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Bulletin – 04/10
The third round of the 2010 SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship crossed the country from the North Yorkshire forest to the Lake District forests for the Malcolm Wilson Rally. As with the Riponian Rally competitors were faced with very mixed conditions with the surface changing from gravel to sheet ice and back again at regular intervals throughout the early stages, but everyone commented that they enjoyed the consistent conditions on the Grizedale Stages.
Maximum points, and 10th overall, were taken by Richard and Edwin Cook who were out in their Subaru Impreza that they had been completely rebuild after their accident on last years Lindisfarne Rally. They had a steady run with no major problems, just the constant ringing in their ears of their family and friends telling them not to crash it again. One place behind was Peter Thornton/Stephen Thompson (Subaru Impreza), this was the 30th anniversary of Peter’s first ever rally and only a light contact with a small tree, which caused little damage, interrupted their day. A further place behind in 12th overall, were Mark I’Anson/Ronnie Roughead (Mitsubishi Evo 9) who’s only main incident on the day was contact with a substantial post on the outside of an icy corner on the first stage, but this only cause superficial damage. 1st two wheel drive ANECCC competitors were Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby who won the Historic class in their Ford Escort MKII. 5th placed competitor were Dave and Steve Nicholson who were delighted with their 21st place overall in the Mitsubishi Evo 4 that Dave build in his back garden due to lack or garage space. Geoff Wilson/Simon Martin (Ford Escort MkII) were 6th point scores and won the over 2000cc class on the rally.
Other SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship point’s scores were Damien Smith/Frazer Hutchinson (Ford Fiesta) who had a clean run to second place in the Fiesta ST Championship; this is only the second season for the former Peugeot 205 competitors. John Bainbridge/Giles Dykes (Subaru Impreza) had the steering wheel go out of centre but were unable to identify anything bent in the suspension to cause it, it didn’t appear to slow them. Joanna and Guy Wickham (Subaru Impreza) were pleased to get out of the early stages unscathed and enjoyed the afternoon Grizedale stages. Tony Thompson was competing on his 3rd rally in 4 weeks in his Vauxhall Chevette HSR, and stuck to the same tyres all day instead of trying to guess what the stage conditions would be like. Tony’s regular co-drive Paul Hudson was co-driving this week for Paul Knapp in the smaller 1400cc Citroen C2. Also competing with a different driver this week was Chris Williams who was with John Pritchard in his Fiesta ST, who despite a couple of close calls with ditches survived with an unmarked car. Final ANECCC competitor was Andrew and Reg Irving (Peugeot 205), who took maximum 1400cc points, and were glad to get out on a rally after having to withdraw from the Jack Frost Stages in January as they couldn’t make it as the A66 had been closed because of the snow.
Less fortunate competitors were Sian Beaty/Dave Antrobus (Ford KA) who up rooted a tree on the first stage after sliding of on an ice covered corner, they were joined later by Marcus Noble/Helen Hall (Ford Escort MkII) who hit the tree beside it. Also on the retirement list were Willie Jarman/Mark Fisher (Escort Cosworth) who broke a driveshaft on the 2nd stage.
After two rounds the current points standings are:-
Drivers
Richard Cook 40 pts, Peter Thornton 25 pts, Charlie Taylor 22 pts and Tony Thompson 21 pts, and Chris Singer and Jeff McNeil 15 pts
Co-drivers.
Edwin Cook 40 pts, Stephen Thompson 27 pts, Steve Bielby 25 pts, Fred Roberts 20 pts, and Katherine Singer 15 pts.
In two weeks it is round 4 of the championship, on the 20th March, it is into Keilder Forest for the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally, details and regs are now available on the rally website www.bordercountiesrally.co.uk The organisers have issued the following, detailing the current condition of the stages, “There are a couple of patch’s of snow remaining in Bewshaugh & Redesdale totalling around 1 mile. The weather forecast for the weekend is sunny with temperatures of 12 degrees C. The remaining patchs of snow in Hyndlee/Wauchope have been cleared by the Forestry Commission today (Friday 5th). The Forestry Commission will clear the remaining snow, if it has not thawed by Monday 8th, so the roads will be clear.”
There will then be a 7 week break until the Tour of Hamsterley on the 9th May, as with 2009 the start, finish and service will be based in Barnard Castle with 3 stages in Hamsterley run twice and a further two in Stang forest. Full details and regulations will be available on the rally website from the middle of March, www.tourofhamsterley.co.uk
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 Bulletins on: March 8th, 2010