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The organisers of the Mitta Mountain Rally want to make it an enjoyable experience for those competitors from NSW.  A summary of key differences between normal practice at NSW state championship events and what occurs at Mitta was provided for previous events.  A significant difference to previous Mitta events that have been part of the NSWRC is that competitors cannot enter both NSWRC and VRC components, which has simplified registration and series sponsor signage. The remaining differences are not major, although the penalties on road sections in Victoria did catch out a few previously.

Refuelling

Refuelling in Mitta can only occur in the refuel zone adjacent to the service park.  Time is allowed to refuel on the road section leaving the start and each time leaving the service park.  This prevents refuelling being rushed while other pressing work may be required during service sections.  There will be a need for remote refuel zones in both Heat 1 and 2.  A refuel trailer will be provided to take fuel to the Heat 1 and Heat 2 remote refuel.

Penalties on Road Sections

In Victoria the penalty for late arrival at a Time Control is 5 seconds per minute late, as per the NRC.  This has not been found to cause any public relations issues in Victoria.

Results and Awards

Previously at Mitta results were final on the day at 1930 if no protests received.  Since 2022 results are now only provisional on the day, but awards are presented at the post event function on the same day.

Display Clocks

These are not used in Victoria.  Competitors can use the Rallysafe unit time, which is linked to Rallysafe tablets used at all Time Controls, to judge when to enter Time Controls.

Media Day

There will be no media day at Mitta.

Wheelspin at stage starts

Although this applies in some Victorian events, it will not apply at Mitta.

Of course there will be other idiosyncrasies, some written, some not, that have not been covered here, but hopefully the above eases the trauma of crossing the Murray River into the Deep South!

A widely talented rally driver, co-driver and navigator, Warwick Smith will follow previous patrons; George Fury, Geoff Portman, Jeff Beaumont, Bruce Garland, Kate Officer and Philip Rodgers, in filling this unique but some might say somewhat dubious role at Mitta this year.

Why have a patron at a rally, you may well ask?  The organisers of the Mitta Mountain Rally thought that having an event patron that was a respected elder of the sport would provide a great link between contemporary competitors at the state championship level and older crews and their cars in the Mitta Masters.

Warwick started rallying in 1966 as a navigator and member of the Renault Car Club.  He soon turned his hand to driving as well in a diminutive Renault 750, moving on to a Renault Dauphine 904, then 1100, then the better Renault Ondine 1100 then 1300, but never a Gordini.

He experienced success as a navigator initially with Geoff Lawson in a Mazda R100, then with Bob Bird in a Cortina and Torana XU-1, winning the 1972 Victorian Clubman Championship, while being picked out by Harry Firth to accompany Barry Ferguson in a Holden Dealer Team XU-1 in the 1972 Australian Rally Championship.  This led to pairing with Peter Lang to win the 1973 ARC also in a HDT XU-1.

In amongst the co-driving, he fitted in events driving with his great mate Bruce Norton as navigator.

He came close to winning the Victorian Rally Championship as navigator with Bob Bird on a number of occasions in the mid-70s before concentrating on driving a Mitsubishi Lancer to dominate the VRC from 1978 to 1980.

He took a turn at directing, creating the Goldfields Rally, run annually from 1974 to 1978, which was noted for the very tight and demanding route charts on vague tracks through the forests around Dunolly.

Warwick will be floating around at Mitta this year, so feel free to have a chat to him.  He may have some useful advice as to how to be successful.  He will also be interviewed at the post event presentation function about the cars he has rallied in and the famous drivers he has guided, including Peter Lang, Colin Bond, Peter Brock and Peter Janson and his thoughts on present day rallying before presenting trophies, including the Warwick Smith Cup to the winners of the Mitta Masters.

The course check has been completed and the road team reports that all stages are in great condition.  Although the area has experienced a wet Winter, Spring and Summer, rain has been steady with few heavy storms that can impact road surfaces.  One stage was dropped as planned grading had not occurred.  This reduces total distance to 135 km for the State event and to 99 km for the shorter VCRS event.  That still represents a significant workout in this tight and twisty terrain.

The organisers like to vary the course from year to year, to keep the event interesting.  Two stages incorporate some open shire roads.  Two stages have been used  before, one not for many years, the other has been graded since last used and is in tip top condition.  It will provide a great final stage.  Two stages are run in reverse direction to previous years.  There is also ten km of exciting all new road.

Road Director Tod Reed has conducted his own maintenance, rectifying a gutter that kept surprising him on survey.

Mitta enjoyed 60 entries last year with VRC, Masters, VCRS and including ten entries from NSW, but with the downturn in VRC entries towards the end of 2022, Mitta Organisers were willing to accept the offer to also be part of the NSWRC in 2023, and deal with an oversubscribed field if it ever occurred.

The field limit has been increased from 60 to 80, and 90 entries have been received to date. Entries have been received so far from the crews listed below.

The larger field is not expected to cause issues with roads in the forest, but will require the cooperation of crews to maintain a smoothly operating service park.

Entry fees have not been received yet from some of the listed entries. Entries will not be formally accepted until a full entry fee payment has also been received. Note that early bird discount closes on Wednesday 8 February. If the entry fee is not received from any of the following crews before the close of entries on 22 February (8 pm), then that crew will be removed from the Entry List and be replaced by the next available entry on the Reserve List.

It is still a week to go before the early entry cut-off, and 53 entries have been received so far.

Approval has been given by Motorsport Australia and Forest Fire Management Victoria, the responsible road authority for most of the route, to increase the field limit from 60 to 70 cars, so it is not too late to enter, but best to get online and get that entry in if you want to be part of the Series opener, and take advantage of the early entry fee discount.

Entries have been received so far from the following crews listed below.  If you thought you had submitted an entry and your name is not on this list, then please get in touch with our Entries Secretary, Ged Blum.

Supplementary Regulations have been released today at www.mittamountainrally.com for the opening round of the 2023 Motorsport Australia New South Wales Rally Championship and Till Hino Victorian Rally Championship.  Border Oils and Batteries are back on board again as the major event sponsor.

The event will also include as a multi club event, the opening round of the 2023 LDV Geelong Victorian Club Rally Series.  The Mitta Masters multi-club event for classic cars and competitors also returns this year as the opening round of the East Coast Classic Rally Series.

The Road team reports that the planned route has held up well to the wet year experienced here in Victoria. The superb views of Victorian peaks remain for co-drivers to enjoy and drivers to occasionally glance at.

The unique features of the Mitta event are all still there including the amazing service park on the golf course, modern Rally Base with excellent local catering, no repeat mountain stages, wrapped up with presentation that night in the cosy Mitta Pub.  The bus will operate from Dartmouth again.

It might pay to get online at www.mittamountainrally.com and get that entry in soon.  Discounted early bird entries close at midnight Wednesday 8 February.

Mitta Mountain Rally website has been refreshed for 2023. Stay tune for information regarding this year’s event scheduled for Saturday, 4th March.

While much of the country has been receiving heavy rains, the Mitta Valley has received only light falls this week following a dry February, so that road conditions in the forest are currently close to perfect.

Significant thunderstorm activity and rainfall is forecast for the day of the event, but the forest authorities consider that the forest roads should stand up reasonably well to rally traffic under wet conditions.

So, if you are preparing to leave for Mitta, keep on coming.  The local community has stocked up with supplies and looks forward to your visit this weekend.