Rodger Freeth
Personal information | |
---|---|
Nationality | New Zealander |
Born | Tauranga, New Zealand | 24 December 1958
Died | 18 September 1993 Perth ,Australia | (aged 34)
World Rally Championship record | |
Active years | 1977-1993 |
Driver | Possum Bourne Neil Allport John Tee Pentti Airikkala Alan Carter |
Teams | Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Tecnica International |
Rallies | 24 |
Championships | 0 |
Rally wins | 0 |
Podiums | 0 |
Stage wins | 15 |
First rally | |
Last rally |
Rodger "Roj" Vincent Freeth, Ph.D., (24 December 1953[1][2][3] – 18 September 1993) was a New Zealand motor sport competitor.
He held a Ph.D. 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.
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[]
Result | Year | Rally | Driver | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retired | 1979 | Rally New Zealand | Pentti Airikkala | Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS |
16 | 1980 | Rally New Zealand | Ford Escort | |
Retired | 1984 | Rally New Zealand | Ford Escort RS1800 | |
Retired | 1985 | Rally New Zealand | Mazda RX7 | |
6 | 1986 | Rally New Zealand | Mazda RX7 | |
11 | 1986 | Olympus Rally - United States | Mazda Familia 4WD | |
Retired | 1987 | Rally New Zealand | Mazda 323 4WD | |
Retired | 1987 | Rally of Great Britain | Possum Bourne | Subaru RX Turbo |
9 | 1988 | Safari Rally Kenya | Possum Bourne | Subaru RX Turbo |
Retired | 1988 | Rally New Zealand | Possum Bourne | Subaru RX Turbo |
7 | 1989 | Safari Rally Kenya | Possum Bourne | Subaru RX Turbo |
Retired | 1989 | Rally New Zealand | Possum Bourne | Subaru RX Turbo |
Retired | 1989 | Rally Argentina | Possum Bourne | Subaru RX Turbo |
10 | 1989 | Rally Australia | Possum Bourne | Subaru RX Turbo |
Retired | 1990 | Safari Rally Kenya | Possum Bourne | Subaru Legacy RS |
5 | 1990 | Rally New Zealand | Possum Bourne | Subaru Legacy RS |
4 | 1990 | Rally Australia | Possum Bourne | Subaru Legacy RS |
Retired | 1991 | Rally New Zealand | Possum Bourne | Subaru Legacy RS |
Retired | 1991 | Rally Australia | Possum Bourne | Subaru Legacy RS |
Retired | 1992 | Rally New Zealand | Possum Bourne | Subaru Legacy RS |
6 | 1992 | Rally Australia | Possum Bourne | Subaru Legacy RS |
6 | 1993 | Rally New Zealand | Possum Bourne | Subaru Legacy RS |
Retired | 1993 | Rally Australia | Possum Bourne | Subaru Legacy RS |
Other International Rally results[]
Result | Year | Rally | Driver | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 1981 | Motogard of Rally New Zealand | Alan Mitchell | Ford Escort RS1800 |
2 | 1988 | Rally Australia (APRC) | Possum Bourne | Subaru RX Turbo |
References[]
- ^ http://www.nzsuperbike.com/2013/09/doctor-rodger-freeth-remembered-1950.html
- ^ http://perthrallydriving.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Rodger_Freeth_Memorial_Mundaring_2013.jpg
- ^ http://www.firstsundayapril.info/main.html
- ^ Walker, Mick (2006). The Manx Norton. Redline Books. pp. 304–305. ISBN 0-9544357-9-6.
- ^ "Rodger Freeth - Driver Profile". Rallye-Info.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Yamaha TZ750A "Aerofoil" | Special Yamaha bikes | Special Yamaha bikes". Classicyams.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- New Zealand motorsport people
- World Rally Championship co-drivers
- New Zealand rally co-drivers
- 1953 births
- 1993 deaths
- Sport deaths in Australia
- Accidental deaths in Western Australia