With the top 5 registered contenders in the championship all on the start list for the Gremlin Historic Club Rally, it was bound to affect the points table.  Sadly for championship leaders Dave and Jackie Batchelor, a last minute substitution of their Opel Manta for the regular TR4 didn’t go as planned, ending in head gasket failure before the rally started, and a very long recovery home. An opportunity for the other contenders who took advantage, but be aware, they have the TR4 entered for the 2 remaining rounds.

3 other registered crews made for a good turnout on the 2025 Best Rally of the Year. Mario Budwig/Simon Hawken (Amazon) and first-time entrants David and Debbie Bundy (2.5PI) and Ian/Alistair Blakemore (Mini) joined the fray.

First time entrants Dave and Debbie Bundy (Triumph 2.5 PI) managed 13th overall and 4th in the Beginners series crews.

Mario and Simon really enjoyed their day. First time for Mario on gravel. One hairy moment when, after lunch the Amazon wouldn’t start! They turned the cut-off switch off then on again (that old IT solution) and hey Presto they were up and running. They’ve climbed one place and now sit 6^th in the championship.

Mark Woodcroft/Alison Webster-Smith had no dramas to report on their way to 5^th of the registered contenders in the Singer Chamois and will rejoin us to round the year out on the Ilkley Jubilee. They currently sit second in the championship. Ian and Alistair Blakemore had Brantz failure early on, so a day of ‘estimating’ ensued.

Simon Kennedy/Nick Lunn (142) mis-read a tulip on reg2 and paid heavily with a penalty that could not be jokered off. Even so, they ended the day 2^nd. They were further delayed when Golf GTi car 58 retired in a narrow section of reg6, as were Toby and Alison Sleeman (124 Spider).

Simon Kennedy and Nick Lunn (Volvo 142) on their way to 9th overall and second championship car home despite misreading a tulip.

Toby and Alison’s progress was impeded by a dubious decision to change worn gravel tyres for road tyres just before the event, a decision quickly regretted. The cigarette ban didn’t slow them down, but may have increased the tension in the car. Despite that, being 3^rd of the championship contenders has helped them hold on to 5^th in the championship so far.

Toby and Alison Sleeman (Fiat 124) probably rueing their change of tyres.  However 11th overall and 3rd championship contender so not a bad day out.

Mike and Liz Dixon (MGB) started the day by visiting the old cattle market in Brecon which closed to make way for Morrisons in 1999. Having recovered from that, the steep hill-start to reg3 was too much for the MGB (ed-“mine too”) and they were grateful to the marshals for holding the car to allow an orderly start. Despite all that, they finished the day first of the registered crews and a creditable 5^th OA on the Club Rally against very experienced competition. Their reward was to take the lead of the championship by a healthy 38 points.

Mike and Liz Dixon, MGB GT  found their way back from Morrisons to achieve 5th overall and 1st Beginners championship contender.

Just 2 rounds remain, Hero Challenge 3 and the Ilkley Jubilee, and crews will count their 5 best scores when the dust has settled. How will the story end?

Dave Morris