5
12 17 Allan Hogan 19 19:10.7
13 37 Sue Ransom 19 19:15.1
14 33 Allan Cameron 19 19:17.5
15 29 Jack Murray 19 19:29.1
16 18 Jim Sullivan 19 19:50.3
17 19 Erl Calver 18 19:10.2
18 32 Ron Row 18 19:58.5
19 24 Brenda Haigh 17 19:22.2
20 26 Carolynn Wallace 16 19:02.6
21 27 Jon Leighton 14 18:59.0
22 23 Ian Wallace 14 20:59.4
23 4 Bruce Hodgson DNS
Keith Goodall in the big Ford Falcon GTHO won both Group B races at the Hume Weir circuit
GROUP A 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
10 laps David McKay
9:11.8
Peter Brock
9:14.1
Stewart McLeod
9:18.0
Colin Bond
9:22.8
20 laps David McKay
18:17.1
Colin Bond
18:19.0
Peter Brock
18:19.5
Stewart McLeod
18:37.6
GROUP B 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
10 laps Keith Goodall
9:53.0
Alan Cameron
9:55.0
Ian Wallace
10:02.9
Sue Ransom
10:07.8
20 laps Keith Goodall 18:59.9
Bob Watson 19:05.5
Allan Hogan 19:10.7
Sue Ransom 19:15.1
With his superb performance David McKay moved to third place, behind Colin Bond and Stewart McLeod, then came
Peter Brock, Edgar Herrmann and Bob Holden.
Bruce Hodgson’s Escort’s engine seized its bearings and he took no further part in the event.
On the 10 lap race Colin Bond’s XU1 had axle problems and although the limited slip differential allowed him to
continue he dropped well back from Brock, finishing fourth 11 seconds behind the winning XU1; Jon Leighton’s
Cooper S, on the 20 lapper, suddenly dropped back halfway through the race with an oil pressure relief valve stuck
and he pitted and then rejoined but was soon back into the pits – he only completed 14 laps.
Keith Goodall cleaned up the two Group B races in his Falcon GTHO; Ian Wallace was well placed in the 20 lap race
until his car blew a tyre and he was out of the race.
Progressive results after Hume Weir:
Bond 77 pts, McLeod 88, McKay 115, Brock 121 ½, Herrmann 146, Holden 155, Older 188, Watson 247, Roxburgh
281, Leighton 283 ½, Cameron 315, Wallace 322, Goodall 360, Ransom/Cole 375, Sullivan 417, Rowe 454, Murray
465, Calver 467, Liersch 474, Haigh 526, Wallace 581 1/2 , Janson 5299.
46
Stage Seven (Wednesday - Albury to Wangaratta to Albury)
A welcome break from the intensity of the competition over Tuesday night was followed by a late start to the
Wednesday night rally division - a full blown rally which enthusiasts can only dream of these days.
Wednesday Night Rally west of Albury
The course took the crews through the fine but firm sand tracks in the forests around Wooragee, Woolshed, and
Eldorado before a break at Wangarrata. Then west of the city to Thoona and back through Wangaratta via four special
sections over the sandy tracks of the Killawarra Forest. Heading back to Albury the course passed through Eldorado
again, and then into Beechworth and onto several sections in the Stanley Forest near Beechworth, followed by a great
section downhill from this forest to Yackandandah.
Area for the Wednesday night rally
Bob Holden drove his Escort consistently to finish well up in all the different activities and finished sixth overall
Driving brilliantly on the night, Edgar Herrmann was the quickest losing 8 points, followed by Stewart McLeod and
Colin Bond (12 points), Peter Brock (14 points), Bob Watson and John Roxburgh (16 points) and Paul Older (22 pts).
David McKay's chances of taking out a high placing collapsed when the Capri straddled a large rock on the left side of
the track on an early Eldorado section and the front end of the low slung racing Capri took the full force of the impact
and lifted the cross-member some three inches and deranged the steering. Warning of the rock was listed in the route
instructions but, as the car was left hand drive, McKay didn't sight the rock until too late. Rumour spread that the
service crew forgot to raise the suspension following the Hume Weir racing. He finished a disappointing 20th on the
night, which put him back to fifth overall.
Jim Sullivan/Gary Clarke (Ford Cortina TC) broke a rear shock and had to travel gingerly and then a front shock
seized knocking the centre out of the wishbone. Fortunately, an Albury wrecking yard could provide a replacement.
Bob Holden struck trouble when his Ford Escort TC faulty alternator flattened the battery on a narrow uphill section.
Minutes flew by until Doc Allan Hogan came to his rescue and offered his battery to get Holden out of trouble, but both
lost considerable time.
47
Peter Jason lost 46 minutes on the night but was penalised 400 points for coming into a control the wrong way.
48
Place Car No
Driver Time Lost
1 3 Edgar Herrmann 8
=2 13 Stewart McLeod 12
=2 14 Colin Bond 12
4 11 Peter Brock 14
=5 2 John Roxburgh 16
=5 12 Bob Watson 16
7 6 Paul Older 22
8 23 Ian Wallace 27
9 21 Keith Goodall 29
10 37 Sue Ransom 30
11 33 Allan Cameron 35
12 32 Ron Row 36
13 19 Erl Calver 38
14 29 Jack Murray 54
15 18 Jim Sullivan 70
16 10 Bob Holden 77
17 17 Allan Hogan 79
18 24 Brenda Haigh 84
19 27 Jon Leighton 86
20 9 David McKay 95
21 7 Peter Janson 446
22 26 Carolynn Wallace 486
Stage Seven (Thursday - Albury to Warburton)
Winton Raceway
After the four nights based at Albury the entourage moved on to the then 2.1 kilometre Winton Raceway for two races
for each of Group A and Group B – a 6-lapper and a 15-lapper.
Practice at Winton was not without some drama! Edgar Herrmann couldn't get the 240Z moving well due to 'fuel feed'
problems and on numerous occasions cut off Jon Leighton, forcing him to take evasive action. When they returned to
the pits Leighton expressed his feelings about the experience by biffing Herrmann in the face ....... and thereby
earning both of them an appearance before the Stewards. The hearing was conducted in the circuit's headquarters (a
caravan), with Leighton sitting on one side next to Tom Snooks and Herrmann on the other, after having stitches to his
badly gashed lip. In the meantime, Roger Bonhomme took over the driving and had no fuel feed problems and
finished fifth on the grid!! It was a credit to Herrmann’s sportsmanship that he agreed to shake hands with Leighton
and forget the incident.
Following Hermann’s withdrawal after the ‘punch up’ Roger Bonhomme took the Datsun 240Z
to show the way home from Jon Leighton, Paul Older and Stewart McLeod
Progressive results after the Wednesday night rally:
Bond 87, McLeod 98, Brock 137 ½ , Herrmann 150, McKay 195, Older 216, Holden 219, Watson 269, Roxburgh 303,
Wallace 354, Cameron 359, Leighton 359 ½, Goodall 396, Ransom 415, Sullivan 477, Rowe 502, Calver 519, Murray
521, Hogan 542, Haigh 598, Wallace 669, Janson 5383.
49
Leighton was permitted to race but was to be placed last no matter where he finished. In the first race of 6 laps, he
finished fifth and in the second race over 15 laps, 11th. Bonhomme took over the wheel of the 240Z to finish fourth in
race one, and 12th in race two. Jon Leighton and Brian Allery retired the Cooper S after the completion of the Winton
races.
David McKay finished third and first in the two Group A races, to be equal best overall with Peter Brock (first and
second), with Colin Bond behind them (second and third), with Herrmann and McLeod each fourth. Bob Watson was
first in both Group B races, with Ian Wallace and Sue Ransom taking second each.
GROUP A 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
6 laps Peter Brock 7:32.7
Colin Bond 7:37.6
David McKay 7:44.5
Edgar Herrmann* 7:49.3
15 laps David McKay
18:36.3
Peter Brock
18:38.4
Colin Bond
19:06.2
Stewart McLeod
19:29.3
* Roger Bonhomme driving
GROUP B 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
6 laps Bob Watson
8:10.7
Ian Wallace
8:16.1
Sue Ransom
8:17.0
Alan Cameron
8:19.6
15 laps Bob Watson 20:24.5
Sue Ransom 20:31.3
Keith Goodall 20:59.2
Alan Cameron 21:02.6
6 LAPS
Place Car No
Driver Group A Time
Group B Time
1 11 Peter Brock 7:32.7
2 14 Colin Bond 7:37.6
3 9 David McKay 7:44.5
4 3 Edgar Herrmann 7:49.3
5 27 Jon Leighton 7:49.8
6 6 Paul Older 7:50.7
7 13 Stewart McLeod 7:51.9
8 2 John Roxburgh 8:03.2
9 12 Bob Watson 8:10.7
10 10 Bob Holden 8:17.7
11 23 Ian Wallace 8:16.1
12 37 Sue Ransom 8:17.0
13 33 Allan Cameron 8:19.6
14 18 Jim Sullivan 8:26.2
15 17 Allan Hogan 8:40.9
16 29 Jack Murray 8:44.6
17 21 Keith Goodall 8:46.1
18 32 Ron Row 9:00,6
19 24 Brenda Haigh 9:08.3
20 26 Carolynn Wallace 9:09.6
21 19 Erl Calver 9:45.5
22 7 Peter Janson DNS
15 LAPS
Place Car
No
Driver Group A
Time
Laps Group B
Time 1 9 David McKay 18:36.3 15
2 11 Peter Brock 18:38.4 15
3 14 Colin Bond 19:06.2 15
4 13 Stewart McLeod 19:29.3 15
5 6 Paul Older 19:29.6 15
6 27 Jon Leighton 19:32.0 15
7 3 Edgar Herrmann 19:32.3 15
8 7 Peter Janson 18:41.2 14
9 2 John Roxburgh 18:42.0 14
10 10 Bob Holden 19:09.0 14
11 12 Bob Watson 15 20:24.5
12 37 Sue Ransom 15 20:31.3
13 21 Keith Goodall 15 20:59.2
14 33 Allan Cameron 15 21:02.6
15 18 Jim Sullivan 15 21:05.1
16 17 Allan Hogan 15 21:35.9
17 23 Ian Wallace 15 21:36.2
18 29 Jack Murray 15 21:40.2
19 32 Ron Row 14 20:52.7
20 24 Brenda Haigh 14 21:11.0
21 19 Erl Calver 14 21:19.0
22 26 Carolynn Wallace 14 21:25:5
50
Thursday Night Rally
The course headed through Benalla to the Reef Hills Forest , then south through forests to Lima and Barjarg. On to a
short break at Mansfield and on to Jamieson. Then the rally's special sections ran through Gaffneys Creek, A1
Settlement, Woods Point (loops here), Icy Creek, Noojee (loops here), Nerrim and McMahon's Creek to the overnight
stop at Warburton. Magnificent driving sections!
With Peter Brock in the navigator’s seat Frank Kilfoyle wheels the HDT Holden Torana XU1
through the night towards Warburton, advancing to third place.
Area for Thursday night’s rally
After the long night Colin Bond emerged quickest losing 4 points, followed by Edgar Herrmann (8 points), Peter
Janson (12 points); equal fourth went to Paul Older and Sue Ransom (18 points), then John Roxburgh (24 points),
Bob Holden (28 points), Ian Wallace (32 points), Peter Brock (36 points) and Jim Sullivan (40 points).
Progressive results after Winton
Bond 95, McLeod 112, Brock 142 1/2, Herrmann 166, McKay 200, Older 231, Holden 248, Watson 295, Roxburgh 326, Wallace 396, Cameron 397, Goodall 436, Ransom 448, Sullivan 518, Rowe 555, Murray 570, Calver 579, Hogan
586, Haigh 654, Wallace 730, Janson 5418.
50
Held by a tree which stopped it plunging further Erl Calver’s Ford Falcon GT rests below the road
after Mansfield. They got the car out within their late time limit and finished 18 th outright.
By Warburton Colin Bond had established a commanding lead and he would need to have something drastic go
wrong for him not to take out his second Dulux Rally. Edgar Herrmann was second, Peter Brock third, Stewart
McLeod fourth (after missing the last half of the run from Benalla due to mechanical problems), Paul Older equal sixth
with Bob Holden, Bob Watson ninth and Ian Wallace tenth.
A big disappointment for Stewart McLeod/Adrian Mortimer was the rear axle slipping out of the Holden Torana XU1,
while the bearing stayed put. McLeod was forced to wait four hours for his service crew and it took them five minutes
to get the car going again. However, McLeod missed all the remaining controls to stay within the late time limit and
hedropped 3504 points to be last on the night and dropped to fourth outright. Bob Watson’s Renault 12 had alternator
trouble and was stopped for 25 minutes until Ian Wallace towed the Renault until it started.
David McKay’s turn for more trouble came when the piston in a rear shock broke, collapsing the rear end and jamming
the coil spring between the wheel and guard. Although only 20 kilometres from the finish control for the night it was
five hours before his service crew could reach them, so strung out was the field. Alan Cameron lost control of his
Holden Torana XU1 just a kilometre from the finish and biffed the front end rather badly. He was down only 20 points
for the night but he ended up losing 500 when he couldn’t make the finish in time.
Ron Row lost a rear axle and missed three controls after it was fixed by his service crew.
Place Car No Driver Time
Lost 1 14 Colin Bond 7
2 3 Edgar Herrmann 10
3 7 Peter Janson 13
=4 6 Paul Older 16
=4 37 Sue Ransom 16
6 2 John Roxburgh 17
7 10 Bob Holden 23
8 23 Ian Wallace 28
9 11 Peter Brock 32
10 18 Jim Sullivan 33
11 29 Jack Murray 35
12 12 Bob Watson 37
13 21 Keith Goodall 47
14 17 Allan Hogan 59
15 24 Brenda Haigh 84
16 26 Carolynn Wallace 86
17 33 Allan Cameron 531
18 19 Erl Calver 662
19 9 David McKay 1014
20 32 Ron Row 1530
21 13 Stewart McLeod 3504
Mention must be made here of the ladies, Sue Ransom/Sue Ransom - running 11th; Brenda Haigh/Gwen Dunlop
19th; and Carolyn Wallace/Cheryl Schmiedte 20th.
Progressive results at Warburton
Bond 99, Herrmann 174, Brock 178 ½, McLeod 196, Older 249, McKay 276, Holden 276, Watson 343, Roxburgh 350,
Wallace 428, Cameron 465, Ransom 466, Goodall 488, Sullivan 558, Murray 614, Row 635, Hogan 642, Calver 651,
Haigh 714, Wallace 794, Janson 5430.
51
Stage Eight (Friday - Warburton to Cowes)
There was plenty of action to come on the Friday and Saturday!
Lakeland Hilllclimb
Friday afternoon was spent at the 960 metre Lakeland Hillclimb, near Lilydale in Melbourne’s east, with three runs in
the offering before a goodly crowd of spectators.
Sadly, Carolynn Wallace and Ian Wallace both had car problems and they had to take penalties for not being able to
compete up the hill.
Peter Brock put in blinding times compared to the others (the hillclimb was in his 'backyard') with 50.2, 50.0, 50.1.
Next fastest was Colin Bond with 50.7, 51.7 and 50.5. Then followed by David McKay, Edgar Herrmann and Paul
Older.
Results (times from the three runs added together):
Brock 150.3 seconds, Bond 152.9, McKay 155.4, Herrmann 158.5, Older 162.6, Roxburgh 162.7, McLeod 164.0, Cole
168.9, Cameron 169.7, Janson 170.3.
Place Car
No
Driver Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Total
1 11 Peter Brock 50.2 50.0 50.1 150.3
2 14 Colin Bond 50.7 51.7 50.5 152.9
3 9 David McKay 52.3 51.9 51.2 155.4
4 3 Edgar Herrmann 52.4 53.4 52.7 158.5
5 6 Paul Older 53.8 53.4 53.4 162.6
6 2 John Roxburgh 54.0 53.5 55.2 162.7
7 13 Stewart McLeod 54.6 54.8 54.6 164.0
8 37 Sue Ransom 56.5 56.2 56.2 168.9
9 33 Allan Cameron 56.3 57.1 56.3 169.7
10 7 Peter Janson 54.2 53.7 62.4 170.3
=11 12 Bob Watson 57.8 57.5 57.6 172.9
=11 29 Jack Murray 58.0 57.4 57.5 172.9
13 10 Bob Holden 53.8 56.2 69.0 174.0
14 17 Allan Hogan 58.7 58.5 58.9 175.2
15 18 Jim Sullivan 59.7 59.6 59.7 179.0
16 19 Erl Calver 62.4 61.7 61.3 185,4
17 24 Brenda Haigh 62.2 62.1 61.5 185.8
18 21 Keith Goodall 61.3 66.9 59.5 187.7
19 32 Ron Row 62.6 62.5 63.4 188.5
20 23 Ian Wallace DNF DNF DNF
21 26 Carolynn Wallace DNS DNS DNS
Friday Night Rally
From Lakeland it was on to Warrigal where a large crowd gathered to see the cars and meet the drivers and then
further east to Yarragon where the field waited for darkness to descend before taking off on the fourth and last of the
night rally division. Daylight saving had been introduced to the Eastern States in 1971, so it was almost 9pm before
the first car started.
The course went south over absolutely magnificent roads for rallying, passing through Allambee, Cloverlea, Tetoora
Road, Strzelecki and Mt Eccles before emerging at Korumburra before the highway run to Cowes on Phillip Island.
Peter Brock/Frank Kilfoyle were quickest losing 4 points. Equal second with 5 points was Bob Watson and Colin Bond,
followed by Stewart McLeod and Peter Janson, equal fourth on 7 points, Bob Holden with 6 points, Paul Older 7
points and David McKay 13 points.
Hermann/Bonhomme had a differential pack up in their Datsun 240Z and the car ran off the road as a result. They
dropped 1561 points to be second last on the night and falling from third to fourth, allowing Stewart McLeod/Adrian
Mortimer to take their place.
The Ransom/Cole Ford Escort ‘Birdcage’ lost a wheel, complete with axle, and they were stranded from some hours
but managed to get to the end control within their late time limit but they lost 1644 points. Alan Cameron lost time
stopping to assist them, a fine sporting gesture
Progressive results after Lakeland:
Bond 101, Herrmann 178, Brock 179 ½, McLeod 203, Older 255, McKay 279, Holden 289, Watson 354 1/2, Roxburgh
396
52
Friday night rally area
Place Car
No
Driver Time
Lost 1 11 Peter Brock 4
=2 12 Bob Watson 5
=2 14 Colin Bond 5
=4 7 Peter Janson 7
=4 13 Stewart McLeod 7
6 10 Bob Holden 8
7 6 Paul Older 9
8 9 David McKay 13
9 2 John Roxburgh 16
10 32 Ron Row 17
11 29 Jack Murray 18
=12 18 Jim Sullivan 22
=12 23 Ian Wallace 22
14 21 Keith Goodall 23
15 19 Erl Calver 24
16 33 Allan Cameron 26
17 17 Allan Hogan 34
18 24 Brenda Haigh 41
19 26 Carolynn Wallace 54
20 3 Edgar Herrmann 1561
21 37 Sue Ransom 1644
Phillip Island Raceway
And so, the scene was set for the final competition of the event on the Saturday - a 20 lap race around the grueling
and unforgiving 5.3 kilometre Phillip Island circuit.
Phillip Island Circuit
Progressive results at end of the Friday night competition:
Bond 111, Brock 183 ½, McLeod 221, Herrmann 258, McKay 311, Holden 313, Watson 364, Roxburgh 392, Wallace
498, Cameron 538, Ransom 558, Goodall 562, Sullivan 623, Murray 669, Row 694, Hogan 724, Calver 727, Haigh
703, Wallace 891, Janson 5458.
53
David McKay was in his element and showed just what the Capri could do given its head. In practice he was fastest
with 2 min 04.2 sec, followed by Peter Brock on 2:08.5 and Colin Bond on 2:09.7. Then a gap to Paul Older on 2:14.3,
Stewart McLeod 2:15.3 and Peter Janson 2:17.4.
The Capri won convincingly with a race time of 42:32.9, lapping every competitor. It was a sight to behold and the
magnificence of that drive lives in the memory of those who saw it. Colin Bond and Peter Brock followed (both on
42:53.0), Stewart McLeod 43:51.7, Edgar Herrmann 43:58.5, Paul Older 44:43.1 - all on 19 laps.
1st =2nd =2nd 4th
20 laps David McKay
20 laps 42:32.9
Colin Bond
19 laps 42:53.0
Peter Brock
19 laps 42:53.0
Stewart McLeod
19 laps 43:51.7
Keith Goodall failed to complete practice when the bearings went on his long-suffering Ford Falcon GTHO and he
seemed a non-finisher at the last moment. However, he cut his leather belt into bearing size strips, fitted them into the
big ends, clamped up and away the big car went and he arrived at the finish just as the proceedings completed, and
he finished 13th overall. Paul Older left the track briefly when a tyre went flat and he scored a stone through the
windscreen. He pitted to wait out the race and then limped over the finish line to take the flag and be a finisher. Erl
Calver flattened a tyre and couldn’t make it back to the pits. Peter Janson pitted after 14 laps and managed to return
for the last lap to be a finisher.
20 LAPS
Place Car
No
Driver No
Laps
Group A
Time
Group B
Time 1 9 David McKay 20 42:32.9
=2 14 Colin Bond 19 42:53.0
=2 11 Peter Brock 19 42:53.0
4 13 Stewart McLeod 19 43:51.7
5 3 Edgar Herrmann 19 43:58.5
6 2 John Roxburgh 19 44:43.1
7 10 Bob Holden 18 42:55.0
8 12 Bob Watson 18 42:58.8
9 37 Sue Ransom 18 43:01.0
10 33 Allan Cameron 17 43:45.6
11 17 Allan Hogan 17 42:49.9
12 23 Ian Wallace 17 43:10.6
13 29 Jack Murray 17 43:20.7
14 18 Jim Sullivan 16 43:06.0
15 24 Brenda Haigh 16 43:25.6
16 32 Ron Row 16 44:11.7
17 26 Carolynn Wallace 16 44:15.9
18 7 Peter Janson 14 44:00.6
19 6 Paul Older 4 44:37.6
20 19 Erl Calver 13 DNF
21 21 Keith Goodall 0 DNS
The Finish to the Dulux Rally - Melbourne
The final drive was to the finish at Dallas Brooks Hall in Melbourne, followed by the Gala Presentation and Cabaret
Night at the same location.
Stewart McLeod/Adrian 'Grubby' Mortimer at the finish
54
The 1972 Dulux Rally has long been remembered and discussed warmly by those who contested it, officiated in it and
reported on it. It proved, yet again, that Australians had the resourcefulness to conceive an idea, develop it and make
it work. It is a pity that the event did not continue for, as Edgar Herrmann said at the presentation, the ‘Dulux’ had all
the makings of a fine international event and pointed out that there was nothing in the world quite like the event and
this uniqueness alone could prove a strong attraction to international entrants and drivers.
But it was not to be and its demise allowed the Southern Cross International Rally to continue and become one of the
sport’s major international events.
FINAL RESULTS
Outright
1 Colin Bond/George Shepheard Holden Torana XU1 115 pts
2 Peter Brock/Frank Kilfoyle Holden Torana XU1 188 ½
3 Steward McLeod/Adrian Mortimer Holden Torana XU1 229
4 Edgar Herrmann/Roger Bonhomme Datsun 240Z 268
5 Paul Older/Brian McElhinney BMW 2002 313
6 Bob Holden/John Dawson-Damer Ford Escort TC 320
7 David McKay/Garry Connelly Ford Capri RS2000 327
8 Bob Watson/Jeff Beaumont Renault 12 Gordini 380 ½
9 John Roxburgh/Mike Mitchell Datsun 180B SSS 404
10 Ian Wallace/Warwick Smith Holden Torana XU1 522
11 Allan Cameron/Peter Mill Holden Torana XU1 558
12 Sue Ransom/Christine Cole Ford Escort TC 576
13 Keith Goodall/Joe Kearney Ford Falcon GTHO 604
14 Jim Sullivan/Gary Clarke Ford Cortina GT 651
15 Jack (‘Milko’) Murray/Brian McIlvenna Holden Torana XU1 695 ½
16 Ron Row/Bob Johns Ford Cortina TC 726
17 Allan Hogan/Bryan Liersch Ford Escort TC 746
18 Earl Calver/Norm Syme Ford Escort TC 767
19 Brenda Haigh/Gwen Dunlop Holden Torana XU1 833
20 Carolynn Wallace/Cheryl Schmiedte Holden Torana XU1 925 ½
21 Peter Janson/Peter Waring-Smith Holden Torana XU1 5494
Classes Class 1 -
Car 10
Bob Holden/John Dawson-Damer
Ford Escort TC
Class 2 - Car 14 Colin Bond/George Shepheard Holden Torana XU1
Class 3 - Car 6 Paul Older/Brian McElhinney BMW 2002
Class 4 - Car 3 Edgar Herrmann/Roger Bonhomme Datsun 240Z
Class 5 - Car 18 Jim Sullivan/Garry Clarke Ford Cortina GT Class 6 - Car 13 Stewart McLeod/Adrian Mortimer Holden Torana XU1
Director's Trophies
Most Improved Clubman Driver
Allan Cameron - worked his car from 18th to 11th outright to be the first of the 'non-recognised' drivers
Best Sporting Act
Stephen and Arthur Taylor - despite the bitter disappointment of being out of the event in the first
competitive activity, this crew gave Jack Murray their car's clutch, stripping it from their car and placing it in
Murray's car - all in continuous rain and approaching darkness.
Did Not Finish
No Crew Vehicle Day Reason
4 Bruce Hodgson/Fred Gocentas Ford Escort TC 5 engine
20 Garry Cooke/Bruce Cheeseman Mazda R100 4 engine
25 Chas Lund/Murray Coote Mazda RX3 3 engine
27 Jon Leighton/Brian Ellery Morris Cooper S 8 retired
31 Stephen Taylor/Arthur Taylor Holden Torana XU1 1 engine
34 Arch Shearer/Brian Mepham Mazda Capella RE 2 engine