What happens to old rally cars after they’ve passed their use-by date?
Those cars that no longer fit into today’s regulations, those that are no longer fast enough, or cars that are becoming far too valuable to rally competitively?
Until now many are simply pushed into a shed and left to gather dust. Often they are neglected by their owners, partially stripped down with the intention of giving them a full rebuild one day, or parked in a corner of a shed and out of sight, their past victories all but totally forgotten.
But there has to be an opportunity to bring them out of the woodwork and put these old rally cars on display for all the world to see.
In Europe and the UK there’s a group long established called “Slowly Sideways” that caters for just these sorts of rally cars. At least once a year the lucky owners bring their old rally cars out of storage and drive them as they were intended to be driven – in competition – at a certain venue, or just proudly displayed.
Many of the European cars are Group B machines that can no longer compete, so putting them on display is the next best thing. Typical vehicles include Group 4 Escorts, Lancia Deltas, Peugeot 205 T16,
Toyota GT4, Fiat 131, Lancia Stratos, Audi Quattro – the list goes on.
Stuart Bowes is expected to have at least two of his classic rally cars on display.
And now a group of Australian enthusiasts are planning on running a similar rally day early in 2019.
Already the wheels are in motion, and it’s not surprising that there is a growing list of eligible vehicles from as far back as the past 50 years, the owners of which are dead keen to be involved.
Likely “Aussie” possibles include ex-works Morris Cooper S, R8 Gordini, Torana XU1, ex-London – Sydney Falcons, Greg Carr’s Alfa Romeo GTV6 and RS1800 Escort, Renault Alpine A110, Sierra Cosworth, Subaru Imprezas, Mitsubishi Evos, numerous Datsun 1600s and so on.
Plans are underway to hold this display event in conjunction with an optional khanacross at Avalon in Melbourne’s western suburbs on April 7, 2019.
More details will be available during the next few months.
In the meantime, interested rally car owners are urged to contact Amy Jane Cranston (0414 560 688), Paul Mollison (0407 272 646) or Alan Baker on 0407 313 128.
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