The Akademos, organised by the Melbourne University Car Club and directed by Michael Morrissey, was held on May 20.
1989 Victorian Rally Championship Round 4
Round four of the VRC was the Akademos Rally which is traditionally run in east Gippsland. Whilst low on numbers, the 1989 field was high quality with an engrossing battle between a number of competitive crews.
Two daylight divisions were followed by one night division. Winners of the second round, Geoff Portman and Swampy Marsh, charged from the start but arrived at the first control from the wrong direction, putting an end to their victory challenge.
Glen Cuthbert / Peter Gale suffered gearbox troubles and retired early.
The Nixon brothers, Dean and Trevor from Tatura, were fresh from their recent success in the Alpine Rally. They set a frantic pace in the lead, before impaling their Subaru on a big stump.
Going into the long night Division, the leaders were the Escort of Neilson / Parsonson from the Datsun 1600 of Fraser / Wilson, just ahead of Pat Barber / Jim Maude in the Laser and Fyfe / Bashford.
However, the leading two crews both crashed out of the rally on the first night section. The Escort rolled onto its side and the Datsun hit a stump and lost a wheel. This gave the lead to Barber / Maude but they suffered electrical problems slowing their progress.
Fyfe / Bashford were then struggled to hold their inherited lead due to rear shock absorber problems. The Escorts of Grant Walker and Greg Hoinville entered into a desperate chase to catch and pass Peter Fyfe and Gerry Bashford.
At the end of the last section, the two Escorts were tied to the second for first place and just ahead of the unlucky Mazda. Amazing, just five seconds separated the top three placegetters after 170 kms of competitive rallying! It was a emotional win for Hoinville in a barrowed car after his Escort had been written off in unfortunate accident at the end of the Alpine.