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Bulletin – 05/10
For the fourth round of the 2010 SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship competitors headed across the border to Jedburgh for the start of the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally. Although this Scottish championship round starts in Scotland all the stages are south of the border in the vast Kielder forest complex. Competitors faced 5 stages including one of 14 miles and most competitors reported the stages in good condition if a little slippy.
For the 3rd time in four rounds the maximum SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship points went to second overall in the rally, after Richard Cook at the Jack Frost Stages, and Tony Thompson on the Riponion, it was the turn off Oban crew Shaun Sinclair/Chris Hamill (Mitsubishi Evo 9). After setting 3rd fastest time on the 1st stage they moved up to second on stage 2 where they stayed to the finish, where they finished with fastest on the final stage, to give them their best overall finish. This was after a scare on a shakedown run on Friday where they though they may have damaged a valve, but it turned out to be a £2 seal on the fuel pump.
Second place ANECCC points went to Richard and Edwin Cook (Subaru Impreza) this was despite the car getting stuck in 3rd gear on the longest stage, but some quick work in emergency service enabled them to get 5th as well for the last stage. Third place points went to Joanna Wickham/Paul Banks (Subaru Impreza) this was despite a lack of power on the long straights; this result moves Joanna up to 3rd overall in the drivers championship. Tony Thompson/Paul Hudson were competing on there 4th rally in 6 weeks in there Vauxhall Chevette HSR, their 5th rally is next week end when they compete in the 1st round of the British Historic Rally Championship, the Bulldog Rally. After stage 3 they though they had a rear axle problem but it just turned out to be buckled wheel which was replaced at service. Fifth place points went to 1st time ANECCC competitors David and Alison Crozier (Peugeot 205) from Cumbria.
Less fortunate were Mark I’Anson/Ron Roughead (Mitsubishi Evo 8), who retired on the first stage.
After four rounds the current points standings are:-
Drivers
Richard Cook 55 pts, Peter Thornton 25 pts, Joanna Wickham 23 pts, Charlie Taylor 22 pts, Tony Thompson 21 pts, and Shaun Sinclair 20 pts.
Co-drivers.
Edwin Cook 55 pts, Stephen Thompson 27 pts, Steve Bielby 25 pts, Paul Hudson 24 pts, and Fred Roberts and Chris Hamill 20 pts.
There will now 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 before 26th March, www.tourofhamsterley.co.uk or I will be in trouble with the Clerk of the Course.
It is then a switch to tarmac for the Jim Clark Reivers Rally on the 30th May, initial rally information is available on the Rally Guide which is available from www.jimclarkrally.com regulations will be available before the end of March.
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 Border Counties, Bulletins on: March 22nd, 2010
Bulletin – 03/10
The second round of the 2010 SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, moved from the tarmac of Croft Racing Circuit to the North Yorkshire forest for the Proctor’s Coaches supported Riponian Rally. Although the day was dry and bright the conditions on the ground were difficult, with a range of conditions on each stage with snow, ice and mud on most stages.
Finishing 2nd overall and taking maximum SG Petch ANECCC points were Tony Thompson/John Dunning (Mitsubishi Evo 9), Tony described the stages as interesting because of the variable conditions, and was pleased to hold of a late charge from ex-British champion Jonny Milner. Second place ANECCC points went to Jeff McNeil/Fred Roberts (Subaru Impreza) who like everyone else reported the stages were very slippy, but experience few problems. 3rd place points went to the highest placed historic finisher Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby (Ford Escort Mk II). With the historics running at the front of the field Charlie and Steve were 1st car on the road, and were enjoying the slippy conditions, a change of tyres improved grip on the second loop of stages, they pushed hard as they were not able to compare times with the other competitors, and they eventually won the historic class by just under 1 minute. Peter Thornton/Stephen Thompson (Subaru Impreza) were looking for a clean run as they were not wanting too much work to prepare the car for the Malcolm Wilson Rally in 3 weeks time, as it is 30 years since Peter made his debut on the Malcolm Wilson. They had their clean run but were slowed by a loose intercooler pipe on the first 2 stages, then the turbo was not boosting correctly later in the day.
5th placed SG Petch ANECCC registered competitors were Joanna and Guy Wickham (Subaru Impreza) who said they were a bit rusty early on as it has been some time since they were last out, but a clean run soon blew the rust away. The final SG Petch ANECCC registered competitors were Tony Thompson/Paul Hudson (Vauxhall Chevette HSR) who were using this event as a shakedown for their mammoth season were they are also competing in the British Historic, Northern Historic and Scottish Rally Championships. As with most competitors the said the stages were very slippy and variable which meant they had the right tyres for one stage but they were the wrong ones for the next, in the afternoon the stages were more consistent and the tyres worked well.
John Bainbridge/Giles Dykes (Subaru Impreza) had a very short rally with the driveshaft breaking on the start line of the first stage, they continued to the emergency service after three stages but the clutch was starting to slip so they retired. This was the official line from the team, but the real reason for their early retirement was that Giles could only do three stages as he had to go home to take his wife out. Damien Smith/Frazer Hutchinson (Ford Fiesta ST) were having their first outing in a left hand drive car and were experiencing difficulty in placing it correctly on the road, a good run finished on the 11th stage when they clipped a bridge parapet damaging the front suspension.
After two rounds the current points standings are:-
Drivers
Tony Thompson 21 pts, Richard Cook 20 pts, Chris Singer and Jeff McNeil 15 pts and Michael Glendinning and Charlie Taylor 12 pts.
Co-drivers.
Edwin Cook and Fred Roberts 20 pts, Katherine Singer and Steve Bielby 15 pts and Andrew Roughead and Stephen Thompson 12 pts.
For round 3 it is the turn of the Lake District forests with the Malcolm Wilson Rally on the 6th March, details and regs are now available on the rally website www.malcolmwilson.co.uk
Two weeks later, 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
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 Border Counties, Bulletins on: February 18th, 2010