1997 Victorian Rally Championship

Table of Contents

Series Regulations
Events
Outright Pointscores
Novice Pointscores
Class Awards

It was a dominant performance by Mike Reeves and Robin Smalley on the first three rounds of five on this year’s Victorian Rally Championship. Two wins and a second gave them an almost insurmountable points lead. Their closest challengers were Cody Crocker with Greg Foletta, and Graeme Wise with Ron Beekman. Wise’s hopes were dashed with an exclusion from the North Eastern. In the end, two new round winners emerged on the final two rounds, Ashlea James with Brendan Clough, and Phil Messer with Ian Fulton.

The Novice Award was closely fought with four different winners across the five rounds. Martin Grigg won the drivers award with a win and three seconds. His co-driver, Chris Tait, won the co-drivers award despite not entering the final round.

To see what else happened during 1997 in Victorian rallying, go to the 1997 year page.

To see other years of the Victorian Rally Championship, go to the VRC page.

Series Regulations

These were specified in the VRC Standing Regulations.

The VRC was made up exclusively of Special Stage events.

Eligible vehicles were PRC, Group N and HRC.

Awards were made for outright champions and Novice. There were also car class awards as follows: PRC 2WD up to 1300cc, PRC 2WD 1301-1600cc, PRC 2WD 1601-2000cc, PRC 2WD over 2000cc, PRC 4WD, Group N 2WD under 1300cc, Group N 1301-1600cc, Group N 1601-2000cc, Group N 2WD over 2000cc, Group N 4WD, Formula Commodore (a sub-class of PRC) and Historic Rally Cars.

Outright and Novice points were allocated 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 for first to tenth. Class points were allocated 9-6-4-3-2-1. Series Registration was introduced in 1994 and only registered competitors were eligible for points. However, bona fide Victorian competitors were automatically recognised as registered! Class awards required competitors to compete in at least 50% of the events.

Events

There were 5 VRC events this year. The Mount Gambier Rally was calendared as Round 2 but was cancelled.

Click on each event to see further details, including results:

Outright Pointscores

Outright Drivers Pointscores

Place	Driver	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Total
1	Mike Reeves	20	20	15			55
2=	Cody Crocker		15	20			35
2=	Phil Messer				15	20	35
4	Mark Fawcett		8	2	12	10	32
5	Graeme Wise		12	12			24
6	Peter Evans	8	½		10	5	23½
7=	Brian Semmens	12	2		8		22
7=	Graeme Gambold		10			12	22
9	Ashlea James				20		20
10	Chris Lowe	10				8	18
11=	Simon Evans	15					15
11=	Craig Morris					15	15
13	Graham Alexander			10			10
14	Richard McNay				6	3	9
15	David West			8			8
16	Brett Thomson		3	4			7
17=	Peter Whitten	6					6
17=	David Nutter		6				6
17=	Nick Whiteley		4		2		6
17=	Rob Devenish			6			6
21=	Rowan Quill Jr	2		3			5
21=	Ross Fraser					5	5
23=	Brad Beaverstock	4					4
23=	Ian Swan	3		1			4
23=	Barrie Crocker				4		4
26	Adam Wilson				3		3
27	Paul Mahony					2	2
28=	Murray Rogers	1					1
28=	Gerald Mammi				1		1
28=	Martin Grigg					1	1
31	Mark Roberst		½				½

Outright Co-Drivers Pointscores

Place	Co-driver	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Total
1	Robin Smalley	20	20	15			55
2=	Greg Foletta		15	20			35
2=	Ian Fulton				15	20	35
4	Tony Boyd		8	2	12	10	32
5	Rob Beekman		12	12			24
6	Kylie Evans	8	½		10	5	23½
7	Chris Randell		10			12	22
8	Brendan Clough				20		20
9	Richard Gay	10				8	18
10=	David Schneiders	15					15
10=	Jenny Cole					15	15
12	Dan Parry	12					12
13	David Stewart			10			10
14=	Rachel Bruty				8		8
14=	Tony Best			8			8
16	Rob Vanderee		3	4			7
17=	Felicity Nutter		6				6
17=	Greg Day	6					6
17=	Marty Watkins				6		6
17=	Peter Whiteley		4		2		6
17=	Stephen Kealey			6			6
22=	Ashley Fraser					5	5
22=	Michelle Canning	2		3			5
24=	David Vears	4					4
24=	Trevor Lansdown				4		4
24=	Val Swan	3		1			4
27=	Andrew McNay					3	3
27=	Jacqui Cole				3		3
29=	Mark Rodgers					2	2
29=	Paul King		2				2
31=	David Metzke					1	1
31=	Geoff Sheeran				1		1
31=	Ross Green	1					1
34	Susan Brick		½				½

Novice Pointscores

Novice Drivers Pointscores

Place	Driver	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Total
1	Martin Grigg	15	15	15		20	65
2	Adam Wilson	12	10		15	12	49
3	David Nutter	2	20	20			42
4	Barry Rowe	10	4	8	10	8	36 (40)
5	Glenn Secomb	8	12			15	35
6=	A. Kent	20					20
6=	Barrie Crocker				20		20
8	Brendon Lindsey	6	2	4	6		18
9	Ross Stapleton		8		8		16
10=	Mark Pedder			12			12
10=	Gerald Mammi				12		12
12=	Richard Fung			10			10
12=	Craig Dawson				4	6	10
12=	Sean O’Flynn					10	10
15=	M. Szutta		6				6
15=	Steve Blair			6			6
17=	D. Norman	4					4
17=	Dean Henthorn					4	4
19=	D. Horsely	3					3
19=	N. Lorraine		3				3
19=	R. Price				3		3
22	R. Verschur	1					1

Novice Co-Drivers Pointscores

Place	Co-driver	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Total
1	Chris Tait	15	15	15			45
2	Felicity Nutter	2	20	20			42
3	Grant Pearson	10	4	8	10	8	36 (40)
4	David Peterson	8	12			15	35
5	Jacqui Cole				15	12	27
6	A. Hunter	12	10				22
7=	Noel Insley	20					20
7=	Trevor Lansdown				20		20
7=	David Metzke					20	20
10=	John McLaughlin		2	4	6		12
10=	David Schneiders			12			12
10=	Geoff Sheeran				12		12
13=	A. Cunningham			10			10
13=	Brian Tiedemann				4	6	10
13=	Michael Twycross					10	10
16=	David Haddon		8				8
16=	Tony Borg				8		8
18=	Matt deVaus	6					6
18=	Damien Perkins		6				6
18=	Roger Pederson			6			6
21=	James Stewart	4					4
21=	D. Fiddes					4	4
23=	Mark Millar	3					3
23=	B. McNeil		3				3
23=	S. David				3		3
26	B. Verschut	1					1

Class Awards

PRC 2WD under 1300cc: Glenn Secomb / David Peterson, Honda Civic

PRC 2WD 1300-1600cc: Brian Semmens, Toyota Corolla TE37
Co-driver: not awarded

PRC 2WD 1600-2000cc: Adam Wilson, Toyota Celica RA40
Co-driver: Peter Whiteley (with Nick Whiteley)

PRC 2WD over 2000cc: Chris Lowe / Richard Gay, Holden Commodore VP V8

PRC 4WD: Mike Reeves / Robin Smalley, Mitsubishi Galant VR4 / Mitsubishi Lancer RSe3

Group N 2WD under 1300cc: not awarded

Group N 2WD 1301-1600cc: not awarded

Group N 2WD 1601-2000cc: not awarded

Group N 2WD over 2000cc: not awarded

Group N 4WD: Martin Grigg, Mitsubishi Lancer RSe3
Co-driver: Felicity Nutter (with David Nutter)

Formula Commodore: Chris Walters / Jamie Sargeant, Commodore VH

HRC: Brendon Lindsey / John McLaughlin, Alfa Romeo Guilia