1985

Re-live the action from 1985

Year in review

Table of contents

To this year’s calendar

Highlights

The Victorian Rally Championship was won by Brian Smith and John Birrell in their Mitsubishi Sigma 2.6L. In a big rally year for him, Brian was also equal 4th in the Australian Rally Championship.

The Victorian Trials Championship was won by Gary Grealy and Jim Maude, and the Victorian Clubman Championship by Graham Wallis and Phil Nicholas.

It was unfortunate that for the first time since 1956, the Alpine Rally was not conducted due to the lack of anyone able to take on the role of Director.

Australian Rally Championship

Victoria’s round of the Australian Rally Championship was Akademos held 16-17 November, following the cancellation of the Alpine Rally. The Akademos was won by Hugh Bell and Steve Ellis in the Peddars Mazda RX7. Despite offs in Queensland and SA, and deciding against going to WA, they nevertheless placed second in the national title behind 1985 Australian Champions, Barry Lowe and Kevin Peddar in their Group A Subaru RX Turbo. Victorian Champion Brian Smith (with David McKenzie navigating) placed equal 4th in the ARC in their Mitsubishi Sigma.

This was the third year of the “equal” points for Group G/Group A but was the first year that a Group A car both won an event and won the championship. This was the beginning of the end for Group G, with the advent of turbo 4WD cars, including the Subaru that won the championship for Lowe and the Mazda 323 4WD that won the Queensland ARC round in the hands of Murray Coote.

Brian Smith in action with David McKenzie on the 1985 ARC Round in Tasmania

Series

Victorian Rally Championship

There were seven VRC events this year: Peter Stevens Nissan Begonia Rally, Golden Hills Rally, Rent-a-Wreck Stages, Canon Zodiac Rally, George Derrick Memorial Rally, Melton Toyota Djerriwarrah Rally, Akademos.

Outright Champions: Brian Smith / John Birrell, Mitsubishi Sigma

State Recognised Award: Terry Harris / Bryan Oliver, Ford Escort RE

Clubman Award: Andrew Martin / Philip Martin, Mitsubishi Galant

For more details, including event results and points tables, go to the 1985 VRC page.

Victorian Trials Championship

The VTC events this year were the Noel Burley Memorial Trial, Halda Skalda, Experts and Rising Sun.

Outright Champion Driver: Gary Grealy, Datsun 1600

Outright Champion Navigator: Jim Maude (navigating for at least two different drivers)

State Recognised Award: Trevor Stanley / Tony Bond, Volvo 360 GLT

Clubman Award: Trevor Stanley / Tony Bond, Volvo 360 GLT

For more details, including event results and points tables, go to the 1985 VTC page.

Victorian Clubman Championship

The VCC events this year were:

  1. Noel Burley Memorial
  2. Safari
  3. Halda Skalda
  4. Rally of the Rising Sun
  5. Victoria Cross
  6. Spring 200.

Winners: Graham Wallis / Phil Nicholas, Peugeot 504

For more details, including event results and points tables, go to the 1985 VCC page.

Western Region Trial Series

This series of closed events was for clubs in western Victoria, in particular Geelong, Ballarat and Melton. Events held were: 

  1. Yulunga Trial
  2. No. 1 Trial
  3. Daryl Tunbridge Memorial Trial
  4. Highlander Trial
  5. Bernarras Trial

Riverina & North Eastern Series

This closed series was for members of the car clubs in northern and north-eastern Victoria. The series comprised:

  1. North East Petroleum Rally
  2. NSW event?
  3. NSW Event?
  4. Whiteknuckles Rally
  5. AWDCC Rallysprint
  6. Goulburner Rally
  7. Spring Rally

TAUCC Series

This series of closed events were for the various technical college and university car clubs. This year the series was sposnored by Les Collins’ Datrally Developments and comprised the following events:

  1. Presidents Trial
  2. Boomerang Rally
  3. Autumn Midnight Trial
  4. 14th Western Districts Trial
  5. Swinburne 200
  6. Disrally

Combine 6

This closed series was predominantly for marque clubs – Datsun, Renault, Peugeot, Ford, Torana plus the VADC. The Combine 6 group also ran a novice series comprising 3 events. Events is the Combine 6 series were:

Rally:

  1. ANZ Bank Rally
  2. Anglia Memorial
  3. Nissan Nightmoves
  4. Woody’s Ramble
  5. Victoria Renault Trial
  6. William Harvey Memorial Trial

Novice:

  1. Ford Four Novice Trial
  2. Tocoan Novice Rally
  3. Novice Nightmoves

Group 5

This closed series comprised events run by Clayton Auto Club, PIARC, CRB Car Club and the Holden Motor Sports Club of Victoria. Events:

  1. Clayton’s Rally
  2. Tee Cee Vee Rally
  3. Pathfinder Trial
  4. Shamateur 3
  5. Trailblazer Trial
  6. Adam ‘n Eve Trial

Other Events

 The Rally Calendar for this year:

DateEventClubStatus
9 FebNoel Burley Memorial TrialMUCCVTC-1, VCC-1
16 FebRoundabout TrialM850CVClub
16 FebPresidents TrialCCRMITTAUCC-1
16 FebClayton’s RallyCACGroup5-1
23 FebIntroductory RallyMSCCClub
23 FebNorth Eastern Petroleum RallyAWDCCRNES-1
2 MarPeter Stevens Nissan BegoniaBLCCVRC-1
9 MarChallenge of ClubsNCCAClub
9 MarTee Cee VeeHMSCVGroup5-2
9 MarKermit’s RevengeHDCCClub
16 MarMini InvitationM850GClub
16 MarSummer Trial (cancelled)MUCCTAUCC
16 MarANZ Bank RallyANZBCCComb6-1
23 MarGolden Hills RallySDCCVRC-2
30 MarSafariMMALCCVCC-2
13 AprCanon Zodiac Rally (postponed to June)CRBCCVRC
20 AprAnglia MemorialFFCCComb6-2
20 AprBoomerang RallyMSCCTAUCC-2
20 AprYulunga TrialHDCCWR-1
27 AprHalda Skalda TrialLCCA-BendigoVTC-2, VCC-3
4 MayNo. 1 TrialGMSCWR-2
4 MayShamateur ILCCAClub
4 MayGeorge Woods Memorial TrialPCCVClub
11 MayRent-a-Wreck Stages (Ex Camcrusher)FFCCVRC-3
11 MayTrial of the GrapSEACClub
18 MayMoonlight MeanderMMSCClub
18 MayPathfinderPIARCGroup5-3
18 MayWhiteknuckles RallyNECCRNES-4
25 MayAkademos (postponed to Nov)MUCCVRC
1 JunDarryl Tundbridge Memorial TrialBLCCWR-3
8 JunShamateur 2LCCAClub
8 JunNissan NightmovesNCCAComb6-3
15 JunExperts TrialLCCAVTC-3
22 JunTwilight Trial (cancelled)CRBCCGroup5
22 JunCanon Zodiac RallyCRBCCVRC-4
22 JunFord Novice TrialFFCCComb6 Novice-1
29 JunAutumn Midnight RallyCCRMITTAUCC-3
13 JulDiggers RevengeSEACClub
21 JulNECC RallysprintNECCClub
3 AugRally of the Rising SunNCCAVTC-4, VCC-4
10 AugTopline Nissan Pines TrialSEACClub
24 AugShamateur 3LCCAGroup5-4
24 AugWoodys RambleVADC Comb6-4
1 SepFord Four RallysprintFFCCClub
1 SepAWDCC RallysprintAWDCCRNES-5
7 SepVictoria Cross RallyCACAVCC-5
7 SepScarfe Steel TrialSEACClub
14 SepTrailblazer TrialMMALCCGroup5-5
14 SepNovice Nightmoves (postponed to November)NCCAComb6 Novice
21 SepGeorge Derrick Memorial RallyCCRMITVRC-5
28 SepNorthern Mini Parts 200MCCVClub
28 SepHighlander TrialCCCWR-4
28 SepGoulburner RallySDCCRNES-6
5 OctVictorian Renault TrialRCCVComb6-5
5 OctEureka Novice TrialBLCCClub
12 OctSpring 200 RallyFFCCVCC-6
19 OctTocoan Novice RallyTCC (prev ANZCC)Comb6 Novice-2
19 OctSpring RallyNECCRNES-7
26 OctBernarras TrialLCCA-BenWR-5
26 Oct14th Western Districts TrialSCC, DUCCTAUCC-4
26 OctAdam and Eve TrialCRBCCGroup5-6
2 NovDjerriwarrah RallyMMSCVRC-6
9 NovSwinburne 200SCCTAUCC-5
9 NovFar Western TrialHDCCClub
16 NovAkademosMUCCARC-6, VRC-7
16 NovWilliam Harvey Memorial TrialPCCVComb6-6
23 NovNovice NightmovesNCCAComb6 Novice-3
30 NovDisrallyMSCCTAUCC-6
30 NovSundowner TrialHDCCClub
7 DecSummer SafariPCCVClub
7 DecMaldon MuddleMUCCClub