With over 110 entries, the bi-annual Alpine Rally was again conducted by the Historic Rally Association and based in the East Gippsland region, centred on Lakes Entrance. Using a huge area of East Gippsland forests that rarely see rally cars in action, the Alpine was, as usual, the drawcard event on the Victorian rallying calendar.

The event was again only open to two-wheel drive, normally aspirated cars, however a dispensation was give to Gerry Duyvestyn’s beautiful ex-works Lance Rallye 037 with its turbocharged and supercharged engine.

Rain leading up to the event had road conditions in nearly perfect condition for the event, which started at 10am on the Saturday morning of November 24. With such a large field, it meant that the last car started nearly four hours after the first, making the job of the control officials that much more labour intensive.

2005 Alpine winner Geoff Portman failed to start the event after his borrowed Holden Commodore suffered an engine failure, while 2003 winner Brian Semmens was unable to make it through the first day after hitting a rock that forced his retirement.

ARC regular Paul Batten chased hard in his Datsun 1600 but retired with gearbox failure, as did Gerald Schofield in his Roger Clark-replica Escort, until engine failure.

Former Holden Dealer Team and Hyundai World Rally Team driver, Wayne Bell, competed in his first non-pacenoted rally for 16 years and had the Fiat 131 Abarth replica in second place heading into the night division. But a spin on the long 33km tarmac stage saw him stall the car, and when the starter motor failed, he was left stranded mid-stage and out of the rally.

Brett Middleton was also performing well in his ex-ARC Formula 2 Championship winning Honda Civic, but a spin saw him knock the driving lights off the car and he struggled through the remainder of Saturday’s stages, and dropped down the order as a result.

Darryn Snooks steered his Stanza to a memorable victory. Jesse Robison in his 260z took second from Jack Monkhouse in a Datsun 180B.

The Alpine Rally was again hailed as a tremendously successful event. Fifty-seven of the original 109 starters completed all 23 stages of the rally.

The Alpine Rally is expected to be held again in November 2009.

For all the news, results and lots of pictures from the event visit www.alpinerally.org.au