The Event
The Classic Rally, Round 1 of the inaugural Australian Rally Championship, was organised on behalf of the GMH Motoring Club by Bob Watson and Jim McAuliffe.
Centred on the forest town of Noojee, east of Melbourne, the route involved three loops over around 600 kilometres. Cars were despatched from a centralised out control on each of the loops thus ensuring six minute gaps between the cars and no problem with dust. By all reports was superbly organised.
The event was won by Frank Kilfoyle and Doug Rutherford in a Ford Cortina GT with Harry Firth and Graham Hoinville second, thus setting up a year long duel for the first Australian Rally Championship.
Event Reports
An extract from the report in Racing Car News and maps of the event are available from the rallypaedia.com.au
Results
| 1 | Frank Kilfoyle | Doug Rutherford | Ford Cortina 1600 | 25.25 points |
| 2 | Harry Firth | Graham Hoinville | Ford Cortina Lotus | 43.5 points |
| 3 | Bob Holden | Lindsay Adcock | Volvo 142S | 46 points |
| 4 | John Keran | Peter Meyer | Volvo 122S | 49 points |
| 5 | Max Winkless | Nigel Collier | Volvo 122S | 54.25 points |
| 6 | Bruce Collier | Steve Halloran | Renault 8 Gordini | 59.75 points |
| 7 | Evan Green | George Shepheard | Morris Mini S | 60.25 points |
| 8 | Richard Harris | John Bryson | Ford Cortina 1500 | 64 points |
| 9 | Barry Ferguson | Dave Johnson | Volkswagen 1600 | 66 points |
| 10 | Ken Harper | Bob Forsyth | Ford Cortina GT | 67.25 points |