Andrew Cowan/Gocentas in the Mitsubishi Lancer GSR – from the cover of the 1976 regulations booklet
1975 8 – 12 OCTOBER SYDNEY – PORT MACQUARIE - SYDNEY
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PREAMBLE
Sydney-Melbourne-Sydney Format In mid-1974 the Australian Sporting Car Club canvassed a return to the format of conducting the event Sydney- Melbourne-Sydney as it did in 1966 to 1968. The wide ranging investigation was carried out in a search for maximum exposure for sponsors, and the Sydney-Melbourne corridor including Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Albury was given serious consideration. In the end, it was decided to put more effort into promoting the event based at Port Macquarie, with the start continuing to be in Sydney, the competition finish at Port Macquarie, and the return of the event to Sydney (Hyde Park) to finish there on the Monday, with a parade through the streets of the capital during the public lunchbreak.
Sandcastle Motor Inn Headquarters was moved to the newly-built high-rise Sandcastle Motor Inn, overlooking the water and remained there until the end of the event in 1980.
Port Macquarie Impound in front of the Sandcastle Motor Inn
Start Order The starting order was seeded (at last!!) within six categories, which were changed from previous years: • The first category was for drivers seeded as rally or long distance drivers as per the FIA; • The second category was for drivers placed up to 3rd in a FIA Championship during the period 1970-1974; • The third category was for drivers who finished up to third in an international rally since 1/1/72;
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• The fourth category was for drivers who had placed up to 12th in an international rally OR 6th in an international rally prior to 1/1/71 OR 3rd in a National Championship since 1/1/72; • The fifth category was drivers who had completed the course of an international rally or up to 12th in a national championship rally; • The sixth category was for drivers not included in the above.
SUMMARY
The 1975 Victors – Andrew Cowan/Fred Gocentas and Mitsubishi Lancer GSR
Although not taking the same toll of cars as in the 1974 event, when only seven finished the course, 1975 was probably harder in many ways because of the better planning of the event by Director Dan White, who kept the pressure on all way until two thirds through the last division.
1975 saw Andrew Cowan’s domination of the Southern Cross Rally continue when he convincingly won, for the fifth time – four in succession. This was the finest of his wins as the competition this year was the strongest ever seen in the event. He blitzed the opposition to run out winner by 12 minutes from teammate Barry Ferguson.
14 points further back in third outright, and in many ways the ‘star’ of the event, Greg Carr, with navigator Wayne Gregson, in a Datsun 180B SSS, carried Nissan’s hopes after the tragic demise of the 710’s engines of the works team which included Harry Kallstrom, Rauno Aaltonen and George Fury. Carr drove magnificently in an extremely well prepared vehicle, by Gerry Ball of Canberra and, but for a couple of punctures, may have ended up closer to the leaders.
Doug Stewart’s Lancer GSR came in fourth, after Kenjiro Shinozuka’s car was disqualified, and then fifth was Bruce Hodgson/Chris Heaney in a Ford Escort RS1600. Hodgson had a victorious week, having been placed 13th outright in an RS2000 in the ‘Hardie-Ferodo 500’ the previous weekend. At the end of division one he was 32nd’, but he eventually got the car sorted out and he put in a magnificent drive over the next three nights.
Final Placings 1 Andrew Cowan Fred Gocentas Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 189 points 2 Barry Ferguson Lindsay Adcock Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 201 points 3 Greg Carr Wayne Gregson Datsun 180B SSS 215 points 4 Doug Stewart John Dawson-Damer Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 277 points 5 Bruce Hodgson Chris Heaney Ford Escort RS 1600 368 points 6 James Laing-Peach Barry Lake Subaru A22 373 points 7 Takeshi Hirabayashi Yoshimasa Nakahura Subaru A22 397 points 8 Bruce Cheeseman Alan Horsley Mitsubishi Lancer 405 points 9 Shingeru Kanno Kiyoshi Kawamur Mitsubishi Lancer 422 points 10 Noriyuki Koseki Takao Ishii Subaru A22 440 points Following post-event scrutineering Kenjiro Shinozuka/Gary Connelly were excluded in the Mitsubishi Lancer for use of wrong suspension components. They would have finished fourth outright with 250 points. New Zealander Rod Millen (Mazda RX3) was also excluded for illegal turret strengthening. He scored 405 points.
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FIA Group 1 - Class Placings A Up to 1300 cc Murray Coote Brian Marsden Datsun 1200 B 1301 to 1600 cc Barry Dyer Brian McQuirk Subaru GSR C 1601 to 2000 cc Not awarded D Over 2000 cc Gary Mecak John Trumpmanis Mazda RX3
FIA Group 2 - Class Placings E Up to 1300 cc Not awarded F 1301 to 1600 cc Andrew Cowan Fred Gocentas Mitsubishi Lancer GSR G 1601 to 2000 cc Greg Carr Wayne Gregson Datsun 180B
Group 4 – FIA Group 4 & CAMS Group C/MANZ Class Placing P Over 1600cc Tony Masling Ken Smith Holden Torana XU1
Manufacturers Award: Mitsubishi
VEHICLE ELIGIBILITY
Vehicle eligibility based on • FIA Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, and homologated in Appendix J of the 1975 International Sporting Code: o 1 – Series Production Cars: 5000 units produced within 12 consecutive months; o 2 – Special Touring Cars: 1000 units produced within 12 consecutive months; o 3 – Series Production Grand Touring Cars: 1000 units produced within 12 consecutive months; o 4 - Special Grand Touring Cars: 500 units produced within 12 consecutive months. • CAMS Group G – National Championship Rally Cars: 500 units produced within 12 consecutive months. • MANZ (New Zealand) Regulations.
Safety Equipment: • Fitting of a safety roll over bar or roll cage protection was compulsory for all cars; • Helmets were not compulsory; • A 0.9kg fire extinguisher to be fitted inside the vehicle.
EVENT DETAILS/ ORGANISING TEAM
Event Details Only 14 crews completed the entire course. Reporting had to be to 75% of controls in each division to stay in the event.
Division No. Distance Competitive Comp Longest Late Number Number Number Special % Time Entries Starters Finishers Stages One 13 870 415 48 70 150 Two 9 695 520 75 180 150 Three 10 675 525 83 115 150 Four 16 1130 555 49 195 150 Total 48 3370 2020 60 180 85 79 30
Organising Team Assistant Directors Alan Wells, Les Boaden
Committee - John Arter, Val McKenzie, Dennis Moore, Peter Savage, Lyn Stanley, Alan Wells, John Whitton.
Headquarters Sandcastle Motel, Port Macquarie
John Keran Tom Snooks Dan White Chairman SCIR General Manager SCIR Road Director Sponsors & ASCC President & ASCC Secretary (Clerk of Course) TOTAL Australia Pty Ltd & Sydney ‘Daily Sun’
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ORGANISING COMMITTEE 1975 l to r: Peter Savage, John Arter, Dan White, Lynn Stanley, John Keran, Tom Snooks, John Whitton, Allan Wells Meeting in the boardroom of the 729 Club, St Leonards (Sydney)
ENTRIES
At last the field was seeded by the organisers, within the categories outlined above. 85 entries were received and the 79 starters included 25 overseas drivers and 16 overseas navigators.
The total dominance of Mitsubishi and Andrew Cowan over the past four years didn’t seem to discourage entrants to have a go to try to finish well in this tough and prestigious event.
This year, works and semi-works teams represented Mitsubishi, their now perennial rivals Datsun, and Subaru. 14 cars were entered by Japanese private crews, all the cars being prepared to works team standards; eight crews entered from New Zealand, including NZ Champion Mike Marshall/Arthur McWatt in a Ford Escort RS1800. Of course, most of the top Australian crews were out in force.
Mitsubishi entered Lancers for Cowan, Hannu Mikkola of Finland, and Australians Barry Ferguson and Doug Stewart.
Nissan’s attack was based on the Datsun 710SSS, with Rauno Aaltonen from Finland driving one, Harry Kallstrom (Sweden) driving a second and Australia’s George Fury in the third car. The 710s had a 30 plus bhp advantage over the Lancers. Greg Carr/Wayne Gregson fronted in a Datsun 180B SSS.
Ford, now managed by Howard Marsden, was represented by Bob Watson in a UK Factory prepared Escort RS1800 BDA. Other leading drivers were Bruce Hodgson (RS1600) and New Zealander’s Champion Mike Marshall (RS1800).
The Japanese attack of 14 cars was headed by Tatsuo Yaginuma and Kenjiro Shinozuka in Mitsubishi Lancers. Most of the Japanese drivers brought their own navigators.
Subaru entered its A22 for a number of Japanese and for Australian James Laing-Peach. These were powered by a 1600cc engine (usual size being 1360cc).
Leading Australian ‘privateer’ entries included Stewart McLeod/Adrian Mortimer (Datsun 260Z), Ross Dunkerton/ John Large (Datsun 240Z) fresh from winning the 1975 Australian Rally Championship, and Greg Carr/Wayne Gregson (Datsun 180B SSS). Evan Green/John Bryson competed in the Alfetta GT.
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A very noticeable Australian absentee was Colin Bond and George Shepheard. Holden was entering a Torana 5000 L34. To be competitive the cross member needed to be strengthened and so it was, under CAMS Group C regulations. However, while the Southern Cross Rally allowed such cars, they were not to be modified beyond FIA Group 2 – to keep some sort of equalisation. So, the car wasn’t entered. Most of the Group 2 cars DIDHAVE cross- member strengthening, but this was allowed if the cross-member was homologated as such and appeared on the FIA homologation paper for the car. 1975 ENTRY LIST – START ORDER 1 Hannu Mikkola Finland Brian Hope NSW Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 2 Rauno Aaltonen Finland Fitz Souminen Vic Datsun 710 SSS 3 Harry Kallstrom Sweden Roger Bonhomme Vic Datsun 710 SSS 4 Andrew Cowan Scotland Fred Gocentas ACT Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 5 Mike Marshall NZ Arthur McWatt NZ Ford Escort RS 1800 6 Barry Ferguson NSW Lindsay Adcock NSW Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 7 George Fury Vic Monty Suffern Vic Datsun 710 SSS 8 Doug Stewart NSW John Dawson-Damer NSW Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 9 Stewart McLeod SA Adrian Mortimer SA Datsun 260Z 10 Rod Millen NZ Steve Halloran NSW Mazda RX3 11 Tatsuo Yaginuma Japan Haruo Okada Japan Mitsubishi Lancer 12 Ross Dunkerton WA John Large WA Datsun 240Z 13 Bob Watson Vic Jeff Beaumont Tas Ford Escort RS1800 BDA 14 Greg Carr ACT Wayne Gregson ACT Datsun 180B SSS 15 Kenjiro Shinozuka Japan Gary Connelly Qld Mitsubishi Lancer 16 Evan Green NSW John Bryson NSW Alfa Alfetta GT 17 Yoshi Iwashita Japan ? Sukima Japan Subaru A22 18 Bob Riley NSW Neil Faulkner NSW Mitsubishi Galant 19 Dean Rainsford SA Graham West SA Porsche Carrera RS 20 Bruce Hodgson NSW Chris Heaney ACT Ford Escort RS 1600 21 Takashi Hirabayashi Japan Yoshimasa Nakahara Japan Subaru A22 22 Paul Adams NZ James Scott NZ Ford Escort RS1600 23 Shigeru Kanno Japan Kiyoshi Kawamura Japan Mitsubishi Lancer 24 Alan Brough NZ Michael Gall NZ Toyota Levin 25 Robert Jackson NSW Ross Jackson NSW Holden Torana XU1 26 Kunio Ishiguro Japan Masahiko Tominaga Japan Mitsubishi Lancer 27 Colin Taylor NZ K. Foulkes NZ Ford Escort RS1600 28 Yoshio Takaoka Japan Graham Elliott ACT Subaru A22 29 Adrian Taylor Qld Sid Smith Qld Honda Civic 30 James Laing-Peach NSW Barry Lake NSW Subaru A22 31 Wayne Bell NSW Brian Mepham NSW Mitsubishi Galant 32 Bruce Cheeseman NSW Alan Horsley NSW Mitsubishi Lancer 33 Allan Lawson Qld Greg Weale Qld Mazda RX3 34 Howard Collier NZ Colin Webster NZ Ford Escort RS 35 Noriyuki Koseki Japan Takao Ishii Japan Subaru A22 36 Gary Meehan NSW Martin Fell NSW Toyota Corolla 37 Hiroshi Watanabe Japan Koji Watanabe Japan Honda Civic 38 Ken Rohan PNG Dale Smith PNG Mazda RX3 39 Murray Coote Qld Brian Marsden Qld Datsun 1200 40 Hoichi Hirata Japan Hideo Ogawa Japan Mitsubishi Lancer 41 Gary Bevan ACT John McDonald ACT Datsun 1600 SSS 42 Bob Moore ACT Roger Moore ACT Toyota Corolla 43 Hideya Satoh Japan Tamotsu Watanabe Japan Mitsubishi Lancer 44 Barry Dyer NSW Brian McQuirk NSW Subaru A22 45 Brian West NSW Ian Lincoln NSW Holden Torana XU1 46 Masayoshi Horike Japan Toshiyuki Shibasaki Japan Mitsubishi Lancer 47 Ian Hill NSW Graham Roser NSW Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 48 Gary Mecak NSW John Trumpmanis NSW Mazda RX3 49 Susumu Enjitsu Japan Osamu Nishimura Japan Mitsubishi Lancer 50 John Munro Vic Wal Harris Vic Ford Falcon XW 51 Takao Banno Japan Kuniharu Ujima Japan Honda Civic 52 Doug Coulter NSW Kerry Anderson NSW Mitsubishi Lancer 53 Rod Jones NSW Arthur Davis NSW Datsun 180B SSS 54 B.Brawn NSW J.Innes NSW Toyota Corolla 55 Keith Goodall Qld Joe Keaney Qld Ford Escort RS2000
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56 John Buttsworth NSW Len Broad NSW Datsun 1600 57 Richard McCoy NSW James Jones NSW Chrysler Galant 58 Bill Adams NSW Dennis Russell NSW Holden Torana XU1 59 George Kahler NSW Rod van der Straaten WA Mazda Capella 60 Wally Pywell ACT Bill Streeter ACT Chrysler Lancer 61 Des Collins SA Ted Dobrzynski SA Ford Escort TC 62 Tony Jewels Qld David Kortlang Qld Subaru A22 63 Allen Hunter NSW Brian Partridge NSW Datsun 180B SSS 64 Brian Clark NSW Peter Hardy NSW Datsun 1600 65 Dennis Lloyd NSW Colin Mate NSW Datsun 1600 66 Brian McIlvenna NSW Max Roberts NSW Mazda 1300 Coupe 67 Geoff Ross NSW Peter Brown NSW Honda Civic 68 George Goodwin NSW Steve Pearce NSW Datsun 1200 Coupe 69 Robert Kahl NSW James Kahl NSW Holden Torana XU1 70 Malcolm Horsley NSW Keith Bateson NSW Volkswagen beetle 71 Wilf Slater NSW Thomas Smith NSW Morris Cooper S 72 Doug Mulholland NSW Ann Heaney ACT Datsun 1600 73 Tom Hayden Qld Tony Best Qld Mazda RX2 74 Fred Thompson Qld Jeff Tremain Qld Holden Torana XU1 75 Paul Bramble NSW Stephen Bradley NSW Mitsubishi Lancer 76 Trevor Seaman NSW Graham Kilby NSW Triumph 2.5Pi 77 Phil Walters NSW John Meany NSW Ford Capri V8 78 Robert Waller NSW Roger Lynch NSW Ford Escort TC 79 Tony Masling NSW Ken Smith NSW Holden Torana XU1 80 Ruggero Rotondo NSW Enrico Zanarini NSW Alfa Alfasud T1 81 Clem Harris NSW Chris Morris NSW Holden HD 82 Joyce Ryder NSW Oriel Ryder NSW Leyland P76 V8 83 Ron Denning NSW Heather Denning NSW Chrysler Lancer 84 Ron Marks NSW Fred Thomas NSW Datsun 1600 85 John McGinn NSW John Pearson NSW Mazda 1300 Coupe
THE EVENT
DIVISION ONE The field of 79 cars left the Opera House in Sydney during the lunchbreak and were quickly into action as the event followed the format of the past few years of being based at Port Macquarie. The first division ran through Newcastle, Bulahdelah and Taree.
The first night, covering 850 kilometres of which 400 (almost 50%) in 13 special stages were competitive, was particularly tough, with many crews delayed at a number of boggy creek crossings.
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A broken driveshaft on the Alfetta caused Evan Green/ John Bryson to ‘disappear’ and be an early withdrawal (see Highlights below).
Kallstrom took his 710 to an early lead from Cowan, not disappointing those who expected a battle royal between Nissan and Mitsubishi, but lost it when he stopped to change a punctured tyre.
Early leaders Harry Kallstrom/Roger Bonhomme in the Datsun 710SSS
As usual there were plenty of casualties. Quite early Ross Dunkerton/John Large, newly crowned Australian Rally Champions, bent the axle carrier on the 240Z on a transport section after clipping a spectator’s car too severely to continue, and this was extremely disappointing for the new Champs; Aaltonen’s 710 lost a wheel and some time rectifying the situation; Takaoka Subaru broke driveshafts and retired; one of the 1974 Magnificent Seven, Robert Jackson, had engine failure with his Holden Torana XU1, and a similar fate befell Adrian Taylor (Honda Civic) and Wayne Bell – Bell had his Mitsubishi Galant up to seventh place outright when it ran a bearing. Rob and Ross Jackson (not related) were sidelined in their Holden Torana XU1 with carburettor flooding.
Some of the New Zealanders struck trouble by mid-night. First was the crew of Paul Adams/James Scott with their Ford Escort RS1600 when the motor expired; they were followed by the clutch being destroyed on the Toyota Levin of Alan Brough/Michael Gall; then the RS1800 of Mike Marshall suffered from sundry small problems that slowed it considerably. Numerous other competitors suffered problems causing them to retire and when the field rolled into Port Macquarie early in the day 20 cars were already out of the event.
Many of the top runners were delayed by muddy conditions, and the leaders into Port Macquarie were Fury, Cowan, Carr (both tied in second), Kallstrom and Mikkola (both tied in fourth), Ferguson, Shinozuka, Riley, Watson, Aaltonen and Ian Hill, who, with navigator Graham Roser, took his Lancer to 11th outright from the dust eating 47th starting position. Results after first night: 1 George Fury Monty Suffern Datsun 710 SSS 44 =2 Andrew Cowan Fred Gocentas Mitsubishi Lancer 47 =2 Greg Carr Wayne Gregson Datsun 180B SSS 47 =4 Hannu Mikkola Brian Hope Mitsubishi Lancer 48 =4 Harry Kallstrom Roger Bonhomme Datsun 710 SSS 48 6 Barry Ferguson Lindsay Adcock Mitsubishi Lancer 50 7 Kenjiro Shinozuka Garry Connelly Mitsubishi Lancer 54 8 Bob Riley Neil Faulkner Mitsubishi Galant 58 9 Bob Watson Jeff Beaumont Ford Escort RS1800 BDA 59 10 Rauno Aaltonen Fitz Souminen Datsun 710 SSS 65 59 of the 79 cars started the second night.
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DIVISION TWO The second night was somewhat shorter with 700 kilometres but it was very competitive, containing 9 special stages with 520 kilometres competitive (75%). The first car left Port Macquarie at 3pm and the field headed north through Macksville to Bellingen and returned to Port Macquarie via Bowraville and Wauchope, with the longest stage being 180km. The dramas of the first night continued into the second night.
The roads were very dry and the dust problems were enormous; on the 180km stage crews sometimes followed another car for 100km, unable to get near enough to be in an overtaking position – two way radios were not in vogue then, let alone RallySafe systems!!
Greg Carr/Wayne Gregson in the Datsun 180B SSS finished third outright and was the best placed Datsun – here they show just how dusty it was.
It was a night of Datsun disaster and real drama came early. On the very first stage of the night, Aaltonen’s 710 stopped with a broken piston, a fault which later also struck Kallstrom’s car, focussing attention on Fury’s 710, but he was doing it easy in the dust-free number one position on the road. Shortly later, just when he looked like escaping the fate of his team mates, the engine went up in a cloud of smoke – yet another broken piston in a twin- cam Datsun engine. Those crews using the single-cam engines were hoping the problem was limited to the twin- cam engine, and this proved to be the case.
This first stage was damp in places and at one of these the Ian Hill/Graham Roser Lancer rolled, and righted, but a few kilometres further broke a tie rod and went head-first into a bank. Then, just before the end of the stage, Stewart McLeod, trying to make up time from a lowly position, hit a tree after running off the road on a ticklish left- hander at the end of a straight; then, on the next stage Marshall’s Escort pulled out with a blown head gasket.
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Rauno Aaltonen/John Suominen in the Datsun 710SSS – before the engine gave way!
At this point Hannu Mikkola’s challenge ended just as he was picking up time on Cowan, on a tricky right-hander which tightened considerably halfway round; he went for a handbrake turn but a wheel caught in the soft dirt and tipped over at slow speed. Little damage was done to the car but it lost its windscreen and despite an attempt by Mikkola to keep going without the screen this was impossible due to the heavy dust being churned up by the other cars.
Hannu Mikkola/Brian Hope were in the top six mid-way through the event when the Lancer toppled.
Cowan was set to win his fifth Southern Cross Rally and then he showed his mastery by taking four minutes off Ferguson and seven off Fury (who had a flat tyre). However, in doing so the Lancer had some braking problems and Cowan clouted a tree, without much damage. He used five sets of brake pads through the event, to Ferguson’s and Stewart’s one set.
Then on a 98km stage, called Jacobs Ladder for the steepness of a hill, it was Fury’s turn to blow a 710 motor.
Bruce Cheeseman, with Alan Horsley, rolled his Lancer but continued as it was fitted with a full roll cage (not compulsory in those days).
Despite losing brakes and going off the road down a rather steep embankment and then winching themselves back onto the road, Cowan/Gocentas finished the second night in equal first place with Barry Ferguson (henceforth Gocentas became known as ‘Freddie the Winch’), then came Carr (he had flat tyre problems), Watson (alternator and throttle hassles), Shinozuka (gearbox repairs), Stewart, Rainsford and Iwashita.
Over the night Ferguson lost 59 points, Cowan 62 and Carr 73. Stewart, in dashing form, lost 78, Rainsford and Watson 84 and Shinozuka 92.
On top of the 20 withdrawals on the first night, there were another 12 on the second night – including Fury, Mikkola, Kallstrom and Aaltonen.
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Bruce Cheeseman/Allan Horlsey early on the first division near Newcastle
Results after second night: =1 Andrew Cowan Fred Gocentas Mitsubishi Lancer 109 =1 Barry Ferguson Lindsay Adcock Mitsubishi Lancer 109 3 Greg Carr Wayne Gregson Datsun 180B SSS 120 4 Bob Watson Jeff Beaumont Ford Escort RS1800 BDA 143 5 Kenjiro Shinozuka Garry Connelly Mitsubishi Lancer 146 6 Doug Stewart John Dawson-Damer Mitsubishi Lancer 147 7 Dean Rainsford Graham West Porsche Carrera 167 8 Yoshi Iwashita ?? Sukuma Subaru A22 178 9 Kunio Ishigaru Masahiko Tominaga Mitsubishi Lancer 180 10 Jim Laing-Peach Barry Lake Subaru A22 183
DIVISION THREE The third division was truly competitive – it covered 675 kilometres of which 83% (525 km) were competitive in 10 special stages which included three daylight stages near Wauchope to cater for publicity (daylight filming) and many thousands of spectators. It then headed into the dense mountain forests and completed a loop back to Port Macquarie through Walcha and Wingham. The route itself became rather damp inland, which, though treacherous in parts, made a nice change from the previous night’s dust.
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Up front there was a battle royal as Cowan and Ferguson threw team orders (if there were any) to the wind. Shortly after the start Cowan forged to a slender lead over Ferguson, with Carr desperately holding onto his third place despite a bold challenge from Shinozuka, who, at this time, was outrunning Cowan.
Cowan had a tree branch entangled under the car at one point and it took some effort to remove, but he again moved into the lead. Laing-Peach rolled down an embankment but was returned to the road by a group of enthusiastic spectators and he maintained his tenth place.
One of the stars of this third night was Bruce Hodgson, with Chris Heaney, in his Escort RS 1600. He was well down in the field after electrical problems on the first night, and brought himself back into top ten contention.
Casualties included Gary Bevan, who rolled his Datsun 1600, followed soon after by the Japanese Lancer driven by Masayoshi Horiike; Geoff Goodwin/Steve Pearce pulled up in their Datsun 1200 to let a competitor through, only to have the verge collapse beneath them and they ran out of late time winching the car back onto the road.
The front runners were trying to outstay one another on the third night, but basically the order was the same at the end of the second night. Cowan lost 29 points, Ferguson 33, Watson 34, Shinozuka 36, and Carr 40.
7 retired on the night.
Results after third night: 1 Andrew Cowan Fred Gocentas Mitsubishi Lancer 138 2 Barry Ferguson Lindsay Adcock Mitsubishi Lancer 142 3 Greg Carr Wayne Gregson Datsun 180B SSS 160 4 Bob Watson Jeff Beaumont Ford Escort RS1800 BDA 177 5 Kenjiro Shinozuka Garry Connelly Mitsubishi Lancer 182 6 Doug Stewart John Dawson-Damer Mitsubishi Lancer 194 7 Dean Rainsford Graham West Porsche Carrera 223 8 Yoshio Iwashita Subaru A22 234 9 Kunio Ishigaru Masahiko Tominaga Mitsubishi Lancer 244 10 Jim Laing-Peach Barry Lake Subaru A22 273
DIVISION FOUR 40 cars started the most difficult division of the event, conducted over 1100 kilometres, in which endurance, as much as performance, would play its part. The competition (over 550 kilometres – 49% - in 16 special stages) started with special daylight stages, again near Wauchope. Then the course ran north inland of Macksville to Coffs Harbour, through the now famous Gordonville Ford at Bellingen; then further north and inland to Nymboida and south to a scheduled three hour break at Armidale before heading back to the coast and Port Macquarie.
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On this final night the front runners seemed content to protect whatever placing they had and not try for anything better, but the pace and distance were beginning to take their toll.
Cowan quickly took the lead from Ferguson as the cars travelled through the choking dust.
Watson’s Escort expired in a cloud of smoke and steam from a blown head gasket; then Rainsford drove the Porsche up a creek bed and badly lacerated his hand while trying to get the car out and could not continue for the pain. The wound later required ten stitches; Japan’s most consistent Southern Cross Rally competitor Yoshio Iwashita went out of the event when the transmission of his front wheel drive Subaru broke up. Colin Taylor’s Escort stopped with collapsed rear suspension.
The usual crowd of thousands were at the Gordonville Ford near Bellingen and some were disappointed that cars were not stuck as some were in 1974, but this year the water level was well down. A good time was held by all, especially the local who drove his truck well into the river bed, and used the truck tray as a grandstand.
‘Grandstand’ viewing at the Gordonville Ford!!
The Gordonville Ford near Bellingen was a highlight for locals for several years. In 1975 it was estimated the crowd number was well into the thousands, lining both sides of the river.
After refuelling at Coffs Harbour there were several short stages which were quite rough and dusty, and they proved a handful for several crews. Kunio Ishiuro (Lancer) and Clem Harris (Holden HD, oldest car in the event) went off the road – the former sideways into saplings, and the latter ended upside down into a creek. Both crews emerged unscathed and finished – although Ishiuro dropped from ninth to 19th in the final placings. Yoshio Iwashita, who had been having a good if not a spectacular run, had transmission failure.
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Dean Rainsford/Graham West were hanging onto the leaders early but later retired when Rainsford suffered a badly lacerated hand in winching the car back onto the road after an off.
Onto Nymboida and then a long transport to Armidale, where the scheduled three-hour break was reduced to one hour for the leaders due to the lateness of the field, and some of the backmarkers only had minutes as the field was regrouped.
A 4km section around the town was over very slippery roads between trees and cars were darting off the road between them. Then a 140km transport to the Oxley Highway at Myrtle Creek, followed by two very greasy and treacherous stages and suddenly it was all over except for four special daylight stages, again near Wauchope, after which the cars headed into the finish at Port Macquarie. 30 crews finishing the course within the late time but only 12 covered the entire route.
And after the finish, there was facing up to the event’s Stewards!
Kenjiro Shinozuka, in the works-backed Lancer, was placed fourth but at post-event scrutiny was reported and found guilty of modifying a broken wishbone by using parts made from illegal material; and Rod Millen was disqualified for adding strengthening to the front suspension during the event. A sad end to gallant efforts by the two crews against tremendous odds.
So Cowan won his fifth Southern Cross Rally and fourth in a row. The ever consistent Barry Ferguson came second and Greg Carr saved the day for Datsun by finishing a very fine third, with Mitsubishi Team Leader Doug Stewart being fourth.
Bruce Hodgson rounded out a great couple of weeks of motorsport coming home in fifth place (from 18th at the end of the third division).
Bruce Hodgson/Chris Heaney worked very hard for their firth outright in the Escort RS1600
On this last night Cowan lost 51 points, Carr 55, Ferguson 59, and Shinozuka 60. Those who dropped out of the top ten were Watson, Rainsford, Iwashita and Ishigaru, whilst Shinozuka was excluded. Into the ten went Hodgson, Hirabayashi, Cheeseman, Kanno and Koseki – making it three Japanese crews.
Of the 23 overseas drivers who started 8 finished = 35%; of the 56 Australians who started 57% finished. 138
Final Placings 1 Andrew Cowan Fred Gocentas Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 189 points 2 Barry Ferguson Lindsay Adcock Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 201 points 3 Greg Carr Wayne Gregson Datsun 180B SSS 215 points 4 Doug Stewart John Dawson-Damer Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 277 points 5 Bruce Hodgson Chris Heaney Ford Escort RS 1600 368 points 6 James Laing-Peach Barry Lake Subaru A22 373 points 7 Takeshi Hirabayashi Yoshimasa Nakahura Subaru A22 397 points 8 Bruce Cheeseman Alan Horsley Mitsubishi Lancer 405 points 9 Shingeru Kanno Kiyoshi Kawamur Mitsubishi Lancer 422 points 10 Noriyuki Koseki Takao Ishii Subaru A22 440 points The only others to finish the complete course were Gary Mecak/John Trumpmanis (Mazda RX3 – 11th) and Susumu Enjitsu/Osuma Nishimara (Mitsubishi Lancer) in 12th.
Following post-event scrutineering Kenjiro Shinozuka/Gary Connelly in the Mitsubishi Lancer, who had finished fourth, were excluded for use of wrong suspension components. They would have finished fourth outright with 250 points. New Zealander Rod Millen (Mazda RX3) was also excluded for illegal turret strengthening. He finished 11th with 405 points.
EVENT SIDELINES
• The reason for the failure of the engines of the Datsun 710s was not readily known at the event. The dohc motors had been giving trouble in Japan and Europe over the previous two years but it was thought to be sorted out. Perhaps it was a bad batch of pistons, or maybe the mixture was set too lean. Whatever the cause, it was extremely disappointing, not only for Datsun and the crews, but also for the thousands of spectators that flocked to the rally area to see the incredible spectacular action of Datsun v Mitsubishi (and others!). • The demise of the 710s in 1975 had a major effect, with the Datsun Rally Team organisation structure taking on a complete change for 1976, with former Ford Competition Manager Howard Marden taking over the team. • Someone always seems to have problems on the initial transport section from the start and this year it was Canberra’s Gary Bevan/John MacDonald whose Datsun 1600 dropped a valve. By dint of hard work, they changed the head, but dropped controls as a result. On the second night they were fifteenth fastest but rolled out of the event early on the third night. • Murray Coote/Brian Marsden’s Datsun 1200, running in standard form, lost time when the oil filter fell off near a spectator point on the daylight stages. A kind spectator gave them the one from his car and they continued very competitively, finishing 16th outright and winning Class A, even though the car’s differential had to be changed at Armidale on the final night. • Perhaps the event’s most disappointed crew was Evan Green/John Bryson when their Alfetta GT broke a driveshaft half way through the first night. It was a gruelling experience for them as they had strayed off the rally course, waited seven hours until someone arrived, this being an off-duty control official who had also taken a wrong turn. He carried John for help and Evan had another seven hour wait until the service crew was located and directed to the stranded vehicle. • On night two, Bryan West/Ian Lincoln complained to the service crew about transmission noise. The gearbox oil looked okay but, sadly, a check of the differential was overlooked and the pinion melted, bringing the car to a halt. • Bob Riley/Neil Faulkner had early fuel problems with the Galant which they overcame. But on the second night the car broke a tie rod for the second time and they had to sit and wait for another similar car to come pass to borrow a replacement. The delay caused them to ‘cut and run’ and they dropped many points. The next night the differential packed it in and they were out after a promising early run. • Unhappiest crew during the event was Bob Brawn/Jim Innes who were misinformed as to their second night’s results, thought they were out of the event and went off to officiate in the bush. Despite appeals over the local radio 2KM, they were too far away to return in time and were thus outed quite unnecessarily. • Nine cars rolled over during the event, one of them, driven by Shigeru Kanno, in a Lancer, did it twice! • For the first time the Director (Clerk of Course) remained in Port Macquarie in what has become known as ‘Rally Control’, and relied on two-way radio link with officials to sort out any problems. Radio communications were provided by the Army, as an exercise, using its Signal Corps from Newcastle.
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PHOTOGRAPHS
Tony Masling and Ken Smith took their Holden Torana XU1 to a class win
Doug Stewart/John Dawson-Damer in the Lancer GSR. Master-mind behind the Mitsubishi attack over the years Stewart finished fourth to give him his highest placing in the event.
Subaru was successful with a class win. James Laing-Peach and Barry Lake in the front wheel drive
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Barry Ferguson developed a very proud record in the event – competing with Lindsay Adcock in the Mitsubishi Lancer GSR
1975 Australian Rally Champions – Ross Dunkerton and John Large in the Datsun 240Z On the first night the Datsun clipped a spectator vehicle and bent the axle carrier too severely to continue
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