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Jun 03

Rally HQ Back At Marina Resort – AMH Auto Group Rally Of The Bay

By Events, News, Rally, Rally of the Bay 2021, Wheelspin

Rally Headquarters for the 2021 AMH Auto Group will be back at the Batemans Bay Marina Resort. The venue has changed its name from the ‘Coachhouse’ to reflect the resorts Batemans Bay location.

The Batemans Bay Marina Resort has once again put their support behind the popular motorsport event as the official accommodation and Rally HQ venue.

In announcing the continued partnership, North Shore Sporting Car Club (NSSCC) President Brett Middleton said “We’re really privileged to have such a great business put their support behind our event. The facilities at the Batemans Bay Marina Resort are perfect for Rally Headquarters and we also accommodate all our key officials here.”

“For all our rally teams heading to the event, this is the perfect place to book their accommodation. It’s the ideal location to stay with most villa’s having a sleeping capacity for six people.” Middleton added. “Plus, it’s right next to Rally HQ, has plenty of parking for trucks and trailers, is only a short distance to the Service Park and is walking distance to Club Catalina across the road, which is also our Social Hub.”

The rally of the Bay Event Manager, Nigel Bland expects that up to 90 rally teams will descend on the Batemans Bay township on the July 17 weekend.

“It’s fantastic to have Rally HQ back at the Batemans Bay Marina Resort” Bland said. “The Resort has been a great venue for us to base our rally headquarters over the past few years and we’re really looking forward to their great hospitality again this year.”

“The Resort is also offering rally teams and event officials some great accommodation deals with discounts for extended stays.” added Bland.

The 2021 Rally of the Bay is conducted by North Shore Sporting Car Club and forms part of the MTA NSW Rally Championship, East Coast Classic 4WD Rally Series, East Coast Classic 2WD Rally Series, NSW Clubman Rally Series, Hyundai Rally Series and the ACT Regional Rally Series.

About the Batemans Bay Marina Resort

The Batemans Bay Marina Resort is a beautiful resort style property overlooking the ocean and tidal lagoon. There are 89 self-contained villas, many featuring a waterfront location and boasting spectacular ocean views.

Corrigan’s swimming beach is just a few minutes stroll away and boat enthusiasts and fisherman benefit from direct access to the boat ramp through the rear of the resort.

The Catalina championship 27-hole golf course and 7-day a week bistro is conveniently located directly across the road. The town centre of Batemans Bay is only a 15-minute harbour side walk away or just a two minute drive.

About North Shore Sporting Car Club

The North Shore Sporting Car Club was created in December 1952 by a small band of die-hard rally fans. 69 years later and the club has grown from this small group to over 500 members. The club is responsible for organising 10 events per year, covering dirt, tarmac and other timed rally-type events. Club members are from all over Sydney and beyond with a myriad of cars in varying shapes and sizes. One common theme, however, is the passion of the members and the legacy of club.

May 26

Dalton satisfied with solid finish in Queensland

By Events, Rally, Wheelspin

Shamrock Motorsport driver, Richie Dalton, has taken a solid haul of points from round two of the Australian Rally Championship in Queensland.

Driving his turbocharged, four-wheel drive Toyota Yaris AP4, Dalton overcame a slow start on both days of the rally to finish the 12 stage Rally Queensland in sixth place.

It comes a month after his fourth place at the National Capital Rally was taken from him within sight of the finish in Canberra.

Being held for the first time since 2016, this was Dalton’s first trip to Rally Queensland, and he set off from the start determined to ensure he reached the finish and gain more experience of his new car.

Outright speed was never really the objective going into the weekend, with the Irishman more intent on learning the new stages.

“I’ve been struggling for confidence in the car, so to get home with a finish means it’s been a good weekend,” Dalton said.

“I found it very difficult to get a rhythm in the car this weekend which has been frustrating, but we stuck with it and made it to the finish which was always the plan, so we’re happy enough.”

Dalton and co-driver Dale Moscatt have now done three rallies in the car, including a first-up victory in a rallysprint event on debut.

As he does more kilometres in the ex-works Yaris, he knows the speed will increase.

“We still have a lot to work on and to learn the car more, but going forward we’re heading back to Tasmania where we’ve been before, which is great.

“We have pace notes for most of the stages down there and we’ve been quick there in the past in the old car.”

The Neal Bates Motorsport team will now prepare the Yaris for the trip south to Launceston on the first weekend in July, where jackets and beanies will replace the shorts and t-shirts that were prominent in Queensland last weekend.

May 22

Dalton ready to bounce back in Queensland

By Events, News, Rally, Wheelspin

Shamrock Motorsport and NSSCC Club Member, Richie Dalton is determined to make amends for a disappointing start to the Australian Rally Championship last month.

Dalton was on track for a solid fourth place in the opening round of the series in Canberra, only for a suspension failure to throw his car off the road and out of the event.

This weekend in Queensland, the Toyota Yaris AP4 driver will be back on the horse (so to speak) as he continues to come to grips with his new car.

“It really was a heartbreaking way to end the first round, because we hadn’t put a wheel wrong all rally,” Dalton said.

“But sometimes that’s how it goes in rallying, and we came away with nothing more than a repair bill for the car.”

Since then, the team at Neal Bates Motorsport has repaired the Yaris and it heads in to Rally Queensland in tip-top condition.

This will be the first time the rally has been run since 2016, and all the stages will be new to competitors.

“It’s exciting,” Dalton added.

“Competing in a new event is always a great challenge, and when it’s new for everyone it makes it a real unknown.

“The team that writes the best pace notes and adapts to the new stages the best will come away with the rewards.”

Dalton and experienced co-driver, Dale Moscatt, will complete their pre-event reconnaissance on Friday, after testing the rebuilt Yaris on Thursday morning.

“We knew this year was going to be a learning one, and so far that’s proved to be the case.

“However, we know the car has the speed, and if we put together a solid drive over the 12 stages in Queensland, then we’re confident that we can push for a podium finish.”

Based in Gympie, north of Brisbane, Rally Queensland runs on Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23.

Apr 15

Callous Canberra inflict devastating blow on Dalton

By Events, Rally

Richie Dalton has suffered heartbreak just three stages from the end of the National Capital Rally in Canberra last weekend.

Lying in fourth place and having set a string of top four stage times, Dalton and co-driver Dale Moscatt were on track for a superb start to the 2021 Australian Rally Championship.

The pair were driving their 2019 championship-winning Toyota Yaris AP4 and had settled in well over the two days of competition.

On the rally’s 12th stage, however, a broken rear suspension arm threw the car off the road at high speed and saw the car roll into a ditch, and out of the rally.

“We’re shattered as everything had been going perfectly to plan,” Dalton said.

“We were cruising and being really efficient with our driving, making no mistakes and keeping out of trouble.

“It took me a while to get to grips with the new car on the Canberra roads, but towards the end of day two we were comfortably fourth and set for a good haul of points.”

The Yaris was in sixth gear and travelling at around 150km/h when Dalton hit a rock in the road, which broke the suspension.

The car rolled into the ditch, but fortunately was relatively undamaged, although it could not be driven back up onto the road.

“I’m still devastated by it,” Dalton added. “We didn’t deserve that.

“I drove the perfect rally … almost.”

Before then, Dalton and Moscatt had set three second fastest stage times, and five fourth quickest times in a car that was built and prepared by Neal Bates Motorsport.

Not to be deterred after the accident, Dalton will be back in action at round two of the Australian championship in Queensland in mid-May.

The rally will be new to all competitors in the series, putting everyone on a level playing field at the start.

The Sydneysider is already looking to make amends, and hoping that he can finally call on the “luck of the Irish”.

Oct 11

Sullens wins Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally by 2.1 seconds

By Caves Classic 2020, Rally

In one of the closest finishes in the history of the NSW State Rally Championship, Citroen driver Tony Sullens and co-driver Kaylie Newell have emerged victorious from a day long fight where the lead changed several times.

The second round of the MTA NSW State Rally championship set out from Oberon under bright and sunny skies and the competition was on from the start. The first ten cars on the road comprised Mitsubishi Evos of Clarke (now with stand in co-driver Jim Gleeson after Ryan Preston was restricted to Queensland),  Joass, Giddins and Moore, Sullens in the Citroen DS3RT, the Audio Quattro of Keough, Travis in his new look Gazelle, the Penny Subaru, Griffins Toyota Corolla and Quinny, a young bloke in an old car!

The rally comprised 9 stages and ran the first 5 before service, and then a re-run of the previous 4.

SS 1 ‘Lowes Mount’ saw the Keough Audi just edge out the Clarke Evo that was running first on the road. It looked like Penny would grab third, but starting in position #23, the McAloon Escort stormed through on the improving roads to grab third. The Neale Honda left the road mid stage and was beached until recovered and started Heat 2 in the afternoon.

SS 2 ‘Roberts’ was a magic open stage on fast and dusty roads but luckily the winds had picked up. Clarke was fastest followed from Keough and Penny, separated by 9 seconds. Sullens had started as second car on the road and was struggling for grip on the long uphills.

SS3 ‘Essington’ was a longer 18km stage as the field headed south towards Black Springs. Clarke again fasted, this time 17 seconds quicker than Sullens improving Citroen and again the McAloon Escort taking third only 1.5 seconds behind. Both Penny and Griffin lost time with mechanical issues.

SS 4 ‘Bemerang’ was the longest stage of the event at 20kms. Clarke was absent from the front of the field and came through after four cars and dropped 18 seconds to the leaders. The Moore Evo was handling much better after a mid week wheel alignment and brake pad compound change and after sitting inside the top ten so far, took fastest on this stage by 8 seconds from the Keough Audi and Sullens Citroen a further 7 seconds back. Further down the field the Neill Hyundai left the road at the 17km mark but the crew were OK.

SS 5 ‘Staceys’ was a shorter 9km stage and again Moore took fastest from Keough by just 1 second and the Quinn Mazda RX2 getting third, 4 seconds back.

At the service break Clarke still had a 17 second lead from Keough due to his better speed in the first few tests. Moore was third, 34 seconds from the lead and was the surprise of the morning loop. Sullens was just behind in fourth, 36 seconds from the lead, battling the loose gravel as second car on the road. Quinn was still in the mix and while setting times inside the top ten just didn’t have the top speed on the faster sections to keep up with the leaders. Joass, Giddins and Cullen all were going well, Travis in the Gazelle was sitting in ninth and youngster Gill rounding the top ten in his Subaru.

SS 6 ‘Roberts 2’ saw Sullens make his move. Now on better roads than had been cleaned from the morning pass, he went quickest from Clarke and Keough, but all three separated by just 2.6 seconds!

SS 7 ‘Essington 2’ was the stage that most impacted the event. Sullens again quickest, this time 14 seconds from Keough and Penny, who had rejoined after the service, was third. Clarke struck trouble and finished the stage but dropped 38 seconds to Sullens. The leader board changed yet again and now the Keough Audi was leading outright by 3 seconds from Sullens and Clarke now dropping to third a further 4 seconds back.

SS 8 ‘Bemerang 2’ and Clarke, battling with an ill car that looked very wrong at the back end, struck back to take the stage win over Sullens by 5 seconds. Keough only 0.4 seconds in third. The fight was going down to the last stage with outright placings Keough, Clarke and Sullens separated by now just 2.7 seconds. A Quattro, from an Evo, and a Citroen FWD – what a rally!

SS 9 ‘Staceys 2’ and was an all or nothing stage for Sullens. For the front running cars the stage would run just on sunset, for those further back it would be in full darkness. Before the rally started Sullens said it was maximum attack and now must have had his eyes on the #1 spot. The stage is mainly flat with fast open sections and humps and Sullens stopped the clock with a stage time of 5.17. What could Keough and Clarke do? Try as he might Keough roared the Audi through in a time of 5.22 and Clarke in the Evo recorded 5.30.

Tony Sullens and Kaylie Newell in their Citroen DS3RT had won the rally by 2.1 seconds.

Keough in the Audio Quattro second, Clarke’s Mitsubishi EVO 11 seconds back in third. Moore’s great morning loop was enough for fourth, dropping from third at the service after having a ‘moment’ on the slippery section in Bemerang, striking a rock and losing brakes for the last stage. Quinn had run as fast as he could but the lack of top end speed limited his run to fifth. It was good to see his co driver Ray Winwood Smith back in the car after a serious back injury at Bulahdelah. He completed the event still wearing his back brace. Joass, Giddins, Cullen, Jacques finished in sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth in the Mitsubishi Evos. Rounding out the top ten was Taylor Gill in his Subaru WRX.

The event was a great success and full credit to the North Shore Sporting Car Club officials and volunteers for managing to stage the rally amid the current Covid restrictions. You could see the smiles on faces, everyone happy to be back in the forest again.

The next round of the MTA NSW Rally Championship takes place on the Monaro Stages on the last weekend of October.

Sep 29

Moynihan Swaps Seats for Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally

By Caves Classic 2020, News, Rally
Moynihan in action at the Bulahdelah Rally. PHOTO: Gravel Pics

Eoin Moynihan is well known in rallying circles as the affable co-driver for Tom Demody. Dermody and Moynihan were the winners of the inaugural East Coast Classic Rally Series in 2018 in a Mk2 RS1800 Ford Escort.

However, whilst Moynihan may be experienced in calling the notes from the passenger side, he has also sat in the opposite seat, and back in 2014 and 2015 drove a Toyota Sprinter in a number of events.

On a few return trips to his Irish homeland, Moynihan competed as a driver in several rallies in a Mk 2 Classic Escort, built by his uncle. That car was recently imported into Australia and now Moynihan has entered it in the Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally.

“The Escort arrived in Australia in June,” Moynihan said. “We drove it at the Bulahdelah rally a few months ago, and the Caves Classic Rally is the first opportunity we’ve had to enter another event.”

“It’s a proper classic Escort rally car, with a BDG engine and ZF five speed and I can’t wait to have another drive of it.”

“I’ve actually driven in a rally up in the Black Springs area a few years ago in my Sprinter, and of course I’ve co-driven for Tom in a few previous Caves Classic rallies, so I know the area fairly well and I’m really looking forward to see the new roads that North Shore Sporting Car Club have included for this year,” Moynihan added.

The Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally is not the last event in 2020 that we will see Moynihan and co-driver John Brophy in the 1978 model Escort. They will back up their visit to the Oberon Forests with a trip to the Monaro Stages rally later in October.

“Tom and I were originally planning on doing the Monaro Stages in his Escort, but he’s since pulled it apart and decided not to do any more rallies in 2020. So, I’ve taken over his entry and we’ll hopefully do really well down on those roads,” Moynihan said.

But the partnership with Dermody is not over for 2020, with the pair planning on entering the Tarmac Adelaide Rally in November.

“As you might know, Tom now also has a Mk1 Escort and we are planning on entering the Adelaide Rally. This will be something new for us, but I’m really looking forward to trying out some tarmac rallying and I’ve heard a lot of good things about the event, so it should be a lot of fun,” concluded Moynihan.

The Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally will get underway on the 10th of October, starting in the Hoosier Service Park at the Oberon Rugby Leagues Football Club grounds at 11am.

Sep 26

Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally on track for 10th of October

By Caves Classic 2020, News, Rally

In just over two weeks, the Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally is set for some intense competition in both the MTA NSW Rally Championship and also the East Coast Classic Rally Series.

With 37 entries received to date, North Shore Sporting Car Club (NSSCC) are expecting a rush of entries over the next few weeks in the lead up to the second big rally in NSW since the COVID-19 Pandemic led to many event cancellations and postponements.

After successfully running the first round of the MTA NSW Series in July, NSSCC will be using the expertise gained in running a COVID safe event and applying it to the Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally.

“This is the first rally in NSW organised since restrictions were tightened following the second wave of the virus” said Jon Thomson, Event Director. “We could have easily just cancelled our event and waited until next year, but we felt we owed it to the rally community to get an event up and running as soon as we could.”

The event was originally planned to be conducted on the weekend of the 5th of September, however further restrictions were introduced by the NSW government and the event was postponed to the 10th of October.

“Since moving the date of the event, Oberon has had storms, rain and a massive dump of snow. Overall the roads are in fantastic condition and we think the drivers and co-drivers are going to love the new roads we’ve chosen in the Beemerang and Roberts State Forests”, Thomson added.

Tom Clarke in the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO at the 2019 Caves Classic Rally

The Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally will also be a round of the NSW Clubman Rally Series and this event will also be their second rally for 2020 after several cancellations of other events.

“With so much turmoil in the country from the virus pandemic, it’ll be great to see rally cars back in the Forest again. We’ve been putting a lot of effort into making sure this event is a success and we’re sure that it won’t disappoint”, Thomson concluded.

A fantastic range of businesses are putting their support behind the event, led by naming rights partner, Midstate Freight. A range of other partners are supporting individual stages and providing accommodation for officials. Hoosier will be the naming rights partner for the Service Park and our Club Partners: Shannons, GFB, Whiteline and Shamrock Haulage are all involved in the event. Lazer Lighting will be providing a lighting package as a prize for one lucky team who finish the event in the dark.

The event will start at 11am on Saturday the 10th of October at the Oberon Rugby Leagues Football Club.

Unseeded entries received as of 25th September:

Bethany Cullen / Mel Mcminn – Mitsubishi Evo 6.5 2000
Justin Griffin / Mathew Critchlow – Toyota Corolla 2002
Sean Mc Aloon / Muireann Hayes – Ford Escort 1979
Taylor Gill / Peter Harris / Dallas Gill – Subaru Wrx 1999
Alexander Neill / Joshua Neill – Hyundai Excel 1997
Tony Jordan / Richard Davidson – Triumph Stag 1974
Matthew Ruggles / Guy Ruggles – Triumph Tr7 V8 1980
Eoin Moynihan / John Brophy – Ford Escort 1978
Andrew Travis / David Travis – Nissan Gazelle 1984
Chris Giddins / Katie Giddins – Mitsubishi Evo Ix 2003
Chris Fitzgerald / Corey Bryant – Subaru Impreza 2000
Jamie Neale / Tommi Flegl – Honda Civic 1999
Sid Sparkes / Paul Fletcher – Datsun 1600 1971
Benjamin Vanzyl / Nadine Bucher – Hyundai Excel 1998
Tony Sullens / Kaylie Newell – Citroen Ds3 2012
Andrew Penny / Rhys Llewellyn – Subaru Wrx 1995
Robert Gorst / Wesley Gorst – Datsun P510 1971
Peter Thompson / Ken Hind – Toyota Ra 23 Celica 1976
Mal Keough / Andrew (Pip) Bennett – Audi Quattro S1 E2 Replica 1985
Tim Joass / Peter Joass – Mitsubishi Evo 2 1994
Evan Bollard / Phillip Bonser – Mazda Rx2 1972
P.j. O’keeffe / Tba Tba – Ford Escort 1978
Jake Bramble / Josh Love – Datsun 1600 1969
Riley Walters / Jeffery Williamson – Subaru Wrx 2007
Michael Stewart / Matthew Portus – Subaru Wrx Sti 1997
Terry Gunter / Stephen Newell – Ford Escort Mk2 1975
Phillip Chisholm / Peter Stringfellow – Nissan Skyline 1988
Ron Moore / Jo Moore – Mitsubishi Evolution Vi 1998
Edward Mulligan / Robert Males – Ford Escort 1978
Tom Clarke / Jim Gleeson – Mitsubishi Evo 9 2003
Chris Jaques / Hugh Taylor – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 2001
Michael Curtin / Pierce Lennon – Datsun 1600 1972
Nathan Quinn / Ray Winwood-Smith – Mazda Rx2 1970
Declan Foley / Ken Murphy – Volkswagon Golf 1996
Brian O Neill / Mac Kierans – Ford Mk 11 1979
Ron Mckinnon / Steve Mckinnon – Mitsubishi L A Lancer 1976
Joe Chapman / Adrian Grabham – Subaru Wrx 1997

Jun 26

Cooper Tyres join High Country Motorsports

By Rally, Rally of the Bay 2020

The team at High Country Motorsports are busy preparing for there much anticipated return to motorsport next month at the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay.

With the last event for the team being well over 9 months ago, there has been a lot going on behind the scenes.

High Country Motorsports is excited to announce they will be partnering with Cooper motorsport tyres to launch the brand new Cooper Discoverer DG1 gravel rally tyre in Australia. They will be making the most of a pre-event test day being run in the Kowen forest just outside of Canberra in the week leading up to the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay.

Due to COVID-19 this will be the team’s first chance to become familiar with the brand new Cooper Discoverer DG1 gravel rally tyres and reacquaint themselves in the car. The team are excited to bring another tyre brand into the Australian market and with the well regarded reputation of Cooper tyres it’s sure to give them the confidence they need on the roads around Batemans Bay.

High Country Motorsports is made up of Driver Chris Higgs and co-driver Daymon Nicoli.

Aug 29
Go Fast Bits

GFB BACKS TARMAC RALLYSPRINT

By Events, Rally, Rallysprint, Tarmac Rallysprint

GFB (Go-Fast-Bits) has again renewed its support of the Whiteline Tarmac Rallysprint for the 2019/2020 season. In addition to providing support of the event in general, GFB will be once again support the Junior competitors by continuing the “GFB Junior Challenge award”. The prize, which includes $100 in prize money (per event) and trophies, is awarded to Junior Drivers at each round of five round series.

Showcasing their Australian Manufacturing capabilities, GFB will also provide customised trophies manufactured at their facility in Sydney.

In announcing the continued relationship, North Shore Sporting Car Club (NSSCC) President Brett Middleton said “We’re glad to have GFB back on board as one of our major partners this season, they are a great supporter, and they also actually use the event to test their products.

Middleton added, “It’s also fantastic that they’ve chosen to once again support the Junior drivers. NSSCC want to encourage and mentor the next generation of rally drivers and co-drivers and with GFB providing these prizes, we’ve probably got the best junior driver opportunities in the country.”

In addition to the GFB junior challenge award, Junior drivers also have the opportunity to compete in a fully sponsored Hyundai i30 N Hot Hatch.

GFB products are proudly made in Australia in accordance with the ISO 9001 quality management system. Their range of innovative and high-quality products include diverter/ blow-off valves, boost controllers, wastegates, fuel pressure regulators, pulley kits, short shifters and other performance components. Their products are meticulously designed and manufactured in Australia from the highest-grade materials and deliver real performance outcomes, without making the car difficult to live with on a daily basis. GFB has a team of dedicated, enthusiastic and passionate individuals who are regular competitors at the Whiteline Tarmac Rallysprint Series and make the GFB name what it is today.

The 2019/2020 Summer Series of the Whiteline Tarmac Rallysprint will once again comprise of five exciting rounds starting in October. The series is open to both experienced rally drivers through to novice and first-time competitors.

DATES FOR THE 2019/2020 SEASON
Round 1: Thursday 17th October 2019
Round 2: Tuesday 19th November 2019
Round 3: Thursday 5th December 2019
Round 4: Thursday 13th February 2020
Round 5: Thursday 12th March 2020

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