The Akademos Rally was held on May 30.
1970 VTC Round 2 – MUCC Akademos Rally
Bob Watson and Jim McAuliffe continued their fine form by winning the second round of the Victorian Championship, the Akademos Rally.
The event attracted another bumper 64 entries but was somewhat spoilt by continual rain in the days preceding the rally. In fact only a handful of cars completed the full course within their late time limit. It started at Noojee with a straightforward run up to Tanjil Bren. From Morgans Hill the field ran to Collins Siding where David Forster’s Cortina GT shed a rear wheel due to broken studs.
The Holden Dealers Team Torana GTR of Tony Roberts / Mike Osborne strongly challenged the leaders until they heavily bogged near Rosedale.
Despite drizzle and fog patches, the run to Walhalla was clean sheeted by two crews, being the ultimate winners and Peter Robertson in the Cortina GT. Immediately after, Robertson’s throttle cable snapped and they lost time undertaking repairs.
Bob McInnes was revelling in his Cooper S and came out leader on the next slippery section. John Armitage and Robin Sharpley were having ongoing fuel starvation issues which eventually led to the retirement of their new Torana GTR.
A hard-to-find control on a deviation around the shores of Glenmaggie Reservoir caused grief for many crews although most of the top navigators found the right spot quickly.
The last control into Heyfield involved three flooded creek crossings but most got through without trouble.
The third Division was a simple five-control loop from Seaton via Licola, Mt Selma, Aberfeldy and back to Seaton. Then finally from Heyfield back to the finish at Noojee via the muddy Collins Siding.
A full report appeared in Racing Car News.
A brief report appeared in June Unicar.
