Rallycross will pit circuit drivers against rally men

Press, 5 August 1977, Page 9

Rallycross will pit circuit drivers against rally men

Picture eight powerful rally and circuit-racing cars battling with each other on a tight circuit containing both tarmac and dirt surfaces—that’s what will happen in the final of the Frist rallycross meeting at Ruapuna Park on Sunday.

About 60 drivers from all over the South Island and three frcv the North Island will clash in 25 races over a short circuit at Ruapuna, organised by the Canterbury Car Club The meeting will be the second sponsored rallycross event to be held at Ruapuna and although

most of the cars competing are in rally trim, some circuit-racing cars will also try for a share of the $4OO prize money. Rallycross has only just caught on in New Zealand, but is already one of the most popular forms of motorsport overseas. The sport provides all the thrills of rallying, but is held on a short circuit containing varying surfaces — from sealed track to dirt loops and mudholes — so that spectators and TV cameras can see all the action.

A number of national meetings have been held at the tricky Mystery Creek circuit near Hamilton but Sunday’s meeting at Ruapuna is the first in the South Island, to bring both North and South Island drivers together.

Trevor Crowe, the Christchurch driver who won four of his five races in the first rallycross, will probably turn out on Sunday in his new Datsun 1200 Coupe rally car, which he campaigned in the Wrightcars Toyota rally last week-end. Crow had to pull out halfway through with a broken gear selector, but was pleased with the way tire new machine was handling.

However, he feels the Datsun may not “have enough grunt” to beat the more powerful Escorts and Mazdas at the rallycross.

Another driver who might even threaten the Escorts and Mazdas is John Stuthridge, also of Christchurch. Stuthridge performed well in his Torana XUI in the last cir-cuit-racing season and with half the rallycross on the sealed circuit at Ruapuna his 220 h.p. Torana could leave the rally cars for dead.

Alan Brough, of Wellington, will be down with his Eurecon Toyota Trueno. which has an expensive 16-valve engine, and is also a likely finalist. Another top Welling-

ton driver making the trip south is Kevin Smith, in the Vywall Datsun. Smith is likely to give the smallcar drivers a real fright. The third North Island driver competing is Malcolm Stewart (Dannevirke) who drove impressively in the Wrightcars rally last week-end to finish fifth in his immaculate Escort Mexico Mk 11. A strong contingent of Mazda drivers includes Carl Rabbidge (Timaru) who won his class in last year’s Pall Mall rally championship Lyall McMillan (Leeston), who is well up in the South Island rally championship. Alan Scott, (Dunedin) and Ernie Richardson (Christchurch). The veteran Ashburton circuit-racing driver, Rod McElrea. will have a crack at the rally drivers in his fast Mazda RX2. John Sergei, of Christchurch, will lead the Escort challenge in his Chincn Camera RSIBOO. Sergei gained two wins and two seconds at last year’s meeting and this experience will stand him in good stead on Sunday. Another fast Escort driver is Frank Kidd, of Winton. Kidd will be trying hard to make up for the disappointment of just failing to finish the Wrightcars rally. Other leading rally drivers entered include Mike Reid (Christchurch), Alan Hewlett (Kumara), Geoff Owen (Christchurch), Jim Kennedy (Greymouth), Ron Rutherford (Christchurch) and Steven Stokes (Waikuku). Crowe will lead the Datsun contingent, helped by another consistent Christchurch driver, Bruce Reid, in a Datsun 1200. Ross Hore and Noel Mudgway, also of Christchurch, are also not to be discounted in their 1200 sedans. A welcome change from all the Escorts, Datsuns and Mazdas will be the sleek Datsun 160 J that Bob Robb, of Timaru, rallies successfully. However, Robb will not be driving — he will entrust the car

to his regular navigator, Derrick McKenzie. Another breath of fresh air will be provided by the Toyota Celica of Fairlie driver, Dick Rayne. Another fast Toyota from Fairlie will be the Corolla of Rit Fisher, who finished tenth in the Wrightcars rally. Neville Boon will also have a crack, in his 1600engined Volkswagen. One of the most unusual cars to compete will be the Mini Sprint that Lyn Hatton, of Blenheim, drove to a win in the New Zealand Gold Star hill-climb championship last year. The car has been bought by a fast Christchurch driver, John Hocken, and could prove an embarrassment to drivers of bigger cars.

In all, there will be 11 Datsun 1200 s, eight Mazdas, nine Mk I Escorts, five Mk II Escorts and six Minis, as well as various other cars, competing, so there should be some exciting racing. The rallycross organiser, Gary Cliff, said practice would start at midday on Sunday and qualifying races would start at 1 p.m. The heats will pit six cars against each other over four laps.

In the semi-finals drivers will have to race over six laps and the eight fastest cars which make the grand final will race over eight laps. After the final, in midafternoon, races will be run for non-qualifying cars. There will also be races for lady drivers, if there are sufficient numbers, and a rally drivers versus racing drivers race. There will be only three minutes between each race and it is expected to fit in about 25 races in three and a half hours.

The best place for spectators to see the action will be the southern spectator mound, with parking just inside the south gate. The meeting will be held wet or fine.

At only $1 for adults and children free the meeting is great value for money and is ideal family entertainment.