They say it’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings’ and while Victoria’s David (Dinta) and Kate Officer in their diminutive 1970 Mitsubishi Colt Galant still hold a handsome lead of nearly six minutes over the remnants of the 2008 Red Centre to Gold Coast Trial field, they will not be celebrating in Goondiwindi tonight with two tough stages to go before the Broadbeach Gold Coast finish tomorrow.
Event organiser Bob Watson from the outset promised competitors in the 7,600 torture Trial a ‘sting in the tail’ and the aptly named ‘Fat Lady Sings’ 37th and final stage near Warwick should prove to be just that.
However it will take something special at this stage of the event to prevent the Officers from retaining the lead they have held since Day 2 of the 11-day Trial.
Today’s four timed competitive stages between Bourke and Goondiwindi saw no major changes in the overall leader board, although the second-placed 1975 Datsun 260Z crew of Graeme Alexander and David Stewart pegging the Officers’’ lead back by nearly two minutes. But, as Alexander noted, the Officers were obviously taking no risks with the potential of their first Round Australia victory just a day away.
Currently rusted in third place is the 1971 Datsun P510 of NSW’s Mike Batten and Steuart Snooks, which was the fastest car in the field over the first three of today’s four stages, but finished Leg 8 still nearly six minutes behind Alexander and Stewart.
Only 28 of the 70 starters in Alice Springs more than a week ago have completed all stages of the Trial and 46 cars are expected to make the Broadbeach finish tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s first stage is a lap of the Goondiwindi off-road track and after the final ‘Fat Lady Sings’ stage, the field will head for the Carrara Football ground to regroup before the formal finish at Broadbeach,
The first cars are expected at Carrara from 1.00pm, with the cars setting off at one-minute intervals for the formal finish in Victoria Square at Broadbeach Mall from 3.15pm.
The cars will officially finish at Broadbeach from 3.30pm, after which they will be on display to the public for a brief period in nearby Kurrowa Park, adjacent to the Kurrowa Life Saving Club.
The event’s formal presentation dinner will be held at the Royal Pines Resort tomorrow evening (Saturday).
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