Welcome to the 2007 Alpine Rally.
Greetings Alpine Competitors
I was intending to write at some length about the event, but due to a lack of motivation (happens every year around this time) and several other projects, I'll save it for a later HRA magazine.
Our thanks to all the competitors and officials that were involved who enabled the event to take place.
The presentation night will be the first HRA meeting of 2008 at the East Malvern RSL, Stanley Grose Drive, East Malvern (Melways 60 A12) on Wednesday 13 February 2008. The meeting will start at 8:00pm with the presentation starting at about 8:15pm. Dinner if required is available from 6:30pm. Park in the car park opposite as some of the surrounding streets are resident permit parking only.
If you are unable to attend, please let us know by replying to this email or by calling (03) 9879 4107. As there is a long list of trophies, this will save us the trouble of unwrapping your trophy and then having to pack it away again. If you can attend, just turn up. Or you can send a proxy.
Stuart Lister
The list of trophy recipients is here
C of C - Stuart Lister -president@hra.org.au
General enquiries to: Event Secretary - Glen McAliece secretary@alpinerally.org.au
Roads enquiries to: Assistant CoC - Andrew Roberts road_director@alpinerally.org.au
Sponsorship, Marketing & Media enquiries to: Ph:0408037505 Owen Polanski marketing@alpinerally.org.au
Entry enquiries to: Gary Hodgkiss - alpine.entries@alpinerally.org.au
Autobarn Bairnsdale - Autobarn is Australia's largest franchise retailer of quality automotive aftermarket accessories, spare parts, car audio and security systems. Come in to 207 Main St Bairnsdale and see Val & the staff for all your Autobarn needs.
Lovells Springs have provided the suspension for Australia 's trains, trucks and passenger cars for 75 years, and export to the four corners of the globe. From induction hardened wire coils for competition cars and bikes to suspension springs for the largest locomotives in the world, Lovells is unmatched in the breadth of its spring making capability. They are pleased to offer a $250 cash prize for first “Alpine Rookie” crew (driver & navigator) home in the Alpine in 2007.
Alpine Rally 1977 - Bob Watson
1977 was the year that Nissan finally won the Southern Cross Rally, after many frustrating years of being beaten by the flying Mitsubishis of Andrew Cowan. Rauno Aaltonen and Jeff Beaumont won, with Harry Kallstrom second. I finished third in a Gerry Ball run single cam Datsun 710, with Peter Godden co-driving. The car was built by John Bosua from bits he scrounged after the twin cam factory cars were built. Good mechanic, John.
Nissan were very happy with our result, because we kept Kenjiro Shinozuka's Lancer back in fourth place. As a reward, they gave Gerry Ball the Datsun P210 twin cam 1600 (now owned by Rob Dyer), that had been driven in the Cross by Shekhar Mehta, to run in the Alpine. The car had run in the ‘Cross in East African Safari spec, and we soon found the suspension was much too hard for Australian conditions. After changing springs and shocks the car was vastly improved, with much better traction, although it was always going to be down on power, being only 1600cc's.
Colin Bond's Escorts had bombed out in the Southern Cross, but they were the cars to beat in 1977. Greg Carr soon took the lead in the Alpine and was leading Bond, with myself and Wayne Gregson hanging on in third place, but steadily losing ground to the Escorts. Our cause was not helped by numerous punctures with the Kleber tyres we were using, which were very soft and had great traction, but were quite weak in the sidewalls.
That Alpine (and I have done many of them) was particularly hot and exhausting. Changing flat tyres at regular intervals did not help much. At service breaks I would drink litres of fluid while the service crew replaced the Klebers, but never felt like having a leak. I think I was very close to heat exhaustion.
We were still holding third on Sunday, with the Fords comfortably ahead. Then, with only the last few stages to go, Greg Carr had electrical problems and Bond stopped to assist. This let us in to the lead. I had won the Alpine in 1970 and had numerous other podium placings, and the prospect of another win was a real adrenalin rush
There was a thirty km stage, a transport, and then another short stage to the finish. Knowing that Carr would probably get going again, I was driving the crap out of the little Datsun, like a jockey who has just hit the lead in the Melbourne Cup on the 200/1 outsider. The car had run beautifully all event except for the numerous punctures, so it was just a matter of driving it as hard as I could to the finish.
Then, half way through the 30 km stage, we lost all drive. I poked around, trying various gears, but there was nothing. It turned out that the centre of the flywheel had broken away, so we weren't going anywhere. Wayne and I got out of the car, completely buggered and deflated, and lay on the grass beside the road. After what seemed like ages, Carr came storming past, oblivious to the fact that we had stopped. Later he said he had not even seen the Datsun by the side of the road, he was trying so hard.
Carr won. We had used 36 Klebers for the event, were leading very close to the finish, and achieved nothing. The Alpine can certainly be a test of character.
There was an interesting sequel. Howard Marsden who was managing the Nissan rally team agreed to a request from Gerry Ball to provide a twin cam 2 litre factory engine which Gerry wanted to install in the P 210. What a rocket that would have been!
The problem was, Howard realised on reflection that the car would be capable of beating the factory P710s fitted with the same engine. He reneged on the engine deal, and Gerry, furious with Nissan, hid the P210 so that Nissan could not take it back. It was many years later that it re-surfaced and passed into Rob Dyer's hands.
More pics and stories here
623 Princes Hwy , Bairnsdale VIC 3875
***** Greetings Alpine Competitors
Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control, merchandise will not be available for collection at Official Scrutiny on Saturday. We have been assured by our supplier that it will arrive next week and be available at Event Documentation.
many of you will remember John Armitage of Autosport - Box Hill fame and one of the founders of Historic Rally Association. 30 years ago I had the pleasure of navigating for John in the 1977 Repco Alpine International in his Datsun 180B SSS. (amongst many other rallies).This Alpine started at Government House in Melbourne. John was mighty pleased when the car won the "Best Presented" Award; unfortunately we didn't finish (the diff gave up) but it was a great event run exactly 30 years ago to the day. See photographs of John's Datsun 180B SSS at the start (above) and in action(below)" Phil Rainer.
Alpine Rally 1977 - Bob Watson
Watson / Gregson Datsun P210 taken in 1977 Alpine.
Watson / Gregson Datsun P210 taken in 1977 Alpine.
More pics and stories here
'Rinoldi Pasta, manufacturers of the iconic Vetta Pasta brand are long time supporters of the Alpine Rally and HRA.'
"Hydraulink Bairnsdale, servicing the whole of East Gippsland, 24 hrs 7 days per week. Fast fix mobile hose repair, hydraulic ram rebuild & re-seal, supply and fitting of all hydraulic components & equipment with 2 mobile service trucks we are only a phone call away. Bairnsdale area call Mick on 0427 598 304 Lakes Entrance/Orbost are call Brian on 0447 598 304"
- Media coverage...>> here
A speciual thanks to Michael Bramble from MOTORSPORT MEMORIES for the Highlight video of 2007 Alpine...>> here
3 Generations at the Alpine...>> here
Media day huge success...>> here
19/11 - media release...>> more
18/11 - Teams and Service Awards...>> more
11/11 - Some more of the course...>> more
More history pics and stories...>> more
Alpine 2007 Merchandise...>> more
Gilberts Dirty Dozen...>> more
Merchandise - sizing and oder form details can be found at Spectator or Competitor/Officials pages
Alpine roads a treat - pics ...>> more
Accommodation Deals ...>> more
"All trailered up and ready for the Alpine!"
JHV 260. Probably one of the most famous Australian rally cars with a huge history. It was used by the Ford works team as a promo car and has had no less than 3 Bathurst winners and 2 Australian Rally Champions drive it at different events during the 80's It has also been a veteran of 2 Southern Cross Rallies
Ford Escort RS Group 4 Classic Rally Car
Driven by - Kevin Bartlett (2GO 1982) Dick Johnson (2GO Rally1984) Ed Mulligan (2GO1983), Ross Dunkerton and Jim Richards Toshiba Rally Sprint Canberra (1985) More recently by Neal Bates, media day 2005 ARC Rally of Bathurst. Also driven by John Berne in the 1979 and 1980 Southern Cross Rally
75 Alpine dust - Courtesy Phil Rainer
FABRICATIONS are the leading manufacturer of rollover protection, for all disciplines of motorsport, and can engineer, modify, strengthen and lighten your competition bodyshell to ensure you are fast and safe. We also fabricate custom accessories for your car in aluminium, Chrome-moly or mild steel and we are the Victorian agent for Performance Metals, Australias leading supplier of specialist tubing and sheetmetal. If you need motorsport fabrication help, you can contact us on 03 9587 7772 or visit us at www.rollcages.com.au
- where only the best roads have been chosen so as to ensure that as many crews as possible finish, provided they stay out of the scenery and don't suffer mechanical failure;
- where comradeship is more important than winning
- where we go “Rallying with Attitude” in the nicest possible sideways!
- where finishing is an achievement, rather than lamenting the seconds you lost here and there;
- where you will need to drive at a pace so your tyres and car will last
Gentle Annie Wines is proud to be a sponsor of the 2007 Alpine Rally. The vineyard is located in Dookie, on red-ochre Cambrian soils, producing super-premium Shiraz , Cabernet and Verdelho. The Cotter family founded the business in 1997, (Kate Cotter will be navigating in the event) and have produced award winning wines which are sold in Australia , Canada , Germany , Ireland and Singapore . For more information phone Kate Cotter on (03) 9670 3555 or visit www.gentle-annie.com.
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Beautiful Lakes Entrance, where the Lakes meet the sea and home to the world famous Ninety Mile Beach.
Lakes Entrance is only 310km from Melbourne and is a popular summer holiday destination for those travelling from Melbourne, Canberra or NSW. With plenty of fishing, wineries, swimming, boat cruises, wilderness walks and its close proximity to the mountains Lakes Entrance is an enchanting destination.
Why not arrive early in Lakes Entrance or stay later, treat your family to not only a fabulous rally but a family holiday as well.
The 2007 Alpine Rally Headquarters will again be at the Kalimna Hotel, Kalimna overlooking Lakes Entrance, and this year the event will visit Bellbird, Buchan, Bruthen, Nowa Nowa and Orbost – to name just a few locations.
The Alpine Rally – Rallying With Attitude!
The 2007 Alpine Rally is already shaping up to be Australia 's biggest club rally. Many past and present rally legends are lining up for a run in what will be a spectacular conclusion to this years' Australian rally calendar.
Based out of beautiful Lakes Entrance on the 24 th & 25 th November, this years Alpine Rally will travel through some of Victoria 's best rally roads. It will run as a day/night/day format comprising of 19 stages, covering more than 350 competitive kilometres.
The field of the last Alpine in 2005 included nine former Australian Rally Champions, ranging from 1970 winner, Bob Watson, through to 2004 Champion co-driver, Greg Foletta, and included a champion from every decade in between.
It also saw the return to rallying of twice Australian champion Geoff Portman in the awesome V8 Commodore, and just to prove he still had the ‘knack' won the event.
For all the latest news and exciting developments stay tuned to this website.
There will be a full Alpine Rally spectator guide available to download before the event.
The Alpine Rally is Australia 's oldest continually running rally and the second longest in the world next to the Monte Carlo rally. The Alpine is steeped in tradition, originally run by the RACV as a “car trial” up over Mt Hotham, the Alpine has worn various disguises but was arguably at its peak during the 1970s and 1980s when it was run as an Australian Rally Championship event.
During the late 1990s it experienced a hiatus as a trial and ran fairly sporadically until 2001 when Stuart Lister once again stepped up and the event experienced a renaissance.
The 2001 Alpine Rally surpassed all expectations, in that 83 competitors took part in the event which started in Lilydale and ran through to Bright, the traditional home of the Alpine.
The event was not without its dramas. Eight weeks prior to the event with all the road work finished and the course check completed, Hancock's Plantations refused permission for the event to run in their managed forests. Stuart and course checker Scott Mann spent 3 weekends and over 2000kms reworking the entire route.
The event ran and was an enormous success thanks to the hard work of Stuart Lister and his dedicated team.
Temporarily forgetting the pain of running the 2001 event he, again ran the event in 2003, but this time in Gippsland.
Determined to make the competitors “work” for their money, Lister incorporated a whopping 125km stage to test the true skill and endurance of all who dared to enter. Once again all HRA participation records were broken with 90 competitors lining up to take part.
2005 saw the event return to Gippsland and the Alpine's new home of Lakes Entrance, Stuart having stated publicly and privately that he wouldn't do it again, but after a bit of arm twisting he agreed, but just once again!
After 75 mil of rain during the week preceding the event, all the roads were looking fantastic, until the heavens opened on Friday evening, dumping a whopping 125 mil over the next 4 hours. Fortunately, the event was able to run with minor changes to avoid the wettest spots, and we greeted 87 cars to the start line.
Since the last event, a major restructure of the organizing committee has taken place, and on the back of a new title as Chairman, Stuart Lister has agreed to again head the team that will run the 2007 Alpine Rally.
Whilst retaining all the wonderful roads and locations visited during 2005, we have found even more new roads for competitors to enjoy, as well as some new and exciting spectator points.
And while we can give no guarantees of future Alpines, 2007 will certainly be one to remember, and will certainly uphold the tradition of the great events we all remember from previous years.