Rally sees racing on mtn road

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 480, 6 April 1993, Page 5

Rally sees racing on mtn road

Two new stages introduced into this year's Wellington Car Club's National Safari Rally proved to be big hits with the competitors as well as providing spectators with some spectacular action. Just 25 of the 51 starters finished the course, with the popular rallying mal-

ady of "brain drain" being blamed for the high number of casualties. Stage. One of the event saw cars involved in an 18.5km night-time ascent of the Mountain Road, finishing at Turoa Skifield and "touring" the distance to finish in town. While the majority of competitors

enjoyed the section, all were adament that they wouldn't like to race back down it! Another popular stage proved to be the 6.8km of Ratamaire Road. From one vantage point a group of spectators were kept busy rescuing drivers and codrivers whose cars ended up over a bank (some eight in total.) One unfortunate team managed to roll their car totally and failed to finish the course. Prof ile Joe McAndrew - driver. Age: 33 The Wellington-based driver began rallying in the early 80's in an Anglia van and has had a variety of rally cars in his colourful career, including a Mazda RX3, RX7, Toyota Starlet and Gorolla GTi. It was in a Subaru Legacy RS that he won the weekend's Wellington Car Club's National Safari Rally - the same car that won him the event last year. Joe recorded his fourth consecutive win, of the first competitive event of the season, which he said makes for a very encouraging lead-up to the series of five events for the National Championships later this year. This year's competition he described as "tough", with the team of

Jeff Argyle and Bruce Herbert contesting the lead throughout the rally. It was the Shell team that came out on top but only after some nail-biting chases. In preparation for the rally Joe's car which is capable of reaching speeds of up to 240kph, was stripped down to its chassis and completely rebuilt by the "McAndrew motorsport

team" - a team led by Joe and his wife Andrea. It is Andrea who heads the Joe McAndrew fan club and also the team of six responsible for keeping the car on the road. The team were unusually busy in this year's competition, with a blow-out during one of the touring stages, water in the electrical wiring while crossing a ford in the Karioi Forest and most dramatic

of all - replacing a blown gear-box at Stage 4 with less than 30 minutes to make the exchange. Bob Haldine - co-driver Age:49 An experienced navigator,. Bob first rallied beside Rex Rattenby in a V8 Chevette in 1983. He has co-driven for former national champions Tony Teesdale, Wayne Pittams and Neil Allport, with whom he won the

National Navigators award in 1988 and again in 1989. He moved to rallying after 20 years in competitive motorcycling, including a five year stint in the United Kingdom. Bob's son and daughter both follow in his winning footsteps - one is a top motorcycle racer and the other a top navigator in international competition.