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Bulletin – 11/09
Round 8 of the SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship was the Pendragon Stages, from its base at the Penrith Truck Stop it used the military ranges at Warcop and Lowther Park. The day started dry but rain started for the last two Warcop stages.
For the first time this year maximum points were taken by the York crew of Gary Cooper/Jon Riley (Subaru Impreza) this was despite getting two punctures on the first stages and at different times through the day attacking various bales resulting in significant cosmetic body damage. Second place points and 1st 1600cc car were Barry and Michael Lindsay (Peugeot 106) who reported no major issues except that parts of the stages were extremely slippy. Local Penrith crew of Marcus Noble/Helen Hall (Escort MkII) finished one place behind the Lindsay’s in 16th overall and 2nd in the 2000cc class, they also reported no major problems. The UTS Rally Team of Peter Gibson/Adam Bradford (Vauxhall Nova) were the 4th highest ANECCC finisher and 2nd overall 1600cc, this was despite sliding off on the 1st stage fortunately without any significant damage. At the start of the last two stages in Warcop Peter and Adam were equal on time with Kev Monaghan/Chris Purvis (Vauxhall Corsa) but despite being slower on the previous 4 Warcop stages Peter and Adam were able to pull clear as the rain hit Warcop, Kev and Chris like many people commented on how slippy it was and contacted at least one bale during the day. 6th place points went to current championship leader Richard and Edwin Cook who were using their Subaru Impreza on tarmac for the first time and found it more stable and easier to drive than the Astra. Richard and Edwin were running easily inside the top 10 overall all day but a stage maximum on the 13th stage dropped them to 32nd overall.
7th ANECCC crew were Mark and Matthew Thompson (Peugeot 206) whose main problem all day was driver sickness, having to stop between stages to recover a number of times, they finished one place ahead of Michael Davison/Ali Procter (Proton Compact) who’s only problem was on the 1st stage when the slide straight on into a pile of gravel, but they escaped with little damage. One of the few cars to finish without any signs of contact with a bale was Stu Wilson/Steve Dargan (Vauxhall Nova) this was because Stu didn’t want to damage it as the car is currently for sale, they collected their first ANECCC championship points of the season in 45th place overall. If there was an award for perseverance it would have gone to Geoff Wilson/Sean O’Neill (Escort MkII), a misfire started half way through the first stage which wasn’t able to be fixed until service, after 6 stages, then a hydraulic clutch pipe burst that required the gearbox to be removed to fix it, the service crew got this repair completed without penalty, then they got a maximum stage time on the 13th stage, but they finished 10th ANECCC crew and the 2 points they got secured the class 4 SG Petch ANECCC championship for 2009. The remaining ANECCC finishers were all in the 1400cc class, Martin Breen/Simon Graham (Peugeot 106) had only a spin on the 4th stage to report, Sian Beaty/Julianne Antrobus (Ford KA) found the stages hard work but enjoyable. Andrew and Reg Irving (Peugeot 205) were out for the first time in their re-shelled car since their roll on the Malcolm Wilson Rally, the car was looking very smart in its new paint job, it’s a pity that another competitor reversed into the front of them as he recovered from an over shoot, they didn’t loose much time with this incident but they were slowed all day with a misfire.
Seven ANECCC crews retired from the Pendragon Stages, Mark I/Anson/Alex Cooper (Mitsubishi Evo 
where on their first tarmac rally since the 2004 Ulster Rally where they had a large accident, but they retired in stage 1 after clipping a rock and bending the front suspension. Peter Thornton/Gary Tomlinson (Subaru Impreza) broke a rear driveshaft on stage 1 so had to do stage 2 in front wheel drive, they then took a fence out on stage 6, but appeared into 2nd service on the back of a trailer, reason unknown. Kev Dunn/Fiona Douglas were inside the top 30 and leading the 1400cc class at 1st service but they retired with gearbox failure. Geoff Harkness/Caroline Lodge (Vauxhall Corsa) were having a clean steady run until the last stage when they clipped a kerb and broke the front suspension. Neil Ayre/Kevin Garthwaite (Mitsubishi Evo6) reported the clutch was starting to slip at 1st service, then they retired at 2nd service when it gave up altogether. Andrew Benn/Mark Fisher (Vauxhall Astra) were going well early on despite some hard contact with bales, they dropped back with a maximum on stage 7, and retired after hitting a bank on stage 13.
These results have had little effect on the overall points standings but with the next two rounds being on the tarmac of Otterburn expect the flying 1600s of Barry Lindsay and Peter Gibson to move up in the standings, the current championship standings are as follows:-
Drivers: - Richard Cook 93 points, Charlie Taylor 53, William Jarman 45 points, points, Barry Lindsay 43 points and Geoff Wilson 42 points.
Co-Drivers: - Edwin Cook 91 points, Steve Bielby 57 points, Mark Fisher and Sean O’Neill tied on 48 points, Giles Dykes 44 points.
It is now back to Otterburn, following a 1 year absence from the ranges, Tynemouth and District Motor Club are proud to announce the return of the E.W. Motor Services Lindisfarne Rally! The event will be running on 13th September 2009. The route will consist of approximately 10 special stages, with stage miles totalling around 100 for £295, Regulations are available at www.tynemouthmotorclub.co.uk.
Then on the 25th October it is again back to Otterburn for the 3rd and final time this year for the Keith Knox Rally, regs will be available early September on the rally website www.cheviotstages.co.uk
Following a suggestion from SG Petch ANECCC competitor Kev Monaghan that many competitors only see each other at events and it would be good to have an evening get together. So after some discussions a very successful evening was hosted at Whickham Motor Club with over 70 competitors, officials and marshals from 7 different clubs attending. Because of its success it is planned to hold more of these informal get togethers, the next one is on the 14th September, the day after the Lindisfarne Rally, at Tynemouth Motor Club at Billy Mill Lane, North Shields, NE29 8LP, and food will be supplied. So if you fancy an informal social evening with follow competitors you are all welcome.
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: September 11th, 2009