QRC Rally Gallangowan

2-3 December 2000

Hi guy's, this is Rowena Harding's Gallangowan story.

Unlike many other clubs and societies (the Freemasons, Mensa and the Girl Guide Movement), the Subaru 4WD Club is fairly relaxed about membership. Which is how a Perth-born English resident found herself standing In the bush near Gallangowan with a bunch of people in blue and yellow tee shirts. This is their story.

Fifteen or so Subaru Club members turned up at Gallangowan for the Keema Classic Rally on 2/12/00. Fuelled only by the Kilcoy Bakery pies and armed only with some fetching bunting, the Subaru Club members charged out to what would be SS3 Elginvale. There they would perform road closures, time controls, and other official posts. All except Kathy and Greg, who set about pitching their two-storey tent with balcony and gazebo, and then making a sumptuous buffet lunch (as if the stretchy Gallangowan steak sandwiches were not enough).

The bunting was wrapped; the cable was rolled; the OKA ran over some rare wildlife; the position of Assistant Stage Commander was handed out to someone wholly unsuitable (me). Adrian Bukmanis settled down for a nap, Simone. Martin applied lipgloss, the rally was ready to rock.

Team Lip Gloss (Simone, Rowena and Kathy) - Photo by Clint Lovell 

And rock it did, with first place going to John Goasdoue and Glen Weston following the late retirement of Stewy Reid due to problems. Second place went to George Sheppard and Del Garbutt while a magnificent third was awarded to Murray Coots and lain Stewart proving that old Datsuns (and competitors) don't die, they just go to Gallangowan.

The rallying finished, the club members settled into the Gallangowan pub (or was that a local's lounge room?) to join the barman and local girls in a hazy mix of XXXX and polo dancing. Not to be outdone, the club sent Simone to the dance floor with Henry R for an exhibition of line dancing like never before seen and hopefully never to be repeated (except at rally after parties)

Dawn saw the last of the club members retire, but it wasn't till lunchtime that Kathy emerged into the harsh sunlight, blinking and querying, "Rally' What rally??"

A convoy of RXs, Foresters, Brumbys and an OKA headed out of town with only the Forester failing to return to Brisbane. Adrian Bukmanis will lead the club in  a'How to Check your Tyre Pressure' training session next month.

Hope to see the Subaru Club there next year?

Rowena "Cable Girl" Harding