{"id":128035,"date":"2015-11-23T21:44:23","date_gmt":"2015-11-23T11:44:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=128035"},"modified":"2020-11-03T11:20:31","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T01:20:31","slug":"rally-drivers-will-be-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/11\/23\/rally-drivers-will-be-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Rally Drivers Will Be Back!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Waiting for the rain to clear … co-driver Dominic Corkeron and driver Peter Flynn, from Brisbane, and their Alfa GTV V6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 23, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s been at least a decade since the Brisbane Sporting Car Club last held a rally on the forestry tracks around Benarkin and Yarraman.<\/p>\n

The last round of the Queensland Rally Championship was to be held on November 14 with 27 competitors coming to Benarkin from all over south-east Queensland.<\/p>\n

And then it rained.<\/p>\n

The rally was to be run over 11 stages, including three night stages.<\/p>\n

The day started in bright sunshine but after the end of Stage 3, a string of wild storms came through the Blackbutt area, with heavy rain, some hail and strong winds.<\/p>\n

Clerk of the course Ian Gorski told southburnett.com.au<\/strong> he had hoped to get the cars back out on the course to get a little bit more distance so the drivers could earn at least half-points for the rally.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, the cars and drivers gathered at the rally headquarters, Benarkin State School, waiting patiently for a decision from the stewards about the state of the track.<\/p>\n

However, the event was eventually cancelled after just the first three stages.<\/p>\n

Ian said he was disappointed with the weather but everything else had worked out well, especially the support from the Benarkin State School and the P&C committee.<\/p>\n

“The school has been absolutely marvellous,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The principal invited us in, has given us rooms to work out of, and the P&C has been catering for us.”<\/p>\n

The grounds of the school ground were turned into a temporary camping ground for many of the competitors.<\/p>\n

Ian said the South Burnett would not have to wait another 10 years to see the rally drivers return … the club has already booked in for September 24 next year for Round 5 of the 2016 Queensland Rally Championship.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Results:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

P6 Class<\/strong>
\n1. Ian Menzies \/ Rob McGowan (Mitsubishu EVO 6)
\n2. Kim Acworth \/ Ian Swinbourne (Subaru Liberty)
\n3. Todd Webster \/ Ryan Preston (Subaru WRX)<\/p>\n

P5 Class<\/strong>
\n1. Wayne Menzies \/ Chris Baxter (Mitsubishi Lancer)
\n2. Melinda Bergman \/ Larisa Biggar (Subaru Liberty)
\n3. Shaun Dragona \/ Annette Dragona (Subaru Impreza)<\/p>\n

P4 Class<\/strong>
\n1. Brad Hurford \/ David Gregory (Ford Falcon XR6)<\/p>\n

P3 Class<\/strong>
\n1. Tim Dillon \/ Debbie Dillon (Hyundai Lantra)
\n2. Shaun Cassidy \/ Christopher Cassidy (Datsun 1600)
\n3. Michael Reynolds \/ Grant McCoy (Datsun Stanza)<\/p>\n

P2 Class<\/strong>
\n1. Jamie Yule \/ Ron Peters (Mitsubishi Mirage)
\n2. Doug Foster \/ Debbie Applewaite (Toyota RunX)
\n3. Lachlan McKenna \/ Kent Lawrence (Suzuki Swift)<\/p>\n

Classic<\/strong>
\n1. Mark Byrne \/ David Byrne (Datsun Sedan)<\/p>\n

Ian Menzies and Rob McGowan, Brisbane, were crowned 2015 QRC Champions. McGowan was named co-driver of the year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Benarkin State School volunteers … from left, Maddison Fillery, teacher aide Leanne Smith, Rebecca Volschenk, P&C treasurer Linda Little and admin officer Christine Wagner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Checking out their places after three stages … competitors Ian Swinbourne, Gympie; Brad Hurford, Hervey Bay; David Gregory, Brisbane; and Rob Dixon, Brisbane<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Doug Foster and co-driver Debbie Applewaite, from Capalaba, and their South African import racer, a Toyota RunX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rally Entrants<\/strong><\/h3>\n