Including a Corvette bought especially to take part
A long weekend of regularity and sprint action attracted some unexpected competition cars
CHEVROLET CORVETTE
‘I haven’t always had a strong interest in classic or vintage cars but I’ve known since I was a teenager that I wanted to own an early C3 Corvette one day,’ said Dylan Marley. ‘As with many things, it always seemed to be something that I would do in a few years’ time. I marshalled for the 2015 3 Day Trial and it was such an amazing experience that I knew I needed to have my dream car for the following year’s event.
‘My 1973 Corvette lived in Las Vegas until 2012 when its previous owner imported it in to Australia. Despite having lived in a great dry climate the car had barely been driven in years and it needed full suspension, brake and engine rebuilds to be ready for the event.’
1977 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 3.0
‘My Porsche 911 was delivered new and driven in Europe in 1977 before going to Australia the following year,’ says owner Ray Wood. ‘It was shipped back to Germany in December 1983 to be upgraded to Carrera 3.2 specification – complete with Bosch Motronic fuel injection – at the Zuffenhausen factory before returning to Australia as a hybrid 1984-specification vehicle.
‘I found it in 2005, sitting ignored and unloved in a dealer’s back lot in need of fresh paint, new suspension and a gearbox rebuild.’
Wood went on to win the intense weekend event for the second year running. ‘Unlike a lot of motor sport events, this is one that you can truly share with your co- driver,’ he said. ‘My co- driver Dale and I usually share the driving at track events, but the navigation events require teamwork.’
JAGUAR XJ6 SERIES 3
‘ When I realised that my vintage Oakland wasn’t going to be ready in time for the 3 Day Trial, a friend offered me a loan of this Jaguar XJ6,’ says John Cox. ‘ The only problem was that it wasn’t registered and hadn’t been driven for 18 months. We managed to get it registered two days before the event, and other than the windscreen wipers playing up on the last day, it ran faultlessly.
‘I found it really interesting to drive something that I was so unfamiliar with in a competition such as this, but I was pleasantly surprised at the poise the Jag showed on the tight and twisty Eildon-jamieson road.’