Motogard ‘bombshell'

Press, 20 July 1979, Page 24

Motogard ‘bombshell'

By JOHN FRIDD “lie,” said the man in Japan, and turned the 1979 Motogard Rally upside down. lie means “no” in Japanese, and led to the sensational exclusion of the Team Datsun Europe cars from the results of the 2160 km event, which finished in Auckland on Wednesday. The rally scrutineers had asked the Datsun mechanics to remove the head cylinder of the second-placed Datsun 160 J, driven by Timo Salonen (Finland), but a call to Japan by the T.D.E. manager, Andy Dawson, met a firm “no." The engines were not to be touched under any circumstances.

“We borrow the cars from the Nissan Development factory,” explained Dawson. “They don’t understand about the world championship, or publicity, and if they say don’t touch the cars it would be more than my job was worth to contravene that.” After Salonen was excluded the scrutineers asked Dawson if his car, which he drove to sixth place in the rally, could be scrutinised and’ the Englishman refused, and he was then also excluded. The double exclusion came as a bombshell for the New Zealand Datsun people, who

had spent many thousands of dollars and an incredible amount of effort to organise the run for the two Datsuns in the Motogard. No-dne was more disappointed than Salonen, who had no say in the decision. He was not at rally headquarters when the exclusion was announced, but his codriver, Seppo Harjanne, was. The lanky Finn’s face dropped to his hands and he seemed totally drained. “Dawson didn’t even tell us that this might happen,” said Harjanne.

One man who was extremely pleased about the whole affair was Blair Robson, of Auckland. He finished third on the road in his Masport Escort and was promoted to second with Salonen’s exclusion. Another Ford driver, Ari Vatanen (Finland) was third over all, from being fifth provisionally, as he won an appeal against a stewards’ decision that added three minutes on to his total time. Hannu Mikkola, also of Finland, was confirmed as the winner, and it: was learned yesterday that his Masport Escort would not have kept going for -much longer, as its head gasket was failing again. Dave Parkes, of Nelson was elevated to an amazing sixth place and Timaru’s

Bobb Robb, finished tenth ironically earning some world-championship points for Datsun, but nothing like the 17 that the team for. felted when Dawson refuse! to lift the heads on his anc Salonen’s cars.

The stewards had a verj busy day yesterday, as thej also excluded 15 other car, from the results. Theii drivers had gone over maximum lateness after getting held up in a Tairua Foresl special stage behind a stuck .vehicle — all drivers’ ap. peals were disallowed. In all, 17 cars dropped oul of the provisional results yesterday, and this brough! the number of official finish, ers down to a paltry 23, from 84 starters. Brent Rawstron (Christ* church) was officially eighteenth in his March Mazds RX3, and another Christ* church driver, Bruce Reid, was twenty-second in his Escort sport.

Final results: Mikkola, 485.71 min, elapsed. 1; Robson, 507.05 2; Vatanen, 509.68. 3: P. Adami (Auck.. Escort RSIBOOI, 509.90, I S. Murland (Wellington, Chevetu HS), 544.39. 5; Parkes, 549.57, 6 B. Green (Palm. Nth, Escort RS 1800), 552.61, 7: R. Goss (Napier Mazda RX3), 566.25, 8; M. Stewart Escort Mexico), 571.25* 9; Robb, 577.55, 10. Classes: Highly modified, Mik kola. Mildly modified, Goss Parkes and R. Wilson (Auck., Min, GT). Standard, A. Goldsbury (Pic Pio. Fiat 131 R) and E. Bruce (Lower Hutt, Escort Sport).