Coal Mullet  – Driver

Coal, a Motor Mechanic and a Member of the Institute of Automotive and Mechanical Engineers, has been interested in all forms of motor sport, as a spectator, since Colin Bond was blitzing every thing around, in the Forest and on the Mountain at Bathurst.

Coal first met the Mullets in 1992 when asked to help out in Pit Lane at Bathurst. Soon after he was asked to service for Daewoo and Insult. Coal was hooked and was quickly promoted to Service Crew Chief for Insult in 1996 and for Daewoo the following year.

At the end of 1997 Daewoo was selling his Datsun 1600 and Coal, being familiar with the car, decided to go one step further and jump into the drivers seat.

"I’ve never enjoyed being behind the wheel of a car so much as I have in the last couple of years rallying and winning is just a bonus."

Monkey Mullet  – Navigator

Monkey, a Computer Programmer and Engineer (Not the Nerd Type) has been involved in rallying since he can’t remember when, in all ways like: Navigating, Driving, Servicing, Control and Spectator Orfishal and he’s even Directed a few rallies. There isn’t much he doesn’t know about the sport.

Monkey has been involved with the Mullets since nearly the start 21 years ago. With all this experience he is a real asset to the Team.

Coal asked Monkey to navigate for his first rally in 1998 and the combination seemed to work so they have been together as a team ever since. Monkey is a good mentor and Coal has learnt a lot from him as the results show.

"The Team is so organised, it makes my job easy, all I have to do is concentrate on navigating and telling Coal to extract the digit when he’s driving like an old woman and settle him when he’s going like an idiot and sit back when he’s getting it right."

Brett Mullet  – Service Crew Chief

Brett, a Computer Systems Administrator comes from a family of rally enthusiasts, his parents having competed in Minis in the mid 60’s. Brett’s mother was the navigator in the first female crew to finish the Sydney-Melbourne BP Rally in 1966. He is now kicking himself for not getting involved in rallying at an earlier age.

Brett started with the team by being Monkey’s transport to rallies when he didn’t have a reliable car. He was very quickly promoted to the job with his enthusiasm and reliability. When the rallye car arrives at a service point Brett has everyone busy on the car, this allows Coal and Monkey to relax and prepare for the next stages.

"Stumbling as I have into such a well established team (albeit only 2 years, with the current crew), my first year of crewing has been a great introduction. Having the support of the Mullet Service Team has been an asset. The car has completed every event that it entered this year and the lack of incidents has made for an enjoyable season. Thanks must go out to Broom, RD, Daewoo, Straight and Young Keith for their assistance in keeping the car competitive throughout the year and to Hot Dog for ensuring that my waistline has not reduced whilst spending those long hours in the forest."

Hot Dog Mullet – Logistics & Catering

Hot Dog, Wife of Coal, has been involved with rallying since Coal has, this is just one of the things they do together.

Hot Dog organises accommodation, getting things and people where and when they’re supposed to be and getting drivers, navigators and service crew nourished and lubricated well enough to do their jobs and to come back for the next rally and do it again. She is, proudly, the only service crew member in Australia equipped with a microwave oven.

"Guess where my Mullet name came from? One of my specialties. Yum. They are quick, easy and they make all the other service crews hang around when the shop runs out."

Results

1998, their first year, they entered Group 7, as had Daewoo in the same car  in 1995. The series, due to rain, was reduced from eight to five rounds: Narooma, Bathurst, Jerrawangala, Mount Seaview and Bulahdelah. They came 2^nd Outright, 2^nd in Class and 1^st Novice and the only car to finish every rallye in the series.

1999 they would try to go one better in Group 7. The series, again due to rain, was reduced from eight to six rounds: Narooma, Wauchope, Oberon, Bathurst, Mount Seaview and Jerrawangala. They did what they had set out to do and finished 1^st Outright and 1^st in Class, against some far superior machinery. Two years in a row, it was the only car to finish every rallye in the series.

The Car

Make: Datsun.

Model: 1600.

Year: 1971.

Colours: White, Black, Blue, Purple, Green and Yellow.

Although the old girl has seen a lot of years and miles of rallye roads, its not ready to be put out to pasture yet. It has recently had a little operation to remove some cancer and a full face lift to smooth out some wrinkles and to bring it back to its youthful self and it looks as good if not better than ever.