The North Central Trial was held on September 4.
It was round 5 of the VCS, organised by the Castlemaine Car Club and won by Bob Phillips and Ross Runnalls.
After a break of several months, the 1976 Clubman Series resumed with the North Central Trial.
The event was run in clear conditions, and featured three daylight stages in Moonlight Flat Plantation just outside of Castlemaine before the usual night stages. Some challenging goldfields roads and navigation were on offer on the night stages around Maryborough, Bendigo and Maldon.
Driving their Datsun 1600 to victory by a single point, Bob Phillips and Ross Runnalls took a commanding lead in the 1976 VCS. When the final round was cancelled, their series win was assured with only the Mideastern Rally to run.
Close behind were Chris and Simon Brown, also in a Datsun 1600, from Peter Corkran and Jim Maude in the Toyota Corolla just two points in arrears.
