1979 Round Australia Trial

The 1979 Round Australia Trial, officially the Repco Reliability Trial was the twelfth running of the Round Australia Trial. The rally took place between 5 and 19 August 1979. It was won by Peter Brock, Matt Philip and Noel Richards, driving a Holden Commodore.Commodores' clean sweep Canberra Times 20 August 1979 page 16

Route The 19,000 kilometre rally commenced at the Melbourne Showgrounds, circumnavigating Australia in a clockwise direction.Repco Reliability Trial Navy News 1 June 1979 page 16Repco Reliability Trail 40th Anniversary Reunion Auto Action 30 June 2019 Of the 167 entrants, 92 finished.Colin Bond leads trial as cars arrive in Perth Canberra Times 10 August 1979 page 18 Two competitors were killed after their car rolled near Kununurra.Rally drivers die in crash Canberra Times 14 August 1979 page 9

Results Entrant Drivers Car Penalties (Time)No. of Controls Missed (Mc) 1 05 Holden Dealer Team Peter Brock Matt Philip Noel Richards Holden Commodore VB 3hr 39min 18sec 2 17 Holden Dealer Team Barry Ferguson Wayne Bell Dave Boddy Holden Commodore VB 3hr 52min 39sec 3 3 Holden Dealer Team Shekhar Mehta Rauno Aaltonen Barry Lake Holden Commodore VB 4hr 53min 39sec 4 7 Volvo Dealer Team-Queensland Ross Dunkerton Peter McKay Geoff Jones Volvo 244 GT 8hr 24min 54sec 5 9 Ford Motor Company of Australia Greg Carr Dave Morrow Fred Gocentas Ford Cortina TE 9hr 12min 13sec 6 81 Victoria Toyota Dealers Wes Nalder Ian Richards Geoff Boyd Toyota Celica RA40 9hr 57min 25sec 7 50 Gosford Dyno-Tune Centre Ian Hill Dale Loader Frank Neale Mitsubishi Lancer 12hr 24min 11sec 8 1 Porsche Cars Australia Edgar Herrmann Dean Rainsford Porsche 911 Carrera 12hr 39min 2sec 9 8 Porsche Cars Australia Jürgen Barth Roland Kussmaul Porsche 924 13hr 9min 3sec 10 24 Tyrepower Limited Gil Davis Phil Eather Graham Toner Datsun 180B 16hr 9min 38sec 11 11 King Gee Clothing Company Bob Watson Garry Harrowfield Peugeot 504 Diesel 16hr 22min 18sec 12 12 U.S. Rally Team Steve Mizel Rod Hall Rod Fricker Adrian Mortimer Chevrolet Blazer 27hr 5min 38sec 13 47 Robert Jackson Robert Jackson Des West Ross Jackson Holden Commodore VB 29hr 2min 6sec 14 41 Darryl Rowney Darryl Rowney Robert Wilson Bob Tyson Datsun 180B 1mc 20hr 28min 18sec 15 87 Balmains of Bega Max Roberts Eric Waterson Tony Carroll Holden Commodore VB 1mc 53hr 57min 8sec 16 60 Arthur Davis Graham Clarke Arthur Davis Graham Burge Datsun 180B 3mc 33hr 22min 28sec 17 63 Newcastle Broadcasting & Television (NBN-3) Murray Finlay James Sullivan Lyndon MacLeod Holden Commodore VB 3mc 33hr 23min 7sec 18 92 Peter Hurrey Peter Hurrey David Geddes Toyota Celica RA40 4mc 27hr 46min 44sec 19 76 Volvo Dealer Team-New South Wales Barbara Beveridge Anne Heaney Lynn Jarman Volvo 244 DL 5mc 30hr 34min 50sec 20 53 Volvo Dealer Team-South Australia John Miettunen Russell Morgan John Suominen Volvo 244 DL 5mc 40hr 25min 31sec 21 160 Kevin McDiarmid Kevin McDiarmid Peter Phegan David Travis Datsun 180B 6mc 44hr 57min 10sec 22 22 Shepparton Rally Team Geoff Portman Doug Thompson John Hammond Datsun Stanza 7mc 12hr 2min 5sec 23 70 Townsville Sporting Car Club Ian McCubbin Richard Kelly David Guyatt Holden Monaro HZ 7mc 35hr 10min 9sec 24 56 Peter de Vaus Ian Faulkner Peter de Vaus Keith Bateson Peugeot 504 8mc 27hr 1min 55sec 25 13 Ford Motor Company of Australia George Fury Roger Bonhomme Monty Suffern Ford Cortina TE 10mc 14hr 10min 5sec 26 144 Giddings Datsun Rod Jones Trevor Seaman John Giddings Datsun 200B 10mc 24hr 37min 53sec 27 115 Melbourne University Car Club John Birrell Brian Smith Rosemary Nixon Renault 16 TS 10mc 50hr 50min 20sec 28 152 Garry Geissler Grant O'Donnell Garry Geissler Andrew Gibson Holden Torana LX 10mc 54hr 47min 48sec 29 28 Dick Smith Electronics Jack Murray Jeff d'Albora John Murray Holden Commodore VB 11mc 38hr 59min 34sec 30 39 Volvo Dealer Team-Western Australia Frank Johnson Steve Vanderbyl Volvo 242 GT 12mc 25hr 2min 21sec 31 31 Barry Dick Barry Lloyd Malcolm Crockenberg John Dick Mitsubishi Colt 13mc 41hr 51min 11sec 32 74 Peter Flanagan Brett Goldsborough Peter Flanagan Phillip Grounds Holden Commodore VB 16mc 62hr 32min 0sec 33 73 Peter Lockhart Peter Lockhart Des Dunstan Ian Finlayson Holden Commodore VB 17mc 42hr 24min 15sec 34 208 Nicholas Penny Nicholas Penny Andrew Kennard David Brown Holden Torana LH 18mc 43hr 56min 4sec 35 155 Lance Motors, St Marys Ray Lance John Craft Paul Robinson Holden Commodore VB 21mc 25hr 59min 52sec 36 104 Ralph Boys Ralph Boys Greg Vonthien Ford F100 22mc 34hr 32min 22sec 37 142 HMAS Cerberus Car Club Neil Turner Keith Donohue John Sparrow Leyland P76 22mc 68hr 21min 16sec 38 131 Dr. Wayne Herdy Wayne Herdy Pat O'Kane Brian Gramenz Peugeot 504 22mc 68hr 21min 16sec 39 146 David Sheridan David Sheridan Richard Reid Datsun 1600 23mc 41hr 6min 45sec 40 120 Hal Moloney Hal Moloney Ian Vitnell Paul Daley Leyland P76 23mc 49hr 42min 33sec 41 82 Christian Autosport Club of Australia George Kahler Bruce Partridge Wayne Simeon Mazda RX-4 27mc 47hr 33min 7sec 42 159 Jim Farmer Jim Farmer Campbell Farmer Ron Fraser Leyland P76 27mc 58hr 22min 7sec 43 78 Peter Foden Denis Baker Bruce Young Peter Foden Leyland P76 29mc 60hr 34min 43sec 44 14 Noriyuki Koseki Noriyuki Koseki Yoshio Takaoka Hiroshi Okazaki Subaru Leone 30mc 29hr 47min 12sec 45 171 Grahame Heaton Grahame Heaton Robert Shepheard Brian Mann Holden HJ Panel Van 31mc 71hr 42min 57sec 46 27 Autec Rallying Jock Wilson Fred Baker Helen Freeze Mercedes-Benz 280S 32mc 38hr 22min 14sec 47 134 David Tattingham David Tattingham Rob Geue Peter Kemp Holden EH 32mc 44hr 7min 39sec 48 101 Roger Ingerson Roger Ingerson Jerry Wilson David MacCulloch Peugeot 404 32mc 44hr 40min 56sec 49 98 Greg Nicholson Greg Nicholson Alan Crawford Mitsubishi Lancer 32mc 46hr 15min 16sec 50 141 Paul Lahiff Paul Lahiff John Beath Michael Clarke Holden HR 33mc 34hr 39min 38sec 51 99 Les Boaden Les Boaden Brian Atkins Wayne Pritchard Mazda RX-4 33mc 45hr 7min 55sec 52 172 Graham Stockley Graham Stockley Kevin O'Neil Porsche 911E 33mc 45hr 25min 50sec 53 57 Gary Meehan Gary Meehan Greg Gifford Ken Gardiner Holden Monaro HT GTS 34mc 30hr 49min 26sec 54 86 Steel Industries Auto Club Dave Colless Ray Johnston Richard McCoy Datsun 1600 35mc 38hr 29min 3sec 55 167 Quay Ford, Cairns Peter Roggenkamp Terry Adair Michael Eakin Ford Escort GL 36mc 47hr 36min 17sec 56 202 Greg Walker Greg Walker Mel McCann Renault R12 Virage 36mc 80hr 28min 3sec 57 79 Doug Minett Doug Minett Doug Chappie Don Watson Datsun 1600 38mc 48hr 52min 54sec 58 61 Dave Potter Motors Dave Potter Garry Bain Mazda RX-3 39mc 25hr 24min 28sec 59 35 John Taylor John Taylor Robert Hunt Rover 3500 39mc 60hr 24min 23sec 60 37 Miss M. O'Shanesy Caroline O'Shanesy Barbara Dean Meg O'Shanesy Fiat 131 Mirafori 39mc 65hr 40min 3sec 61 185 J&P Richardson Joe Richardson Alan Daniel Bruce Fullerton Ford Falcon XD 40mc 92hr 51min 14sec 62 143 Russell Tyrie Ross Nielson Jim Stewart Russell Tyrie Holden HQ 41mc 32hr 29min 0sec 63 187 John Gough John Gough Ken Hutton Tony Bishop Holden Torana LJ 44mc 34hr 37min 6sec 64 140 Peter Glover Peter Glover Peter Burke John Hather Volkswagen Beetle 1600 44mc 42min 37min 28sec 65 90 Mick Myers Mick Myers Mal Sinfield Michael Myers Peugeot 504 46mc 38hr 39min 50sec 66 103 Dr. Jim Caudle Jim Caudle Graham Drew Wally Eisden Datsun 1600 47mc 75hr 59min 55sec 67 20 Olympic Tyre and Rubber Company Hans Tholstrup Geoff Perry Chevrolet C20 Pick Up 51mc 46hr 20min 30sec 68 186 Leo Smith Dick Bray Kevin McMahon Leo Smith Valiant 770 Charger 54mc 50hr 7min 53sec 69 19 Ron Clyborne Ron Clyborne Jim Hayes Allen Turton Ford F-250 Pick Up 54mc 60hr 12min 2sec 70 106 Ross Easton Ross Easton Don Rayner Reg Bell Datsun 1600 54mc 61hr 16min 34sec 70 179 Harold Rayner Harold Rayner Barry Campbell Robert Loader Holden HT 56mc 48hr 35min 58sec 72 126 Tom Hayden Tom Hayden John Phillis Richard Hogan Mazda RX-2 56mc 59hr 19min 42sec 73 197 John Darby John Darby John Clark Colin Stewart Holden HR 58mc 40hr 57min 42sec 74 178 Bolch Transport Mal Bolch Vin Keane Malcolm Owen Holden Monaro HJ GTS 59mc 53min 1min 3sec 75 64 Alderman Keith Jones Keith Jones Kim Jones Peter Webber Riley 2.5 Litre 59mc 55hr 18min 55sec 76 102 Mainway Car Sales Kevin Cafe Robert Gurney Anthony Dawson Mazda RX-4 60mc 26hr 23min 1sec 77 181 Tony Koch Tony Koch Bill Darling Albert Koch Holden Commodore VB 60mc 43hr 43min 40sec 78 123 Ken Garner Ken Garner Mick Madden Allan Corben Holden Torana LX 64mc 25hr 29min 22sec 79 194 James Donaghue Jim Donaghue Stephen Logan David Grace Toyota Celica 65mc 35hr 22min 16sec 80 180 North Shore Sporting Car Club Greg Lunney John Stanmore Garry Tyler Peugeot 504 69mc 78hr 23min 6sec 81 189 John Spanbroek John Spanbroek Rog Compton John Plywright Datsun 240K 70mc 2hr 16min 58sec 82 83 Toyoparts Bob Bird Roger McKinnon Toyota Corolla 70mc 27hr 0min 31sec 83 201 E.G. Fullager E. Fullager Terry Fullager Dot Fullager Donna Fullager Holden Monaro HT GTS 72mc 37hr 4min 14sec 84 55 McArthur Rally Team Peter McArthur Greg McArthur Merawyn McArthur Ford Falcon XY 72mc 63hr 25min 39sec 85 207 Jim Reinders Jim Reinders John Lewis Holden FJ 73mc 36hr 11min 53sec 86 117 Mark Ferrier Mark Ferrier Ted Smith Honda Civic 79mc 38hr 3min 15sec 87 195 Richard Moore Richard Moore Phillip Sethna Volkswagen Beetle 80mc 28hr 7min 36sec 88 113 Malcolm Hall Malcolm Hall Ross Smith Andrew Lott Ford Escort Mark II 85mc 25hr 29min 39sec 89 198 Ian Sheridan Terry McTigue Ian Sheridan Robert Wilson Holden HQ Panel Van 87mc 26hr 3min 47sec 90 191 Spartan Equipment S/S Norm Sparkes Clayton Barry Ford Fairmont XC 87mc 28hr 47min 6sec 91 188 Peter Webster Peter Webster Trevor Jolly Rob McIntyre Holden FJ 91mc 35hr 40min 5sec 92 30 Pacific Ford John Bryson Sonja Kable-Cumming Ford Escort 2.0 Turbo Mark II 104mc 25hr 44min 36sec Source: Hal Moloney, Long Distance Trials in Australia by Car, Plane & Motor Cycle, 2018, pages 215-219

References