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Classic Adelaide
2000
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Jeff Beaumont has had a busy year behind the wheel this year. None better from his point of view no doubt (in Australia, that is) than the recently completed Classic Adelaide event in which he finished in third place - could be 2nd depending on the outcome of a protest. What better account of the event than from the perspective of a podium place. This is Jeff Beaumont’s account: Classic
Adelaide 2000, held in late October throughout the Adelaide Hills and
surrounding areas, comprised of 33 all-tarmac special stages
over 4 days. A record
entry of Classic vehicles, built up to end 1970, was received, with 74
cars in the competition class, and 59 in the Parade
and Touring classes. The
event featured an enthralling battle for outright honours between
Queensland’s John Spencer / Alan Bates in a Datsun P510, and 1998 winner
Andrew Cavalli / Mike Dale in a newly constructed Escort BDA, a
replacement for the car they wrote off in the Lactos Rally earlier this
year. The
race for the final podium position was also most challenging, with
Maserati Club member Jeff Beaumont and Co-driver Dr Jim Caudle in their
Porsche 911 finally securing 3rd place, from Richard Anderson /
Martin Dale in an Alfa Montreal V8. Last
year’s winners Rick Bates / Jenny Brittan (Porsche 911), and Dave
McDonough / Ian Lawson (Capri Perana V8) both retired with mechanical
problems after challenging for 3rd
place. Peter
Kyriakidis / John Caldicott were performing well early on in their BDA
Escort, but they too encountered problems throughout the event. The
first day started with the traditional lap around Adelaide International
Raceway, with a further 6 stages throughout the Barossa Valley.
Wine maker Tim Knappstein was the first casualty, when he crunched
his Cooper S into a bank on the Upper Hermitage stage, fortunately without
serious injury. At day’s end Andrew Cavalli had won 5 stages, and held a
slender lead of 14 seconds from Queensland Rally Champion John Spencer,
followed by V8 Supercar driver Peter Gazzard, Dave McDonough, Rick Bates
and Jeff Beaumont in their Porsche 911’s, and Peter Kyriakidis. The
next morning Peter Gazzard was asked of his impressions of his first
Classic Adelaide Rally, compared with running a big V8 on the circuits.
He commented that he dreamt all night about the huge gum trees that
precariously lined the route, and said that he would take it a bit easier
on the second day! Sadly he
didn’t last long, when on the next morning his Falcon V8 left the road
on Clarendon stage, hit a tree and tore down a fence! The
second day was certainly drama filled.
Light rain made the Inman Valley stage a high speed challenge, but
John Spencer still managed to beat the existing record by 4 seconds,
averaging over 140 kph in the process! McDonough’s Perana called it
quits, with a broken differential, and Peter Kyriakidis encountered rear
end and transmission problems. Mark
and Trish Goldsmith had a gentle roll off Willunga Hill in their
immaculate Twin Cam Escort. Whilst
hanging upside down in their harnesses, Goldie rang Rally HQ to advise
them that he wouldn’t be continuing in the Rally! Victor Harbour hosted 2 stages , “The Bluff” and “Crows Nest”, the latter formerly being a gravel road that was well used in State Rally Championship events. Cavalli
and Spencer continued their battle at the front, and at the end of Day 2
they were amazingly equal, to the second , on times.
And Bates and Beaumont followed closely, separated by just 7
seconds. With the withdrawal
of several fancied runners, Richard Anderson was the mover up the field;
tenth on Day 1, and now 5th on Day 2. Saturday
morning started with the traditional Hilton Bridges stage within Adelaide,
with nothing separating the leaders.
It would be the longest day of the event, with 11 stages conducted
throughout the Adelaide Hills. John
Beasley’s Torana XU1 had been performing well, but a split block
necessitated an engine change
over night. Kyriakidis and
Gazard had both rejoined the event, and were putting up good times.
The Hoinville brothers, Steve and Jeff, were quickening their pace,
and had moved up the leader board into the top ten in their Escort twin
Cam. Rick Bates, in the Nick
Brittan owned Porsche 911, had a tappet screw come loose, then encountered
carburettor problems, and finally called it quits at the end of Day 3. The
fabulous Basket Range stage claimed a few victims.
John George’s Datsun 2000 Sports went off on a slippery corner,
immediately followed by father-and-son combination Peter and Jordon Ormsby
in their red K & A built 911. A
highlight of Saturday’s stages was the “Eagle on the Hill” stage,
using the old Highway from Devil’s Elbow up to the top of the Hill, the
stage being crammed with spectators. Up
front Cavalli and Spencer continued their enthralling battle.
The lead had now changed, with Spencer ending Day 3 just 6 seconds
ahead of Cavalli. Jeff
Beaumont’s Porsche was just under 2 minutes behind , and “just waiting
for something to happen up front”. Sunday,
Day 4, was to be the decider. The
fabulous “Montacute” stage opened the day’s proceedings.
Cavalli put up a scorching run over the 18
kilometer stage, recording a sub-10 minute time, 14 seconds ahead
of Spencer, thus putting Cavalli back in the lead by 8 seconds. And on the next stage “Aldgate”
the battling pair put up equal times. Next
was “Green Hills”, and Spencer claimed back 4 seconds from Cavalli,
with a sub-record run. Mark
Forgie, in his black Porsche 911, had been performing well and was up to 6th
place. But sadly
he ended his fine run up against a big tree, just over a crest in
Green Hills. Former Cooper S
driver, Peter Landan, in an immaculate
Lotus Elan was performing well, and his times improved throughout
the event as he got used to his recently acquired
LHD vehicle. At
the final lunch break at Strathalbyn on Sunday, the atmosphere was very
tense. The next stage,
“Paris Creek” was the longest in the event, at 23 kilometres,
and was fast and spectacular. This
stage would be the event decider. If
one of the front runners could put in a “blinder” they could claim
victory. And that’s what
happened. John Spencer put up
a run 16 seconds under the existing stage record, and 10 seconds quicker
than Cavalli. A few short
stages remained, and Spencer simply held station, to earn a very well
deserved victory by just 13 seconds. Provisional Results - CLASSIC ADELAIDE 2000
Jeff Beaumont Congratulations are obviously due and well-earned by Jeff for yet another top performance in this event resulting in third place. Results are presently still provisional however and no matter what happens Jeff’s standing will at worst remain the same and at best perhaps improve by one place. Club entries in Classic Adelaide were down this year with a number of club members not running the event (eg Chris Stephen, Peter Eames, Andrew Ogg, Barry Finlay and others). In addition to Jeff Beaumont and Peter Kyriakidis, both of whom featured in Jeff’s story, others in the Competition section were:
In
the Parade were David Edwards, Reg Kenny, John Fitzpatrick ... no doubt
I’ve missed someone!!
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