The Ye Olde BP Rally was the first of several events that sought to resurrect the tradition of the original BP Rallies that ran from 1958 to 1973. Organised by the Light Car Club of Australia, the event was directed by Peter Haas with assistance from Bob Watson. The course checkers were original BP Rally directors Don Thomson (DKT) and John Pryce. The event ran from Friday night November 30th to Sunday December 2nd.

BP Tradition Revived!

Ross Runnalls tells the story:

Six years after the final BP Rally of South Eastern Australia in 1973 a group of LCCA members headed by Director Peter Haas with assistant Bob Watson thought they should attempt to recreate a 1959 style BP Rally. Ye Olde BP Rallye would be shorter that the original at 1720 km and the only permitted maps would be Broadbents Western Half of Victoria (320) and 150 km Around Melbourne (301) with the organisers throwing in the occasional more detailed survey map from that era. The original flavour was bound to be preserved by checkers Don Thomson and John Pryce.

Preference was given to original BP competitors, and 33 obliged of the 57 strong entry, including representatives of seven past victorious crews.

The event started at 6pm on Friday 30 November from the Melbourne Zoo with a 100 km assembly stage to just south of Woodend. Division 1 took crews through Trentham forest, Taradale and Baynton to Heathcote BP. Portman/Runnalls, the young hotshots who had won the Alpine International Rally the year before were clean here to Gigney/Kelly 3 and Nalder/Richards/Richards 4.

Division 2 headed into the forests between Costerfield and Whroo on the way to Bendigo. Nalder/Richardsx2 were best on this division and moved into the lead on 8 to Portman/Runnalls 9 and McKinnon/Smith 22.

Division 3 included traditional locales of Tarnagulla, Moliagul, Lamplough and Waterloo to breakfast at Ararat. Nalder/Richards fell victim to Tarnagulla losing the lead to Portman/Runnalls who had moved from 52 at the start to first on the road by the time the sun had risen, while Harrowfield/Boyd moved into third position.

Division 4 to St Arnaud had to be shortened as crews were taking longer than planned to find their way. 13 crews cleaned so little change to the leaders.

Division 5 took tiring crews west into the southern Mallee to the overnight stop at Horsham. Nalder/Richards were best on the division, but Portman/Runnalls led on 23 to Nalder/Richards 69 and McPherson/Ellis 96.

The social gathering was not a lively affair as the 24 hour run had taken its toll on crews, but a good night’s rest meant all were eager to go again next morning on the final division through the Grampians then the Western District to the forests south of Ballarat and a final tricky section east of Mt Egerton. Nalder/Richards were again best for the division, but a total of 75 was not enough to catch Geoff Portman/Ross Runnalls on 35. Ellis/Maude snuck up into third position on 105.

Nine of the 57 starters failed to finish.

You may be able to view a short home video here.