1962

Re-live the action from 1962

Year in review

Highlights

1962 was the second year of the Victorian Trials Championship and it was again won by Geoff Russell, this time in a Ford Falcon XL. He was partnered by Richard Collingwood who won the 1962 navigators title.

1962 also saw the emergence of Harry Firth and Ford as a dominant force in Victorian, and later, national rallying. The “Fox” won both the 1962 BP Rally and the 1962 Alpine Trial, both in a Ford Anglia

We have limited information on events in 1962 – if you have any information please let us know!

Major Events

The BP Rally of South Eastern Australia was conducted from 3-6 May, effectively starting in Bendigo and finishing in Melbourne (Chadstone?). The event was won by Harry Firth and Frank Kilfoyle in a Ford Anglia, by a single point from Ken Tubman and A. Denham in a Hillman. Further details are available in Ross Runnalls’ compilation of BP Rally history.

The 1962 Alpine Trial was won by Harry Firth and Graham Hoinville in a Ford Anglia. It was also the final round of the VTC.

Harry Firth and Frank Kilfoyle on their way to winning the 1962 BP Rally

Victorian Trials Championship

We believe that the 1962 VTC comprised 8 events: the Begonia, Hamilton Two Day, Akademos, Experts, Otway, Cec Warren Memorial, Shell Two Day and Alpine.

Outright champions: Geoff Russell / Richard Collingwood, Falcon XL.

For more details, including event results and points tables, go to the 1962 VTC page.

Other Open Events

A number of clubs ran open events that were not part of the VTC, but we have limited information on them.

The VW Car Club ran their annual Pound Motors Trial in February.

The Victorian Sporting Car Club ran the Summer Trial, the Midnight Trial and the Eastern Trial.

The Car Club of RMIT ran their annual George Derrick Memorial Trial.

The GHM Motoring Club ran the Mountain Trial.

The Wimmera branch of the Light Car Club ran the Caltex-RSL Trial, presumably out of Horsham.

The Huntingdale Auto Club ran an open Novice Trial.

Closed Events

There were probably quite a lot more closed events run by various clubs about which we have no information. Some that we know of are as follows.

The Melbourne University Car Club ran three closed events. The Commencement Rally was run in April, the Night Trial in May and the Winter Trial in August.

The Car Club of RMIT ran three closed events, namely a Novice Trial, the annual Autumn Midnight Trial, and the Presidents Trial.

 The Rally Calendar for this year:

This calendar is surely missing quite a few events.

DateEventClubStatus
4 FebSummer TrialVSCCOpen
17 FebPound Motors TrialVWCVOpen
3 MarCaltex Begonia RallyBLCCVTC-1
17 MarMotor Show Trial??
25 MarLadies TrialLCCARestricted
14 AprHamilton Two Day TrialHDCCVTC-2
15 AprCommencement RallyMUCCClosed
1-6 MayBP RallyLCCANational
6 MayNovice TrialHACOpen restricted
12 MayNight TrialMUCCClub
23 JunAkademosMUCCVTC-3
7 JulExperts TrialLCCAVTC-4
14 JulGeorge Derrick Memorial TrialCCRMITOpen
21 JulOtway TrialWDCCVTC-5
27 JulMountain TrialGMHMCOpen
28 JulMidnight TrialVSCCOpen
4 AugWinter TrialMUCCClosed
11 AugCaltex-RSL RallyWLCCOpen
26 AugCec Warren Memorial TrialAMSCVTC-6
22 SepShell Two Day TrialVADCVTC-7
7 OctEastern TrialVSCCOpen
18 NovAdam and Eve TrialVSCCRestricted
1 DecAlpine TrialLCCAVTC-8
16 DecPolice Courtesy TrialVPMSCOpen