The Invitation Rally was held on 10 February.
VCS Round 1 – 1973 HAC Invitation Rally
Jeff Beaumont tells the story….
It was a unusual for Grade 1 competitors being permitted to run in this Clubman Rally, with a car limit of 50 cars. Some unhappy Clubman competitors missed getting a run due to this limit. This situation should never happen again, with competitors wanting events dedicated to clubman crews only.
Directors Colin Turnbull and Laurie Comerford had set a rally consisting of 200 miles of dusty and in parts rough roads throughout north Gippsland. Noel Burley and members of the Maffra District Car Club also provided valued assistance, particularly manning the new “Quiet Zones”.
From the event ‘s traditional start at Ben Guzzardi’s Total Service Station in Traralgon, the rally ran by route chart through Cobbannah, Valencia Creek, Briagolong to Glenmaggie Weir. Bond / Richards in their first event in the Mark II Cortina lost an axle and wheel just before the division break, causing their retirement.
At the half way point Ross Turner / Ian Pearson were leading and they went on to ultimately finish a close second place, by just one point from Norm Wagner and Colin Campbell.
The second Division ran up to Walhalla, then to Willow Grove, before a long transport to breakfast at the Stamford Hotel in suburban Rowville.
