John Keast of Winton wins Class B in Southland Sports Car Club in 1986......

The Southland Sports Car Club held their rally in 1986 and Peter Watt of Omakau was the victor winning six of the seven stages of the 187km rally.

It was good to see a Southland doing well and John Keast of Winton won the class B, but not without dramas happening.
The circuit was through the Longwoods forest where road conditions were testing.  Peter Watt and Dave Jenkins had the fastest time .04 sec ahead of John Judd and John Keast in their Ford Escorts.
The stage through the Woodlaw forest meant the drivers met snow at the top where John Keast's Ford received a broken axle, but he managed to limp his way to the line but dropped him well down.
The next stage was through the Happy Valley, with drivers enjoying better roads.  Sealed roads were closed off to the public.  Watt won this stage 4 sec ahead of Jenkins and 1 minute back to Judd.
After a most welcome break at Tuatapere the cars then entered the Rowallan Forest and Watt again showed his skill, with Jenkins finding some parts of the circuit hard going and he feel back to third place, D. Brownlie and Judd finished ahead of Jenkins, but right on Jenkin's heel was Bevan  Dyet's Datsun.
The next stage sorted out the drivers with heavy rain and slippery roads playing havoc, Allan Gill's Datsun retired with alternator problems and Bevan Dyet ran off the road.
Unfortunately Judd's vehicle hit water which got into the engine and Brownlie also did not make the finish line.
S. Davis also retired when his car went over a bank.
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