2008 Rawson and
Brown prevail under new management
Only four
years after the previous “Old BP”, but fifty years after the first original BP, 1-4 May (one week before the traditional Mother’s day date) was a fitting time
for the 2008 BP Ultimate Rally of South Eastern Australia, supported by the BP
company and directed for the first time by Ross Runnalls, assisted by Geoff
Boyd and Ian Ellis.
Some
sympathy was shown to navigators with a helpful pre-event guide as to how best
to tackle the required navigation in the event.
While the instructions were based on the traditional Broadbents maps of
Eastern and Western Half Victoria, all vias and controls were marked on
1:250,000 maps from the 1960s and kindly blown up to 1:100,000 on the more
demanding sections. Vehicles were
limited to pre 1985, but in a reflection of the times, competitor’s mobile
phones were placed in sealed envelopes.
At just
over 2000km this was going to be longer than previous versions, with an extra
day added, starting on Thursday night from Pakenham with an Assembly Stage to
Stratford.
Division 1
took crews over the mountains through Lindenow South, Bullumwaal, Omeo
(refuel), Knocker Track, Tawonga, Bobinawarrah to Wangaratta for a three hour
breakfast break. In the lead were
Officer/Officer 23, Rawson/Brown 33 and Fernie/Floyd 35.
Division 2
action started early with a drop off route chart in Killawarra Forest, where
the Officers retired with broken gearbox.
The route then meandered across the Northern plains through Dunbulbulane
and along the Murray River via Picola, Barmah forest, Moama (refuel), Barham to
Swan Hill for an overnight break.
Leaders were Rawson/Brown 45, closely followed by Baker/McAdam 46 and
Upton/Laidlay 48.
Division 3
continued Westerly through Tudor, Annuello, Cramenton, Ouyen (refuel), Pink
Lakes, Cowangie, Walpeup (refuel), Dattuck to Hopetoun for a three hour dinner
break. After a tough day in the sand it
was still tight at the top with Rawson/Brown 151, Ahearne/Garth 152 and
Wallis/Nicholas 161.
Division 4
headed south via Rich Avon, Kanya, Paradise, Navarre (refuel), Landsborough,
Mt. Cole, Chute to the BLCC rooms at Ballarat Airport. Rawson/Brown held on for an emotional win on
174 to Wallis/Nicholas 225 and Upton/Laidlay 255, recovering from a sad
previous division.
The
mountains and sand made it tougher on drivers and cars, with 16 failed to
finish with mechanical issues. The
navigation was not as decimating as previous “Old BPs”, but even with the
better maps, it was still tough. Only ten
crews reported to all major controls.
The weekend
was rounded off with a Sunday Luncheon at the Dowling Forest Racecourse after
everyone had the chance for a recovering sleep and shower and they were joined
by a number of the originals celebrating fifty years since the first BP.
Documents:
Further Regulations including Entry List
Service Instructions including locations map
Event Reports:
Phil Nicholas Powerpoint slide show with comments
Videos:
Highlights (20 minutes, played at Sunday Lunch) by Steve Richards
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