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2005 Darling-200 event
Rear wheel drive cars dominated the final Clubman rally for 2005, the Light Car Club Darling 200. Running a 2L MK 2 Ford Escort, Dave Thomas and Paul Church set fastest stage times on four of the six special stages to claim their first Clubman rally win. Warm, dry and windy conditions greeted competitors and officials on this year’s Darling. The loose, dusty gravel in the Jarrahdale forests took it’s toll on some during the day. Gary Whittle and Sharon Black (Datsun 1600) were at a disadvantage from the outset being car one on the road, their first stage time was 15th fastest. Thomas/Church started their run of fastest stage times from SS1. Trevor Chudleigh paired with Mark Butcher in a Toyota Corolla were second quickest through SS1 and continued that form for the next three stages. Daniel and Tamara Adams (Celica) were forced out of the rally early with mechanical problems in SS1 whilst the Youth Team’s problems were a little more serious. Haydn Green and Krystal Kowalik were on their first rally. Their Youth Team Daihatsu Charade left the road during SS1 and had a heavy frontal impact with a tree, spelling early retirement. Like SS1, SS2 was a relatively short stage. The two front teams repeated their results, leaving the others battling it out in their wake. Lea Welch/Justin Smith managed a third fastest time in SS2, although luck was not to be with the pair on this event. Jon Nannen and Alyson Flood had suspension problems with their Charade in SS2 and eventually had to retire. The longer SS3 was claiming a few victims. First to come to grief was Welch/Smith. On a tight twisty section of the stage, the pair collected several stumps, spinning their Mk 1 Escort and finally landing the car on it’s side. Both were uninjured in the crash, however the car will need some serious attention before next year. David and Tina Gould retired with a broken alternator in their Honda Civic. Neal Johnson/Richard Harris (Datsun 180B) also had to withdraw after SS3 with clutch problems. The next few stages seemed to see the list of retirements plateau. Chudleigh/Butcher shared a stage win in SS5 with husband and wife team Kingsley and Ros Foster (Toyota Celica). Nigel Anderson/Alex Kirkhouse was second quickest through SS5 starting what looked like a late charge. It didn’t end well for the duo when a driveshaft broke in SS6, and the Corolla stopped mid stage. Surprising some, the VW Golf of Jamie Trainer and John Knox won SS6 with Steven Davies and David Abetz second in their Corolla. Duetime were quick to post results. Chard Marshall/Matthew Richards (Datsun 1600) were tenth, Matt Green/Brian D’Arcy were ninth in their Corolla and Trainer/Knox were eighth. Whittle/Black recovered on the latter stages and finished seventh, Ros and Kingsley Foster were sixth, just 11 seconds behind Ben Searcy/Clint Simmons (Suzuki Swift) in fifth. Julian Wright and Jeff Huggins brought their Datsun 1200 to fourth place. Davies/Abetz made the podium in third behind Chudleigh/Butcher in second and Thomas/Church in first. The Clubman Series had already been decided prior to the start of the Darling 200. James Anderson and Jon Coney were first with 60 points winning the series after the Rally Australia Trial Event. The results from the Darling 200 seeing a tie for second place emerge in the series. Ros/Kinglsey Foster and Steven Davies/David Abetz were equal second on 40 points and David Thomas/Paul Church third with 35 points. Karl Drummond
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