1971 North West Ampol Dealers Trial

The North West Ampol Dealers Trial was held on 14-15 August. It was the fifth and last round of the Tasmanian Trials Championship.

The fifteen crews that ventured to the Burnie start of this trial all had their confidence severely shaken when told by the organisers “When you get bogged, just toot 3 times and a Haflinger (primitive all wheel drive device) will rescue you!!” As it turned out the trial was not nearly as bad as pre-event publicity had made out.

The two hour ‘Morning Stage’ set things moving at a brisk pace with quick sections through the Natone and Penguin areas to Ulverstone where Long/Reid had lost 1 point to lead from Wright/Wright and Maddock/Kelly. The remainder of Division One traversed Sheffield, Railton, Sassafras, Long Hill forest and Leith before returning to Burnie. Maddock/Kelly retired at Burnie having damaged the steering on their Torana, leaving Long/Reid as the only “A” Grade crew in the event.

Division Two headed inland to Oonah, Calder and on to Wynyard, with thick mud and a deep river crossing keeping the Haflinger busy. From Wynyard the route lead into the Oldina forest for a series of return to control sections before moving across to Mawbanna for more of the same. Long/Reid were bogged for 79 minutes on one section in this area, which dropped them to third outright. Further slippery, unmapped roads caused to field to spread over a considerable distance and the Wrights, in their home territory, opened up an hour’s lead over the field. The course then went west of Smithton to Brittons Swamp, Salmon River, Trowutta and Mengha before returning to the Bass Highway near Stanley. A short 5 minute section just off the highway had many crews bogged again and requiring assistance from the ubiquitous Haflinger. Fatigue was overtaking many crews on the final run back to Burnie where the nine finishers arrived at 1:30pm, after 27 hours of tough trial. Wright/Wright took a convincing win with a loss of only 40 points from Long/Reid and Rowbottom/Lee.