The 3 Peaks
October 30 to November 3, 1998

The Club Treasurer, Andrew Gregory decided he would give '3 Peaks' a try to finish off 1998, after all he had a decent 'warm-up' with the Maserati Ghibli Cup car in Rally Tasmania, Targa Tasmania and the MSCA Six Hour, this is his report:

Even though it bore the name of the Patron of our Club, I had not previously been acquainted with 'Reg Hunt Park' at Broadford. It was here that we gathered for the initial briefing and the first three stages of this event.

The facility consists of a SMSC road course, dirt speedway type track and a motorcross circuit. First stage was the road circuit in a clockwise direction. Driving it this direction provides some interesting off-camber turns and turns that surprise over blind crests by going on and on to bring excitement to the uninitiated. This included yours truly who got turn 12 wrong and attacked the main straight the first time from an off-track rally-cross approach.

Stage 2 was an initiation to dirt track speedway, but no concrete walls (this would be introduced on Day 5!). Good fun and excellent for developing throttle control. Then back to the road circuit for a 'hill climb' which is basically half of the circuit in an uphill reverse direction which encompasses turns 12 to 5. Again, good fun. Exciting for spectators too, as the finish is just short of turn 5 which is a 90 degree left on a crest. There were a couple of classic run offs in to the bush. No harm done though.

A worthwhile venue for a future club day and a scenic and enjoyable drive to get there.

Next was navigation to Shepparton. Challenging without trickery. A well planned dial-in to navigation.

Day 2 was DECA for timed laps, skip pan and handling tests. The latter two quickly brings home the need for a clear understanding between driver and navigator. You know ...left, left, right, right, left ... Oh hell there's four witches hats ... which left. Oops skidding on loose gravel into the gate. Bloody navigator!!! Phew, there will be time for a second run because the event is running ahead of schedule.

Then a more challenging navigation stage to Bright. Another glorious day in beautiful country. Unfortunately, there were a couple of stuff-ups with the course. Principally an omitted ''via' board and unmarked 'informations'. Got dizzy trying to sort that one out. And I was navigating on that stage! I'd heard course officials had a propensity for deviousness, but really.

Day 3 saw us drive up the Kiewa Valley Highway to Mt Granya for two closes road stages. Some glorious weather and utopian country. The closed road stages were reminiscent of Targa stages, if very short to comply with CAMS regs for this grading of event.

Then on to Corryong for some fun on the airstrip. A Motorkhana followed by 1km drags. Boy did that get the GTR's and V8's going in particular! Problem is that you've gotta stop at the other end else there is an irrigation ditch followed shortly by a fence. That=s when you find out how aptly it is named: 'To Infinity and Beyond'.

Then it was a 'fuel economy' stage back to Bright. Ahh! I thought a 2 litre Maser has got to be able to go OK against GTR's, Mustangs etc. Well here I was introduced to techniques beyond smooth driving, shortest possible routes and even engine-off cruising. Some experienced competitors had discovered the benefits of filler-side jack ups, air pocket eliminating dough-nuts with secondary top-ups and those experts who knew the precise number of brake pedal depressions before one is out of vacuum!

Day 4 again broke to the same weather - 5 in a row and more to come. Bright in spring really is special. Unfortunately the morning was something of a let down as the two closed road stages planned were cancelled. The result of a lack of cooperation from a local official and a few residents of the roads to be closed. It left me with a crystal clear view of how fortunate we really are to be privileged to compete in closed road events of the number, length and challenge of course and speed offered in Targa Tasmania and Rally Tasmania.

Back to the event. We displayed our cars as a substitute for driving them. Then off to the Speedway at Myrtelford. Now here's the speedway with concrete walls, rather like a gladiator pit. Jeff Beable gave an awesome display in the 200SX. Not a brake light to be seen. Throttle control to do two timed laps at 45 degrees to the direction of travel. And a grin to finish that steel wool wouldn=t remove. Talking of removing, I'm still cleaning speedway 'cement' from my suspension. A little like kids I felt - heaps of fun, and ... lots of mess to clean up.

Now to the finish at the fabulous Mt Buffalo Chalet. Perfect day and a road to die for. Couldn=t resist the whilst of those turbo's and that waste gate is magic. Aaah, someones got to do it. And I'm glad I was one of those to enjoy this year's 3 Peaks.

It was Rowan Harman's first 3 Peaks on his own. In this context there were a number of avoidable negatives in the management of the event which I feel sure he will work out for 1999. Rowan did take the opportunity to put value in to the event by providing extra runs wherever time permitted. The standard of food was high.

Club members to compete included Jeff and Nerida Beable, Clare and Robert Molnar, Garry Blackman and Jacqui Gregory, Tony Moodie, and Chris Bruce.

Andrew Gregory