Caves Classic Rally Archives - North Shore Sporting Car Club

Aug 10

Midstate Freight Oberon Stages Rally Cancelled

By Media Caves Classic, Events, Oberon Stages, Rally, Wheelspin

Organisers of the 2021 Midstate Freight Oberon Stages Rally have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 event due to COVID restrictions and increased Forestry Operations.

With ongoing restrictions in Sydney and beyond, North Shore Sporting Car Club (NSSCC) is not confident that travel constraints will change sufficiently to allow the event to proceed on the 18th of September.

Event director Jon Thomson said the decision was extremely difficult.

“We’re really in a no-win situation, even if we see changes to the lockdown in Sydney, September is likely to see travel restrictions into regional NSW,” Thomson said.

“On top of that, we haven’t had the opportunity to check and write roadbooks, meet with stakeholders or assess road conditions and suitability.”

“Forestry has also increased their operations in the area and many of the roads we’d originally selected are now in sections that are being harvested, meaning we’d need to look for new roads and change many of the stages we had originally planned on using”, Thomson added.

The event organising team looked at moving the event to October, but the calendar is crowded with events and access to volunteers and particularly securing Rallysafe for the event was proving difficult.

“We really have been left with no choice but to cancel the event altogether”, Thomson said.

“It is a great pity as we had some absolutely terrific roads and stages selected for this year’s rally, but we will be back with an even better event in 2022,” he concluded.

The Midstate Freight Oberon Stages Rally was a round of the NSW Rally Championship, East Coast Classic Rally Series and Clubman Rally Series. The organising team is planning on running the event in 2022 and will seek a date from the NSW Rally Panel in due course.

Sep 29

Moynihan Swaps Seats for Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally

By John McCredie 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 John McCredie 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 5^th of September, however further restrictions were introduced by the NSW government and the event was postponed to the 10^th 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 10^th of October at the Oberon Rugby Leagues Football Club.

Unseeded entries received as of 25^th 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

Aug 12

Partners Support Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally

By John McCredie Caves Classic 2020

North Shore Sporting Car Club today formally announced a range of partners for the Caves Classic Rally to be conducted on the 5th of September. The event is Round 2 of the Motor Traders Association of NSW Rally Championship.

Midstate Freight will be the naming rights partner and business owners Ray and Michael Winwood-Smith think that the event is a perfect partnership for their Bathurst based company.

“We are stoked to be involved in the rally” said Ray Winwood-Smith. “The event uses some of the best roads in the country and I for one can’t wait to see rally cars back in some forests that haven’t been used in years.”

“Our business is based close by in Bathurst, so the rally is the perfect opportunity for us to get involved. We provide local, national and international express freight services to central-west NSW, so the rally is right in the middle of our customer base” added Winwood-Smith.

Lazer High Performance lighting has also given their support to the event and will provide a rally light package as a prize. Former rally competitor and Lazer Lighting Regional Manager, Kirk Marks is looking forward to the two night stages on offer.

“Our brand works perfectly with a rally that has night stages” Marks said. “Because we manufacture and sell rally lights, the Caves Classic Rally is the perfect opportunity for us to showcase our range of lights. I’m also really looking forward to giving away some of our product at the podium” Marks added.

Several other brands and businesses have put their support behind the event including Hoosier Tires Australia who will be the Service Park Partner.

The nine special stages will be supported by Shamrock Haulage, SSS Automotive, SW Motorsport, Premier Pools, Premier Panel Beating and Specialised Brake and Clutch Service Penrith.

The Big Trout Motor Inn, Titania Motel, Royal Hotel, Jenolan Holiday Park and Hathaway Accommodation are also supporting the event with accommodation and rally teams are encouraged to use the official accommodation providers and mention the event when booking.

The rally will be based out of the NSW town of Oberon with the Hoosier Service park located at the Oberon Rugby League Football Club.

Sep 18

Midstate Freight Oberon Stages Rally

By Media

The Midstate Freight Oberon Stages Rally (formally Caves Classic) is a round of the NSW Rally Championship, East Coast Classic Rally Series (4WD and 2WD), Clubman Rally Series, Hyundai Rally Series and NSSCC’s second Gravel Rally for the year. The event builds on the success of previous events in the Oberon Shire and the name change reflects the roads and area used by the event. Check out the dedicated event page for more information.

Sep 18

CANCELLED – Midstate Freight Oberon Stages Rally

By Media

CANCELLED