R16 Nonstop to Darwin and Back
- Thread starter Kim Luck
- Start date
NT will claim
Kim
I don't who the dude in the threads is. But the car looks SA registration and photo background looks like the Administrator's House on The Esplanade in Darwin. Circa 1976
Kim
I don't who the dude in the threads is. But the car looks SA registration and photo background looks like the Administrator's House on The Esplanade in Darwin. Circa 1976
The well dressed dude is actually Bob Watson! The car went to Darwin and back non stop, but I can't remember who his co-driver was.. The car was serviced on the run, not stopping and the tyres when they needed changing were changed on the move at walking pace with a special trolley. The tyres on this car look like Dunlop SP3's. (I had a set on my rally R16). If you don't think they needed changing a lot, look at both wheels visible in the photo! The rims are buggered but being steel could at a pinch be hammered back into shape. If you rallied on steel rims back then, you carried a mash hammer!
That would have been quite an adventure 
, probably much more gruelling than the 70,000 mile XP Falcon durability drive around a predictable circuit :wink2:
, probably much more gruelling than the 70,000 mile XP Falcon durability drive around a predictable circuit :wink2:
You're really sure that is Bob?
I agree. Might be his co-driver perhaps, but it doesn't look like Bob to me.
This guy looks a bit bigger; and broader in the face than Bob in his youth.
We need to ask Bob750 about the 7 days non stop around Surfers Paradise raceway in an R12. It seems to me that there is no publicity or information on this event.
Hi Kim,
I reckon I remember that. I don't know the well dressed gent but Tony Goode from Renault Australia in Adelaide and Randal Smith also from Adelaide crewed the car.
I was living in Alice Springs at the time and the boys drove the car around Traeger Park while it was refuelled from a truck so they did not have to stop.
It was one of the wonderful publicity drives that Renault Aust used to organize to promote Renault reliability.
Regards
Chopper Bob
I reckon I remember that. I don't know the well dressed gent but Tony Goode from Renault Australia in Adelaide and Randal Smith also from Adelaide crewed the car.
I was living in Alice Springs at the time and the boys drove the car around Traeger Park while it was refuelled from a truck so they did not have to stop.
It was one of the wonderful publicity drives that Renault Aust used to organize to promote Renault reliability.
Regards
Chopper Bob
"I was going to say"
I've had the photograph in my possession since about the time of the "adventure". Never assumed it was anyone else but then I don't think I ever saw Bob Watson in a collar and tie whilst rallying so if it's not him the identification of the person leaning on this vehicle will remain a musty secret, I suppose!
and now I've said it I could see I could have been mistaken. Bob, I take my hat off to you, the mystery is solved! Or is it? Who is the Dude in the photograph then?
My 8G got traded in on that 16, after the run.
Probably thinks the info would be lost......
Sungold 16TS, Flame Orange 12GL. January 1973, Surfers Paradise circuit, seven days and seven nights, with a goal of 8000 non-stop miles. In the 168 hours, both cars covered 8159 miles at an average 48.56mph, 12GL 37.8 mpg, 16TS 29.1 mpg.
I believe I have a copy of Wheels magazine with an article covering that event.
Please scan and PM!!! It'll need to be bigger than 100 kb to read clearly I imagine. Those interested in 16s will bounce it around OK.
Cheers
I've had the photograph in my possession since about the time of the "adventure". Never assumed it was anyone else but then I don't think I ever saw Bob Watson in a collar and tie whilst rallying so if it's not him the identification of the person leaning on this vehicle will remain a musty secret, I suppose!
Ian Geoghagen?
But for the glasses, which I never ever saw him wear, I could be persuaded that it's Pete Geoghegan. This man certainly has similar features, including Pete's chin. But I think we need to find someone who knows more about the event to tell us.
Cheers
Al
It isn't Tony so there are now three options. I don't know the faces of those three but someone else might?
It is certainly not Randal Smith or Tony Goode.
Regards
Chopper Bob
Regards
Chopper Bob
You beat me to it, Bob!
I have high-res images same as above if anyone would like them.
I have high-res images same as above if anyone would like them.