Castlemaine 11

Dates 18 – 20 October, 1991
Guest of Honour
Feature

 

Poster

Castlemaine11

Rally Notes

The Eleventh Castlemaine Rally intentionally followed a low key approach due to the of number of Lancia rallies in Europe at that time and hence the  expectation of a reduced number of overseas participants. Thus the decision was taken not to invite an overseas guest of honour. 

None the less the rally format followed that of previous years with the emphasis on relaxed touring and conviviality. As usual the rally commenced on Friday evening with registration and a smorgasbord dinner at the Castle Motel. Saturday and Sunday followed with  enjoyable touring routes over  good driving roads and through scenic countryside to the lunch venues in ideal spring weather. The Saturday evening dinner was again held at the Castlemaine Town Hall.

Saturdays drive was via the spa area of Vaughan Springs to lunch at the historic homestead, Smeaton House, north west of Castlemaine whilst Sundays lunch and concourse was held at Coliban Park homestead near Metcalfe on the Coliban River south east of Castlemaine. The original Coliban Park property  was settled in the 1830s and  had been the home of the Barber family since 1917, who had important early links to Lancias` in Australia. John Barber brought one of the first Lambdas to arrive in this country and campaigned the car in sporting trials of the day, winning a number of honours including the 1926 Alpine Contest. It was great to have John at the rally on Saturday at his old home. Also in attendance from that era was  former guest of honour  and noted early Australian Lambda sporting motorist, Kathleen Gardiner. 

Even though overseas visitors were not as numerous as previous rallies we enjoyed the company of  Englishman Alex Rippon, who had set off from London and was in the middle of a round-the-world tour in a pre-war Aprilia. Alex`s car was still on board ship from Vladivostok at the time of the rally but Alex told something of his trip to that point, the purpose of which was to raise money for three charities working for cancer research, deprived children and rain forest preservation. Alex`s Aprilia subsequently arrived and toured Tasmania and Central Australia, at the completion of which they were honoured by Melbourne’s Lord Mayor with a civic reception in the Melbourne Town Hall.

The concours awards highlighted several recent restorations including Jack Guyomar`s 7th series Lambda ballon and  Chris Long`s 1st series B20 and “almost” Jack Hannan`s 6th series Lambda who won the Hard Luck Award for his nearly successful effort in getting the car to the event.  

Notes provided by Mick Allan

Trophy Winners

Class Winner Category Information
Pre-Lambda John Shellard, Kappa TourerTom Ivory, Kappa Saloon
Don Wright Shield Jak Guyomar, 7th Series Ballon Best Recent Lambda Restoration
“A” Series Award Peter and Paul Catalano, Ardea Berlina Artena, Augusta, Astura, Appia, Ardea
Fobello Trophy      Simon Ramsay, Aprilia Berlina Best Aprilia
Clive Beattie Award Chris Long, B20 Coupe Best Aurelia
Flaminia Trophy Richard Green, Flaminia 3B
Fulvia Trophy Neville Anderson, Rallye Coupe
Beta Trophy Phillip Spear, Beta MonteCarlo Coupe
Gerald Batt Trophy Jak Guyomar, Lambda 7th Series Ballon Long Distance Award, Aurelia or earlier – Brisbane, QLD
Norman Steward Shield Kim Brownbill Best Effort by a Register Member
Best Car in Show Linton Morris, Lambda 8th Series MM Replica
Hard Luck Award Jack Hannan, 6th Series Lambda Nearly successful effort in getting car to the event

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