Tulpenrallye 1979

The story of 1979: The STAR organisation could not make the 1979 edition work, either financially or organisationally, and announced early in 1979 that there would be no Tulpenrallye that year. The Amersfoort motorcycle and car club, A.M.A.C., took over the running of the then ailing Tulpenrallye. The rally, known all over Europe, was combined with the AMAC Rally, which the same organisers had run successfully in recent years for the Dutch championship. To give the new organisers more time to prepare the event, this edition was held in the autumn. It did not count towards the European championship, although an observer from the F.I.A. did come to judge whether that might be possible the following year, when the rally would again be held in the spring. ‘De Flint’ in Amersfoort was chosen as the rally centre. The organisers found that putting on a rally in the Netherlands was no simple matter, and permission was refused for a number of tests they had already been counting on. They just managed to stay above the minimum number of kilometres required for the rally to keep its possible European status. Opel, Gulf, Wang Computers and Vulcano were the event's main sponsors. Among the favourites were Bjorn Johansson (the Swedish champion) and Bob de Jong, as well as Henk van der Lee and Reinoud Vogt, both with an Opel Kadett GTE. Bror Danielsson started alongside David Booth in a Ford Escort RS1800 entered by Ford Nederland with backing from Hobo Hifi, and the Dane Jens Ole Kristiansen with Han Jorgen Aunso in an Opel Ascona 2.0. The 1978 rally champion Jan van der Marel lived in Amersfoort and started together with Bruno van Traa in his Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS. The Dane Morten Spiro was also taking part, and he would return to the Tulpenrallye for many years to come. One remarkable competitor was the Formula 1 driver Jan Lammers with an Opel Kadett GTE; he was navigated by the experienced Eric Bessem. There was even an entry from Indonesia: Hedarmo and Rumawas. After scrutineering, the start took place at ten o'clock on the evening of Friday 12 October. The route took in 21 special tests with a total length of 121 km. The first section ran until the following morning, after which there was an hour's halt in which crews could, among other things, have breakfast. The first test was run at Doornspijk. During the night one test was cancelled when two competitors went off the road and caused a great deal of delay. The second part of the rally was run on the Saturday between ten in the morning and eight in the evening. The first test on the Saturday was on the ice rink grounds in Amersfoort. The route then headed towards Nunspeet. The last special test was near Doornspijk, after which the crews made their way to the finish in Amersfoort. Danielsson could not join the fight for first place at first, as he was having trouble with his clutch. It was not put right until the Saturday morning, during the rest halt. By then Van der Marel and Johansson were far ahead and were disputing the lead between them. Van der Marel, however, was quicker on most of the tests and, with navigator Van Traa, held the lead until the final test. On the penultimate test Johansson picked up a puncture, which dropped him back to eighth place. Van der Marel intended to take the last test steadily in order to make his victory safe. The clutch gave out, however, and he retired. Bror Danielsson and David Booth thus became the winners of this first Tulpenrallye organised by the A.M.A.C. The prize-giving was held that same Saturday evening at ‘De Flint’ in Amersfoort. The Dutchmen Vossen and Theunissen were second. Lammers finished in equal fifth place. The national class was won by Johan van Heek and Ay Mei Oei (11th overall), whilst the Coupe des Dames went to Titia Westerhof and Arila Beltzer (16th overall). Afterwards all those involved agreed that it was particularly gratifying that the Tulpenrallye had been saved for the time being, and that the A.M.A.C. had organised a fine rally. The Italian F.I.A. observer was also very positive, which raised high hopes that the event would be taken back into the European championship calendar the following year.