The BP Ultimate Rally of South Eastern Australia was organised by the Historic Rally Association and directed by Ross Runnalls, with the assistance of Geoff Boyd and Ian Ellis. It was conducted on May 1-4.
Ross Runnalls summarises the event …
Rawson and Brown prevail under new management
Only four years after the previous “Old BP”, but fifty years after the first original BP, 1-4 May (one week before the traditional Mother’s day date) was a fitting time for the 2008 BP Ultimate Rally of South Eastern Australia, supported by the BP company and directed for the first time by Ross Runnalls, assisted by Geoff Boyd and Ian Ellis.
Some sympathy was shown to navigators with a helpful pre-event guide as to how best to tackle the required navigation in the event. While the instructions were based on the traditional Broadbents maps of Eastern and Western Half Victoria, all vias and controls were marked on 1:250,000 maps from the 1960s and kindly blown up to 1:100,000 on the more demanding sections. Vehicles were limited to pre 1985, but in a reflection of the times, competitor’s mobile phones were placed in sealed envelopes.
At just over 2000km this was going to be longer than previous versions, with an extra day added, starting on Thursday night from Pakenham with an Assembly Stage to Stratford.
Division 1 took crews over the mountains through Lindenow South, Bullumwaal, Omeo (refuel), Knocker Track, Tawonga, Bobinawarrah to Wangaratta for a three hour breakfast break. In the lead were Officer/Officer 23, Rawson/Brown 33 and Fernie/Floyd 35.
Division 2 action started early with a drop off route chart in Killawarra Forest, where the Officers retired with broken gearbox. The route then meandered across the Northern plains through Dunbulbulane and along the Murray River via Picola, Barmah forest, Moama (refuel), Barham to Swan Hill for an overnight break. Leaders were Rawson/Brown 45, closely followed by Baker/McAdam 46 and Upton/Laidlay 48.
Division 3 continued Westerly through Tudor, Annuello, Cramenton, Ouyen (refuel), Pink Lakes, Cowangie, Walpeup (refuel), Dattuck to Hopetoun for a three hour dinner break. After a tough day in the sand it was still tight at the top with Rawson/Brown 151, Ahearne/Garth 152 and Wallis/Nicholas 161.
Division 4 headed south via Rich Avon, Kanya, Paradise, Navarre (refuel), Landsborough, Mt. Cole, Chute to the BLCC rooms at Ballarat Airport. Rawson/Brown held on for an emotional win on 174 to Wallis/Nicholas 225 and Upton/Laidlay 255, recovering from a sad previous division.
The mountains and sand made it tougher on drivers and cars, with 16 failed to finish with mechanical issues. The navigation was not as decimating as previous “Old BPs”, but even with the better maps, it was still tough. Only ten crews reported to all major controls.
The weekend was rounded off with a Sunday Luncheon at the Dowling Forest Racecourse after everyone had the chance for a recovering sleep and shower and they were joined by a number of the originals celebrating fifty years since the first BP.
You may be able to view a 20 minute video of event highlight by Steve Richards here.
