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The enigma of Australian Rallying!
THE CLIVE SLATER STORY:
Story by TERRY MANN
HOW does he consistently do so well in a motor car that can only be "kindly' described as underpowered and ageing? Three words - heaps of talent.
Clive Slater is now the most successful, genuine, privateer currently contesting the Australian Rally Championship. What makes Clive's success in his little Toyota Corolla even more remarkable is that he does all this on the single wage of a clerk.
To contest a Round of the Australian Rally Championship, Clive usually drives his rally car across the Nullarbor, leaving Perth on a Tuesday night and arriving in the East on Friday morning. The trip across has to be a careful one, as the car has the rigours of a full ARC rally to endure before it can be driven home. After the rally Clive drives his car back to Perth. To contest the ARC, his annual leave is divided amongst the ARC Rounds, with final Rounds being done on leave without pay. An ARC Rally, dependant upon location and length, all inclusive of fuel and accommodation, costs usually between \$800 - $1200 to contest.
Clive first competed in 1972 in a 1967 Corolla 1100 in an event directed by Ross Dunkerton. In 1973 in the same car he won the State Amateur Championship. In 1974, as he became faster and more competitive, he went through the 'mechanical blues' that all drivers suffer as they develop. In the 1975 ''Rally of the West,'' he finished second outright to Dunkerton's Z, but was not accredited any points as the car was not homologated. 1976 saw another year of mechanical frustrations for the Corolla, but not without Clive giving notice of his enormous-potential; if only it could be exploited in a competitive and reliable car.
1977 came and so did a newer Corolla, this time with l600cc and 5-speed. Even with teething troubles, Clive still finished equal sixth in the overall ARC standings. He finished - the 1978 season with second in the "Donlee," 4th in the "Rally of the West", 5th in the "Lutwyche", 8th in the "Ampol Bega", got bogged at the "Endrust", and DNF'd the "Marchal''. These placings gave him fifth outright and first non-factory car in the Australian Rally Championship. Truly a remarkable record.
One can only wonder why no one has yet given Clive the opportunities to compete on an even chance with the others. Over the years, he has done much to successfully promote the Toyota flag - across the country. He has already proven himself as one of Australia's top rally drivers. Clive's number one fan and sponsor, his charming wife is his biggest motivator and backs him all the way.
So far this year, Clive has a fifth in the ''WA Bank Rally'', teamed with Canberra's Yvette Polonyi, although from here on, rally fans will probably see Clive only on very limited occasions through lack' of financial backing.
