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Long stages for Severn Valley
News from the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally ChampionshipTuesday 6 May 2008
Round three of the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Severn Valley Stages on Saturday 31 May, will feature some of the longest forest stages of the year.
The 44 miles of prime mid-Wales gravel roads will be contained in just four special stages. The historic event covers just 130 miles in total, with the event base and central servicing at Builth Wells. The historic rally is scheduled to start at 8.30am, with the first car due back at the finish just before 2pm.
The first 40 historic entries are already confirmed, and regulations are available from the event website at www.severnvalleynational.co.uk
Added: 6th May 2008 [permalink]
Epynt next for Historic Stage Rally Challenge
Press release: Wednesday, 24 April 2008
The new HRCR Historic Stage Rally Challenge, supported by TR Enterprises, will resume for the second event of the season, the Welsh Rally on Epynt on Sunday 4 May.
The new challenge has been created to encourage the older rally cars back into action and is solely for category 1 cars from before 1968. The opening event was the Red Kite Stages in January and now, after a gap in the calendar, the action resumes with first of three asphalt events in May and June. After the trip over Epynt, crews will tackle the Millbrook Stages (26 May) and the Rally of the Midlands (21 June).
The field for the challenge has hit double figures for the challenging event on the Epynt ranges, and with more enquiries being taken, the series is set to gather further strength as the season develops.
Heading the entry is the Ford Anglia of Red Kite winners Peter Stimson and Mark Butler. However, they will have some tough opposition over the ranges, including the very quick Mini Cooper S of Clive King/Bob Ward, and the freshly prepared Saab 96 of Chris and Adam Nutt. Two Austin Healey 3000s will make a fabulous spectacle on Epynt, with the cars of Chris Cox/Mike Gabb and Graham Goodall/Peter Gilbert sure to be real crowd pleasers.
Making their debut in the challenge will be Andrew Frost/Miles Cartwright (Lotus Cortina Mk1), Richard and Liz Pugh (Volvo 122S), Ken Pryce/Wyn Jones (Mini Cooper S) and Derek and Robert Pike (Saab 96).
The remaining dates are:
3 May 26, Millbrook Stages, Bedfordshire (asphalt)
4 Jun 21, Rally of the Midlands, Nuneaton (asphalt)
5 Aug 16, Neath Valley Stages, South Wales (gravel)
6 Sep 27, Trackrod Historic Cup, Yorkshire (gravel)
TR Enterprises specialises in Triumph TR sports cars, offering parts, restoration, competition preparation, engines and drivelines. More details at www.trenterprises.com
The Welsh Rally is organised by South Wales Automobile Club, Forresters Car Club and Epynt Motor Club. For more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.welshinternationalrally.com
Added: 24th April 2008 [permalink]
BHRC preview, round two: Pirelli Historic Rally
Press release: Thursday, 10 April, 2008
The second round of the 2008 Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship will pit crews against the challenge of the mighty Kielder forest complex in Northumberland for the Pirelli Historic Rally (18/19 April 2008).
The crews will tackle four stages on Friday evening and a further three stages on Saturday, starting and finishing with a ceremonial flourish in Carlisle city centre.
Category 1
As usual, the oldest cars in category one (pre '68) will run first on the road and a resounding victory on the Robin Hood was just the start that Patrick Watts and Elgan Davies wanted in their Sunbeam Tiger. They'll be going all out to make it two wins from two starts on the Pirelli, as the Porsche 911 pack chase hard.
Heading the Porsche challenge will be Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride in their familiar Porsche 911, with Dessie sure to enjoy being back in the driver's seat after co-driving for his son Michael on the Circuit of Ireland over Easter. Another very quick 911 will be the car of John Keatley/Maurice Beckett, but the quickest of the Lotus Cortinas are really taking the fight to the Porsches.
In particular, the Cortinas of Bob Bean/Malcolm Smithson, Neil Calvert/Arlene Cookson and Jonathan Gale/Graham Gale are bang on the pace and Bean will be looking to continue his Robin Hood battle with Dessie Nutt. Clearly, reaching his 70th birthday that weekend has not slowed Bob down in any way!
Class B2 is likely to be a straight fight between the Mini Cooper S of defending class champions Terry Cree/Richard Shores and the MG Midget of James Stait/Gill Cotton, and it was Stait/Cotton who took a clear win on the Robin Hood when the Mini crew hit major problems.
Three Hillman Imp variants contest class B1, including round one winners Gary and Jane Edington (Singer Chamois). Mike Barratt/Jody Watson (Sunbeam Stiletto) and Geoff Taylor/Steve Greenhill (Imp Sport) will be challenging hard.
Category 2
Steven Smith and John Nichols turned in a mighty performance to win category 2 on the Robin Hood and their Porsche 911RS could well be the car to beat once more. However, the quickest of the Escort Mk1s will be flying along and it is the cars of defending BHRC champions David Stokes/Guy Weaver and Ernie Graham/Robin Kellard that should be the best of the pack.
Stokes/Weaver had a bad weekend on the Robin Hood when sidelined by a major misfire on the opening leg, so they will be looking to get their season properly underway on the Pirelli.
The Porsche 911Rs of Andrew Haddon/Mark Crisp is another contender for category 2 victory, while the Escort Mk1 of Rupert Lomax/David Alcock is getting quicker and quicker.
However, category 2 is not just about classes C4 and C5. The 2-litre C3 category is shaping up to deliver some mighty contests this season, and local crew Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes should join the action after missing the opening event as they prepared their Escort Mk1 with a fresh Pinto engine. Major challengers include the Escorts of Russell Morgan/Martin Kenyon, Tim Jones/Don James, Neal James/Kevin Jones, James Young/David Young and Robin Shuttleworth/Mark Midgley.
Class C2 is well and truly up for grabs at the moment, with the pace likely to be set by Kevin Broadhurst and Andrew Turner (Escort Mk1). They suffered a disastrous engine fire on the Robin Hood but hope to have the car ready again in time for the Pirelli.
Category 3
The standard of entry in category 3 is every bit as good with four-time British Rally champion Jimmy McRae leading the field in the Prepfab Porsche 911RS. This freshly prepared car is one of the first 911s to run on a gravel event in category 3 and is sure to give the Mk2 Escorts a major fight for category spoils. As before, Andy Richardson partners McRae in the Stobart-backed entry.
Lining up to challenge McRae will be a gaggle of very quick Mk2 Escorts, all of them capable of challenging for victory. Robin Hood winners Richard Hill and Patrick Cooper set a stunning pace and are likely to be the benchmark, while Darren Moon/John McNichol were sensational on the Robin Hood and came very close to overall victory.
Other established contenders include Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing, while Phil and Mick Squires will make a late start to the season after missing the Robin Hood after Phil suffered a hand injury in the workshop. Other leading runners in Escort Mk2s include Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby, Jason Lepley/Howard Pridmore, Frank Cunningham/Ryland James and Chris White/Chris Dewsnap.
Class D3 for the 2-litre non-multi valve cars should also deliver a tremendous contest, with the fastest cars getting up amongst the BD-powered cars in D5. Richard Lane/Frank Richer pulled off a fine victory on the Robin Hood, but will face a big challenge from Will Onions/Tim Hobbs in their RS2000.
Elsewhere in category 3, welcome variety to the Escort pack will be provided by the Sunbeam Lotus of Adrian Seabridge/Daniel Seabridge and the Vauxhall Chevette HSR of Roger Kilty/Lynette Banks.
The Pirelli Historic Rally is organised by the Cumberland Sporting Car Club and for more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.pirelliinternationalrally.co.uk
Added: 9th April 2008 [permalink]
Historic Stage Rally Challenge heads for Epynt
News from the HRCR
Press release: Wednesday, 9 April 2008
The new HRCR Historic Stage Rally Challenge, supported by TR Enterprises, will resume in early May for the second event of the season, the Welsh Rally on Epynt on Sunday 4 May.
The new challenge has been created to encourage the older rally cars back into action and is solely for category 1 cars from before 1968. The opening event was the Red Kite Stages in January and now, after a gap in the calendar, the action resumes with first of three asphalt events in May and June. After the trip over Epynt, crews will tackle the Millbrook Stages (26 May) and the Rally of the Midlands (21 June).
A number of entries are already in for the Welsh Rally, including the Ford Anglia of Red Kite winners Peter Stimson and Mark Butler. However, they will have some tough opposition on the daunting ranges, including the very quick Mini Cooper S of Clive King/Bob Ward, the Volvo Amazon of Graham Waite/Gill Cotton and the freshly prepared Saab 96 of Chris and Adam Nutt. Chris is the brother of leading BHRC contender Dessie and is now ready to compete in his venerable Saab.
With more entries expected, co-ordinator Steve Suckling is pleased with the early stages of the new challenge. "We're well into double figures with registrations, which is an excellent start," said Suckling.
Now, with three asphalt events coming up in the next two months, the Challenge should really gain momentum before the calendar takes crews back on to gravel for the final two events in August and September.
The remaining dates are:
2 May 4, Welsh Rally, Epynt (asphalt)
3 May 26, Millbrook Stages, Bedfordshire (asphalt)
4 Jun 21, Rally of the Midlands, Nuneaton (asphalt)
5 Aug 16, Neath Valley Stages, South Wales (gravel)
6 Sep 27, Trackrod Historic Cup, Yorkshire (gravel)
The co-ordinator of the Historic Stage Rally Challenge is Steve Suckling, who can be contacted by e-mail at: steve@hrcr.co.uk
TR Enterprises specialises in Triumph TR sports cars, offering parts, restoration, competition preparation, engines and drivelines. More details at www.trenterprises.com
Added: 9th April 2008 [permalink]
HRCR celebrates at Race Retro
News from the Historic Rally Car Register
Press release: Monday, 17 March, 2008
As the founding club of the historic rally movement celebrates its 25th anniversary, there was a party atmosphere on the HRCR stand at Race Retro, the Historic Motor Sport Show at Stoneleigh, over the weekend (14-16 March).
To follow the event's 'Ford' theme, two Ford-powered Sunbeam Tigers graced the HRCR stand. Both cars drew the crowds and many marvelled at the original state of the ex-works car of Graham Rood, which represents a wonderful time warp in the manner in which it has been preserved.
The HRCR uses this show to meet club members and welcome new members into the organisation. Throughout the three days of the show, representatives from all the club's championships were on hand to answer questions.
A number of personalities visited the stand, including HRCR President Paddy Hopkirk and Vice President Bill Price. Stuart Turner took time out from his Motor Sport Safety Fund work to entertain HRCR volunteers, while another very welcome visitor was Rosemary Smith. As an ex-Rootes driver, Smith rallied Sunbeam Tigers in period, while rally historian Graham Robson was also a visitor to the stand.
The HRCR Club Shop enjoyed a brisk trade, particularly with specialist books including 'The Works Tigers' written by Graham Rood. Rood's car was the 1966 Tulip Rally Tiger, finishing third overall and first in Group 3, crewed by Peter Harper and Robin Turvey. It was last of the works team Tigers.
Added: 17th March 2008 [permalink]
Take a fresh look at the HRCR
News from the Historic Rally Car Register
Press release: Friday, 7 March, 2008
'Come and take a fresh look at the Historic Rally Car Register'. That is the invitation being made to visitors to Race Retro, the Historic Motor Sport Show at Stoneleigh, from 14-16 March.
HRCR chairman Chris Hunt Cooke is keen to get show visitors to take a new look at the club and it's ever growing range of activities, all designed to encourage the use of classic cars on as wide a range of events as possible.
On hand will be information about the Clubmans Rally Championship, the Road Rally Championship, the new 100 Rally Series, Newcomers Rally Schools and Scenic Tours. For those into special stage rallying, the HRCR display will include the new Historic Stage Rally Challenge and the flagship Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship.
"With spring approaching, this is the perfect time to think about using that classic car for some motoring enjoyment," said Hunt Cooke. "We really do have something to suit every taste, and some exciting new ideas in our Silver Jubilee year, so come and take a fresh look at the HRCR."
The HRCR display will have a Sunbeam Tiger theme, with two cars on show; Graham Rood's ex-works competition car and Tony Barron's rebuilt Tiger, which is set up as a marathon-type road rally car.
Rood's Tiger is the only works car not to carry the red and white colour scheme and is finished in its original Midnight Blue, registered 'FRW 668'. It was the 1966 Tulip Rally Tiger, finishing third overall and first in Group 3, crewed by Peter Harper and Robin Turvey. It was last of the works team Tigers.
Barron's Tiger, registered 'TGR 263', is owned by Tony and Dominic Barron and underwent a 10-year restoration as Tony's early retirement project. It has been used on a number of UK road rallies and two Rallye des Alpes where the crew was awarded a Coupe des Alpes on the 2006 event. It is scheduled to run in a number of UK events in 2008, including the Berwick Classic and the Anniversary Marathon in June.
Representatives from all the HRCR championships will be on hand and any new member joining at the show will be given 15 months membership for the price of 12. The HRCR Club Shop will also have a strong presence with a complete range of historic rallying related items.
Added: 7th March 2008 [permalink]
Stunning entry for Robin Hood
Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship
Press release: Friday, 29 February, 2008
Preview, round one: Robin Hood Historic Forest Stages Rally
The most competitive entry in the history of the championship will make the opening round of the 2008 Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship one of the most eagerly awaited rallies of 2008.
Two former World Rally champions will grace the entry as over 90 cars line up for the Alternative Sign Centre Robin Hood Historic Forest Stages over the weekend of 8/9 March.
It is a truly stunning entry for the opening round of the BHRC and comes very close to matching the record 100-car entry for the 2007 event. The field is packed with fabulous cars and drivers; historic stage rallying just gets better and better!
Category 1
As usual, the oldest cars in category one (pre '68) will run first on the road and heading the field away will be Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride in their familiar Porsche 911. However, a pair of Sunbeam Tigers will be chasing very hard as Patrick Watts/Elgan Davies are pursued by Paul Kynaston/Gary Bulley. This will be the first time that the two Tigers have gone fully head to head, as their only previous meeting on the Somerset Historic Stages was cut short when Kynaston hit engine trouble. Now, after a long break, Kynaston is back for the event he has won four times before and is determined to show Watts had it should be done.
Chasing the three sports cars will be the rapid Lotus Cortinas of Neil Calvert/Arlene Cookson and Bob Bean/Malcolm Smithson, and with Bean celebrating his 70th birthday on the first day of the rally it will be a special occasion for the rapid pensioner.
Class B2 is set to be a straight fight between the Mini Cooper S of defending class champions Terry Cree/Richard Shores and the MG Midget of James Stait/Gill Cotton, and there is likely to be very little to split the two rapid 1300cc cars.
Meanwhile, the up to 1-litre class B1 is very well supported with a Mini Cooper, two Saab 96s and three Imps. John Parker/Robert Harrison will star in their two-stroke Saab, while former Mini crew Mike Barratt and Jody Watson switch to a Sunbeam Stiletto.
Category 2
With two former World Rally champions in the top three cars, the category two entry is quite incredible. Add in some of the fastest Mk1 Escorts around and several very rapid Porsche 911s and the stage is set for a mighty contest.
Heading the field will be Stig Blomqvist and Pauline Gullick in the Escort from David Sutton's team and the legendary Swede will be very tough to beat. Meanwhile, two cars back will be fellow Swedish legend Bjorn Waldegard in the VK-backed Lancia Stratos, with Peter Martin guiding the 1979 World Champion through the stages.
Splitting the Swedes will be the Escort of Mark Solloway/Den Golding and this could be the fastest car of all in category 2. However, more potential winners in Escorts include defending BHRC champions David Stokes/Guy Weaver, Ernie Graham/Robin Kellard and Jeremy Easson/Alun Cook, so it really is wide open.
Then there is the Porsche contingent to consider, with Steven Smith/John Nichols and Andrew Haddon/Mark Crisp sure to set a fierce pace as they go up against the Escorts.
However, category 2 is not just about classes C4 and C5. The 2-litre C3 category is shaping up to deliver some mighty contests this season, although potential frontrunners Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes will miss this event as they prepare their Escort Mk1 with a fresh Pinto engine.
Russell Morgan and Martin Kenyon should be the benchmark in their Escort Mk1, but they have plenty of challengers including the Escorts of James Young/David Young, Tim Jones/Don James, Neal James/Kevin Jones and Ian Drummond/Tom Ward.
Class C2 is well and truly up for grabs at the moment, with the pace likely to be set by Kevin Broadhurst and Andrew Turner (Escort Mk1). Trying to make it a family double will be youngsters Adam Morgan and Chris Kenyon, who will run alongside their class C3 leading fathers.
Category 3
The standard of entry in category 3 is every bit as good with four-time British Rally champion Jimmy McRae starting first in the Prepfab Porsche 911. This freshly prepared car is one of the first 911s to run on a gravel event in category 3 and is sure to give the Mk2 Escorts a major fight for category spoils. As before, Andy Richardson partners McRae in the Stobart-backed entry.
Lining up behind McRae will be a gaggle of 14 Mk2 Escorts, all of them capable of challenging for victory. Picking a pacesetter here isn't easy, but Irish flyers Martin McCormack and Liam Moynihan will be sensationally quick. So too, will be Julian Reynolds and Ian Oakey, while Peter Slights/Joyce Champion can never be discounted. Add in dark horses Richard Hill/Patrick Cooper and Paul Griffiths/George Gwynn, along with established contenders like Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing and Jason Lepley/Howard Pridmore and the fans are in for a real treat.
Class D3 for the 2-litre non-multi valve cars should also deliver a tremendous contest, with the fastest cars getting up amongst the BD-powered cars in D5. Top seeds are Will Onions/Tim Hobbs in their RS2000, but Arwel Evans/Arwel Jenkins and Richard Lane/Frank Richer are strong contenders.
Elsewhere in category 3, welcome variety to the Escort pack will be provided by the Open Ascona of Steve Magson/Geoff Atkinson, the Sunbeam Lotuses of Julian Burch/tba and Adrian Seabridge/Daniel Seabridge and the Vauxhall Chevettes of Roger Kilty/Lynette Banks and Mark Creswell/Rachel Brockington.
The Robin Hood is organised by Lindholme Motor Sports Club Ltd and for more details about the event, please visit the website at: www.robinhoodforeststages.co.uk
Added: 29th February 2008 [permalink]
Entries still open for Daffodil Run
News from the Historic Rally Car Register
Press release: Monday, 25 February, 2008
Entries are still available for the HRCR's Daffodil Run, which will be held on Sunday 16 March, covering a route of around 60 miles in the Newent area of Gloucestershire.
Aimed at owners of older cars who like to take part in social and non-competitive events, scenic tours such as this are the perfect way to enjoy driving a classic car and some wonderful British scenery.
The route will be defined by an easy-to-follow tulip road book and is open to vehicles at least twenty years old. The tour will include a planned walk through Daffodil fields at the height of the Daffodil season.
A coffee halt and an early evening meal are included in the entry fee of £60.
For more information contact: Brian Thomas on brian@hrcr.co.uk
Visit www.hrct.co.uk (Scenic Tours) for regulations.
Added: 25th February 2008 [permalink]
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