RallySport Magazine October 2016

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
We built a twin cam ’73 Corolla up for
my wife to use after the Silver Fern Rally
in 1990. In the Silver Fern we led the
rally throughout the South Island and
some of the North, before breaking a
stub axel and losing the lead.
Co-driver, Mike Wilkin, sat in the boot
to balance the car and get it going and
out of the stage.
On the 50km Motu stage we were
fifth on the road, but we passed three
cars and caught second overall, Nelson
Marshall and PJ, in the Capri V6.
The dust was bad, but I tried to pass
them. We crashed 2km from the end at
a 90-degree corner by a house. We hit
a tree and that was a DNF for us.
Your co-driver, Bob Haldane, was a very
quiet person and perhaps the complete
opposite to you in some regards. You must
have had a great relationship in the car
together?
Bob was always well organised
with everything, in the office (car). He
planned a lot before each event and he
managed me as well!
Before the start of a stage he helped
me to take deep breaths so I would be
up to speed straight away.
We worked on strategies and pace,
tyre selection through each event. We
were a fantastic team in the car – I give
Bob a lot of credit for our successes.
In later years you did some marathon
events, winning the 2002 Midnight to Red
Sea event. Is that something you enjoyed,
and how did it compare with stage rallying in
the NZRC?
We did several marathon rallies,
the first Midnight Sun to the Red Sea
Rally in 2002. It was 20 days, 8000km,
through nine countries.
I used all my experiences and
discipline by not cutting corners, and
limited my revs to 500rpm less.
These were all blind stages, and it
was a great experience to travel the
world and rally in so many countries
doing your sport, on so many different
roads and surfaces, gravel, tarmac and
some desert stages.
In 2002 we went from Sweden to
Jordan through Europe, winning what
was a fantastic event. I definitely loved
it: the people, the competitors, it was so
good meeting them all along the way.
The scenic route we took added to the
adventure.
After this win we had to plan for the
30-day 2004 London to Sydney Rally.
This required lots more planning and
in this one my co-driver, Murray Cole,
and I entered a three-car team of DC5
Honda Integras in Group N. They were
all from NZ. It was another fantastic
36 | RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE - OCTOBER 2016
McAndrew and
Haldane in the
1996 Otago Rally.
(Photo: Stuart Bowes)
win for me, and the team finished first,
second and third.
As a former NZ Champion, how does it
make you feel to see Hayden Paddon doing
so well in the WRC, and now starting to
challenge for event victories?
I just love to see Kiwis doing well. As
a champion myself I know how hard
it can be to win, or succeed overseas.
It requires so much effort, so it’s in
our blood to support Hayden in his
adventure to win in WRC.
I wish him all the luck to achieve his
goals on the world stage.
What are your thoughts on the new AP4
class cars as the NZRC appears to go from
strength to strength.
Firstly, it looks expensive, with some
reliability problems. But if there are
good fields and it looks to be catching
on, it will be good for spectators to
In later years, McAndrew
tackled marathon events
such as the London to
Sydney Rally.
watch these AP4 cars in anger, and the
competition will be great.
Finally, what is Joe McAndrew doing these
days? Where are you working, and how closely
do you follow rallying? And, do you have any
plans to compete again?
I love supporting and watching
motorsport. I do it for fun now. I have
competed a few times at the Leadfoot
event, and I have driven other friends
and people’s race cars in different
events, as they like to see their machine
going so well.
Some people can own and build
good cars, but are not confident to race
them. Sometimes it’s a challenge to sort
and drive each vehicle because of the
particular car or event.
I’m self-employed in the plumbing
and metalwork industry, and when
I’m not working I like to travel in our
motorhome.