1971

 

1971        BP goes to South Australia in a very tough test

This year Director Kilfoyle took the route further west into South Australia in a very tough test for man and machine, which competitors seemed to enjoy, despite lots of car damage, lots of de-bogging in mud and sand, lots of gates, lots of cutting and running and subsequently huge points losses.  It resulted in victory to South Australians Stewart McLeod and Jack Lock, the first crew to have repeat wins.  Others have done so but with different partners.

Entries were received from six states, and started from traditional three locations; Melbourne, Goulburn and Adelaide, early Wednesday morning 12 May on Assembly Stages to Echuca.  They started on the Trial Stage after a 12 hour break at 2.30 am Thursday, on six divisions to Swan Hill (depart 10 am), Mildura (depart 3.30 pm), Berri for an overnight break (depart 8.45 am Friday), Blanchetown (depart 5 pm), Pinnaroo (depart 10.15 pm), refuels at Ouyen and Hopetoun, to Horsham for an eight hour break (depart 5.45 pm Saturday), Stawell (depart 12.45 am Sunday), Kyneton (depart 10 am) for easy run to Chadstone for afternoon finish.

The points accumulated early and regularly for all crews.  The early leaders at Mildura were Chettle/Comerford Renault 16TS 57points, McLeod/Lock 61 and Philip/Jessup 63.  McLeod lost 40 early out of Mildura, but Philip got stuck hard and fast until the next morning.  At Berri it was still Chettle then McLeod then first timer Tom Barr-Smith/Rob Hunt also from SA in a 16TS.  Into SA and Watson/McAuliffe, the current national champions broke down and walked out 23 miles to some sort of civilisation.

The top three swapped places all the way, so that at Horsham only one point separated the two SA crews, 168 to 169.  The final division from Stawell through the goldfield forests was  set by assistant Mike Osborne, and it was a killer.  McLeod missed a via, had three very bad sections, and probably thought they had blown it losing 149 for the Division.  Chettle had a better time of it and snuck into second, in front of Barr-Smith.

GMH won the Manufacturers Award, with Bond in 6^th and thanks to 8^th place Barwick/Tyson in the 300,000 mile ex taxi HR Holden.

42 crews started and 29 finished.

 

Documents:

General Supplementary Regulations

Preliminary Instructions on acceptance of entry

Final Instructions

Entry List

Refuel Points

Master Schedule

Movement Orders

Service Instructions

Assembly Stage and Trial Stage Route Instructions

Machine Examination at Finish

Route map (These files are large and may be slow to download) The route in SA not on Broadbents Western Half is not shown.

Road card

Comprehensive Results section by section

Final results

No Director’s summary report

Media reports:        Racing Car News July 1971

Australian Auto Action June 2, 1971

Australian Motoring News June 4, 1971

Motor Manual August 1971

The Giant Killers 1971

Auto Track and Trial January 1972

Photos:

There is a separate album of 31 shots taken by Warwick Smith on the last night at various locations between Horsham and Kyneton, that can be viewed here.