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Jun 18

All new route for AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay

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

The route for the 2021 AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay has been finalised and crews who have entered the pace noted component of the event are now able to begin their reconnaissance.

The route for this year’s event is significantly different to the previous few years with some fantastic stages set to be used in the forests surrounding Batemans Bay. In setting the route, Road Director John McCredie has gone back to using some of the roads that the Rally of the Bay became renowned for.

“It’s quite a different route” McCredie said. “The weather events over the past 12 month’s combined with the bush fires at the beginning of 2020 have meant we needed to change the route this year”.

“So, we looked around at different options and decided to use a few roads that the event hasn’t used for many years, like Ridge Road and Dog Trap Road on the Eastern Side of the Princes Highway, just to the west of Batehaven. This has also allowed us to add a Spectator Point just 5 minutes from town”.

“We initially planned on using River Road again, but there were sections that weren’t up to the quality we are known to deliver. Plus, it’s sometimes good to consider the residents in choosing roads and this year we decided that because parts of River Road were corrugated, it was a good chance to give the residents a rally free year”, McCredie concluded.

8 Stage Event

The event will use four stages, each repeated to provide a total of 8 stages.

The AGI Roll Cages Dog Trap 1 and Premier Panel Beating Dog Trap 2 stage is an 8.6km run with flowing corners along the ridge at the top of the spur behind Batehaven.

The Shamrock Haulage Buckenbowra 1 and Activ Rallysport Buckenbowra 2 stage re-uses the end of the 2020 “run to Mogo” stage in reverse, before turning right into Ross Ridge Road. This part of the stage is a downhill roller-coaster, with blind crests and sweeping bends to the flying finish.

The Techworkz Automotive Western Distributor 1 and SW Motorsport Western Distributor 2 stage starts in Wallaby Road before turning right into Western Distributor Road for 21km of technical sections and fast sweeping bends. The stage ends at Mares Hill Road and is sure to be a favourite with drivers.

The Premier Pools Clyde Ridge 1 and Brumby Bar & Grill Clyde Ridge 2 stage uses the best sections of the 2020 Drury stage except in reverse, a flowing fast section on wide forgiving roads. The stage then turns hard left into Lyons Road for a technical downhill section to the Flying Finish.

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 18

Big field set to start the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay

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

Mal Keough in the Audi Quattro – Photo Roy Meuronen

Almost 60 entries have so far been received for the 2021 AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay, less than a week after entries were officially opened for the popular event based in the Eurobodalla Shire, on the NSW South Coast.

The event has a maximum field of 90 and with many outright contenders on the list, the rally is going to be a spectacular show with several teams capable of winning.

The rally will be the second round of the MTA NSW Rally Championship, after the Bega Rally was forced to postpone its event in June. The event will also be a promotional round of the Motorsport Australian Rally Championship (ARC). It is expected that many ARC teams will use the event as a test before their next championship round gets underway in Tasmania later in the year.

The list of outright contenders for the NSW Rally Championship is headed by former Australian Rally Champion and 2019 East Coast Classic Rally Series winner Nathan Quinn with Ray Winwood-Smith in the Co-driver’s seat. Quinn won the opening round of the NSW series and will be looking to make it two in a row.

Another contender for victory in the NSW Series is Richie Dalton and Dale Moscatt in a Neal Bates Motorsport Toyota Yaris AP4. The pairing from Sydney have won the event in the past and will be looking to improve their 2nd outright position in the NSW Championship.

Whilst Chris Higgs is yet to enter the rally, it is expected that he and co-driver Steve Fisher will be lined up at the start to defend and improve on their third outright position in the NSW Championship. Higgs will be driving his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6 and is just 3 points behind Dalton.

Other teams capable of winning the NSW Championship component of the event include Tom Clarke and Ryan Preston in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9 and last year’s champions Tony Sullens and Kaylie Newell in a Subaru WRX.

The Promotional ARC status of the event has also attracted the Toyota Gazoo Racing team of Harry Bates/John McCarthy and Lewis Bates/Anthony Mcloughlin who have both entered in Toyota Yaris AP4’s. Luke Annear and Andy Sarandis are also entered in their Ford Fiesta R5.

The Activ Rallysport Team from Melbourne is also sending a contingent of drivers including JJ Hatton/John Allen in a Hyundai i20 G4 and Troy Dowell/Bernie Webb in a Volkswagen Polo.

Rally fans are also in for a treat with Tom Dermody and Eoin Moynihan entered in the Ford Escort RS1800. They headline the many classic cars that are older than 30 years showing up for the East Coast Classic 2WD Rally Series. But they will have stiff competition from the likes of Andrew Penny and Rhys Llewellyn in a Nissan 240RS, who have swapped from their Subaru WRX after an accident at the previous round of the ARC.

Mal Keough and Jacci Sharkey are entered in the ever-spectacular Audi Quattro S1 and will be the first of the East Coast Classic 4WD Rally Series cars to start the event. Keough is leading the 4WD ECCRS and is also sitting in 5th position in the NSW Rally Championship.

“It’s great to see so many entries in the first week”, said Event Manager Nigel Bland. “We’re really looking forward to seeing who else enters, and we’re likely to have a full field of 90 cars so it’s going to be quite an exciting event”, Bland added.

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.

Entries Received
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

Aug 12

Partners Support Midstate Freight Caves Classic Rally

By 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.

Jul 06

Toyota stamp their name on the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay

By News, Rally of the Bay 2020

Harry Bates and John McCarthy have won the 2020 AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay, taking the win convincingly over teammate and brother Lewis Bates with co-driver Anthony McLoughlin. Bates was in the Toyota Yaris AP4 rally car that also took him to victory in the 2019 Australian Rally Championship.

“A really tough day, the roads were very challenging, but very happy to be here and have the win” Bates said at the end of the final stage on River Road. “It’s a really challenging road, even in the day, but at night it was even more challenging.” added Bates.

Bates led from the start, winning every stage, and ending the event with a one minute and twenty second margin over the other Toyota Yaris AP4, driven by Lewis Bates.

“It’s been a really good day,” said Lewis. “It’s good to be back in the car, it’s been nine months since we’ve done a rally. We’ve got a bit of homework to do to catch Harry, but we’ve had a solid day and we’re happy with second,” Lewis added.

On the third podium position was Victorians Darren Windus and Joe Brkic in a Subaru WRX STi. Windus was battling with his son Arron for outright positions when the younger Windus went off the road in special stage 4.

“We’ve had an absolute gem of a time,” Windus said sitting in the car after just completing the final stage. “It’s probably a good result by the look of it today too, so that makes it all worth it” he continued.

In the East Coast Classic Rally Series, Mal Keogh and Andrew Bennett came out on top to win the Classic section by almost 4 minutes in an Audi Quattro S1. Keogh also finished well in the outright results with eighth place.

The two-wheel drive victory went to Tony Sullens and Kaylie Newell in a Citroen DS3. Whilst the front wheel drive car is at a disadvantage against its four-wheel drive counterparts, Sullens drove the small pocket rocket into sixth outright.

“Wow, is all I can say” Sullens said. “It’s the best field we’ve ever seen in a state rally in the history of Australia I reckon, and a top six I’ll take any day” he continued.

“I’ve driven as fast as I’ve driven in all my life today and I’m really happy and rewarded. I’ve found new levels of comfort with the car, so it’s good.” Sullens said.

The next round of the MTA NSW Rally Championship is the Caves Classic Rally on September the 5th in the Oberon district.

Full results are available online at ChrisSport

Jul 01

Richie Rallying to Support Batemans Bay

By News, Rally of the Bay 2020

Shamrock Motorsport driver, Richie Dalton, will be looking to make it three wins in a row when he heads to Batemans Bay on the weekend of the 4th of July for the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay.

Dalton and co-driver, Dale Moscatt, have won the event for the past two years and despite a very competitive line up at this years event, they are hoping for yet another victory.

The factory Toyota Gazoo Racing team will launch a two-car assault at the Rally of the Bay and are likely to be Dalton’s biggest rivals. The Toyota’s showed great speed last season, but Dalton’s confidence is high, and he knows his Ford Fiesta Proto can be competitive if everything goes right on the day.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has forced a halt to motorsport across the country, with the Rally of the Bay being the first rally event back on the calendar. The long wait for a start to the rally season has contributed to a large contingent of teams from across Australia including competitors from Melbourne, Brisbane and even as far away as central Queensland.

“Firstly, it’s great to have rallying back, and the organisers of the Rally of the Bay have done an incredible job to get the rally up and running,” Dalton said.

“The Batemans Bay region has had it tough over the last six months – first with bushfires and now with Coronavirus – so we’re all looking forward to visiting the region and helping to support local businesses.

“We’re coming for a purpose though, and that’s to try and win the rally for a third time, which will be tough against such strong competition.

“We’ve done our preparation though, and after a test session in the car on Thursday we’ll be ready to give it our best shot.”

Dalton is member of the organising club, North Shore Sporting Car Club and also a big supporter of the Rally of the Bay. His business, Shamrock Haulage, sponsoring stage four, the ‘Follow the River’ special stage along the extremely popular River Rd.

Dalton will carry the number one door sticker for the event, a reward for winning the 2019 running of the Rally. However, he will start second on the road behind reigning Australian Champion, Harry Bates in a Toyota Yaris AP4.

“I’m delighted to have been able to keep the number one on the door, despite the Australian Rally Champion being in the field,” Dalton added.

“I feel like we have earned the right to have it for the event, and it’s proved to be good luck in the past, so hopefully that’s a good omen.”

The Shamrock Motorsport Ford Fiesta will be sporting a brand new ‘Irish’ themed livery for the Rally of the Bay, which has already drawn a lot of attention from rally fans on social media.

“Hopefully the crew perform as well as the car looks,” Dalton added.

“The Rally of the Bay is an event that both Dale and I really enjoy, and we can’t wait to hit the stages on Saturday morning,” Dalton concluded.

Jul 01

Outback challenger getting practice at AMH Automotive Group Rally Of The Bay

By News, Rally of the Bay 2020

Michael Ward at the Classic Outback Trial in 2018 – PHOTO Ian Smith

Michael Ward Rallysport is looking forward to getting back out in the dirt at the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay.

Driver Michael Ward and Co-Driver John Fraser will be using the event to start preparations for this year’s Classic Outback Trial scheduled for later this year in November.

“It’s great to be able to get back into the driver’s seat,” Ward said. “We’re using this event to start our preparations for the last Classic Outback Trial (COT) which has been moved to early November,” he added.

Because the COT is a ‘blind event’, the team will be running the Rally of the Bay using the Roadbook rather than choosing the pacenote option.

“Seat time, and practice reading the road at competition speed is what’s needed for us leading up to the COT. With limited events this year, we’re grateful the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay is on schedule,” Michael said.

Co-Driver, John Fraser teamed up with Michael for the 2016 running of the Classic Outback Trial where they finished first in class. Fraser was then back for the 2018 running of the outback event, as well as the Alpine Rally of East Gippsland in 2017 and 2019.

The team will be running their venerable 1976 Toyota Corolla TE37 replica built in 2013 specifically for long distance rallies. The 1600cc 2TG engine has a ‘poor man’s close ratio’ gearbox from a Lexus IS200 allowing the correct ratio for any situation. However, the smooth roads at the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay won’t be giving the MCA Gold suspension its usual workout!

Ward, based in Melbourne, started rallying back in the late seventies, ‘retired’ in 1986, having completed the State Bank Discovery Trial, and then returned to the sport in 2010. He has always had a keen interest in trials and long distance rally events.

Fraser, from Orange, NSW, has been navigating since his late teens, guiding many notable drivers. He is also an accomplished driver, winning the NSW Rally Championship class N2 twice, was second in the 1996 ARC to the works Daihatsu team (by 1 point!) and won his class in the 1996 Playstation Round Australia Trial.

The AMH Automotive Rally of the Bay will be conducted in the Forest surrounding Batemans Bay on the 4th of July.

 
 
 
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Jul 01

Marco Jansen adds AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay to his bucket list

By News, Rally of the Bay 2020

The Central Queensland pairing of Marco Jansen and Cameron McIntosh are making an epic 19-hour journey to compete at the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay.

Jansen has been competing in rally events for many years, starting in a Golf Mark 1 and progressing through VW competition cars until purchasing his current car, an ex-works VW Polo. Having now owned this car for several years and with work commitments that have kept him out of the driver’s seat, the Rockhampton driver is keen to get back into racing.

After putting the VW Polo back together and desperately needing a rally inspired rush of adrenalin, the goal of getting to the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay was set.

“I’ve travelled through the Batemans Bay area over recent years,” Jansen said. “I’ve serviced for other competitors at rally events, so I’ve definitely put the Rally of the Bay high on my bucket list of things to do.”

“The quality of the roads used for the rally, plus the organisation of the event itself and the general comradery helped me make up my mind that I wanted to do it,” Jansen said.

The horrendous end of 2019 and terrible start to 2020, with fires, rain and COVID having a huge impact on people in the area, this was the ideal chance to give back and at the same time get some competitive miles under his belt.

“We’ve got a few extra challenges in the way for us having to travel all the way down from Central Queensland. For us to attend the event and be able to meet all the restrictions related to COVID, like social distancing, border securities, plus all the systems and controls put in place by the rally organisers hasn’t really dampened my enthusiasm at all,” Jansen said.

“Even with all these new requirements to rally, it isn’t putting me off at all. Bring on the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay 2020.” Jansen said as he packed ready for the long drive to Batemans Bay.

Teaming up with co-driver Cameron McIntosh, from Gladstone in Central Queensland, the team are looking forward to some good roads, tall stories, and great competition.

The AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay will be held on Saturday the 4th of July in Batemans Bay, NSW.

Jun 30

NSSCC to donate a Colorado Ute to the bAy Team

By News, Rally of the Bay 2020

Did you see the NSSCC video where Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor Liz Innes spoke about how the Rally of the Bay can help the local Community?

If not, watch now below…

In the video, NSSCC featured three people who were severely affected by the devastating summer bushfires. There was no explanation of who they are and why they were in the video, but it is now time to reveal their stories.

But first, during the bushfire crisis, many organisations raised money to help those affected and NSSCC was one of those organisations who raised funds to assist with the recovery.

The Sydney based Car Club has a special connection with Batemans Bay and the Eurobodalla Shire because of the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay, a motorsport event held in the Forests of the Eurobodalla Shire each year for the past 30 years.

The Car Club wanted to use the money raised by NSSCC members and friends to help a great cause close to the Bay. NSSCC President, Brett Middleton, discovered a group of people calling themselves “The bAy TEAM” who had been helping people recover from the bushfires by building much needed accommodation. And what a story it is, but before we get into that, let’s meet the people from the Video.

Magenta – Magenta and her family live in Mogo, about a kilometre from the flying finish marker in “Run to Mogo” special stage. During the bushfires, her house was completely destroyed by the fires. Her partner Damien stayed to fight, but he had to leave because the intensity of the fire was so fierce that he had no hope of saving the house and risked losing his life if he stayed. And, he was well prepared.

Their family still don’t have a new house built and their beautiful ‘picture postcard’ block of land still looks like a bomb has hit it. They are living in their shed, that somehow managed to be saved.

The Bay Team came in and fit out the shed, lining it with Plasterboard and making it liveable. Much of the labour was provided at well below cost and many volunteer hours were spent completing the fit-out.

Joe – Joe lost everything in the fires and is now living in a very second-hand caravan close to where Magenta’s home used to stand. The caravan leaks very badly and is covered with a tarpaulin to help keep rain out. The Bay Team will be building a new place for Joe to live and he’s looking forward to moving out of the Caravan.

David – David lost his house, possessions and all his work equipment in the bushfires. But instead of focussing on his own recovery, he immediately went out and helped others fight the fires, helping to save many properties from destruction. In the aftermath of the fires, he has gone above and beyond to help people in need, assisting those who couldn’t get to the relief centres and doing whatever he could.

David has a passion for helping people and started to assist those who had lost everything start the rebuilding process. He formed the bAy TEAM and together with a small group of trades people and skilled workers has helped rebuild people’s houses… and lives.

The bAy TEAM is a business, but it’s focus has been on helping people and not making a profit. David has put his effort into getting the job done and not making the business profitable. He and his team have put in many hours of their own time, resources and skills to rebuild the Batemans Bay and surrounding community, whilst ignoring their own needs.

Colorado Ute Donation

North Shore Sporting Car Club wanted to do more than just donate some money, so it was decided that the club would use the funds raised to purchase equipment for the bushfire recovery. It was decided that NSSCC would purchase a $12,990 second-hand Colorado Ute to donate to the bAy TEAM.

AMH Automotive Group gladly assisted the club to secure the vehicle and their contribution towards its purchase reflects the fantastic relationship NSSCC has had with AMH as naming rights partner for the Rally of the Bay.

The Coachhouse Marina Resort and the Village Centre & Bridge Plaza shopping Centres has also assisted with several yet to be revealed gifts and the vehicle will be on display in the Village Centre this week.

The Colorado will be given to the bAy TEAM on Friday the 3rd of July at 1pm in the Village Centre by several representatives of North Shore Sporting Car Club. The club would like to thank those who donated to the fund over Christmas.

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