With the timely release of Dunkerton’s aptly named biography, Dunko, he will be sure to attract plenty of attention. Rally organiser, Stephen Davies, says that a raft of top line drivers have entered, intent in knocking ‘Dunko’ from his mantle.
In fact, five other crews in BDAs have shown a huge interest in competing against their old and skilful adversary. Local Lismore character, Ed ‘Hooligan’ Mulligan, is also tipped to enter his version of the forest racing machine, along with Stewart ‘The Flying Scotsman’ Reid from Brisbane.
The BDA Escorts with their throaty engine noise and forest arch flares became legendary during the mid to late 70’s when they were the fastest cars in the World Rally Championship and driven to the edge by such legends as Ari Vatanen, Colin Bond and Greg Carr. These cars today, with the advances in technology, are actually faster than originally raced all those years ago and will be certain to entertain at this year’s event.
Clerk of the Course Davies says: “Grunter Datsuns, a Leyland TR8 V8, and rRotary Mazdas are just a few of the other classic cars being entered. If you think there is rivalry between Ford and Holden then wait till you witness the battle between the Escorts and these other contenders to the crown of fastest Classic.”
Of course there are plenty of other crews entering in the modern section of the event. Ford and Holden will still do battle and there will be a horde of Mitsubishi and Subaru turbo charged all-wheel drives competing in the Queensland Rally Championship.
Why run the Queensland Rally Championship in northern NSW?
“Simple answer,” says Davies. “The roads down here are legendary and the support from the locals is fantastic.”
This particular rally has been run by the Gold Coast Tweed Motorsporting Club in the Border Ranges region since 2006 and for over 30 years prior around Murwillumbah. Davies claims the region gains a lot from these events, with crews reserving accommodation and the local community groups selling food and beverages at all the rally service centres. Both Kyogle and Woodenbong Showgrounds have been booked for the weekend of the rally.
The rally starts at the Kyogle Showgrounds Friday night, August 24, with a Super Special Stage. Saturday morning, gravel stages will be run near Kyogle, followed by Woodenbong and Urbenville, before two night tarmac stages in Woodenbong. The event is spectator friendly with some of the best viewing points from the 2009 WRC.
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