The Otway Trial was held on March 15.
VCS Round 2 – 1975 WDCC Otway Trial
In contrast to the first round of the Clubman series, the 1975 Otways was held in very wet conditions, with 39 starters and 27 finishers. Run by the Western District Car Club, the rally was directed by Laurie Sorahan, Clive Tippett and Rod Cowley.
Incessant rain created numerous problems, including two impassable sections which caused delays and halted others, creating a shortened event. Starting position ended up having a significant impact on the results with some series favourites starting towards the back and being held up by less experienced bogged cars.
From the start at Burtons Lookout, the route led up to Barrongarook, then onto the Ayre Valley plantation. At Division end and break at Forrest, Bell / Harrison led from Mills / Burt, Fletcher / Brett in the little Colt, then Lobban / Adams in a Datsun 1600.
The non-stop rain led to the deletion of the first five sections of the second division, around Benwerrin area.
After the event got going again, Bob Phillips / Ross Runnalls got their Corolla heavily bogged. Then Willet / Watson blew their Clutch in their Renault trying to get out of an adjacent bog.
After leading at the first Division end, Bob Bell / Graham ‘shorty’ Harrison in their Escort took a wrong turn and ended up severely bogged at the bottom of Delaney’s Track.
Despite an intermittent engine miss, the Torana GTR of Kevin Mills and Barry Burt scored an impressive victory under the shortened conditions.
Slipping into second place was the little Colt Fastback, followed by a couple of Peugeots.
