Top Half series - Waitomo Rally update

Waitomo's over and what a great event. Next up is the Possum Bourne Memorial and the back country roads in the Raglan area, as Clint Brown says. "BOOO-YA".

Here is a brief summary of each class so far in the series, after Round 3 - Waitomo:

DRIVERS : 1st Craig Stevens 111pts / 2nd = Brendan Oakden and Neil Marshall 74pts

CODRIVERS : 1st Tim Eddington 90pts / 2nd = Natasha Oakden and Chris Alexander on 74pts

CLASS A: 1st Justin Glavish 37pts / 2nd Mike Bunyard 31pts / 3rd Garry Trayes

CLASS B: 1st Lee Robson 63pts / 2nd Brian Ogle 36pts / 3rd Todd Ogle 31pts

CLASS C: 1st Craig Stevens 111pts / 2nd Stuart Eyre 63pts / 3rd Doug Adnitt 31pts

CLASS D: 1st Neil Marshall 74pts / 2nd Glenn Smith 70pts / 3rd Kingsley Jones 55pts

CLASS E: 1st Brendan Oakden 74pts / 2nd Nicola Burley 68pts / 3rd Cameron Young 32pts

So, with  all the classes still up for grabs, we have an 2 more exciting rounds to go to see who are our 2009 Te Rapa Automotive Top Half Series Overall and Class champions.

The THS points are on www.chrissport.co.nz for more detail. Any queries please get in touch with Jill.

RALLY WAITOMO

What a day, no rain which was good, but fog, fog, fog in the first few stages..and lot's of it in the first stage which favored the brave and penalized some early runners. Some car sickness was seen around the event, there must have been a bug going around aye!!

Congratulations to Neil Marshall / Richard Carr who took out their second rally this year, so all the talk at the finish about being rookies on gravel seems to say "watch-out in the future everyone!!".  Well done to Alan and Teresa Smith who won the Mini Rally of Waitomo in their Subaru Legacy.

For the Top Half Overall, it was 1st for Neil Marshall from Brendan Oakden and Ryan Burley [who suffered a puncture and lost 4min changing it] was 3rd.

Standout performances for the day were from the 2wd drive teams inside the top 10 who were giving the 4wd's a real run for their money:

David Wright / Michelle Brunt - 2nd Overall and a 2nd overall stage time on SS8.
Craig Stevens / Chris Alexander - 5th Overall with a 3rd overall in SS1.
Justin Glavish / Mal Peden - 6th Overall and with a 2nd overall in SS1.
Stuart Eyre / Stuart McFarlane - 7th Overall and some top 10 stage times on 4 stages.

A few interesting moments from the day:

- Kingsley Jones service crew left the service after ss4 without realizing that they had another there. This left him [Kingsley] in a fairly distraught. But once again, the great bunch of people at the service area rallied around and found him some fuel so he could continue and find a fence to attack on the 8th stage.

- Rambo in the 00 car saw a spectator junction and gave it the boot, literally. Backing the car in then spinning about and re-arranging the front. Rambo never lets a crowd go to waste.

- Patrick Malley parked the shopping trolley on SS3, perhaps to take pictures of the lovely country side?

- The main casualty of the day was Glenn Smith who by all accounts went a fair way off-road. A bit of work to be done now before the next event.

A big thanks must go out to Steve Burley and Tanya Gwynne, another fantastic event from them and their dedicated team. The event ran well and was by all accounts enjoyed by all.

Congratulations to the all who entered and to those that took away a win. WELL DONE!!

The THS points and event results are on www.chrissport.co.nz

Some photos / videos are online at the following sites:

www.lmsportsphotography.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlmTZomS63w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLs0Hk8h2sc
&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmE4OEQvf-s

POSSUM BOURNE MEMORIAL RALLY

Regulations have been published and entries are now open for the 4th running of the Possum Bourne Memorial rally.

The rally is to run this year on Saturday 22nd of August as a one day clubman's event. The Pukekohe Car Club is running the event in partnership with Rally New Zealand continuing their successful partnership of the past two years.

A new sponsor is also on board, Clark Proctor of "Metalman Nationwide" is the main sponsor of the 2009 event, and the rally will be known as the "Metalman Possum Bourne Memorial Rally". Frank Allen Tyres Waiuku, VTNZ, Guada Fiesta Bar and Smartwood by Alpwood have joined the event as individual stage sponsors.

Regular media reports will follow to keep everyone informed, as well as regular updates on the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally website at http://www.pbmrally.co.nz

RALLY OF THE NORTH

It is on the 10th October, so get the car sorted, get the accom booked [add an extra night] and bring the wife and kids and make a holiday of it in scenic Paihia.

Please also make sure you register your interest, so the committee can get a gauge of entries and plan the event around YOU the competitor.

The committee are looking for help with marshalls, taping/arrow crews, so if you are keen and are free on the 10th October, then get in touch via the website @ www.rallyofthenorth.co.nz.

That's all for now, till the next update!

Thanks

Jill Greenland and Andrew Keighley

Conveners - Top Half Rally Series