On Saturday evening, the winner of AMSAG’s Live the Dream competition was drawn during the 2018 Presentation Night at the Hawkesbury Race Club.
The winner Jody Mill, was drawn from a pool of the top ten entries selected by a panel of AMSAG judges based on two written submissions, each competitor’s results during the 2018 PipeKing Southern Cross Rally Series, and their sportsmanship throughout the series.
The draw required each of the finalists to blindly select a key from a set of ten, one of which would unlock the door to a rally-prepared Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, courtesy of skilled AMSAG competitor Chris Jaques and his team at Flowtech Australia as well as Shaun Parker of Pittwater Automotive.
Even when it was his key that opened the door, Jody said it all felt very surreal.
“It will probably all sink in when I do get the car and have a drive of it for the first time…but [I’m] still a bit shocked,” he said.
On top of the Mitsubishi Evo 8 major prize, Jody will also receive complimentary entry into the 2019 PipeKing Southern Cross Rally Series and ongoing competitor mentoring and support.
Jody has proven himself to be a capable driver, with promising results during the 2018 Rally Series, and winning the Mitsubishi Evo 8 will give him the ability to take his driving to the next level.
“This is something I wouldn’t have been able to afford myself, but now to be able to develop myself more in a late model four-wheel-drive, it will be great to see where this can take me,” he said.
Jody is most looking forward to competing in the Rosewood Rally this March, the closest event to his hometown of Narrandera, NSW.
“Having spent a lot of time there as a kid watching my dad, I have raced there myself 20+ years ago, but a home event is what I’m most looking forward to.”
Jody’s longer-term aspirations for the next 12 months include running the Kennards Hire Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour, NSW during November, 2019.
“The goal at the end of the year would be to try and run the ARC in Coffs Harbour, all going well.”
Jody would like to thank AMSAG, Chris, Shaun and the build team for the work on the Evo, as well as his personal supporters Safari Motors Narrandera, Narrandera Auto Wreckers and Phil Pallister Automotive.
AMSAG hope that this prize helps Jody live his dream and pursue his rally goals, and will be offering additional prizes to the other nine finalists, including one free entry to an AMSAG event of their choice. AMSAG will continue to support grass-roots rally and young drivers in the rally industry into the future.
