Tuesday 9th of March will be the 4th SWCC Track Day. Held Annually, this is a day we welcome friends, family and even fellow competitors to come and join us at Collie Motorplex. It is a very casual day, in which we take the opportunity to trail and test our fleet of rally cars, in preparation for the year.


This year the focus will be on the Honda Integra, due to compete in Targa Tasmania at the end of April.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact angela@myboulevarde.com.au to book your place.

Click the image to find out more.

Happy New Year to All!
2010 is going to be a huge year for SWCC. We are currently restoring some awesome Classic Cars and we also have a couple of Rare Gems for Sale. Including a 1969 Lotus Elan +2 with all original interior and beautiful wood grain dash. As well as an extremely rare 1969 Porsche 914/6, that is white in colour and also presents beautifully. Both these vehicles were legendary cars in their day! We are currently polishing them up, so check back later for full specs and photos.

2010 crept up on us a little, so we are now planning the year ahead. Without doubt you will see the team at the usual Targa Tasmania, Targa West and Classic Adelaide. But you will also see us at some of the Speed Event Series and also the Classic Rally's in Western Australia. So with this in mind it is back to the Calendar to plan and prepare. Until next time... Drive hard and be safe!

Nature through everything at us today rain, hail, shine and even snow!
Yes we came to NZ for a Tarmac Rally but the first two stages today were more like ice drifting. We hit back and slide the car into a bank. We bounced off but were able to keep on running. We exited the stage startled and he showed. It was gravel and a transport stage, but we got out of line, ran wide and found ourselves bogged in the mud.

This was the first of two tows that were required today.
The second come after we lost a full tank of fuel in one stage. It was latter detected that the breather hose had dislodged. We finished the stage, but stopped shortly after. We called in for backup to be told that the service truck was offline, blown oil filter. So there was no option but to pull out the tow rope and Des Green (car 00) was kind enough to oblige. As we were towed at 100 kph by a 1 metre tow rope I was as frightened as I'd been in a rallly car. We eventually got the tank topped up and took off to for one more stage and a run down for some laps around Manfield.
Great track, good drive and after some panel beating and a healthy service the car is geared up for Day 5. Bring it on!

I pulled out the toe rope and waved down the next car through. It was a VW GTi. Together we managed to drive the car out of the ditch.

Well we've made it to Wanganui!
Day three was shorter in distance, but required maximum attention as we wound away through Mount Taranaki and through the Saddles on the Forgotten World highway eventually ending up at a place that any foreigner would have difficulty remembering. But what a road! All to turn around and drive back up the Mountain to try and beat our time and we did by 14 seconds. We arrive into service with the idle wound up like a freight train. The cause broken studs on the Carbies that were starting to rattle loose. The boys worked there magic and performed a temporary
repair. Which was enough to get us through the couple of shorter stages in the afternoon and a drive into Wanganui for service. Which is where we would have to check the car out for some more substantial repairs.
At 7pm we received approval to check the car out and thanks to the assistance of the people at 151 London. Yes that's the name of the Motel. Who provided a workshop with some great illumination, Mal had replaced 7 of the 8 studs and we were delivering back to Parc Ferme.
Car running well again, three days to go!

Today was a much more 'enjoyable' day. A good day of Rallying with some lovely long stages. As first competition car on the road we set off one of the longer stages, this particular one 40 kilometres, following car 00 and car 0 at one minute intervals. So given this meant car 00 was two minutes ahead of us we were surprised to find some long skids marks followed by the car parked on the side road only five kilometres into the stage. Equally as surprisingly was to find car 0 who had been parked along side of car 00 see us coming towards him take off. Not sure what to make of this we took off in pursuit off car 0 and proceeded to follow them through the twisty and windy stage. Initially at a brisk pace, then at a fast pace I realize that they were trying so I decided to follow suit. Ten kilometres continued like this and not knowing the protocol of whether to overtake the safety car or not I was once again surprised when they gave up the fight and ushered me through to overtake. So there we car 00 has had an off and we've just overtaken car 0, now we really are leading the rally.



and after the dramas of the first day it was pleasing to car made it through the stages without

Well we're one day in to a one week Rally and today certainly wasn't a day to remember.

As if yesterday wasn't enough drama, what with the clutch needing adjustment and the car only just being ready for Prologue. We manage to make our way over to what is probably the trickiest Prologue
know to man. It has something for everyone, some twisty stuff some fast
cambered bends and some downhill off camber corners. We caught and
overtook a Truimph, but a Fiat 124 was breathing down our neck. With
the 7 kilometre course completed we had managed to record a slow but
safe time for Day 1.

But unfortunately Day 1 will be remembered as one of mechanical dramas (and perhaps a spin that we had in the wet on the Taupo race track). Today was a tough day.

After one stage the clutch was screaming and on stage 3 Hampton Downs, New Zealands new moto GP track, we had the gear box jammed in 4th after only two laps. This would be a problem at the best of times, but with two laps to go and some of the tightest chicanes of the event. Finishing without stalling was a major challenge by it's self. We finished but we knew things weren't going to get better anytime soon.

We got on the blower to the boys, who had taken off in pursuit of the next Refuel, and arranged to meet at a rest point a few kilometres up the road.
It was hear that the fault was diagnosed and the decision was made to swap the box. Option 1 out, standard 240z back in.
Thanks to a truck driver / farmer named Cliff who kindly offered us his Shed the boys went to the tools. Two hours later the box was swapped, Thanks to some hard yakka from Mal, Murray and Dad but the day was lost. We missed four stages in total and couldn't regroup until the final stage of the day. But on the positive side were still in the Rally!

Friday, October 23rd 2009
The Beast is Born!
Well after five days on the job.
We've swapped the Z gear box for the option 1 low ratio gear box. Installed the new HID headlights, fitted the Nav seat, adjusted the driver seat and generally got the Datto targa spec.

All that is left is to run the car back down to Auckland for scrutineering and the prologue, which is held on Sunday. Here we'll be meeting up with team boss, Philip Hooper.

Friday, October 23rd 2009
The Beast is Born!
Well after five days on the job.
We've swapped the Z gear box for the option 1 low ratio gear box. Installed the new HID headlights, fitted the Nav seat, adjusted the driver seat and generally got the Datto targa spec.

All that is left is to run the car back down to Auckland for scrutineering and the prologue, which is held on Sunday. Here we'll be meeting up with team boss, Philip Hooper.

Sunday, October 18th 2009
The crew from SWCC Mal, Murray and I arrived into Auckland early Sunday direct from Perth on the Red Eye flight. After clearing customs with the tools, gear bag and a drive shaft we kill time with some Sushi as we wait for the car hire to open. Arriving at their depot early, within minutes we're in the Boys see the Rally car for the first time.
It's fair to say they're pretty impressed. The paint job is immaculate, even better then the photos.
Five minutes later we've signed off on the paperwork and we're away again. This time it's to DHL to collect the Gearbox that we've sent airfreight a few days earlier.
At 10am when their offices open, we loaded the gearbox and take off to the North. Mal and Murray in the Hilux (Murray is out like a light) and me in the Datto Rally Car.

The Shakedown begins!
Now a five hour drive up to Northland isn't really what you want after 24 hours no sleep. But we're on a mission to Northland and nothing isn't going to get between me and my Datto. Twenty minutes I'm in agony. My need for bladder release coupled with cramping of the shine is just too much to bear. We've all heard of left foot braking, but let foot accelerating? My right foot was literally dead. Fortunately, the need for a Toll Road Ticket (Yes in NZ they have this crazy system where you buy your ticket at a Servo) plus the Dattos' unquenching thirst for fuel mean that a Pitstop is in order. A walk, some coffee and of course some fuel. Now what the Datto really wants is Avgas. That's what it's tuned for but with only half a tank to start with we fill up with 98 octane and with a mix of the both we hit the road again. Next leg is even tougher after half an hour and a few close calls (last minute wake up) I flag down the boys and we break for a face wash. Fortunately the break works a treat and I set off with my third wind. This time we're into a hill climb through the forest and as is on cue, the heavens opened. It turns out that this was just what the doctor ordered. The wet, twisty roads providing the medicine to get my mind back on the job and the perfect opportunity to drive in Targa like conditions. A quick blast up hill and then down hill and before we knew it we were through the forest onto the motorway to Whangarei.

Test Drive - A Mechanical Opinion.
It's at Whangarei that Mal and I decide to swap vehicles.
Mal prepares himself with some NZ ice cream. While I'm just pleased to be stretching my legs in the Hilux. Once again we head off in convey, bound for Kaitia.
We stop for fuel again, It's for the Datto of course.
This time there's no 98 so we balance the ledger with some booster. The last leg of the day is probably the quickest. As with energy levels fading, Mal blasts through the last kilometres at a brisk, but legal pace. We swap again just outside Kaitia and swing by 'the Mechanics' our workshop for the week before ending the mission for the day at the Northerners Motel. My home for the week.

SWCC Rally Team is getting prepared for the Dunlop Targa New Zealand Rally from the 25th to the 31st October 2009. Davyd and Angela Hooper will be running a NZ built Datsun 1600. The team is very excited about heading over to NZ!

The first Targa West Track Day hits Waneroo Raceway Thursday, July 16th 2009.

Philip Hooper and Mal Crockenberg to campaign a 1976 Leyland P76 V8

South West Customs & Classics to enter two vehicles in the 2009 Targa West Rally. Philip Hooper will return with Mal Crockenberg this time competing in the Porsche 944 Turbo. Davyd and Angela Hooper will be once again be flying the flag for the under 2000cc class in the Modern Category.