Rodger Freeth

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Rodger Freeth
Personal information
Nationality Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealander
Born(1953-12-24)24 December 1953
Tauranga, New Zealand
Died18 September 1993(1993-09-18) (aged 39)
Perth, Australia
World Rally Championship record
Active years1977–1993
Driver Flag of New Zealand.svg Possum Bourne
Flag of New Zealand.svg Neil Allport
Flag of New Zealand.svg John Tee
Flag of Finland.svg Pentti Airikkala
Flag of New Zealand.svg Alan Carter
Teams Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Subaru World Rally Team
Flag of Japan.svg Subaru Tecnica International
Rallies24
Championships 0
Rally wins 0
Podiums0
Stage wins15
First rally 1977 Rally New Zealand
Last rally 1993 Rally Australia

Rodger "Roj" Vincent Freeth, 24 December 1953 [1] [2] [3] – 18 September 1993) was a New Zealand motor sport competitor.

Contents

Career

He held a PhD in physics and had a distinguished academic and motorsport career. His first love was motorcycles and whilst he was still at university he built a radical Yamaha TZ750A with an aerofoil. As a result, the controlling body (New Zealand Auto-Cycle Union) banned the use of aerodynamic aids in motorcycle racing. He won the Arai 500 [4] endurance race at Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, Australia in 1982 and 1985, as well as NZ titles on NZ-built McIntosh Suzukis.

Awards and recognition

He later became one of New Zealand's best known rally co-drivers, first with Neil Allport and then with Peter "Possum" Bourne. As a driver he also won TraNZam titles in his V8 Starlet.

Freeth died in 1993 as a result of injuries received in an accident on the first day of the World Championship event Rally Australia co-driving for Possum Bourne. [5] [6] [7]

World Rally Championship results

ResultYearRallyDriverCar
Retired1979 Rally New Zealand Pentti Airikkala Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS
161980 Rally New Zealand John Tee Ford Escort
Retired1984 Rally New Zealand Neil Allport Ford Escort RS1800
Retired1985 Rally New Zealand Neil Allport Mazda RX7
61986 Rally New Zealand Neil Allport Mazda RX7
111986 Olympus Rally – United States Neil Allport Mazda Familia 4WD
Retired1987 Rally New Zealand Neil Allport Mazda 323 4WD
Retired1987 Rally of Great Britain Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo
91988 Safari Rally Kenya Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo
Retired1988 Rally New Zealand Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo
71989 Safari Rally Kenya Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo
Retired1989 Rally New Zealand Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo
Retired1989 Rally Argentina Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo
101989 Rally Australia Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo
Retired1990 Safari Rally Kenya Possum Bourne Subaru Legacy RS
51990 Rally New Zealand Possum Bourne Subaru Legacy RS
41990 Rally Australia Possum Bourne Subaru Legacy RS
Retired1991 Rally New Zealand Possum Bourne Subaru Legacy RS
Retired1991 Rally Australia Possum Bourne Subaru Legacy RS
Retired1992 Rally New Zealand Possum Bourne Subaru Legacy RS
61992 Rally Australia Possum Bourne Subaru Legacy RS
61993 Rally New Zealand Possum Bourne Subaru Legacy RS
Retired1993 Rally Australia Possum Bourne Subaru Legacy RS

Other International Rally results

ResultYearRallyDriverCar
21981 Motogard of Rally New Zealand Alan Mitchell Ford Escort RS1800
21988 Rally Australia (APRC) Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo

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References

  1. "Blogseite.com – 😊 SociaMedia, Tipps & Hilfe, SEO & vieles mehr".
  2. "Rodger Freeth Memorial Mundaring 2013".
  3. "main.html". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  4. Walker, Mick (2006). The Manx Norton. Redline Books. pp. 304–305. ISBN   0-9544357-9-6.
  5. "Rodger Freeth – Driver Profile". Rallye-Info.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  6. "Rodger Freeth « V8 – drag racing, hot rods, muscle cars, car shows – NZV8 magazine". V8.co.nz. 10 May 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  7. "Yamaha TZ750A "Aerofoil" | Special Yamaha bikes | Special Yamaha bikes". Classicyams.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.