The George Derrick Memorial Trial was held on 15 August.
1970 VTC Round 4 – CCRMIT George Derrick Memorial Trial
Bob Watson / Jim McAuliffe notched up their fourth consecutive VTC win with a 19 point victory in the 300 mile Derrick, which was well directed by Tom Cox, Tom Seymour and Norm Beckman.
Thirty four crews started at Greendale near Ballan and headed north west with a quick section to Spargo Creek. A lengthy transport took the crews onto the new Creswick map, for a couple of tricky sections, then to the break at Maryborough.
Watson, Alexander and Robertson were leading from Richard Creed / Bill Philip and new combination Gil Davis / Mike Osborne, with Geelong’s Rex Lunn and John Hall close behind.
The second stage combined quick times with tricky navigation and very few cleaned. Matt Philip with Mike Mitchell were in fine form in the challenging conditions.
Next came one of the most expensive controls, with four vias and a few unmapped roads in the Dunolly – Moliagul Forest. David Cuthbert / Andy Chapman were one of the stars in these most difficult conditions.
Watson and Robertson cleaned the 25 minute run up to the deserted gold mine at Kingower. Then the field headed west and across to Bealba on two “secret” sections before returning to Maryborough.
The final stages utilised the wetter parts of the Creswick map and Daylesford’s sloppy forests. The 30 minute slide through Newbury and Yankee Road took points off almost everyone before the muddied cars finally arrived at a campfire finish near Bullengarook with light snow falling.
A full report appeared in Racing Car News.
A report appeared in September Unicar.
