1974

Re-live the action from 1974

Year in review

Highlights

Garry Harrowfield and Geoff Boyd put in a commanding performance to win the 1974 VRC, winning four of the first five rounds. Later in the year, Victoria hosted its first true special stage event, the RACV 500, won by George Fury and Monty Suffern, fresh from their stunning fourth place in the Southern Cross Rally.

Australian Rally Championship

Victoria hosted two rounds of the Australian Rally Championship, the Akademos (Round 2) and the Alpine (Round 7). The Akademos was won by Colin Bond and George Shepheard who went on to win the ARC that year in their Torana XU-1. The Alpine was won by Doug Stewart and Brian Hope in a Lancer, although they were ineligible for ARC points, which went to equal second placed Stewart McLeod / Adrian Mortimer (260Z) and Colin Bond / George Shepheard (XU-1).

 

Kilometres!

July 1st 1974 was designated as the changeover date for Victorian rallies to be run in kilometres instead of miles. This was no easy change for many navigators who had substantial collections of maps annotated with distances in miles. There was either a great deal of “white out” used or a lot of completely new maps purchased. A topographic map cost about $1 in 1974!

Harrowfield and Boyd in action in the Mark II Cortina

Series

Victorian Rally Championship

VRC events in 1974 were the Begonia. Penfolds, Midlander, Experts, Derrick, Hunter Safari, North Eastern and RACV 500.

Outright champions: Garry Harrowfield / Geoff Bord, Cortina Mark II.

For more details, including event results and points tables, go to the 1974 VRC page.

Victorian Clubman Series

VCS events in 1974 were the Summer Safari, Otways, Classic, Amateur 100, Brass Monkey, Midyear, Midwestern, HAC Invitation Trial and Camcrusher.

Winners: Rob Dyer / Graham Wallis, Peugeot 404.

For more details, including event results and points tables, go to the 1974 VCS page.

 The Rally Calendar for this year:

DateEventClubStatus
2 FebNorth Central TrialCCCOpen
9 FebSummer TrialNECCClub
16 FebNovice TrialVADCClub
23 FebSummer SafariPCCVVCS-1
2 MarBP Rally of the Gippsland HillsMDCCClub
2 MarOpen Novice TrialBPACOpen
9 MarBegonia RallyBLCCVRC-1
16 MarOtway TrialWDCCVCS-2
16 MarMini Twilight TrialMCCVClub
23 MarAutumn TrialNECCClub
23 MarIntroductory TrialCCRMITClub
30 MarClassic RallyGMHMCVCS-3
30 MarIntroductory TrialCCRMITClub
6 AprPenfolds Motors TrialRCCVVRC-2
13 AprBoomerang TrialMSCCClub
20 AprAmateur 100VADCVCS-4
20 AprNovice TrialDCCAClub
27 AprMidlander TrialCVCCVRC-3
4 MayMountain RallySCOTCCOpen
18? MayCorroboree TrialCRBCCClub
18 MayAutumn Midnight TrialCCRMITClub
25 MayAkademosMUCCARC-2
1 JunBrass Monkey TrialRCCDVCS-5
22 JunSunrise TrialPIARCOpen
29 JunExperts TrialLCCAVRC-4
6 JulAmateur TrialCCRMITClub
6 JulHonda ScamperHCCClub
13 JulTwo Day Enduro (cancelled)VADCOpen
13 JulyValkyrian TrialVWCCClub
20 JulMidyear RallyMSCCVCS-6
20 JulWinter TrialMUCCClub
20 JulShamateur 1LCCAClub
10 AugGeorge Derrick Memorial TrialCCRMITVRC-5
17 AugCamcrusher Trial (postponed to November)FFCCVCS
17 AugIntervarsityMUCCClub
24 AugRACV Gippsland 500 (postponed)RYMCVRC
31 AugWestern Districts TrialSCOTCCClub
31 AugWinter Safari TrialCerbCCClub
31 AugBeepac TrialBPACClub
? AugBellarine Night TrialWDCCClub
7 SepGoldfields RallyRCCVOpen
7 SepPathfinder TrialPIARCClub
14 SepNorth Eastern Rally (postponed)NECCVRC
14 SepPresident’s TrialVPMSCClub
21 SepOpen Trial?GMHMCOpen
28 SepMidwestern TrialLCCAVCS-7
12 OctHunter SafariCOCCVRC-6
19 OctPresidents Trial (cancelled)CCRMITOpen
26 OctCooper Memorial TrialWDCCOpen
? OctShamateur 2LCCAClub
2 NovHAC Invitation TrialHACVCS-8
9 NovNorth Eastern RallyNECCVRC-7
16 NovRACV Gippsland 500 RallyRYMCVRC-8
23 NovDisrallyMSCCClub
23 NovYulunga TrialHDCCClub
30 NovCamcrusher RallyFFCCVCS-9
7-8 DecAlpine RallyLCCAARC-7
7 DecMaldon MuddleMUCCClub