The Myall Stages, round 4 of the NSW State Rally Championship attracted a quality field of 4WD turbocharged vehicles with the Mitsubishi Evolution vehicles providing the majority of entries. With the leading competitors present the battle at the head of the field was sure to keep all the crews on their toes.
With 10 competitive stages providing the competition crews were tested to the ultimate test of reliability and endurance. With vehicles timed to the second each stage proved to be critical with the lead changing on each stage.
John Mitchell/Jo Cadman in the Mitsubishi Evo 7, took the lead with sizzling times over the first 3 stages, holding a 1 second lead over the Coffs Harbour crew of Nathan Quinn/David Green, Mitshbishi Evo 9.
Peter Roberts/Sue South were taking time to settle into the car, being a new team, but were not far of the pace and were to prove that consistency would provide a much needed result at the end of the event.
Leading Newcastle team of Chris Giddins/Damian Grahame in the older Mitsubishi Evo 2 were showing that experience and a well sorted vehicle is still very much in the contest, until a flat tyre needed to be changed in Special Stage 3 dropping the crew from 3rd outright to 24. the team fought all day, setting stage time in the top half dozen to finish in 11th outright.
Young up and coming combination Timothy Wilkins/Kirrelee Gentleman continually placed in the top 10 stage times in their second event together, in a Mitsubishi Evo 3. Tim eventually brought the car home in a creditable 8th outright and is sure to be one to look out for during 2011.
Club member Michael Long finished in 4th outright in the lovely prepared Subaru Legacy, while Richard Houghton/Andrew Houghton were setting a steady pace in the WRX after a long and no doubt expensive re-build until the gearbox failed on SS9.
The final results for the Myall Stages State Championship rally were:
1. Nathan Quinn/David Green
2. John Mithchell/Jo Cadman
3. Peter Roberts/Sue South
Held in conjunction with the event was the Myall Lakes Rally. This event caters for the competitors that do not wish to compete at the state level and just have an ambition to compete against people that have just entered the sport.
The event was won by Matt Amos/Zoey Gillis in a Mitsubishi Evo 8. They were followed home by Toby Goldburg/ Craig Van Munster in a Nissan Silvia S13. This was Toby/Craig’s first event in the car and are sure to give more experienced crews a “run for there money” as they gain more experience behind the wheel.
Club members Adriana Pallister/Arron Casmiri had a great run in the mighty Nissan Micra.
The event would not be possible without the assistance of the Great Lakes Council, Bulahdelah Show Society, Bulahdelah Bowling Club, Forests NSW, National Parks and Wildlife and NSW Police Service who all provide the necessary permissions and provide facilities for the competitors and the
Nissan Datsun Drivers’ Club the organisers of the Myall Stages and Myall Lakes Rally.
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