Rally Racers Vs Tar Babies

**GTRMagic** · 14 Oct 2007, 03:16 (Ref:2039602)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raceonly

Methinks that ever since he went to Ch 7 he started taking himself far too seriously. I guess someone has to. I found him at the Bathurst 12 hour to be the most aloof of all the Subaru drivers. Cody, Chris Atkinson, Chris Alajaian, Neil Crompton and Dean Herridge were easy to talk to.

And each of the blokes you mention, other than Mr Denyer, have some idea about the rhythm of being in a race car... having perfected the mechanical art of sitting behind the wheel of a racing car, changing gears, slowing down, cornering etc etc... whereas you could say that Mr Denyer, not being as experienced, could well benefit from a little guidance in this area

The intensity is usually up... when the result is mega important...

Raceonly · 14 Oct 2007, 03:45 (Ref:2039607)

Maybe, but three of them are rally drivers, inexpeienced in the art of overtaking at racing speeds, etc. although Chris had just come from Nurburgring. I spoke to him about that place and he reckons it is the best track in the world. He loved it. Goes to show that maybe rally drivers really are the best drivers after all.

Notso Swift · 14 Oct 2007, 07:55 (Ref:2039651)

Richards, Fury, Bond, not a bad start

(IIRC Brock didn't rally till later)

smokinJ · 14 Oct 2007, 09:29 (Ref:2039695)

Brock rallyed the GTR remember the Giant Killer fly torry and of course the 79 round Aust

its funny My Mum who is 75 goes off every time Grant comes on the TV,
calls him a fake annoying little man

hehheheeee

smokinJ · 14 Oct 2007, 10:08 (Ref:2039718)

PVDA · 14 Oct 2007, 23:06 (Ref:2040369)

Actually purchased AA last Friday (had to fill in 2 hour wait while car was being serviced) and found an interesting article about Neil Bates swapping cars with a Drifter.

Now that's a real Tar Baby vs Rallying story.

Used Car · 14 Oct 2007, 23:44 (Ref:2040382)

The 2nd Neal's on Wheels did a good job in the rally car like a drifter.

And at Bathurst in mostly uncompetitive cars.

Pity he doesnt have a regular call up every October

mac · 14 Oct 2007, 23:45 (Ref:2040384)

Not sure exactly what this thread is about, but Neal Bates has certainly achieved a lot on both the racing circuits and rally roads across this country. The story goes that Glenn Seton jumped in the passenger seat of his rally car at Calder one day and was so amazed at his car control that he offered him a drive of his Falcon on the same day - Seton liked what he saw and offered him the co-driving gig at Bathurst for that year.

Give me the car control and sheer lunacy of a top rally driver any day...

Used Car · 14 Oct 2007, 23:49 (Ref:2040386)

Looks like its about whether rally drivers or circuit racers are the better drivers.

Nice pic of the HDT car

OHOS

But an expensive one now I bet

smokinJ · 15 Oct 2007, 02:25 (Ref:2040421)

that car there ran in aparrantly was a test mule that Harry gave to Brock it ran in the tarmac races, drags, then rally, then rally x, then super rally x.
with a red motor then a super charged red, then a v8
he had him out every weekend

the thing was to give it to Brock and see what it could do, what would brake, what to improve. and to give the Young Brock race miles to hone his skills

wouldnt you like to see Lee Holsworth or someone given sothing like that to play with these days

maybe the ole silver fox had the right idea

someone employ Harry quick

Notso Swift · 15 Oct 2007, 04:27 (Ref:2040439)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notso Swift

Richards, Fury, Bond, not a bad start

(IIRC Brock didn't rally till later)

The first three started as rally drivers, then moved to Circuit.
PB didn't

Personally I think Farmer George is one of the most underrated drivers that Australia has ever had, just the nature of the guy that when the the popular heads were hogging the media in the blue and red camps Fury was quite happy to just drive for the love of driving. Even in Rally you had perpetual wag Dunkerton a media favourite.
Developing cars that were usually hampered by colloquial rules or, in the case of the early Group A Skylines, a manufacture who didn't have a full handle on the intricacy of witting a FIA homologation document i the way Ford and BMW did

... there is no reason a Group A DR30 or 31 Skyline couldn't have been the equal to a Sierra, by the time they did learn (with the R32) Nissan racing had moved from Marsden to Gibson and Fury had been out of the circle for 3 or 4 years... (only getting enduro drives). So he packed his boots, retired to the farm to spend more time with the kids, including driving the infamous school bus, entered 2 more rallies as a favour to help develop a VR4 for someone (can't remember who), he won both of them after a 8 year break from rally. I don't think he has driven competitively since, I guess he would be in his 60's now
LEGEND

racer69 · 15 Oct 2007, 04:53 (Ref:2040445)

So what is this argument calling out for, a mid-70s "Tour of Britain" style event, a 3 or 4 day 'rally' consisting of special stages & circuit racing. Perhaps in Group N type machinary?

Could be interesting.....

chavez · 15 Oct 2007, 07:07 (Ref:2040462)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notso Swift

The first three started as rally drivers, then moved to Circuit.
PB didn't

Personally I think Farmer George is one of the most underrated drivers that Australia has ever had, just the nature of the guy that when the the popular heads were hogging the media in the blue and red camps Fury was quite happy to just drive for the love of driving. Even in Rally you had perpetual wag Dunkerton a media favourite.
Developing cars that were usually hampered by colloquial rules or, in the case of the early Group A Skylines, a manufacture who didn't have a full handle on the intricacy of witting a FIA homologation document i the way Ford and BMW did

... there is no reason a Group A DR30 or 31 Skyline couldn't have been the equal to a Sierra, by the time they did learn (with the R32) Nissan racing had moved from Marsden to Gibson and Fury had been out of the circle for 3 or 4 years... (only getting enduro drives). So he packed his boots, retired to the farm to spend more time with the kids, including driving the infamous school bus, entered 2 more rallies as a favour to help develop a VR4 for someone (can't remember who), he won both of them after a 8 year break from rally. I don't think he has driven competitively since, I guess he would be in his 60's now
LEGEND

Interestingly, Fred Gibson, stated in Australian Muscle Car Magazine that the Bluebirds were at times running way outside the rules.

Fury got the short end of the stick. When times got tough at Nissan Seton left. Fury, I think, would have been more loyal.

**GTRMagic** · 15 Oct 2007, 08:03 (Ref:2040488)

Mr Fury was dumped... replaced by Richo & Skaife.... one last Bathurst with Mr Seton's outfit then back to bus driving...

Although... he led the ARC in a near standard VR4 back in 1990(?) against some real elswisho gear... till the team's money ran out...

pete55 · 15 Oct 2007, 09:07 (Ref:2040528)

I thought Colin Bond did circuit racing before rallying.

A9X05 · 15 Oct 2007, 10:10 (Ref:2040569)

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokinJ

that car there ran in aparrantly was a test mule that Harry gave to Brock it ran in the tarmac races, drags, then rally, then rally x, then super rally x.
with a red motor then a super charged red, then a v8
he had him out every weekend

the thing was to give it to Brock and see what it could do, what would brake, what to improve. and to give the Young Brock race miles to hone his skills

wouldnt you like to see Lee Holsworth or someone given sothing like that to play with these days

maybe the ole silver fox had the right idea

someone employ Harry quick

Talking of Harry Firth, in the 70's, He always thought that rally drivers had better concentration levels at the time than circuit racers, and that was ONE of the reasons HDT employed drivers like Bondy who were doing a lot of rallys, along with Tony Roberts, and others!
The ol' silver fox sure did have the right idea he was (and still is) one clever man who from his chalk drawings on the workshop floor, to taking both FORD and HOLDEN To wins at the mountain. He is a legend !

dmcl · 15 Oct 2007, 10:38 (Ref:2040584)

bond, brock, holden, matter of fact, most of the drivers from that era and earlier werent pigeon holed like they are today, and of course the machinery wasnt as specialised as it is today either, I have heard of stories of the likes of Colin Bond turning up to race at Bathurst in his Isuzu Bellet rally car.
And lets not even begin to consider the abilities of Harry Firth, won Bathurst with Bob Jane, and then the Inaugural winner of the Australian Rally Championship with Graham Hoinville in the Navigators chair, Graham is still seen at Historic race meetings in his Elfin Mono, and of course the clubman which he and eldest son Greg won the Grand Prix Rally with a few years ago now.
ahhh for a simpler time, those of us who "go both ways" (rally and racing that is) would be able to do so much all the one car, always thought i was born about 15 years too late, (Id be almost retired now too lol)

BFC · 15 Oct 2007, 10:53 (Ref:2040597)

[QUOTE=dmcl always thought i was born about 15 years too late, (Id be almost retired now too lol)[/QUOTE]
then you would have been 3 years older than me

Notso Swift · 16 Oct 2007, 02:37 (Ref:2041248)

Quote:

Originally Posted by A9X05

Talking of Harry Firth, in the 70's, He always thought that rally drivers had better concentration levels at the time than circuit racers,

That happens when the rallys ran overnight, these days, however, the poor dears need their sleep.

Notso Swift · 16 Oct 2007, 02:45 (Ref:2041251)

The other thing, I guess, is the monumental cost to do both disciplines today. IIRC Graham Alexander went from rally to circuit because of the costs and the exposure that could be gained. Also, for the professionals, Contracts are usually exclusionary, other forms of competition (or any risky behaviour) needs approval.

Still, I know in my case driving every thing I could do with my cars when I first started having fun, from Motorkahna, Hillclimbs, Navigational trials, Historic Rally - anything is better than sitting on the sidelines thinking about driving, (helps a lot in the rain as well)

PVDA · 16 Oct 2007, 08:05 (Ref:2041358)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notso Swift

That happens when the rallys ran overnight, these days, however, the poor dears need their sleep.

ARC perhaps but some clubbies run at night.

Don't forget the Alpine is on shortly and that usually finishes at some ungodly time of the morning.

Notso Swift · 17 Oct 2007, 01:18 (Ref:2042313)

Oldest rally in the world isn't it, defiantly old school.
But it is not the same as it was until the about the early 90's.
For a long time , the premier event in Australia, then in the top tier with the Castrol and Southern Cross
(Though I guess it was falling in stature from the late seventies on)

dmcl · 17 Oct 2007, 06:14 (Ref:2042373)

The Castrol (and indeed the Don Capasco before it) was very much a sprint rally incomparision to the Alpine and the Southern Cross. Completing an Alpine gives you a real sense of acheivement, which is what the revived event is all about. Long stages with a certain degree of toughness over the two days of the event, unfortunately we cant use much around the "classic" Bright Alpine areas, but basing it out of Lakes Entrance and using the southern side of the Victorian Alps has maintained the Alpine tradition, only 5 weeks to go and Ill be there, along with a gaggle of Datsuns, Escorts, Lancers, and a Lancia Stratos... cant wait.

Casper · 17 Oct 2007, 07:44 (Ref:2042404)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notso Swift

That happens when the rallys ran overnight, these days, however, the poor dears need their sleep.

There was a stage in one of the Southern Cross rallies that was so long they refuelled mid stage in their own time. It must have been one of the later ones as Cowan and Bryson were together in a Lancer. Gee I'm getting old. I wonder what happened to Bob Selby-Wood, anyone know?

bselbywood · 21 Jun 2012, 15:31 (Ref:3096009)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

There was a stage in one of the Southern Cross rallies that was so long they refuelled mid stage in their own time. It must have been one of the later ones as Cowan and Bryson were together in a Lancer. Gee I'm getting old. I wonder what happened to Bob Selby-Wood, anyone know?

Wow... Sorry to Bring up such an old post but it's not everyday you come across someone asking about my grand father

Bob Selby-Wood Snr died last year. RIP. Cams was notified ect at the time.

My father Bob Selby-Wood jnr, Has been Navigating casually for the last 5-6 years with Jack 'Gelignite' Murray's son John Murray in the ARC in a WRX.

Recently Bob and myself have started Historic Rally in a Datsun 1600.

This name won't disappear from the history books.

Regards,
Brett Selby-Wood

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