1998 Victorian Rally Championship

This year’s VRC was closely fought with five different winners across the six rounds. Going into the final round Craig Morris and Jenny Cole (Galant) held a slender lead over Phil Messer and Rachel Bruty (Lancer), with Novice driver Scott Pedder (also Lancer) mathematically still in the running. Morris and Cole took the Begonia win by 24 seconds from Messer and Bruty to secure the championship. Pedder placed third on the final round, and third in the championship, a sign of things to come the next year. He would go on to win the next two Victorian Championships and eventually an Australian Rally Championship.

The Novice award was dominated by Steve Poore in his Subaru Legacy, taking three wins and two seconds. He had two different co-drivers who subsequently finished first and second in the award with Matt Birchall coming out on top. Interestingly, Scott Pedder was Novice driver this year and potentially would have won the Novice award but for his choice to team up with a couple of non-Novice classified co-drivers.

To see what else happened during 1998 in Victorian rallying, go to the 1998 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, but we don’t have a copy. They are assumed to be similar to previous years, but apparently had the addition of a class for Group A cars.

The VRC was made up exclusively of Special Stage events.

Eligible vehicles were PRC, Group N, Group A 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, Group A and Historic Rally Cars. It appears that Formula Commodore was dropped.

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 6 VRC events this year. The Djerriwarrh Rally was cancelled but the Begonia was revived in its place. It appears that this was the first time that an event, the Rally of Melbourne, counted as two separate events, Heat 1 and Heat 2, but with half points for each heat.

Click on each event for full details and results.

  1. Rally in the Valley (FFCC)
  2. Strzelecki Stages (CerbCC)
  3. Goulburner Rally (SDCC)
  4. Rally of Melbourne (also ARC)
  5. North Eastern Rally (NECC)
  6. Begonia Rally (BLCC)

Outright Pointscores

Outright Drivers Pointscores

PlaceDriverR1R2R3R4R5R6Total
1Craig Morris15201262073 (76½)
2Phil Messer2015121567½
3Scott Pedder126121242
4Graham Alexander152035
5Brett Thomson101525
6Graeme Gambold20424
7Rob Davis128222
8Spencer Lowndes2020
9=Martin Grigg64818
9=Mark Rodgers81018
11Simon Evans1515
12=Brian Semmens41014
12=Steve Poore224614
14=Mark Fawcett1013½
14=David Nutter10½313½
16Danny Murphy11011
17Peter Evans819
18Rob Devenish88
19Ross Fraser617
20Sam Vaughan336
21Geoffrey Full55
22=Tom Quill44
22=Michael Morris44
24Graeme Wise33
25=David Rowe
25=Ian Swan
27=Darren Crozier112
27=David Stannus22
29=Nick Whiteley11
20=Ashlee James11

Outright Co-Drivers Pointscores

PlaceCo-driverR1R2R3R4R5R6Total
1Jenny Cole15201262073 (76½)
2Rachel Bruty2015121567½
3David Stewart152035
4Rob Vanderee101525
5Chris Randell20424
6Claire Parker2020
7=Mark Pedder12618
7=Craig Rodgers81018
7=Chris Tait64818
10Sue Evans1515
11Colin Elliott12214
12Tony Boyd1013½
13=Stella Plenderleith1212
13=Paul Humm1212
15Ross Lilley11011
16Felicity Nutter10½10½
17David Leoncini1010
18Kylie Evans819
19=Stephen Kealey88
19=Robin Smalley88
19=Matt Birchall268
22Ashley Fraser617
23Mario Pirotta246
24Val Swan3
25Graeme Jesse55
26=Geoff Floyd44
26=David Gallacher44
26=Dan Parry44
29=Simon Pollock33
29=Roslyn Martin33
29=Greg Foletta33
32Tracey Dewhurst
33=Sue McCready112
33=Rob Beekman22
35=Peter Whiteley11
35=Michelle Crozier11

Novice Pointscores

Novice Drivers Pointscores

PlaceDriverR1R2R3R4R5R6Total
1Steve Poore10151520202090 (100)
2Brett Comber48151542
3Scott Pedder202040
4Craig Dawson12112631
5Shane Smith671225
6Sam Vaughan32023
7Mark Seltin12½1022½
8Andrew Pannam410418
9David Schneiders61016
10Terry Trewern1515
11=Ben Reidy1212
11=Scott Innes1212
11=Brendon Lindsey23712
11=Neil Pollard1212
15Shawn Urquart1010
16=Craig Jarvie88
16=Derrick de Vries88
16=Shaun Carstairs88
16=Jeff Cameron88
16=Peter Montgomery268
21I. Begley
22Carl Brewer1
23David Hecker66
24Dale Baxter44
25=Carl Stewart33
25=Alan How33
27=Ross Stapleton22
27=Stephen Raymond22
27=David Stewart22
30Ron Verschuur11

Novice Co-Drivers Pointscores

PlaceCo-driverR1R2R3R4R5R6Total
1Matt Birchall15202055
2Mario Pirotta10152045
3Graham Comber48151542
4Mark Pedder202040
5Brian Tiedemann12112631
6Colin Miller671225
7Simon Pollock32023
8Frank Baker12½1022½
9Brad Clark410418
10Graeme Trewern1515
11=Shaun McNamara1212
11=Craig Hardiman1212
11=Ben Campbell1212
11=John McLaughlin23712
11=Rob Stevenson21012
16Michael Stiglich1010
17=Chris Montgomery268
17=V. Webber88
17=Rob Boothman88
17=Lisa Harris88
17=Paul Parlevliet88
22B. Rawlings
23=Janine Schneiders66
23=Nathan Brice66
25B. Griffin
26Stephen May44
27=Barry Stewart33
27=Cindy How33
29=Andrew Preston22
29=Michael Holloway22
31=Randella Barnes11
31=Paul Gregory11

Class Awards

PRC 2WD under 1300cc: Russell Hocking / Susan Brick, Datsun 120Y

PRC 2WD 1300-1600cc: Brian Semmens / David Leoncini, Toyota Corolla TE37

PRC 2WD 1600-2000cc: Darren Crozier / Michelle Crozier, Isuzu Gemini PF60

PRC 2WD over 2000cc: Michael Morris / Geoff Floyd, Holden Commodore

PRC 4WD: Craig Morris / Jenny Cole, Mitsubishi Galant VR4

Group N 2WD under 1300cc: Sam Vaughan, Suzuki Swift GTi
Co-driver: 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 / Chris Tait, Mitsubishi Lancer RSe3

Group A: not awarded

HRC: Brendon Lindsey / John McLaughlin, Alfa Romeo Guilia