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| MUDDY WATERS:
Kar 321 nicknamed “Billy’s Revenge” takes to
the water during last year’s Kidney Kar Rally. It was piloted
by ABBM Jordan Rowlands. |
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ABBM Jordan Rowlands went one place better in the 2006 Kidney Kar Rally
and in the process raised nearly $10,000 to help children with kidney
disease.
After claiming 10th place in 2005, ABBM Rowlands drove one place higher
in the 2006 Kidney Kar Rally.
But before beginning his latest campaign in Kar 321 nicknamed “Billy’s
Revenge,” he had to cast around for a new navigator/co-driver and
support crew.
LSMT Darrin Haywood signed on for the challenging drive from Coonabarabran
in NSW, to Hervey Bay in Queensland, and back to Wingham in NSW.
“Darrin brought with him his cousin Adam Foot from BHP Broadmeadow
in Queensland for administration and fundraising support, as well as his
father Jim and brother in-law Angus as our four-wheel-drive support vehicle,”
ABBM Rowlands explained.
“After eight months of selling our charity, Kidney Health Australia,
to local business houses and selling a hell of a lot of raffle tickets
we were on our way to the start of the rally.”
At the rally’s opening dinner in Coonabaraban it was announced that
ABBM Rowlands and LSMT Haywood were the third highest fundraisers with
just under $10,000.
The next morning the crew and Billy’s Revenge travelled through the
Piliga scrub on their way to Mooree for the night. The Pilliga scrub provided
some of the hardest navigation work of the entire rally and was a great
way to start the 2006 Kidney Kar Rally.
Day two saw the entrants pack the navigation books away for the morning
and bring out the maps. This was not the normal practice but the organisers
had decided to have some fun at the competitor’s expense.
A few mishaps saw the car on the side of the Newell Highway and the crew
calling the support vehicle for assistance.
With a broken or bent valve in the engine, the team limped 40kms into
Goondiwindi in Queensland.
“It was Sunday morning and on a wing and a prayer we hoped there
would be a shop for parts open,” ABBM Rowlands said.
“Our prayers were answered when we found the local car wrecker open
for business and within an hour we had the problem fixed.”
The next two days involved travel through the towns of Biloela and Gayndah
to Hervey Bay. They were challenging yet uneventful.
The rest day at Hervey Bay allowed the crew to relax and enjoy some of
the sights and local hospitality
Millmerran was the next destination and then Millmerran to Dorrigo along
the Boyd River Valley.
“The road is an engineering feat in itself with tunnels cut through
solid rock and straight drop-offs on the outside of nearly every corner,”
he said.
The final run into Wingham should have been routine, but not for Billy’s
Revenge. On the last 30km section, Billy’s Revenge had a close call
with another car while rounding a 90-degree bend. It resulted in the car
lodging at the top of a four-metre drop into the bush with the passenger
side wheels hanging in mid air.
“We were a little shell-shocked when we climbed out of our undamaged
car to slow the other competitors approaching the corner,” ABBM Rowlands
said.
They called upon their support vehicle to pull them clear and arrived
in Wingham to a much relieved group of friends and family.
Billy’s Revenge finished ninth outright and the crew was awarded
the Young-uns Trophy for the youngest combined average age of a crew.
For more information about the Kidney Kar Rally or Kidney Health Australia
please visit the web site at www.kidney.org.au or call 1300 300 544.
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