Ashley Forest Rallysprint 2009

[Kahlua]

Hi Everyone

Just to let you know we (RATEC) are running the Ashley Forest Rallysprint again this year on the 3rd and 4th October at Ashley Forest (obviously).

Doug and the crew have spent many weekends making this a really cool event to spectate - from being able to roam around the pits, to viewing areas at the start / finish, to being able to walk through the centre of the 1.7km course through the trees (even made a path!) to the main viewing corners of the circuit, right up to the hairpin at the top.

Clint and Steve Murphy are back in their gravel hillclimb special Cordia, and there is a wide range of entries including ex WRC driver Neil Allport. We are also running offroaders as a special class too.

Since the loss of Race to the Sky, Ashley Forest is the premier rallysprint event in the South Island - and its now the 30th anniversary this year.

Make an effort to come watch - prices are in the above image and on the website - I'm Assistant Clerk of the Course again so wave and I'll come say Hi if I'm not too busy being all official like.

See here for details: http://www.ashleyforestrallysprint.co.nz

Click here for Spectator Map (will need Acrobat)

Click here for Location Map

Go to Youtube and type in 'Ashley Forest Rallysprint' for some very cool videos (incl incar) from over the years, and especially see here for TV footage from the event back in 1988 - (how cars have changed - but still quicker than back then over 20 years ago) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS1rVAojKgY (really worth a look!)

Hope to see you there - feel free to ask any questions to me

PS - check the website for constant updates on entry lists, but for Toyotas -

Kevin Lynch (Greymouth) - Toyota Starlet (0-1300cc)
Garry Cowan (Christchurch) - Toyota Corolla (1301-1600cc 2WD)
Allan Kermeen - (Blenheim) - Toyota Corolla (1301-1600cc 2WD)
Daniel Flood (Blenheim) - Toyota Corolla (Unlimited 2WD)
Robert Stocker (Ashburton) - Toyota Celica (Unlimited 4WD)
Michael Tall (Christchurch) - Toyota Starlet (0-1300cc)
Chris Hey (Mosgiel) - Toyota MR2 (Unlimited 2WD)
Grant Restall (Christchurch) - Toyota Corolla (Unlimited 2WD)
Geoffrey Combe (Amberley) - Toyota Starlet (0-1300cc)

[Brick]

kevin lynch starlet? he sold that car ages ago now

ill be up there watching, but not racing

[Kahlua]

kevin lynch starlet? he sold that car ages ago now

ill be up there watching, but not racing

Hes had more than one car

Last year he had the white newer Starlet - same one he raced at Rally Canterbury a few months ago. Assume its the same for this event? (wouldn't be ages ago now?)

[Brick]

kevin lynch starlet? he sold that car ages ago now

ill be up there watching, but not racing

Hes had more than one car

Last year he had the white newer Starlet - same one he raced at Rally Canterbury a few months ago. Assume its the same for this event? (wouldn't be ages ago now?)

i no lynchy quite well,

he did have the fwd starlet but it kept breaking, now he has an evo 3 which is putting out some decent power and he also just finished nelson rally in it winning class e

[Brick]

Kahlua i've heard rumours the escort coming down cost around 1million to build...? do you no anything about it? Is it wrc spec as the title may suggest

[Kahlua]

i no lynchy quite well,

he did have the fwd starlet but it kept breaking, now he has an evo 3 which is putting out some decent power and he also just finished nelson rally in it winning class e

So he did and so he is..... ( My bad! In my defence he changed his entry since I wrote the above)

Kevin Lynch
Greymouth
Mitsubishi Evo 3
Rally 4WD

re: Escort, I'd imagine its Brian Green's Ford Escort WRC which is being shared driven by Neil Allport. For Neil to be driving it, I'd imagine its pretty competitive, so it would be that one. (I can't confirm what build cost was, but it was at SilverFern, although retired due to mechanical issues).

Here is the info on the car from SF08 -

1997 Ford Escort WRC
CC: 2000

About Brian - Brian's first Rally car was an Escort 1300 in the 1969 Shell Silver Fern Rally. He has competed all thru Asia, NZ 1997 Group A Champion, 2004 Malaysian Champion, competed in APPRC 2001 - 2006. This year doing the Chinese Rally Championship in Wan Yu Rally Team. Brian was forced to withdraw from the 2006 Silver Fern Rally with mechanical problems.

I'm guessing its the same one then?

And yes, WRC spec is correct

[chch34]

Kahlua i've heard rumours the escort coming down cost around 1million to build...? do you no anything about it? Is it wrc spec as the title may suggest

Yea I know the one...

"Hey! Ya mother!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu_DTydt2tI

[rolla_fxgt]

i no lynchy quite well,

he did have the fwd starlet but it kept breaking, now he has an evo 3 which is putting out some decent power and he also just finished nelson rally in it winning class e

So he did and so he is..... ( My bad! In my defence he changed his entry since I wrote the above)

Kevin Lynch
Greymouth
Mitsubishi Evo 3
Rally 4WD

re: Escort, I'd imagine its Brian Green's Ford Escort WRC which is being shared driven by Neil Allport. For Neil to be driving it, I'd imagine its pretty competitive, so it would be that one. (I can't confirm what build cost was, but it was at SilverFern, although retired due to mechanical issues).

Here is the info on the car from SF08 -

1997 Ford Escort WRC
CC: 2000

About Brian - Brian's first Rally car was an Escort 1300 in the 1969 Shell Silver Fern Rally. He has competed all thru Asia, NZ 1997 Group A Champion, 2004 Malaysian Champion, competed in APPRC 2001 - 2006. This year doing the Chinese Rally Championship in Wan Yu Rally Team. Brian was forced to withdraw from the 2006 Silver Fern Rally with mechanical problems.

I'm guessing its the same one then?

And yes, WRC spec is correct

Is that the same one he used to rally in the NZ rally championship? And crashed in Rally Otago rather severely? It was pretty much in front of me when it happened

[Brick]

fingers crossed for a sub minute again this weekend

[Kahlua]

fingers crossed for a sub minute again this weekend

Well.... if you were undecided on coming for a look...

Steve & Clint Murphy's Mitsi Cordia has had a *couple* of things done to it.. namely (rumour says) something along the lines of 700ish HP on the dyno...

Plus a nitrous kick that will add another 100ish HP on top... on gravel.

Looks like someone (well 2 of them) are going for a little better than a sub minute....

[Brick]

didnt the father (steve) doa 59sec run last year?

ill be there with my free tickets in hand sun rain or snow

[DRFTIN]

nic, get me in for free i'm cheap

i should get some high soft suspension in the silvia one day and have a run, would be fun

[Kahlua]

didnt the father (steve) doa 59sec run last year?

ill be there with my free tickets in hand sun rain or snow

Sweet Lets hope for sun - I don't really want to be standing near the start line in rain or snow.. or driving the course car when needed in either of those, otherwise I'll have to use my own Surf.. haha.

Father Murphy did win with a sub minute run last year - but this year a few of them are after the record - which is 57 or 58 something I think? (I can't remember)

We are doing everything to make the course the best it can be - but all it takes is a dump of rain before hand and all sorts of factors come into play with preparing a course that you wouldn't believe - I never realised issues galore with water drainage on a gravel forestry road - until it stop working...

Lets see on the day - there isn't much more the ground team could have done. But the record will be broken if the weather is fine, the gravel is good, and is stripped on the racing line to a hard surface... and then you'll see some sub minute runs. There are plenty of entrants that will be trying for it I'm sure.

[Kahlua]

Well, here you are -

(the late) Kim Austin - 1999 - 56.57 seconds (course record)

Unless broken this year, it will stand for a decade. And think about how far technology has gone in cars over that period - shows how far we have gone, but how far we haven't in other aspects...

[fangsport]

Well, here you are -

(the late) Kim Austin - 1999 - 56.57 seconds (course record)

Unless broken this year, it will stand for a decade. And think about how far technology has gone in cars over that period - shows how far we have gone, but how far we haven't in other aspects...

any hint of an entry list??

i honestly don't think there are many guys in NZ, in their motorsport prime, that could get close to Kim Austin's time.

there are still hillclimb records down here that were posted over 10 years ago, in cars that one wouldn't consider as a weapon, but the driver certainly is. back in the heydey of Ashley Forest, there was a wee thing called the Gold Star Hillclimb Trophy, it was something that made guys stand up and deliver, just to get their hands on it. was also the same era as the the flame spitting Kiwi Hybrid.

no amount of technology will make up for sheer talent, look at the results that Greens WRC has had at Ashley........... not exactly mind-blowing for a car of it's calibre, maybe they should get Jessy to pilot it!!

[Brick]

entry list here

http://www.sportsground.co.nz/files/Sit ... FVJRDC.pdf

ill be up there in the big black truck again if any on decides to go off

[Kahlua]

Go to Ashley webpage - http://www.ashleyforestrallysprint.co.nz/
And click on 'Ashley Forest Rallysprint Information' and then 'For a list of competitors as at 02/10/09 Click Here'

[Kahlua]

entry list here

http://www.sportsground.co.nz/files/Sit ... FVJRDC.pdf

ill be up there in the big black truck again if any on decides to go off

Big Black Truck??

[Brick]

entry list here

http://www.sportsground.co.nz/files/Sit ... FVJRDC.pdf

ill be up there in the big black truck again if any on decides to go off

Big Black Truck??

you"ll see


same one i took to gebbies pass

[Kahlua]

Current results from Day 1 are here:

http://www.chrissport.co.nz/results/200 ... ifying.htm

Only main casualty was Robert Stocker in his Celica - I have a few photos but I'm sure others will post them up evenually. Rollover on the right hand corner of the uphill kink.