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Vale Roger Baker - a tremendous Victorian Rally Servant Most of the Victorian rally community are aware   of Roger Bakers contribution to Victorian motorsport over many years with his   contributuion via the WICEN radio network and the revolutionary “Pienet” radio network, but Roger was also a rally competitor and rally organiser of note during the 1960s and 1970s. Here are a couple of highlights of earlier Rogers rally career I was aware of and have unearthed some more details since I heard of Rogers passing last week. Roger Baker, centre, somewhere late at night on the 1965 BP Rally, with Jim McAuliffe to his right. 1965 BP Rally of South Eastern Australia Roger competed as a navigator in the 1965 BP Rally, a BP rally that was both famous and infamous in media reports of the time and in Australian rally forklore. A snip from a Pathe film shows Ian McKnight & Roger Baker with their Triumph 2000 at the finish at Chadstone Shopping Centre A glance at the official results ...
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"A mostly wet 1996 Targa Tasmania in a quick BMW M3R"

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  "A mostly wet 1996 Targa Tasmania in a quick BMW M3R" In my 51 years of rallying this is the prettiest & fastest rally car I have been in.  It was a gentleman crew - yes, we were "dreamin" of Pat Barber & Simon Brown Brought to you by an array of BHP’s associate sponsors! BMW Melbourne as well as M & J Novak Panels – South Melbourne  – for the “ab fab” stunning hand painted BMW coloured logo badge tail decor Beaurepaires - for the Dunlop R - "Dry" spec  BHP Transport - from the Team Captain BHP Petroleum - cause we used a bit of it BHP Temco - cause they are in Tassie BP - cause the small BP logo looked cute on the rear 1/4s of the M3R! Bells Hotel South Melbourne - for event planning meetings Now-a-days old rally mates often chat about the "good old days" via social media rather than a halfway rub - a - dub.      Here is a facebook messenger chat a few months ago between these team mates. Simon Brown Pat thanks for th...
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And chasing southern lights ... I just looked up at our clear night sky tonight - as all good rally people are told to do so as to see further up the road (thanks Rod Browning) And this tune came to mind. Looking forward to a desert cruise on many an open plain, very soon, thanks to Grahams Mallee Tour. (thanks Graham Wallis) Driving Wheels Song by Jimmy Barnes ‧ 1987 =Overview Lyrics Search Results Main results Lyrics Well he's following the broken lines Living on borrowed time Motel rooms and broken hearts all left behind You swear he couldn't close his eyes As he shifts into overdrive He's been up and down this road so many times The man of his own And searching just keeps him proving That only the road Can tame the rebel in his soul It's the rhythm of the highway As he rolls on down And city lights as they fade from sight Drives the man behind the driving wheels Like a cowboy in a rodeo Riding hard but never letting go You'll be wand'ring through the twiligh...
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Bob Bird was never a Victorian Rally Champion,  but he was always a champion bloke. Bob Bird with Warwick Smith 1973 Monash Midyear Rally I would have first meet Bob Bird in 1972 when I tagged along with my brother Chris taking photos of Victorian Rally Championship rallies. Bob, navigated by Warwick Smith was punting a quick, abet a little rough around the edges Mk 1 Cortina, sponsored by Tanti Auto Services from Mornington. 1972 VADC 2 Day Trial - Chris Brown pic 1972 Experts Rally - Chris Brown pic Bob and Warwick cleaned up the Victorian Clubman Championship that year, with a 1 st – Blue Ribbon Rally, 2 nd - Classic Rally, 2 nd   - George Derrick Trial in the three rounds they were allowed to enter due to scoring too many points in the VRC that year.  In the George Derrick they also finished 2 nd  O/R in the VRC event. Second in the Clubman Series that year in another quick Mk1 Cortina was the crew of George Fury & Monty Suffern - they went on to do a b...
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RIP Ed Mulligan His part in a 45 year old Southern Cross Rally Mystery With the so sad and untimely passing of the Master Jester of rallying in Australia and guru of the nickname, Bad Ed, the Hooligan Mulligan his Jester apprentice, Bruce - The Goose - Garland has informed Man on Road (not a Ed nickname!) that the Ed past onto him the answer to a 45 year old legendary rally mystery that was only to be spread upon his passing. But what happened to the wheel? Various members of the Blue Ford Team have accused some of the southern Nissan crew thieves of nicking it. Well, we did have form there with several Escort Minilite mags "disappearing" whilst a stricken Escort was being fetted by the likes of John - the boatbuilder - Gray. But NOT this one your honour. How was the Flat Bottom Minillte mag created. It was on Day 4 of the 1980 Southern Cross Rally and another great Australia motorsport storyteller, Max Stahl takes up the story …. “The final day started with a run t...
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