Crazy Dave takes a popular win at Taree

[Whitey]

Taree hosted the second round of the 2009 Sydney Race Brakes NSW Excel Rally Series, with a mix of seasoned competitors and fresh blood taking part in this popular event. Contenders at the front of the field were the crews of Roberts/Ferme and Cullen/Cullen. The Cullen brothers (Matt and Ben) were favourites going into the event, having shown a great turn of speed at the first round of the Series at the CarNet Auctions Rally of Lithgow, as well as Rally of Canberra. Taking the fight to them was Nowra local, Dave Roberts, with stand-in navigator Lizzy Ferme. Dave has had dramas at Taree before, but had shown the speed that has lead him to be known as "Crazy Dave".

Coming back from a season-ending crash in 2008 was Fro Horobin, in an untested new car. Alongside Fro would be fellow Canberran Kirrilee Gentleman. Joining them would be Excel stalwart Andrei Artamonov & New to the series for 2009 is Bob Slattery. He had new navigator and a new car, and that combination was sure to be a talking point.

The first stage for the event was a spectator-friendly super special, taking place in the old drive-in complex over 500m. Newcomer Slattery set equal fastest times with regulars Matt Cullen and Horobin on this tight little stage. However, on the transport to the service prior to the forest stages, Horobin was struck with electrical dramas that saw him drop through the field in to late time, but get going again and stay in the hunt.

The first forest stage also was a filled with drama. Roberts romped away with the fastest stage time, as the Cullens struggled with handling issues, the car proving unstable over the fast roads. Slattery also suffered, with his novice navigator suffering from back pain aggravated with motion sickness.

Stage 3 was a short blast, tight and twisty, and frequently narrow enough to make even an Excel seem wide. Horobin was obviously more at ease in this environment, and set fastest Excel time for the stage, only 2 seconds in front of Roberts, with Artamonov not that far behind. The following service saw Slattery withdraw from the event, having pity on his navigator.

Back into the forest for SS4, and the Cullens were closer to Roberts, but still 8 seconds off his time. But their improvements were to be cut short, with Matt and Ben suffering from a minor error forcing them off the road and unable to continue, but with minimal damage to the car.

From here on in, the crew of Roberts/Ferme dominated, only deferring to Horobin/Gentleman once more for fastest time on SS7, the first pass of Knodingbul Down. So good was their pace, Dave and Lizzy managed to score not only First Excel, but a P2 class win for the event. Horobin steadily improved his pace through the event to score second place points for the series, and Artamonov collected third.

2009 Sydney Race Brakes NSW Excel Series Pointscore after Rd 2:
Drivers
=1st Crazy Dave Roberts 40 points
=1st Fro Horobin 40 points
3rd Andrei Artamonov 29 points
Co-Drivers
1st Ben Cullen 23 points
2nd Kirrilee Gentleman 22 points
3rd Armen Sukiasyan 18 points

Thanks to Fro Horobin for the event report