The Southern Cross Rally was for more than a decade Australia’s pre-eminent international rally, attracting factory entries and big name drivers from overseas as well as Australia’s best drivers. The event ran every year in October from 1966 to 1980 inclusive, following a four night format. The competitive distance was generally about 2000 km. Only the first three editions came to Victoria.
The first Southern Cross Rally in 1966 was won by Victorians Harry Firth and Graham Hoinville in a Cortina. Barry Ferguson missed out on victory that year after an off on the final night but returned to win the following year with Dave Johnson in his VW. The lightning fast John Keran won in 1968 in a Volvo. Andrew Cowan won the Southern Cross Rally six times, an incredible record, and with three different co-drivers. His first victory was in 1969 with Dave Johnson in an Austin 1800. Johnson won again the 1970 co-driving for Barry Ferguson in a Torana. The Torana gained a second victory in 1971 with Colin Bond and George Shepheard. Cowan’s other victories were all in Mitsubishies – a Galant in 1972 and the mighty Lancer from 1973 to 76. Datsun finally achieved victory in 1977 with Rauno Aaltonen together with Jeff Beaumont in a Datsun 710. Beaumont won again in the final edition in 1980 co-driving for Ross Dunkerton in a Datsun Stanza. Victorians George Fury and Monty Suffern won twice in 1978 and 1979, also in a Stanza.
