The BP Rallies…

Posted on by HRA Marcom
Ken Harper on the start line, 1965 BP Rally

The BP Rallies were conducted by the Light Car Club of Australia. The original annual BP Rallies roamed the Victorian, New South Wales and South Australia countryside for four days in May, providing a test of navigation and endurance in reasonably standard sedan cars of the time, including early Volkswagens, Vauxhall Vanguards, Ford Anglias, Datsun Bluebirds and Peugeot 404’s.

These pics have been provided by HRA members from private collections.  Plus, there are three “newsreel” reports about BP Rallies at the bottom, direct from the mid 60s.  

BP Rally Results

1969 BP Rally (all pdf files)
1970 BP Rally
1971 BP Rally
1972 BP Rally

1967 BP Rally. Pic from the McAuliffe collection.
1966 BP Rally. Car on the start ramp.
1966 BP Rally. Bob Watson and Jim McAuliffe.
1966 BP Rally. Bob Watson and Jim McAuliffe.
A lady navigator opening a gate on a BP section.
A Ford Anglia pictured in an early BP Rally
A car on an early BP Rally...
BP Rally Director, Donald Thomson sitting in a car with maps open.
Ken Harper on the start line, 1965 BP Rally
BP Rally organisers looking at a map.
1971 BP Rally - Roger Bonhomme and Geoff Thomas
1962 BP Rally results pic
cover of Australian Motor Sports magazine, July 1962
Colin Bond and Brian Hope's car undergoing repairs
A Pic of Renault rally car AZE-550 in the 1971 BP
1971 BP Rally winners Stewart McLeod and Jack Lock.
1971 BP Rally winners Stewart McLeod and Jack Lock sitting on the roof of their car.
1970 BP Rally, Maddock and Kelly near Sea Lake
1969 BP Rally, winners Ian Vaughan and Bob Forsyth being congratulated by the BP Manager.
1970 BP Rally - a Torana in a water splash
1968 BP Rally
Robbie Dawson and Ian Swan, car 20 on the start ramp 1971 BP Rally.
Picture of BP Rally Director, Donald Thomson
Two people looking at pics from Old BP Rallies

1965 BP Rally – British Pathé newsreel

1966 BP Rally – British Pathé newsreel

1967 BP Rally – British Pathé newsreel

1972 & 73 BP Rallies
(Video footage from Darryl Reid Video)

Australian Ford Falcon Commercial – BP Rally
Ford advert after the 1963 BP Rally