History
Reigning champion, Warwick Redfern
The ABC PIPEFITTERS Northern Rally sprint
series, formerly known as the ClubSport News,
Fortron and Woolf mufflers series, now enters its 25th year of running. Possibly
the longest running series of its kind in New Zealand. It is extremely popular
with the clubmen and women of the top of the north island. With the possibility
that every clubman in the north at some stage of their motorsport career has
competed in a round of the series.
Run in the top of the North island, the series traditionally takes in 6 rounds, run by Pukekohe, South Auckland, Thames Valley, Hibiscus coast, Northland and originally Auckland car clubs. Although the Auckland CC has been missing from the series for several seasons they returned in 2010 and 2011 with a Tarmac round at Hampton Downs. In the club's absence, the Motorsport Bay of Plenty, formerly Tauranga CC has been involved, hosting rounds in 2008, 2009 & 2010, the 2009 season also saw Rotorua CC run a round in Kinlieth forest.
The series in the late 70’s and early 80’s was hugely popular, even gaining some TV coverage. The rally sprint series as we know today, first started way back in 1988. There was a series prior to this run by the Rally Pilots Association, where just about every club in the greater Auckland area ran a round. But for some unknown reason the series disappeared and did not run after 1986.
Run in the top of the North island, the series traditionally takes in 6 rounds, run by Pukekohe, South Auckland, Thames Valley, Hibiscus coast, Northland and originally Auckland car clubs. Although the Auckland CC has been missing from the series for several seasons they returned in 2010 and 2011 with a Tarmac round at Hampton Downs. In the club's absence, the Motorsport Bay of Plenty, formerly Tauranga CC has been involved, hosting rounds in 2008, 2009 & 2010, the 2009 season also saw Rotorua CC run a round in Kinlieth forest.
The series in the late 70’s and early 80’s was hugely popular, even gaining some TV coverage. The rally sprint series as we know today, first started way back in 1988. There was a series prior to this run by the Rally Pilots Association, where just about every club in the greater Auckland area ran a round. But for some unknown reason the series disappeared and did not run after 1986.
Ian Attwood, Seen here at Ruarangi rd 2010
Around this time Lloyd Ives was invited to join the committee of the
Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Club, then one evening whilst putting together the
club magazine a conversation started with the idea of resurrecting the rally
sprint series. Along with Lloyd, Steve Subritzky and Jeremy Tagg were present.
The conversation lasted for hours and eventually it was put to the other
committee members. Shortly after this it was announced it was back, and to make
things even better a sponsor had been secured. Alan Woolf had agreed to put in
$1,000, and provide a series trophy, the very same trophy that the winners receive
today.
The winner back in 1988 was Whangarei's Ian Attwood; he won again in 1996. Several drivers have won the series twice, some back to back, in 2001 & 2002 it was Marty Rostenberg, but then Wiauku's Ray Reid appeared on the scene and took the title for the next three seasons, something that no one else has yet achieved to this day. Other names on the trophy include Mark Parsons, Ray Wilson, Charlie Evans, who actually shared the title in 2000 with Sean Gray. Payne, Sexton and Thexton were also amongst the early winners.
Warwick Redfern was another to complete the double in 2006 & 2007. Brian Chadwick took it in 2008 With Steve Goodare taking the series in 2009, ten years after taking the title in a Nissan Sunny, his latest victory in an Evo 3. Brian Chadwick once again added his name to the trophy to become the 2010 champion, before Warwick Redfern took the trophy back once again making him another triple winner and the 2011 and reigning ABC Pipefitters Northern rallysprint champion.
The winner back in 1988 was Whangarei's Ian Attwood; he won again in 1996. Several drivers have won the series twice, some back to back, in 2001 & 2002 it was Marty Rostenberg, but then Wiauku's Ray Reid appeared on the scene and took the title for the next three seasons, something that no one else has yet achieved to this day. Other names on the trophy include Mark Parsons, Ray Wilson, Charlie Evans, who actually shared the title in 2000 with Sean Gray. Payne, Sexton and Thexton were also amongst the early winners.
Warwick Redfern was another to complete the double in 2006 & 2007. Brian Chadwick took it in 2008 With Steve Goodare taking the series in 2009, ten years after taking the title in a Nissan Sunny, his latest victory in an Evo 3. Brian Chadwick once again added his name to the trophy to become the 2010 champion, before Warwick Redfern took the trophy back once again making him another triple winner and the 2011 and reigning ABC Pipefitters Northern rallysprint champion.
"Great to have you onboard"
It is true, as with all
motorsport, that over recent years the numbers and interest seem to have
dwindled, but such was the dedication and passion of a few regular rally
sprinters that in 2007 several drivers got together to form a convenors
committee, with the purpose of resurrecting the series and injecting some
enthusiasm. This has started to work with an average of just under 40 drivers registering for
the series since 2007. So now with regular committee meetings, new ideas coming into play
and constantly looking for new ways to improve the series, it's all looking very
interesting for the future of the rallysprint series.
It is at this point that we would also like to mention our current sponsor, ABC PIPEFITTERS, a small family run engineering business.They have come on board for a couple of seasons and are very enthusiastic about doing so, any of last years competitors would be well aware of who our sponsors are, the presence of the ABC PIPEFITTERS banners out on the stages was great to see.
Since the formation of the convenors committee the series has seen a few changes, nothing too major more just like a tidy up and tweaking of a few rules, but one of the more interesting moves was to introduce the “Classic Classes”. For 2010, two Classic classes were added, and for 2011 a "Modified classic" class was added. Class G up to 1750cc, and H, for 1751cc and over, all 2wd. This runs within the normal rally sprint and to the rally sprint rules, the cars were run as per the Otago classic rules. The Modifieds also run alongside all other competitors but now have their own class, all classes are explained in more detail elsewhere in this website.
Last, but by no means least it's the series 25th ANNIVERSARY YEAR. This speaks for itself, and just re-iterates how popular the series is, 25 years of running every year, that's impressive by anyone's standard. Organisers are already planning to make it a bumper season and one to remember. More prizes, some more tweaks to points allocation, a new "CLUB " trophy, a "Big bash and evening do", with guest speakers and many more ideas are on the table.
So with renewed enthusiasm, new ideas, some new classes, new venues and a new sponsor on board the 2012 season and beyond is looking very bright for the ABC PIPEFITTERS NORTHERN RALLYSPRINT SERIES.
It is at this point that we would also like to mention our current sponsor, ABC PIPEFITTERS, a small family run engineering business.They have come on board for a couple of seasons and are very enthusiastic about doing so, any of last years competitors would be well aware of who our sponsors are, the presence of the ABC PIPEFITTERS banners out on the stages was great to see.
Since the formation of the convenors committee the series has seen a few changes, nothing too major more just like a tidy up and tweaking of a few rules, but one of the more interesting moves was to introduce the “Classic Classes”. For 2010, two Classic classes were added, and for 2011 a "Modified classic" class was added. Class G up to 1750cc, and H, for 1751cc and over, all 2wd. This runs within the normal rally sprint and to the rally sprint rules, the cars were run as per the Otago classic rules. The Modifieds also run alongside all other competitors but now have their own class, all classes are explained in more detail elsewhere in this website.
Last, but by no means least it's the series 25th ANNIVERSARY YEAR. This speaks for itself, and just re-iterates how popular the series is, 25 years of running every year, that's impressive by anyone's standard. Organisers are already planning to make it a bumper season and one to remember. More prizes, some more tweaks to points allocation, a new "CLUB " trophy, a "Big bash and evening do", with guest speakers and many more ideas are on the table.
So with renewed enthusiasm, new ideas, some new classes, new venues and a new sponsor on board the 2012 season and beyond is looking very bright for the ABC PIPEFITTERS NORTHERN RALLYSPRINT SERIES.
