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Dansport Historic Rally Preview

By Iain Tullie

As the Autumn draws in, as if the fog on the last round wasn’t enough to contend with, crews will be rallying in the dark on both our last two rounds. Next weekend sees Matlock’s popular Dansport Rally attracting a full entry of 60 cars, with 55 HRCR championship contenders among them to the Peak District, to see what Martin Phaff and his team have in store this year.

What we do know is that it starts and finishes at Steve Perez’s Peak Edge Hotel again (so there is a fair chance we will be visiting his Walton Lodge home for some tests too), with three regularities in the dark on Saturday evening, followed by a pie and pea supper. The event then follows our usual one day format of tests and regularities on the Sunday. The total route is approx. 170 miles on maps 118 and 119.

It’s too late to enter but you can still come and be involved as marshals will be welcomed, contact matlock_mc_marshalling@outlook.com

With just two rounds to go, the top crews in all our championships are now dropping scores. There will be another good tussle, as there has been all year, among the Novices. Martyn Craske /Simon Howlett (MGB), Jeff Wincott / Ann Tweddell (A40), Phil Cheek / Graeme Presswell (Avenger) and Lee Davies / Richard White (1275 GT) are all entered, along with David Morris / Jacolyn Wales (MGB) who have graduated to the Experts class on this event.

Martin Craske and Simon Howlett (MGBGT) will be out once again on the Dansport to try and take the novice title. Photo by Chris Huish.

It is a similar story in the Experts, all the top five crews (and more) are here. Andrew Parr / Bob Duck (Cooper S) will be hoping Bob’s local knowledge will serve them well, but Peter Higton / Phil Savage (MX5), David Mann / Ian Doble (MGC) and Paul & Sandra Heaney (Fulvia) will be in the mix. Also graduating up a class is Oli Waldock, alongside John King again in the Masters.

Peter Higton and Phil Savage (MX5) certainly in the mix for this years event.  Photo by Phill Bramhill.

All our leading Masters crews are entered as you would expect, plus plenty of other top crews, some out for a bit of practice ahead of the Rally of the Tests next month.

The drivers’ championship standings show Ian Crammond leading from Ken Binstead and John King, but John Haygarth and Matt Fowle are also in contention if they get good results on the last two rounds. The navigators’ battle is between Ryan Pickering, Matt Vokes, Henry Carr and Sarah Binstead. Ryan still tops the table, but his championship charge stumbled on the Ilkley, so it looks set to go down to the wire on the John Bloxham in November.

Matt Fowle and Ryan Pickering (Ford Escort) will be pushing for the win after a disappointing Ilkley Jubilee.  Photo by M&H Photography.

Who will be leading the field away? Well, last year’s winning driver Andy Pullan has reverted back to the navigator’s seat and will guide 2022 winning driver John Haygarth around at car 1. At 2 will be Paul Dyas and 2022 winning nav Martyn Taylor in the PV544, Leigh Powley / Nick Bloxham (Corolla) are at 3, ahead of the Crammond / Vokes Mercedes. Fowle / Pickering are at 5 in the Mk1, with the Binsteads’ MGB at 7, King / Waldock in the MR2 at 8 and Les Andrew / Ian Canavan (Peugeot 104) rounding off the top 10. Keep an eye out further down the field for last year’s winning car with dad Nick Pullan instead of Andy and with Henry Carr alongside.

Paul Dyas and Martyn Taylor (Volvo Amazon) will be looking to improve on 4th overall in 2023.  Photo by Dave Leadbetter.

Great to see a full entry and so many contenders still out towards the end of the season, when numbers often drop off. We wish all our HRCR contenders and the organisers and marshals an enjoyable and successful event.