1988

Re-live the action from 1988

Year in review

Highlights

It was a challenging year for Victorian rallying with quite a few events cancelled or postponed due to wet weather, and the growing challenges of Access Control requirements for special stage events.

The Victorian Rally Championship was won by David Greig and Paul Tirant in their Datsun P510 2.5L. 

The Victorian Trials Championship was won by Rob Willet in a Corolla, with Champion Navigator being Ross Runnalls, navigating for both several different drivers.

Australian Rally Championship

Following the cancellation of the Alpine Rally (which was then calendared for April 1989), the series reduced to just four rounds after the withdrawal of the SA round and the Queensland round being cancelled due to lack of permission from the police. On the other hand, 1988 was perhaps the first year when an ARC round used pace notes with a pre-event recce, in the final round, the Esanda Finance Rally of Australia around Canberra.

1988 saw the final demise of Group G cars in the ARC with eligibility limited to Group A and Group N. 4WD cars dominated, with all four rounds being won by Mazda 323 4WDs. Murray Coote and Brian Marsden emerged as ARC champions.

The best performed Victorians in the ARC this year were Pat Barber and Simon Brown who finished 5th in their Ford Laser TX3 4WD. 

Murray Coote / Brian Marsden on the winners podium of the 1988 Esanda Finance Rally of Australia

Series

Victorian Rally Championship

VRC events this year were the Bayswater Wreckers Stages, the Blue Ribbon, the Akademos and the Bright North Eastern Rally.

Outright Champions: David Greig / Paul Tirant, Datsun 1600

State Recognised Award: Eric Pietila / Mike Rebbechi, Mazda 323 4WD

Clubman Award: Greg Hoinville / Michael Cains, Escort Mk II

Novice Award: Simon Duerden / Michael Carrol, Datsun 1600

Production Rally Car: ?? Eric Pietila / Mike Rebbechi, Mazda 323 4WD

For more details, including event results and points tables, go to the 1988 VRC page.

Victorian Trials Series (Championship)

The VTC from this year was often referred to as the Victorian Trial Series, but we have maintained the “Championship” title for consistency.

The VTC events this year were the Experts, Borderland Safari, North Central, Bernarras and Western Lion.

Outright Champion Driver: Rob Willett, Corolla

Outright Champion Navigator: Ross Runnalls (navigating for David Officer in a Galant, Geoff Portman in a Datsun 1600 and Glen Cuthbert in a Datsun 1600)

Recognised Award: Rob Willett / Bernard Lakerink, Corolla

Clubman Award: Rob Willet / Bernard Lakerink, Corolla

Novice Award: Bill Johnston / Wal Harris, Mazda RX4

Production Rally Car: Tony Aherne / Nick Wright, Peugeot

For more details, including event results and points tables, go to the 1988 VTC page.

 

Autosport Sprint Rally Series

Details? Events:

  1. Peddars Frankston Safari
  2. ANZ Bank Rallysprint
  3. Zodiac Rallysprint
  4. Anglia Memorial Sprint Rally

Western Region Trial Series

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

  1. Yulunga Trial (HDCC)
  2. Daryl Tunbridge Memorial Trial (BLCC)
  3. North Central Trial (CCC)
  4. Bernarras Trial (LCCBEN)
  5. Western Lion Trial (PCCV)

Riverina & North Eastern Series

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

  1. Beaurapaires For Tyres Trial
  2. Goulburner Trial
  3. Whiteknuckles Trial
  4. API Spring Trial

TAUCC Series

This series of closed events were for the various technical college and university car clubs, plus the HMAS Cerberus Car Club, the Melton Motor Sports Club and the Nissan Car Club. Series Regs are in Feb Unicar. This year the series comprised the:

  1. Swinburne 200 – Results in March Unicar
  2. Autumn Midnight – Results in April Unicar
  3. Moonlight Meander – Results in May Unicar
  4. Nissan Nightmoves – Results in Sep Unicar
  5. Bog-a-Duck Trial – Results in Oct Unicar
  6. Distrial – Results in Nov Unicar
  7. Forester Trial – Results in Dec Unicar

Final points in Feb 1989 Unicar

Group 5

This closed series comprised events run by PIARC, CRB Car Club and the Torana Club of Victoria. Events were:

  1. Kanga Trial
  2. Pathfinder Trial
  3. Tocoan Trial
  4. Shamater 2 (maybe cancelled?)
  5. Adam ‘n Eve Trial

Other Events

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 The Rally Calendar for this year:

DateEventClubStatus
7 FebGrant Walker Motors Sprint RallyFFCCClosed
13 FebShamateur ILCCAClosed
20 FebBob Jane Novice TrialBLCCClosed
27 FebFar Western TrialHDCCClosed
28 FebVicsprint RallysprintLCCABENClosed
5 MarNovice Trial (postponed to 16 April)NECCClosed
5 MarToyota Novice TrialTOCVClosed
5 MarSwinburne 200SCCTAUCC-1
12 MarChallenge of ClubsNCCAClosed
19 MarBlue Ribbon Rally (postponed to 8 October)LCCAVRC
26 MarIntroductory TrialMSCCClosed
26 MarBeaurepairs for Tyres TrialAWDCCRNES-1
27 MarPedders Frankston SafariMMALCCSRS-1
9 AprExperts TrialLCCAVTS-1
16 AprYulunga TrialHDCCWR-1
16 AprAutumn Midnight TrialCCRMITTAUCC-2
16 AprSpring 200FFCCClosed
16 AprNovice TrialNECCClosed
23 AprilBayswater Wreckers StagesFFCCVRC-1
24-25 Apr70s Nostalgia “Rally”non-clubSocial
30 AprMoonlight MeanderMMSCTAUCC-3
7 MayBorderland Safari TrialNECCVTS-2
7 MayCarlie & Cazzard Pines TrialSEACClosed
14 MayGeorge Woods Novice TrialPCCVClosed
14 MayKanga TrialMMALCCGroup5-1
21 MayAkademos (postponed to 29 Oct)MUCCVRC
28 MayANZ Bank Sprint RallyTCCSRS-2
28 MayGoulburner TrialSDCCRNES-2
4 JunDaryl Tunbridge Memorial TrialBLCCWR-2
4 JunPathfinder TrialPIARCGroup5-2
11 JunWhiteknuckles TrialNECCRNES-3
26 JunZodiac Sprint RallyCRBCCSRS-3
16 JulNissan Nightmoves (postponed to 27 August)NCCATAUCC
23 JulScarfe Steel Supplies TrialSEACClosed
13 AugTocoan TrialTOCGroup5-3
13 AugNovice TrialNECCClosed
20 AugDiggers Revenge TrialSEACClosed
20 AugCharity RallysprintFFCCClosed
27 AugNissan NightmovesNCCATAUCC-4
3 SepNovice TrialAWDCCClosed
10 SepAnglia Memorial Sprint RallyFFCCSRS-4
10 SepMerriang MeanderNECCClosed
17 SepGeorge Derrick Memorial Rally (cancelled and combined with Blue Ribbon on 8 Oct)CCRMITVRC
24 SepNorth Central TrialCCCVTS-3 / WR-3
24 SepSomerset Motel Trial (Postponed to 15 Oct)SEACClosed
1 OctBog-a-Duck TrialMUCCTAUCC-5
8 OctBlue Ribbon Rally (incorporating the George Derrick)LCCA, CCRMITVRC-2
8 OctAPI Spring TrialNECCRNES-4
8 OctShamateur II (maybe cancelled or postponed?)LCCAGroup5-4
22 OctBernarras TrialLCCBENVTS-4 / WR-4
29 OctAkademosMUCCVRC-3
29 OctKermits RevengeHDCCClosed
29 OctAdam and Eve TrialCRBCCGroup5-5
5 NovVictoria Cross RallyCACAOpen
5 NovWilliam Harvey Memorial Trial (cancelled?)PCCVVTS
19 NovSundowner TrialHDCCClosed
19 NovDistrialMSCCTAUCC-6
26 NovAlpine (cancelled)LCCAARC
26 NovBright North Eastern RallyNECCVRC-4
3 DecWestern Lion TrialPCCVVTS-5 / WR-5
3 DecForester TrialCERBTAUCC-7