1979 Round Australia Trial

The 1979 Round Australia Trial, officially the Repco Reliability Trial was the twelfth running of the Round Australia Trial. The rally took place between 5 and 19 August 1979. It was won by Peter Brock, Matt Philip and Noel Richards, driving a Holden Commodore.^[1]

1979 Round Australia Trial Repco Reliability Trial
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Host country	Australia
Rally base	Melbourne
Dates run	5 – 19 August 1979
Stages	134
Stage surface	Tarmac and Gravel
Overall distance	19,000 km (12,000 miles)
Statistics
Crews	167 at start, 92 at finish
Overall results
Overall winner	Peter Brock Matt Philip Noel Richards Holden Dealer Team

Route

The 19,000 kilometre rally commenced at the Melbourne Showgrounds, circumnavigating Australia in an anti-clockwise direction.^[2][3] Of the 167 entrants, 92 finished.^[4] Two competitors were killed after their car rolled near Kununurra.^[5]

Results

Pos	No	Entrant	Drivers	Car	Penalties (Time) No. of Controls Missed (Mc)
1	05	Holden Dealer Team	Peter Brock Matt Philip Noel Richards	Holden Commodore VB	3hr 39min 18sec
2	17	Holden Dealer Team	Barry Ferguson Wayne Bell Dave Boddy	Holden Commodore VB	3hr 52min 39sec
3	3	Holden Dealer Team	Shekhar Mehta Rauno Aaltonen Barry Lake	Holden Commodore VB	4hr 53min 39sec
4	7	Volvo Dealer Team-Queensland	Ross Dunkerton Peter McKay Geoff Jones	Volvo 244 GT	8hr 24min 54sec
5	9	Ford Motor Company of Australia	Greg Carr Dave Morrow Fred Gocentas	Ford Cortina TE	9hr 12min 13sec
6	81	Victoria Toyota Dealers	Wes Nalder Ian Richards Geoff Boyd	Toyota Celica RA40	9hr 57min 25sec
7	50	Gosford Dyno-Tune Centre	Ian Hill Dale Loader Frank Neale	Mitsubishi Lancer	12hr 24min 11sec
8	1	Porsche Cars Australia	Edgar Herrmann Dean Rainsford	Porsche 911 Carrera	12hr 39min 2sec
9	8	Porsche Cars Australia	Jürgen Barth Roland Kussmaul	Porsche 924	13hr 9min 3sec
10	24	Tyrepower Limited	Gil Davis Phil Eather Graham Toner	Datsun 180B	16hr 9min 38sec
11	11	King Gee Clothing Company	Bob Watson Garry Harrowfield	Peugeot 504 Diesel	16hr 22min 18sec
12	12	U.S. Rally Team	Steve Mizel Rod Hall Rod Fricker Adrian Mortimer	Chevrolet Blazer	27hr 5min 38sec
13	47	Robert Jackson	Robert Jackson Des West Ross Jackson	Holden Commodore VB	29hr 2min 6sec
14	41	Darryl Rowney	Darryl Rowney Robert Wilson Bob Tyson	Datsun 180B	1mc 20hr 28min 18sec
15	87	Balmains of Bega	Max Roberts Eric Waterson Tony Carroll	Holden Commodore VB	1mc 53hr 57min 8sec
16	60	Arthur Davis	Graham Clarke Arthur Davis Graham Burge	Datsun 180B	3mc 33hr 22min 28sec
17	63	Newcastle Broadcasting & Television (NBN-3)	Murray Finlay James Sullivan Lyndon MacLeod	Holden Commodore VB	3mc 33hr 23min 7sec
18	92	Peter Hurrey	Peter Hurrey David Geddes	Toyota Celica RA40	4mc 27hr 46min 44sec
19	76	Volvo Dealer Team-New South Wales	Barbara Beveridge Anne Heaney Lynn Jarman	Volvo 244 DL	5mc 30hr 34min 50sec
20	53	Volvo Dealer Team-South Australia	John Miettunen Russell Morgan John Suominen	Volvo 244 DL	5mc 40hr 25min 31sec
21	160	Kevin McDiarmid	Kevin McDiarmid Peter Phegan David Travis	Datsun 180B	6mc 44hr 57min 10sec
22	22	Shepparton Rally Team	Geoff Portman Doug Thompson John Hammond	Datsun Stanza	7mc 12hr 2min 5sec
23	70	Townsville Sporting Car Club	Ian McCubbin Richard Kelly David Guyatt	Holden Monaro HZ	7mc 35hr 10min 9sec
24	56	Peter de Vaus	Ian Faulkner Peter de Vaus Keith Bateson	Peugeot 504	8mc 27hr 1min 55sec
25	13	Ford Motor Company of Australia	George Fury Roger Bonhomme Monty Suffern	Ford Cortina TE	10mc 14hr 10min 5sec
26	144	Giddings Datsun	Rod Jones Trevor Seaman John Giddings	Datsun 200B	10mc 24hr 37min 53sec
27	115	Melbourne University Car Club	John Birrell Brian Smith Rosemary Nixon	Renault 16 TS	10mc 50hr 50min 20sec
28	152	Garry Geissler	Grant O'Donnell Garry Geissler Andrew Gibson	Holden Torana LX	10mc 54hr 47min 48sec
29	28	Dick Smith Electronics	Jack Murray Jeff d'Albora John Murray	Holden Commodore VB	11mc 38hr 59min 34sec
30	39	Volvo Dealer Team-Western Australia	Frank Johnson Steve Vanderbyl	Volvo 242 GT	12mc 25hr 2min 21sec
31	31	Barry Dick	Barry Lloyd Malcolm Crockenberg John Dick	Mitsubishi Colt	13mc 41hr 51min 11sec
32	74	Peter Flanagan	Brett Goldsborough Peter Flanagan Phillip Grounds	Holden Commodore VB	16mc 62hr 32min 0sec
33	73	Peter Lockhart	Peter Lockhart Des Dunstan Ian Finlayson	Holden Commodore VB	17mc 42hr 24min 15sec
34	208	Nicholas Penny	Nicholas Penny Andrew Kennard David Brown	Holden Torana LH	18mc 43hr 56min 4sec
35	155	Lance Motors, St Marys	Ray Lance John Craft Paul Robinson	Holden Commodore VB	21mc 25hr 59min 52sec
36	104	Ralph Boys	Ralph Boys Greg Vonthien	Ford F100	22mc 34hr 32min 22sec
37	142	HMAS Cerberus Car Club	Neil Turner Keith Donohue John Sparrow	Leyland P76	22mc 68hr 21min 16sec
38	131	Dr. Wayne Herdy	Wayne Herdy Pat O'Kane Brian Gramenz	Peugeot 504	22mc 68hr 21min 16sec
39	146	David Sheridan	David Sheridan Richard Reid	Datsun 1600	23mc 41hr 6min 45sec
40	120	Hal Moloney	Hal Moloney Ian Vitnell Paul Daley	Leyland P76	23mc 49hr 42min 33sec
41	82	Christian Autosport Club of Australia	George Kahler Bruce Partridge Wayne Simeon	Mazda RX-4	27mc 47hr 33min 7sec
42	159	Jim Farmer	Jim Farmer Campbell Farmer Ron Fraser	Leyland P76	27mc 58hr 22min 7sec
43	78	Peter Foden	Denis Baker Bruce Young Peter Foden	Leyland P76	29mc 60hr 34min 43sec
44	14	Noriyuki Koseki	Noriyuki Koseki Yoshio Takaoka Hiroshi Okazaki	Subaru Leone	30mc 29hr 47min 12sec
45	171	Grahame Heaton	Grahame Heaton Robert Shepheard Brian Mann	Holden HJ Panel Van	31mc 71hr 42min 57sec
46	27	Autec Rallying	Jock Wilson Fred Baker Helen Freeze	Mercedes-Benz 280S	32mc 38hr 22min 14sec
47	134	David Tattingham	David Tattingham Rob Geue Peter Kemp	Holden EH	32mc 44hr 7min 39sec
48	101	Roger Ingerson	Roger Ingerson Jerry Wilson David MacCulloch	Peugeot 404	32mc 44hr 40min 56sec
49	98	Greg Nicholson	Greg Nicholson Alan Crawford	Mitsubishi Lancer	32mc 46hr 15min 16sec
50	141	Paul Lahiff	Paul Lahiff John Beath Michael Clarke	Holden HR	33mc 34hr 39min 38sec
51	99	Les Boaden	Les Boaden Brian Atkins Wayne Pritchard	Mazda RX-4	33mc 45hr 7min 55sec
52	172	Graham Stockley	Graham Stockley Kevin O'Neil	Porsche 911E	33mc 45hr 25min 50sec
53	57	Gary Meehan	Gary Meehan Greg Gifford Ken Gardiner	Holden Monaro HT GTS	34mc 30hr 49min 26sec
54	86	Steel Industries Auto Club	Dave Colless Ray Johnston Richard McCoy	Datsun 1600	35mc 38hr 29min 3sec
55	167	Quay Ford, Cairns	Peter Roggenkamp Terry Adair Michael Eakin	Ford Escort GL	36mc 47hr 36min 17sec
56	202	Greg Walker	Greg Walker Mel McCann	Renault R12 Virage	36mc 80hr 28min 3sec
57	79	Doug Minett	Doug Minett Doug Chappie Don Watson	Datsun 1600	38mc 48hr 52min 54sec
58	61	Dave Potter Motors	Dave Potter Garry Bain	Mazda RX-3	39mc 25hr 24min 28sec
59	35	John Taylor	John Taylor Robert Hunt	Rover 3500	39mc 60hr 24min 23sec
60	37	Miss M. O'Shanesy	Caroline O'Shanesy Barbara Dean Meg O'Shanesy	Fiat 131 Mirafori	39mc 65hr 40min 3sec
61	185	J&P Richardson	Joe Richardson Alan Daniel Bruce Fullerton	Ford Falcon XD	40mc 92hr 51min 14sec
62	143	Russell Tyrie	Ross Nielson Jim Stewart Russell Tyrie	Holden HQ	41mc 32hr 29min 0sec
63	187	John Gough	John Gough Ken Hutton Tony Bishop	Holden Torana LJ	44mc 34hr 37min 6sec
64	140	Peter Glover	Peter Glover Peter Burke John Hather	Volkswagen Beetle 1600	44mc 42min 37min 28sec
65	90	Mick Myers	Mick Myers Mal Sinfield Michael Myers	Peugeot 504	46mc 38hr 39min 50sec
66	103	Dr. Jim Caudle	Jim Caudle Graham Drew Wally Eisden	Datsun 1600	47mc 75hr 59min 55sec
67	20	Olympic Tyre and Rubber Company	Hans Tholstrup Geoff Perry	Chevrolet C20 Pick Up	51mc 46hr 20min 30sec
68	186	Leo Smith	Dick Bray Kevin McMahon Leo Smith	Valiant 770 Charger	54mc 50hr 7min 53sec
69	19	Ron Clyborne	Ron Clyborne Jim Hayes Allen Turton	Ford F-250 Pick Up	54mc 60hr 12min 2sec
70	106	Ross Easton	Ross Easton Don Rayner Reg Bell	Datsun 1600	54mc 61hr 16min 34sec
70	179	Harold Rayner	Harold Rayner Barry Campbell Robert Loader	Holden HT	56mc 48hr 35min 58sec
72	126	Tom Hayden	Tom Hayden John Phillis Richard Hogan	Mazda RX-2	56mc 59hr 19min 42sec
73	197	John Darby	John Darby John Clark Colin Stewart	Holden HR	58mc 40hr 57min 42sec
74	178	Bolch Transport	Mal Bolch Vin Keane Malcolm Owen	Holden Monaro HJ GTS	59mc 53min 1min 3sec
75	64	Alderman Keith Jones	Keith Jones Kim Jones Peter Webber	Riley 2.5 Litre	59mc 55hr 18min 55sec
76	102	Mainway Car Sales	Kevin Cafe Robert Gurney Anthony Dawson	Mazda RX-4	60mc 26hr 23min 1sec
77	181	Tony Koch	Tony Koch Bill Darling Albert Koch	Holden Commodore VB	60mc 43hr 43min 40sec
78	123	Ken Garner	Ken Garner Mick Madden Allan Corben	Holden Torana LX	64mc 25hr 29min 22sec
79	194	James Donaghue	Jim Donaghue Stephen Logan David Grace	Toyota Celica	65mc 35hr 22min 16sec
80	180	North Shore Sporting Car Club	Greg Lunney John Stanmore Garry Tyler	Peugeot 504	69mc 78hr 23min 6sec
81	189	John Spanbroek	John Spanbroek Rog Compton John Plywright	Datsun 240K	70mc 2hr 16min 58sec
82	83	Toyoparts	Bob Bird Roger McKinnon	Toyota Corolla	70mc 27hr 0min 31sec
83	201	E.G. Fullager	E. Fullager Terry Fullager Dot Fullager Donna Fullager	Holden Monaro HT GTS	72mc 37hr 4min 14sec
84	55	McArthur Rally Team	Peter McArthur Greg McArthur Merawyn McArthur	Ford Falcon XY	72mc 63hr 25min 39sec
85	207	Jim Reinders	Jim Reinders John Lewis	Holden FJ	73mc 36hr 11min 53sec
86	117	Mark Ferrier	Mark Ferrier Ted Smith	Honda Civic	79mc 38hr 3min 15sec
87	195	Richard Moore	Richard Moore Phillip Sethna	Volkswagen Beetle	80mc 28hr 7min 36sec
88	113	Malcolm Hall	Malcolm Hall Ross Smith Andrew Lott	Ford Escort Mark II	85mc 25hr 29min 39sec
89	198	Ian Sheridan	Terry McTigue Ian Sheridan Robert Wilson	Holden HQ Panel Van	87mc 26hr 3min 47sec
90	191	Spartan Equipment S/S	Norm Sparkes Clayton Barry	Ford Fairmont XC	87mc 28hr 47min 6sec
91	188	Peter Webster	Peter Webster Trevor Jolly Rob McIntyre	Holden FJ	91mc 35hr 40min 5sec
92	30	Pacific Ford	John Bryson Sonja Kable-Cumming	Ford Escort 2.0 Turbo Mark II	104mc 25hr 44min 36sec
Source:[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]