1971 - Bond in the Torana XU1

THE SUN-CALTEX SOUTHERN CROSS INTERNATIONAL RALLY

Sydney - Port Macquarie, 6-10 OCTOBER 1971

Returning to Port Macquarie the 1971 Cross attracted a large number of overseas entrants and drivers. Cowan (UK), Hermann (East Africa), Roberts (USA), Gauzere (Noumea), Iwashita (Japan), Singh (Kenya). For the first time the Japanese (Mitsubishi) came in force with service support for the Australian and other international drivers; Joginder Singh was to have driven an Alfa but was too ill to come out from East Africa. Japanese Iwashita and Ishikawa could not speak English and this caused them some trouble on the-first night, however they came back very strongly over the following nights to finish a very creditable sixth, and in fact were quicker over sections than even the winner Colin Bond. The lead was shared by several drivers with Chivas well in front until he hit a rock early in the third night, then Hermann slithered off a slippery road and lost time recovering and thus Bond moved into the lead, from which time he was threatened but never headed.

1st: Holden Dealer Team - Colin Bond/George Shepheard, Torana XUI
2nd: City State Racing - Stewart McLeod/Adrian Mortimer, Torana XUI
3rd: Mitsubishi Motor Corp - Barry Ferguson/Garry Connelly, Galant
4th: Mitsubishi Motor Corp - Edgar Hermann/Bob Riley, Galant
5th: Gerry Ball Tuning - Peter Lang/Ed O’Cleary, Datsun 1600
6th: Y. Iwashita - Yoshio Iwashita/Noboru Ishikawa, Datsun H510
7th: MG Car Club Newcastle - Peter Houghton/Mick Neilsen, Colt
8th: Mazda House - Richard Harris/Nigel Collier, Capella
9th: Hon Dawson-Damer - Bob Holden/John Dawson-Damer, Escort
10th: B. Hodgson - Bruce Hodgson/Mike Mitchell, Escort TC
Manufacturers: Mitsubishi
Ladies: Ann Ross/Rosemarie White, Volvo

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