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Malton Forest Stages Results
Congratulations to Richard and Edwin Cook (Vauxhall Astra) on winning the SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship for the 3rd time, after a steady run at a very wet Malton Forest Stages, they did what was required to win the championship, by taking 2nd place points. For the second year the prize drive of a Group N SG Petch Mitsubishi Evo now awaits them on the Jack Frost Stages in January.
The result of the championship was left squarely in the Cook’s hands when William Jarman/Mark Fisher (Escort Cosworth) blew the front diff on the very first stage, they had replaced the slipping clutch that had plagued them on the Keith Knox Stages Rally, but the diff failed when they hit a tarmac stretch on the spectator stage at the Pickering Showground.
Fastest on the first stage was Gary Cooper/ Jon Riley (Subaru Impreza) but their rally came to a sudden stop on the second stages when the side swiped a gate post and inflicted substantial damage to the rear of the Impreza. This left the way clear for Charlie Taylor/ Steve Bielby (Ford Escort MkII) to have a clean steady run to maximum points, with no reported incidents.
John Bainbridge/ Giles Dykes (Subaru Impreza) took 3rd place points, they reported the stages were very slippy with a 2 wheel moment on Gale Rigg, a change of rear tyres with extra cuts made the car more stable for the second loop of stages.
Fourth place points went to Neil Ayre/Kevin Garthwaite (Mitsubishi Evo 6) who was out in the forests for the first time in a 4WD car, after a steady run on the first 3 stages they upped their pace and finished the day with wide grins on their faces, and with an undamaged car. A couple of registered co-drivers were out with different drives and Chris Purvis took maximum co-drivers points, and 3rd overall, with Tony Arnsby (Mitsubishi Evo 8), they had a problem with the newly fitted heated front screen not being able to handle the wet conditions and they suffered misting, also when leaving service they couldn’t get first gear, this was quickly fixed but the suffered a 10 second road penalty. Shaun Leggott was also out in a Mitsubishi, David Wallbank’s Evo 5, they were running just outside the top 20 when they retired on stage 4. There was a slight scare for the Cook camp when it was reported Richard was seen on the end of a tow rope, but they need not have worried as this it was them generously giving a fellow competitor a tow back to service.
Although 1st place has been secured by Richard and Edwin Cook, 3 crews could still finish as runner up. William Jarman/Mark Fisher are currently 1 point ahead of Barry and Michael Lindsay, with Marcus Noble/Helen Hall a further 12 points behind, so it is all down to the last round in 4 weeks time, the Grizedale Stages Rally
The final round is the Grizedale Stages Rally, based in Coniston in the Lake District, on Saturday 29th November 2008. Regs and entries are available from the website www.grizedalestages.co.uk. The rally features 6 stages totalling 41 miles with 58 miles of road section. Due to the loss of their usual service area the Organisers have made significant changes to the route - hence more road miles than usual - but have retained the usual format with 4 long stages in Grizedale and the short but fast Dunnerdale stage run twice at 30 secs. Between each pair of stages are 2 30min Service halts. Entry fees are tiered, starting with sub 1600cc cars at £345 which includes a Service Pack. Full colour maps by Pine lodge Maps are included in the entry fee or you can buy Safety Notes from Pattersons.
If anyone has any questions please contact.
Gordon Dundee
S G Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship Coordinator
Home - 0191 3773228
Mobile - 07799 140427
E-mail - gordon@dundee.fsworld.co.uk.
Posted in Malton Forest Rally on: November 4th, 2008