Rally roars through

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 431, 7 April 1992, Page 2

Rally roars through

BY

RIC

Rally organisers were impressed with the hospitality from the people of the Waimarino and with the co-operation the Wellington car club received on the weekend. On Saturday 4 April the Wellington car club, supported by H E Webb, Ohakune New World, A A Travel, Hobbit Motel Lodge and Restaurant, Microstac Company and Ruapehu Motors, held the first round of their annual central region rally championships in the district. This consisted of six stages. Stage one was Owakura road, stage two, Whangaehu (Burma) road. After a lunch stop at Raetihi, where Turoa Tumblers were busy selling sausages it was on to stage three, which was Fields track. Stage four was Lakes/Pakihi road, stage five was Middle road and stage six was Ourakukuru road, finish-

ing at the Hobbit Motel in Ohakune. The other four rounds of this rally are to be held at Taupo, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu and Taumarunui. Fifty five cars started in the rally, with 45 finishing.

During each stage, radio contact was kept with each driver, by the amateur radio emergency corps (Waimarino section). For car number 22, driven by Murray Sollitt with Guy Bach as navigator, at the start of

stage two the gear box jammed in low gear. Back in Raetihi a new gear box was in the car in 15 minutes and they were ready to race again. Winner was Joe McAndrew from Wellington driving a Subaru Legacy, with

Bob Haldane navigating. Second was Peter Grimmer from Taupo driving a Mazada 323 with Sondra Miller navigating and third was Roger Goss from Auckland driving a Mazada 323 with Jim Dudunski navigating.