Two in a row for Redhills Rallyteam!!!

Rotorua Rally - Saturday September 8th, 2001

Thanks to our sponsors - Redhills Benz, Lauries Garage, Valvoline, STS Subaru Reckers.

Rally Rotorua lived up to it's billing in the weekend, a "fast very rough rally".

Based around Rotoehu forest, and run on some famous Rally New Zealand roads, we brought our Redhills Benz Subaru RX home in 30th place overall and without a scratch.

First car away was Marty Roestenburg in his Evo 3, whilst we started 37th at 8:37am, and toured approx. 40km to the first stage.

Stage one was based on Manawahae Road, and was 7.8km. Starting out tight and twisty, it was a mix of mostly 2nd and 3rd gear corners, with nice cambered roads. Towards the end it opened up to some fast sections, but we were taking our time, as it was a blind rally (no pace notes). No real moments in the stage, but a good one to warm up with.

Stage two was on Rotoehu Road, a bit longer at 9.20km. This was a fast flowing road, through farmland, with some great corners and some nice scenery on top of the hills (I shouldn't be looking…). Some parts of this stage had great fast flowing 3rd gear corners…a real fast stage. We made it through here with no problems, other than a bit of a heavy braking foot, as I kept waiting for the pace notes to be called.

Stage three was Maniatutu Road, at 7.8km. This was cut down from 15.5km, due to residents on the road, which was a real shame, as the touring stage was over some great roads. It is a shame some people can't let others have some fun. The stage itself was fast and flowing, with some long sweeping corners. For others it was a bit of a killer, there were cars off the road in varying states of disrepair all through the stage (I stopped counting at 7). We had one half spin on a tighter right hander, but I managed to catch it before we went too far, and we wobbled on down the road. The stage removed some of the Class E favorites in Darryl Jones and Kevin Farmer. Once out of here it was a 20min tour to the first service park.

Stage four was Rotoehu 1, 11.95km. This stage started out fast and smooth, with a couple of corners with ruts in them giving the rear diff a bit of a smack. Then it turned into what can only be described as the "roughest goat track" I have ever seen. We were racing down small tracks, with trees and log very close, and some of the potholes were huge. This stage was mainly about taking it easy, as any hero driving would have removed a strut or two. We got to the end in one piece, even though it seemed the car was about to shake itself to bits.

Stage five was Rotoehu 2, at 21.60km it was the longest in the rally. It had some huge straights where we got to 170km/hr, and some real tight and twisty sections. It was on this stage we lost another Class E competitor Alex Gilmour in hi RS Legacy, with some nasty holes in pistons. We had a great stage, although again I was taking it easy, as the road was still pretty rough in stages.

It was back to service for us after Stage five, and a well-earned lunch break at the local Manawahae School.

Stage six was a repeat of the Stage one, and we were able to beat our time through by 20secs with no incidents or drama. At this stage all was going to plan for us.

Stage seven was a repeat of Stage four, but it had got rougher. So again we took it easy through the stage and came out 10secs better form the last time through.

Stage eight was a repeat of Stage 5. I had a real good go in this stage, and caught Bill Taylor in his Mazda halfway through the stage (he was having fun with the lack of clutch). We got stuck in his dust for about 3-4km, and finally got past him on a 90' right in the middle of the stage. After passing him our car started to play up. The ECU light was coming on and dropping the car back to safe mode. It was a bit frustrating, as it would fell like it the engine was flooding, then take off. But we still managed to better out time by about 20sec, and finished the stage.

Another 15km back to service and we tried to find the fault, but to no avail, so it was off to Stage 9, the final stage, with the car not running right, and using lots of extra fuel.

Stage nine was a repeat of Stage two, and we had a great stage, apart from lack of acceleration at times to pull us out of corners. Rolled up to the time control at the end, and it was a 30km touring section (with no service) between us and the finish. The car was running very rich, blowing big black clouds of unburned fuel out of the exhaust, but we got to Rotorua, and finished.

So it was another good rally for us, and we look forward to the final round in Whakatane on the 29th September.

See our next event here.

Cheers

Simon Bell & Sam Ackland
Redhills Rallyteam

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Event Preview

This weekend sees the Redhills Rallyteam heading to the hot pools of Rotorua for round 5 of the Top Half Rally series.

Based in and around the forests to the east of Rotorua, it should be a a truly testing event. The roads are a mixture of hard based gravel, and sandy pumice, which provide good traction. There are nine stages, the longest of which is 21km, and the shortest 7.5km. See below for more detail:

RALLY OF ROTORUA – 2001
Stage Descriptions Saturday September 8th
S/S1 Manawhae Road– 7.80kms – very tight twisty start that opens up to a very fast finish. Road surface is mainly county base very hard.
S/S2 Rotoehu Road– 9.20kms - International Rally of Rotorua stage run in reverse. Fast flowing road through farm area. Smooth county road hard base with medium gravel.
S/S3 Maniatutu Road– 15.5kms – fast flowing run with the odd surprize built in to keep you honest. Hard base county road with light gravel surface.
S/S4 Rotoehu 1– 11.95kms – Forestry road starts with county base, fast and flowing before it turns into a sandy base then a dirt base road.
S/S5 Rotoehu 2– 21.60kms – this road will have nearly every surface known as far as gravel goes. Very fast in places with some not so fast areas.
S/S6 Manawhae Road 2–7.80 kms– A repeat of ss1.
S/S7 Rotoehu 1 R2– 11.95 kms – A repeat of ss4.
S/S8 Rotoehu 2 R2- 21.60kms – A repeat of ss5.
S/S9 Rotoehu Rd R2– 9.20kms – A repeat of ss2.
We are seeded 37th on the road, and are looking forward to the day of rallying. To view the entry list, please click here>>>
See our next event here.

Cheers

Simon Bell & Sam Ackland
Redhills Rallyteam