Stewart Reid and Iain Stewart have dominated the International Rally of Queensland by taking out both heats of the Classic Competition at the International Rally of Queensland.
Reid, with the coveted number 1 position, was never headed during the weekend. Eleven Classics were entered, but last minute changes saw Jeff David in the Porsche withdraw.
The Classic field was a mix of 4,6 and 8 cylinder vehicles with a Falcon, Commodore and a very rare V8 Capri Perana.
Friday:
Cars assembled at the Rally show in the Caloundra Industrial Estate for the start of competition. There was drama early on for Dave Thompson when, at the Media activities held in the morning, he clouted an electricity pole, damaging the rear quarter panel.
Thousands viewed the Classic cars on display, with cars in immaculate condition – many with sandwich boards presenting history of the cars and crew.
Competition started at 7pm and it was Stewart Reid in the Historic Rallysport RS1800 setting the pace, with Keith Fackrell second in his Eaton Yale replica RS1800. Richard Galley in the Datsun 260Z was third.
Second time around and Reid shaved 6.5 seconds off his previous time taking the lead into the forestry stages, but it was David Hills in the RS1600 who took the stage win from Chris Harbeck in a Celica.
Saturday:
A fine sunny day dawned and Classics lead away the 93 strong field. Reid won the opening stage from Galley and Ross Dunkerton in the rebuilt RS1800, resplendent in new red livery. Dunkerton had only finished the rebuild hours before the start and had no opportunity to test the car.
Wayne Hoy, in a Datsun 180B, stopped with engine failure and Dunkerton’s third place during the day's stages came to an abrupt end when the steering rod broke over a deep washaway.
Spectators were kept entertained all day with multiple passes of the spectator park with Barry Lowe and Dave “Thomo” Thompson covering all and sundry with Mary valley dust.
Leg 2 started at 6:45pm with the Caloundra Hella shootout and it was Reid in the Escort fastest with the thundering Falcon second fastest.
Sunday:
Crews were up at the crack of dawn to start the final day of competition and Reid was fastest again on the opening test. Richard Galley cemented his second place overall and Keith Fackrell backed up in third in his RS1800.
Lowe, in the V8 Commodore, managed to slip into third place on the next stage, relegating Fackrell to fourth with the flying Lowe taking seconnd fastest on the Andrew Dodkins Reverse stage. Both David and John Hills suffered with rear axle problems but were able to have them repaired at the afternoon service.
Stewart Reid was the class act of the weekend. His car ran faultlessly, setting times that would have seen him finish seventh outright in the ARC and the APRC!
The next round of ACRA’s Front of Field Classics is Scouts Rally SA from July 29 to 31.
Final Results:
1. REID/STEWART, Ford Escort, 02:12:33.5 1
2. GALLEY/NEARY, Datsun 260Z, 02:15:01.5 2
3. LOWE/PEARL, Holden Commodore, 02:27:28.1
4. FACKRELL/STANFORD, Ford Escort RS, 1800 02:30:10
5. HARBECK/BLAKE, Toyota Celica, 02:40:14.4
6. DARROUZET/REEVES, Ford Capri Perana, 02:40:49.2
7. HILLS/TUCKEY, Ford Escort MK1, 02:44:25.0
8. THOMPSON/SANDERS, Ford XY GT, (‐2) 02:45:59.7
9. HILLS/BENNETT, Ford Escort MK1, (‐2) 03:00:20
- Full access
- Exclusive news
- Store & Tour discounts
