ausauto News Article

Ghosts of Redex ride again

Membership of one of Australia's most exclusive motoring clubs is now officially open following Cams approval for the Red Centre to Gold Coast Trial.

Entrants in the 12-day, 7000km trial will instantly join the honour roll of those who have competed in the previous 12 round Australia rallies that originated with the Redex Trial of 1953.

The original trials captivated the nation and through the huge media coverage, opened up the then mysterious outback to millions of people.

Many members of the 90 crews participating in this year's trial have already have been round Australia, some of them many times.

One of the most experienced is nine-time NSW rally champion Barry Ferguson, who took part in 1964 and 1979, when he finished outright second and in 1995 and 1998.

This year he will compete in the same former Holden Team Commodore that he shared with Wayne Bell and Dave Boddy to finish second in the 1979 Repco Reliability Trial.

Ron Fraser, a veteran of three round Australia trials, will compete in the less-demanding Challenge category in a classic Peugeot 404.

Fifteen other 2008 Trial entrants have competed in two previous Round Australia events.

Around 140 members of the informally incorporated Round Australia Club met recently in Maitland, hometown of the late Ken Tubman who won the 1953 trial in a Peugeot 203, to mark the 55th birthday of the original Redex Trial.

Amongst them was octogenarian Ken Harper (pictured left) taking part in the historic first event navigating for the late Norman Hamilton (right) in Australia's first Porsche.

Starting in Alice Springs on Monday 8 September, the Red Centre to Gold Coast Trial will send the 120 competitors, in historic and production rally cars and recreational 4WDs built prior to 1986, on a zigzag course across the centre and northeast of Australia before finishing on the Gold Coast on Saturday 20 September.

After scrutineering and a welcome function in Alice Springs, the Trial will begin with a 'shakedown' loop containing four competitive sections south of Alice Springs before commencing the long run to the east coast.

Entrants will travel on mainly unmade roads through Mt.Isa (11/09), Normanton (12/09), Cairns (13/09), Townsville (14/09), Longreach (15/09), Birdsville (16/09), Tibooburra (17/09), Bourke (18/09), Goondiwindi (19/09) and the Gold Coast (20/09).

Some of the 50 competitive sections will be up to 100km long.

Entry costs $5500, including GST, for the Trial and $4250 for the less-competitive Challenge, .