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Jun 13

AMH Automotive Group gets behind Rally of the Bay

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

The AMH Automotive Group have once again thrown their support behind the Rally of the Bay, taking on naming rights partnership for one final year. Their support of the North Shore Sporting Car Club (NSSCC) event has stretched back for over five years, and the event has become synonymous with the AMH branding.

“AMH has been our naming rights partner for many years now, and we can’t thank them enough for their support”, Club President Brett Middleton said. “The support we receive from AMH and Dealer-Principle Jade Cowan has been tremendous and really helped our event become the success that it is”.

“As we head into the final year of our partnership, we look back on all the great things we have achieved together. AMH run a highly successful car dealership in multiple locations on the south coast and they also have a four-wheel drive accessories business and tyre dealership. Last year, those businesses were able to assist our club donate a Colorado Ute to local group that had been helping with the bush fire recovery. They really are a community minded business and we’ve been able to build a great relationship with them”, Middleton added.

“Together with AMH, our rally event has had some big milestones, especially last year when we were the first rally in Australia to happen after the COVID lockdowns. And this year we join the Australian Rally Championship as a promotional event. Our rally really has grown with the help of AMH and our other partners”, Middleton concluded.

The AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay is set to take place on Saturday the 17th of July in the forests surrounding Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast. The first car will be flagged away from Corrigan’s Beach Reserve in Batehaven at 8:45am.

Jun 11

Motorsport Australia Officials Training

By Events, News, Wheelspin

Are you looking to become an official and would like to do an official Motorsport Australia training module?

Motorsport Australia and the NSW State Officiating Panel are again running face-to-face Officials Training.  These face-to-face courses are now being focused on those courses not available online. These course include:

  • Bronze Scrutiny
  • Bronze Steward
  • Bronze Fire & Rescue
  • Silver Module
  • Upskilling

There are courses being run at Sydney Motorsport Park, Wakefield Park, Bathurst and Tamworth and can be run in more areas as needed.
To stay across all upcoming courses or to register interest in courses that are not listed but you would like to be run, click the button below to be taken to the Officials Training Registration form.

Register Online

For NSSCC members wanting to complete other Bronze officials courses, you can access the LMS training site through the Motorsport Australia Member Portal.

For information regarding Officials Training please see our Officials Training and Upgrading page.

Training Page

If you have any other queries about officials training or would like to know more, you can contact Motorsport Australia at officials@motorsport.org.au

Jun 11

Supplementary Regulations released and entries open for AMH Auto Group Rally of the Bay

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

The supplementary regulations for the AMH Rally of the Bay have been released and entries are now open for the North Shore Sporting Car Club run event.

Two separate events are on offer, the Bay Stages and a shorter Bay Ramble event for those who only want to compete in the NSW Clubman series.

Crews are set to be flagged away from the Ceremonial Start at Corrigan’s Beach Reserve, Batehaven at 8:45am.

“We’re really pleased with how this year’s event has come together” Event Manager and Club Vice President Nigel Bland said. “We were a bit worried about the condition of some of the roads we normally use, but we’ve managed to work around it and have come up with a route that we know our crews are going to love” Bland added.

“Entries are now open and we’re expecting a big contingent of teams from the NSW Rally Championship and Clubman Rally Series. This rally was always planned for them, and they’ll be our top priority. We know that there’ll be plenty of competition from the State and Clubman competitors and I’m really looking forward to welcoming them to the Bay”.

“But we’re really excited that our rally has also become a promotional round of the Australian Rally Championship. We’ve already had plenty of enquiries from the major ARC teams and I expect we’ll see a good number of them at the AMH Rally of the Bay”, Bland concluded.

Four special stages have been selected and these will be repeated to provide a total of 8 stages for the Bay Stages event, with the first seven stages on offer for the Bay Ramble event.

The rally will be using the 8km Ridge Road/Dog Trap Road to the east of the Princess Highway, just behind the township of Batehaven. This stage has not been competed on for a number of years, but was a favourite amongst drivers, with its fast-flowing corners along the ridgeline.

From the top of the ridge, crews will travel through Mogo to tackle the 14km blast over Buckenbowra Road and into the roller coaster Ross Ridge Road. After a quick splash of fuel, teams will head out to the west of Batemans Bay to the Western Distributor and Clyde Ridge stages, before returning to Corrigan’s Beach Reserve where the Collecting Cars Service Park is located.

Entered crews will be permitted to conduct their reconnaissance from the June Long Weekend with recce roadbooks available as a downloadable PDF, ready to print or for use on tablets.

The AMH Rally of the Bay is set to take place on Saturday the 17th of July in the forests surrounding Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast.

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.

May 01

Re-live the excitement of the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon!

By Events, Wheelspin

OK, we can’t drive from London to Sydney in 2021 but we can do the next best thing – retrace the steps of the game-changing, gruelling Perth to Sydney Australian leg. Back in the day, the first car to finish took an eye-watering 67 hours and 22 minutes non-stop – we will not attempt to replicate that feat.

The 2021 Perth-Sydney Marathon will celebrate the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon by following the original route of the event across Australia from Perth to Warwick Farm in Sydney. Starting in Perth on the 29th October 2021 and finishing ten days later with a function at Warwick Farm in Sydney on the 7th November.

This will be the only event since the original 1968 Marathon to follow the entire route of that race across Australia and will use many of the original time and passage controls. No other event has retraced the route in the 53 years since the 1968 Marathon and it is highly likely that this experience will be the very last opportunity to join entrants, participants and vehicles from the 1968 Marathon on such an historic journey.

Though non-competitive, there will be ample opportunity for some seriously spirited driving and it still promises to be a real test of both crews and machines. We will cover some of Australia’s best gravel and tarmac rally roads, including the SA outback cattle stations of Wirrealpa, Curnamona and Kalabity, the alpine mountain tracks from Edi to Brookside and down to Omeo, all in the company of well-known legends in Australian rallying and with some of Australia’s most important rally cars. The event will traverse the Nullarbor Plain, the Flinders Ranges, Outback WA, SA and NSW, then cross the Victorian and NSW Alps to finish in Sydney some 5700 km later, with half the route being on unsealed tracks and roads.

Around ten original 1968 competitors as well as a similar number of ’68 competition vehicles are committed to running. The 2021 Marathon is shaping up to be one of the largest Historic Rally events of its kind ever to be held in Australia. It has attracted both rallying and racing enthusiasts, all keen to taste what it may have been like to run in the greatest marathon of them all, alongside those who did.

The Entry Fee for the Event is $AUD5685 for a crew of two in the nominated vehicle and includes all meals but excludes accommodation. An invitation to participate in the Event will require a $AUD250 deposit followed by the payment schedule outlined in the Event Supplementary Regulations. Entries are limited to 85.

Expressions of interest should be made to the Event Director, Laurie Mason:

Mobile: 0438 445 024 or email: events@vogueautomotive.com.au

Holden Monaro GTS driven by Barry Ferguson and Dave Johnson, who will both be with us. Finished 12th

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Holden Monaro GTS driven by Barry Ferguson and Dave Johnson, who will both be with us. Finished 12th

Ford Falcon GT driven by Rex Lunn but retired in Tehran

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Ford Falcon GT driven by Rex Lunn but retired in Tehran

Ford Falcon GT driven by Harry Firth to 8th place

2

Ford Falcon GT driven by Harry Firth to 8th place

BMC Austin 1800 driven by Tony Fall to 24th place

4

BMC Austin 1800 driven by Tony Fall to 24th place

Ford Falcon GT driven by Bruce Hodgson to 6th place

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Ford Falcon GT driven by Bruce Hodgson to 6th place

Alfa Romeo 1750 driven by Stewart McLeod but retired in Afghanistan

39

Alfa Romeo 1750 driven by Stewart McLeod but retired in Afghanistan

Vauxhall Ventora driven by Formula 1’s David Walker to 52nd place

40

Vauxhall Ventora driven by Formula 1’s David Walker to 52nd place

Volvo 144S driven by Gerry Lister who will be joining us in 2021. Finished 13th

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Volvo 144S driven by Gerry Lister who will be joining us in 2021. Finished 13th

Hillman Hunter driven by Flt Lt David Carrington – the sister car of the winning Hillman driven by Andrew Cowan. Finished 32nd

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Hillman Hunter driven by Flt Lt David Carrington – the sister car of the winning Hillman driven by Andrew Cowan. Finished 32nd

the Sobieslaw Zasada Porsche 911 S which finished 4th will be on display at the finish

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the Sobieslaw Zasada Porsche 911 S which finished 4th will be on display at the finish

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.

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