The Dansport Historic Rally for many conjures up memories of competing long past midnight to match that elusive 30mph average, but such is the way that rallying is changing; the final night rally edition was in 2016 and the event has since morphed into an extremely successful historic rally with a reputation that drew in even the 1997 rally winner, Daniel Stone, back into the navigating seat.

Long time clerk (don’t call him old), Martin Phaff handed over the reins to youthful Kelvin Phipps and what an entry he was treated to with as strong an entry as you are likely to see on any historic event in the UK with a field of 18 masters.  This was also the first round of the HRCR Beginners Championship with 7 crews joining in the fray and a welcome addition to encourage greater participation in our sport.

60 crews were flagged away from Chesterfield and into the darkness for 2hrs of non-stop action. The first regularity showcased some great nadgery lanes with a NAM diagram at Highoredish farm proving a key dropper of the section, coming as it did after 2 passage checks and one deep ford. Car 2, Dan Willan and Mark Appleton, acing the section with only 7s dropped but suffering a sump guard issue with an exuberant exit from the ford.  Their troubles were minor in comparison with Derek and Sue Skinner who lost all ability to operate gears when the lever came away ending their hopes.  With cars fully warmed up, rain falling and the wind blowing, test 1, a complete loop of Steve Perez’s personal rally track awaited where the test notes helpfully indicated, “lights on”!  Crews were well advised of the slippery conditions which suited those with gravel experience and sadly caught out 3 cars with Nick Bloxham and Richard Crozier coming out quickest.

A regularity start from test finish added a dimension of difficulty that the 18mph starting speed soon dissipated, although the first speed change coming at a grid line caused several in car discussions.  From there the event wound it’s way up some classic moorland roads with the trickery coming from passage checks followed shortly by time controls, catching out those not familiar with yellow stamp boards.  Iain Tullie proved equal to the challenge guiding the experienced Andy Lane to least penalties here.  A short transport led to top tucker at the Wheatsheaf at Baslow, if you haven’t been, the pie is well recommended.

 

Mick Valentine and Ryan Pickering on the dark wet lanes of Derbyshire on the Dansport Historic.  Photo by M&H Photography

Overnight leaders Bloxham and Crozier had shaken off the winter rustiness and claimed a 29s lead with leading experts Tim Sawyer and Suzanne Barker in 8^th proving you don’t need cake to execute good regularity times and the rest of the top 20 was covered by around a minute.

A sunny and dry Sunday greeted entrants with 3 tests around the tracks and tarmac of the previous night proving fruitful for Willan and Appleton dropping only 36s and hunting down that overnight lead, but Mick Valentine and Ryan Pickering were hard on their heels and only a second behind.

Dan Willan and Mark Appleton proving to be a formidable pairing once again in the PV544 despite a sump guard issues from the previous evenings performance.  Photo by M&H Photography.

Regularity 3 proved straightforward for most crews with the 4 “yyy” instructions causing much consternation but the route proving easier than the plotting. In complete contrast regularity 4 brought the skill up several notches with a slot into “nowhere” at slipper low farm making good use of the 25mph average speed.  Unfortunately, this saw the demise of Steve Head in the 1-wheel drive escort RS as a half shaft had snapped and stranded the crew in sight of the control.  A further white brought an end to this most excellent of regularity with Phil Savage, Sarah Binstead and Douglas Humphrey all proving adept at maintaining times in the rough tracks.

Coffee and cake was now very much needed and the Dansport delivered, homemade Bakewell tart won the hearts and fed the soul ready for 2 tests and a regularity before lunch.  Test 5 called for a strong stomach with a mix of fast corners and codeboards protecting sharp bends, Rob Kitchen sent the MG B well into the top 10 here putting even the high-powered Datsun 240z to shame.  Test 6 is a well frequented haunt of many a Derbyshire event and the friendly farmer offered up his venue for a cracking little test with minimal cone work and another regularity start on the finish line, 3 crews tied on time in their rush to get started on the 22mph starting average.

A series of long way round triangles and a dive into a white indicated by “Tumulus” kept crews on their toes but many were fortunate that the impossible hairpin at High Wheeldon was not utilised as a time control and therefore getting back on time was possible for most cars.

Results at lunch showed 7 cars within a minute of the lead, proving the quality and depth of the field.  Valentine/Pickering proving the class of the morning with a 7s lead while John Haygarth and Andy Pullan hovered ominously in 3^rd and ready to strike to take the title back to Yorkshire.  Martin Payton and Miles Fieldhouse had overcome overnight brake issues to rise into the top 10 with the navigating wonder kid only improving with each event.  Brecon Motor club’s Chris and Gethin Phillips driving the mighty amazon into leading novices and 25^th overall at this stage.

Chris and Gethin Phillips (Volvo Amazon)  leading the Novice charge at lunch.  Photo by M&H Photography

Regularity 6 was the monster of the event, no over-indulgence at lunch would be tolerated.  Depicted by blackspots and black squares, 20 miles of lanes awaited and many charges faltered here, John King and Amy Henchoz suffered cooling issues, the ever-resourceful King scrounging water from marshals.  Valentine and Pickering encountered a woeful Fiat Panda which proved modern cars cannot average 22mph and with a fully utilised joker penalty, couldn’t avoid further time loss, while Paul Dyas and Martyn Taylor missed a passage check with a resulting 1minute penalty before the tricky Kenslow farm white, denting the returning champion’s hopes for 2026.  In contrast Dave Alcock and replacement navigator Andy Darlington saved the best for last and grabbed the Expert victory, decisively beating any other experts and pulling an unobtainable lead for class victory and a tremendous 6^th overall.

Dave Alcock and last minute replacement, Andy Darlington,  grabbed the Experts with 6th Overall in the Datsun 280z.  Photo by M&H Photography

The final 3 tests were back at the Perez estate where Alcock with his tail up grabbed fastest time on test 7 followed closely by the powerful escorts of Lewis Ayris and Tim Birkin.  Meanwhile the battle for overall was not yet settled and a deficit of 9 seconds had Pickering urging Valentine on to overtake the “Ovlov” PV, the challenge was accepted and 3 seconds were removed but it was not to be for the escort man as he fell 6 seconds short of the overall, tying on equal quickest test times with Willan and helping his navigator to an early championship lead.  Andy Pullan proved he has lost none of his flair to deliver zeros on command and deservedly went home with best navigating performance.

The well turned-out Escort RS of Tim and Ruth Birkin grabbed highest Novices while no marshal could have failed to hear the Imp of Ed Linton approach as they navigated into highest club crew.   At the finish crews were effusive in their praise for the event showing a clear regard for the efforts of Matlock Motor Club which laid on a uniquely Derbyshire, Dansport.  Praise should be directed to new clerk of the course, Kelvin Phipps for carrying the event on from experienced hands and delivering a worthy championship opener.

Niall Frost

Photos in the Gallery by kind permission of M&H Photography.