Old canberra rally pic

[chris240]

Anyone know who these guys where ?

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Stewart-McLeod-Adrian-Mortimer-Datsun-240Z-Don-Capasco-Rally-Canberra-1974-/140840103476?pt=AU_Transportation_Collectables&hash=item20cab96e34&_uhb=1

 

[boyblunda]

Please treat this as a very suspect unreliable, immediate recollection of ancient history, but my unreferenced / unsubstantiated recollections of this crew are that of a South Australian? pair of talented and prominent participants in a number of international and national rally championship events from the 1970's, who nipped at the heels of the performances of the better sponsored / supported  (Holden, Ford, Chrysler/Mitsubishi and Datsun / Nissan)  crews.

 

Keep in mind that the manufacturer support offered by the "factory" teams in the 70's was really quite marginal and that it was not until the latter part of the decade that their support could be considered as semi professional. Yes. they received support but it was hardly enough to be called professional.

 

If this photo is from a 70's Castrol International or ARC event then I would rate it as a noteworthy acquisition to my personal Z library.

 

Wikepedia reports that McLeod/Mortimer were runners up to Colin Bond (Torana XU1) in the 1974 Australian Rally Championship.

 

As an aside, in another subsequent life, I think that Stewart went on to become involved  in the development of emergency services procedures guidelines for vertical rescue (cliff, caving, building). In addition to this note, Stewart was a prominent person with regard to the organisation of the 1979 Repco Reliability trial and was murdered in 1987 over what was suspected to be gambling debts. He was certainly a colourful character in Aussie Zed history.

 

FWIW

Dave

[chris240]

Crikey....you more than answered my question 

I know the exact spot that pic was taken....

[boyblunda]

Thankyou for that post

Coincidentally, I just happened to have visited Canberra and the Stromlo Forest last weekend - my Canberra based brother gave me a tour of the fire affected areas with photos taken from several points both immediately before and after the fires of 2003(?).

Canberra is now a very different place now but the rallies of the 1970's around Canberra were just exceptional for the quality of roads and country that they traversed. The quintessential video / DVD of the period has to be that of the 1980 Castrol International Rally won by Greg Carr / Fred Gocentas in the Escort - only 40 seconds in front of World Rally Champion Ari Vaatanen in the Masport Escort. Bond was spectacular on one corner where he looked gone for all money but kept the car on the road by a hairs breadth of skill and good fortune. From memory Fury and Dunkerton were both right in the mix in the Stanzas but the left field quality performance was fifth placed Peter Brock in his Repco Reliabilty Trial winning Holden Commodore who comprehensively answered any critics of his ability to drive in a variety of environments.

McLeod and Mortimer were possibly just a little before their time in that they ran a quality car at the top level in a period when Australian rallying was just finding its feet. It was a period of  time when talented committed privateers could make their mark and this pair certainly made their indelible imprint on the sport.

FWIW

Dave