The Mountain Rally was held on 8 April. Jeff Beaumont tells the story:
VRC Round 3 – 1978 SCOCTCC Mountain Rally
Rex Muldoon and Noel Kelly scored a one point victory in the Mountain Rally, held in Gippsland under ideal weather conditions in early April. Directed by Robert Ellis on behalf of the Swinburne Car Club, the event attracted a full field of 45 starters.
The field headed north from the Maffra start towards Boisdale via a short, sharp stage in daylight. Then a run up the Boisdale Hillclimb, with the quickest being Chris and Simon Brown, from cameraman Ian Smith / Jim Maude and ultimate winners Rex Muldoon / Noel Kelly. The Hill claimed Norm Crofts who clipped a stump and broke a front wishbone.
After a meal break, crews headed to the Valencia Creek area but series leaders Warwick Smith / Paul Paterson were in trouble with time lost down a wrong road. Armitage and Rainer did likewise.
Before returning to Maffra, crews attempted a demanding 57 km loop north of Briagalong, where the attrition rate was severe. The Tassells broke a stub axle, Hugh Bell / Steve Hollowood lost their clutch and Ian and Noel Richards rolled off Insolvent Track. John Armitage rearranged his front end, then blew a head gasket, whilst Bob Bird and Peter Evans set quickest time in their Datsun 1600s.
At the Maffra break, the leaders were Bob Bird / Wayne Beaumont from Peter Evans / Chris Maniatakis and Muldoon / Kelly close behind. Last year’s Clubman Champions Jim Uttleymoore / Tony Boyd were running well in a close fourth place.
Division Two saw cars heading towards Seaton and Murderers Hill, followed by loops around Walhalla. On the 45 km run up to Walhalla , Gil Davis and Graham Toner were quickest in the HR Holden. On the 37 km run back to Walhalla, the Fitchers set quickest time.
The final stage of the night was a mammoth 150 km run over fast and twisty roads in the Mount Toorongo area, where the battle for the lead was intense, with the top handful of crews being covered by just a few points.