BP Ultimate Rally��1st to 4th May 2008
By Phil Nicholas, navigating Graham Wallis in car 12, Peugeot 404
Chris Snell fixing a loose driving light at Wangaratta
Chris Snell fixing a loose driving light at Wangaratta
Graham Wallis/Phil Nicholas Peugeot 404 at Wangaratta on Friday morning.
Graham Wallis/Phil Nicholas Peugeot 404 at Wangaratta on Friday morning.
Coutts-Smith/Snooks Volvo receiving some TLC at Wangaratta. They later went out with a blown clutch.
Coutts-Smith/Snooks Volvo receiving some TLC at Wangaratta. They later went out with a blown clutch.
Peter Riseborough & Mark Laidlay comparing notes at Wangaratta
Peter Riseborough & Mark Laidlay comparing notes at Wangaratta
The Riseborough/Kilsby Stanza at Wangaratta. They had problems near Dunbulbalane with loose wheel studs.
The Riseborough/Kilsby Stanza at Wangaratta. They had problems near Dunbulbalane with loose wheel studs.
Business end of the Riseborough Stanza
Business end of the Riseborough Stanza
Start of the Killawarra Forest stage, just north of Wangaratta. We went up the road to the right, then returned down the road on the left and turned hard right.
Start of the Killawarra Forest stage, just north of Wangaratta. We went up the road to the right, then returned down the road on the left and turned hard right.
End of Killawarra stage. Stewie Lister, Gary Gourlay and Jenny Cole. Philip/Bainbridge Mercedes and Gibson/Cole BMW (who passed us in the stage).
End of Killawarra stage. Stewie Lister, Gary Gourlay and Jenny Cole. Philip/Bainbridge Mercedes and Gibson/Cole BMW (who passed us in the stage).
Graham Wallis at end of Killawarra stage. This stage saw the demise of the Officer/Officer Galant with a broken axle.
Graham Wallis at end of Killawarra stage. This stage saw the demise of the Officer/Officer Galant with a broken axle.
Jim McAuliffe getting out of Bob Watson’s Datsun 1600 at the start of the Dunbulbalane stage. This stage featured a fast flowing, rocky ford that claimed several victims, including Rawson and Wallis. This was Rawson’s second attempt at filling the car with water, after drowning in the ford near Mitta Mitta.
Jim McAuliffe getting out of Bob Watson’s Datsun 1600 at the start of the Dunbulbalane stage. This stage featured a fast flowing, rocky ford that claimed several victims, including Rawson and Wallis. This was Rawson’s second attempt at filling the car with water, after drowning in the ford near Mitta Mitta.
Peter Riseborough explaining the wheel stud problem to Bob Watson at the start of the Dunbulbalane stage. They headed off from here to get it fixed, rejoining the rally at Swan Hill that night.
Peter Riseborough explaining the wheel stud problem to Bob Watson at the start of the Dunbulbalane stage. They headed off from here to get it fixed, rejoining the rally at Swan Hill that night.
Rob Upstill at start of Dunbulbalane. Nice lollies Rob, the Mars bar was most appreciated. They are in the red tray on the table
Rob Upstill at start of Dunbulbalane. Nice lollies Rob, the Mars bar was most appreciated. They are in the red tray on the table
The crews getting ready to attempt the Dunbulbalane ford. Graham Wallis went in first, with disastrous results!
The crews getting ready to attempt the Dunbulbalane ford. Graham Wallis went in first, with disastrous results!
Dunbulbalane ford lived up to its reputation. Those rocks were big, loose and very slippery, we got bogged, not stalled. At this point the water has started coming in through the floor to flood the car. Surprisingly, the water did not seem all that cold – maybe it was the adrenalin. That’s Dick Denvil with the cute legs!
Dunbulbalane ford lived up to its reputation. Those rocks were big, loose and very slippery, we got bogged, not stalled. At this point the water has started coming in through the floor to flood the car. Surprisingly, the water did not seem all that cold – maybe it was the adrenalin. That’s Dick Denvil with the cute legs!
Bob Watson waiting impatiently for us to get out of the way.
Bob Watson waiting impatiently for us to get out of the way.
End of Dunbulbalane section. We managed to delay all these crews, sorry guys! That;s Rob Willet (in the white shirt) manning the control.
End of Dunbulbalane section. We managed to delay all these crews, sorry guys! That;s Rob Willet (in the white shirt) manning the control.
Ted Perkins/Gerry Bashford after the ford. They nearly got stuck but struggled through.
Ted Perkins/Gerry Bashford after the ford. They nearly got stuck but struggled through.
Chris Snell at Moama, fixing the back brakes after the pad fell out. Note the pie in his left hand.
Chris Snell at Moama, fixing the back brakes after the pad fell out. Note the pie in his left hand.
He’s still got the pie, while Graham McGrath his navigator looks on.
He’s still got the pie, while Graham McGrath his navigator looks on.
School’s in! My kids and wife (Sue) taking an avid interest in the brake repair. The kids were fascinated to watch crews pull up, dismantle half the car, then have it all back together and away in less than 30 minutes.
School’s in! My kids and wife (Sue) taking an avid interest in the brake repair. The kids were fascinated to watch crews pull up, dismantle half the car, then have it all back together and away in less than 30 minutes.
Angelo Curic working on Ted’s Cortina at Moama. They were suffering from loose wheel studs as well as Riseborough. Note how he is trying to levitate the tyre.
Angelo Curic working on Ted’s Cortina at Moama. They were suffering from loose wheel studs as well as Riseborough. Note how he is trying to levitate the tyre.
Sunset on the transport to Swan Hill from Mellool (just east of Swan Hill).
Sunset on the transport to Swan Hill from Mellool (just east of Swan Hill).
My ‘office’. Heading to Swan Hill
My ‘office’. Heading to Swan Hill
A very tired me at the motel in Swan Hill. Photo taken by Edward, my 3 year old! Believe it or not I am trying to plot Saturday’s sections – gave it up as a bad joke after re-reading the same instruction 5 times and not making sense of it.
A very tired me at the motel in Swan Hill. Photo taken by Edward, my 3 year old! Believe it or not I am trying to plot Saturday’s sections – gave it up as a bad joke after re-reading the same instruction 5 times and not making sense of it.
First section on Saturday (26), west of Swan Hill. Crossing Chillingollah road at one of the via’s.
First section on Saturday (26), west of Swan Hill. Crossing Chillingollah road at one of the via’s.
View to the west on first section after Swan Hill. Not much out there.
View to the west on first section after Swan Hill. Not much out there.
Some roads were very good, allowing us to make good time.
Some roads were very good, allowing us to make good time.
More of section 26. Still on good roads.
More of section 26. Still on good roads.
The road standard gradually deteriorated. Still great fun. Especially in a Peugeot.
The road standard gradually deteriorated. Still great fun. Especially in a Peugeot.
Thankfully it was not raining, as we skirt along the edge of a dry lake. Here heading north along Paynter Rd
Thankfully it was not raining, as we skirt along the edge of a dry lake. Here heading north along Paynter Rd
Maybe not so dry. Thankfully we didn’t have to go across there. The clay lake was to come later.
Maybe not so dry. Thankfully we didn’t have to go across there. The clay lake was to come later.
Infamous Mallee mud. Very slippery on road tyres! Heading for the first control out of Swan Hill
Infamous Mallee mud. Very slippery on road tyres! Heading for the first control out of Swan Hill
Paynter Rd getting a bit sandy. A warm up for Cremanton me thinks.
Paynter Rd getting a bit sandy. A warm up for Cremanton me thinks.
Still on Paynter Rd. Nothing for the nav to do except enjoy the road and watch Graham have some fun. Driving conservatively as there is still a long way to go.
Still on Paynter Rd. Nothing for the nav to do except enjoy the road and watch Graham have some fun. Driving conservatively as there is still a long way to go.
Road? What road? All I know is that control 26 (between Nyah & Chinkapook) is just over that rise.
Road? What road? All I know is that control 26 (between Nyah & Chinkapook) is just over that rise.
Required average to control 26 – 72kph. Made it on time!
Required average to control 26 – 72kph. Made it on time!
Control 26 and drama for the White/Fiddyment Peugeot 504. An injector had blocked, causing the spark plug to melt.
Control 26 and drama for the White/Fiddyment Peugeot 504. An injector had blocked, causing the spark plug to melt.
Will it go or not? They manage to get going without 1 spark plug and made it to Hopetoun (over 400km later) like that. Big effort!
Will it go or not? They manage to get going without 1 spark plug and made it to Hopetoun (over 400km later) like that. Big effort!
Section 27, heading west along Ti Tree Tank Rd. You call this a road? More like a wheat field!
Section 27, heading west along Ti Tree Tank Rd. You call this a road? More like a wheat field!
Still on Ti Tree Tank Rd, not much in the way of traffic along here apart from the occasional harvester.
Still on Ti Tree Tank Rd, not much in the way of traffic along here apart from the occasional harvester.
Patches of mud like this were common, causing considerable problems for crews down the field.
Patches of mud like this were common, causing considerable problems for crews down the field.
Beside the railway line coming into the passage control at Koimbo.
Beside the railway line coming into the passage control at Koimbo.
Section 28, the first of the sand sections, on the way to Cramenton. Just past here a mob of wild pigs ran across the road.
Section 28, the first of the sand sections, on the way to Cramenton. Just past here a mob of wild pigs ran across the road.
Starting to get some deeper sand. Luckily it was damp underneath providing some grip.
Starting to get some deeper sand. Luckily it was damp underneath providing some grip.
Plenty of width to the road so we can pick the best line through the sand.
Plenty of width to the road so we can pick the best line through the sand.
Sections of road like this made it difficult to get through, especially for the later crews. We were 8th on the road here and it is already churned up.
Sections of road like this made it difficult to get through, especially for the later crews. We were 8th on the road here and it is already churned up.
Beside the railway line just north of Galah.
Beside the railway line just north of Galah.
Amazing how the road surface changes in such a short distance.
Amazing how the road surface changes in such a short distance.
Still beside the railway, this time the road is covered in Paddy Melons. There were thousands of these along the route, along with large numbers of tumbleweeds.
Still beside the railway, this time the road is covered in Paddy Melons. There were thousands of these along the route, along with large numbers of tumbleweeds.
Section 31, heading west, just north of Walpeup. Gee its dry out here and I thought it was bad at my place.
Section 31, heading west, just north of Walpeup. Gee its dry out here and I thought it was bad at my place.
The road gets narrower, heading west towards Kattyoong.
The road gets narrower, heading west towards Kattyoong.
Heading to via 3 on section 31 along Aikman Rd. This via saw problems for several crews who misplotted and elected to go round the longer loop to the north and got bogged.
Heading to via 3 on section 31 along Aikman Rd. This via saw problems for several crews who misplotted and elected to go round the longer loop to the north and got bogged.
Being passed by Gibson/Cole in the BMW.
Being passed by Gibson/Cole in the BMW.
Chasing the Perkins/Bashford Cortina, late in section 31.
Chasing the Perkins/Bashford Cortina, late in section 31.
Between via’s 3 & 4 on section 34, just south of Cowangie. We had just been through the passage control near Eddie Perkins’ (father of Larry) old property.
Between via’s 3 & 4 on section 34, just south of Cowangie. We had just been through the passage control near Eddie Perkins’ (father of Larry) old property.
Still on section 34, the actual mapped (impassable) road is in the trees to our left. A big thank you to the farmers for letting us use the road and leaving the gates open.
Still on section 34, the actual mapped (impassable) road is in the trees to our left. A big thank you to the farmers for letting us use the road and leaving the gates open.
This is the last slide, taken just before we were overtaken by Rawson/Brown, who were travelling about 20 metres to our right. We caught up to them near the end of the section when they were delayed going over a big sand dune. Our moment of glory – passing 3 cars in one hit by going bush.
This is the last slide, taken just before we were overtaken by Rawson/Brown, who were travelling about 20 metres to our right. We caught up to them near the end of the section when they were delayed going over a big sand dune. Our moment of glory – passing 3 cars in one hit by going bush.