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Bulletin – 07/11
After a seven week break the SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship competitors headed to Hamsterley Forest in Co Durham for the SG Petch Tour of Hamsterley Rally. After weeks of dry weather the risk of dust was overcome by heavy overnight rain on the Saturday evening, this made the early stages very slippy but the sun came out and dried them, leaving the later stages in perfect condition.
Scoring their third maximum score in three rallies were Richard and Edwin Cook (Subaru Impreza), at the main service of the day they were second overall despite an overshoot on a very tight and slippy hairpin on the 2nd stage. Despite a clean run through the afternoon stages they dropped to 3rd overall at the finish but were still the first SG Petch ANECCC crew home. Second place ANECCC driver was Mark I’Anson being co-driven by Alex Cooper in his Mitsubishi Evo 6, he finished 4th overall despite overshooting the same corner as Richard Cook on the second stage. Second placed ANECCC co-driver was Caroline Lodge who was competing in here 4th different car in four rallies, this week she was co-driving Pip Simpson (Subaru Impreza), finishing 6th overall. Third place SG Petch ANECCC points went to the historic specification Ford Escort of Charlie Taylor and Steve Bielby, as with most competitors they found the early stages very slippy, but loved them the second time through, with some major corner cutting and sideways driving they finished with large grins on their faces and the first historic car home.
Current champion Michael Glendenning was out in his Mk II Escort again being co-driven Jo Hind, they had a fraught day with spins and overshoots on nearly every stage, but still took 4th place SG Petch ANECCC points in 8th overall. In 9th overall were John Bainbridge/St John Dykes who hadn’t got their Subaru Impreza fixed after their roll on the Border Counties, so they hire a Subaru from local preparation expert John Pye. On the first loop of stages they were getting used to the car and had a tyre delaminate, having got used to the car they upped their pace on the second loop and were delighted with 9th overall at the finish. Another crew enjoying their local forest were Neil Ayre/Adam Bradford (Mitsubishi Evo 6) who had an enjoyable trouble free run to 11th overall and 6th place SG Petch ANECCC points.
Other SG Petch ANECCC Championship finishers were Alan Hughes/Mike Scrimgour (Ford Escort MkII), after their non start on the Border Counties due to engine problems they were pleased to make it to the finish with only an overshoot at the same hairpin bend that caught out many others. Colin Butler/Andrew Hutchinson (Subaru Impreza) took it steady on the first stage, particularly over the slippy grass covered section, but increased their pace throughout the day, and were pleased to reach the finish. Another Subaru crew that had an enjoyable event with a clean run were Joanna Wickham/Josh Davison. First 1600cc ANECCC crew home were Neil Rudd/Brian Hodgson in there historic specification Mk I Ford Escort. With the final ANECCC finishers being Adam and Ian Tomlinson in their 1400cc Ford Puma, who at the end declared the Tour of Hamsterley the best rally they had done. Making their return to the ANECCC championship after a number of years absence were the Vauxhall Nova crew of Gavin Spencer and Colin Tombs, but their rally didn’t last long with gearbox failure less than 2 miles into the 1st stage.
After Five round the current points standings are:-
Drivers
Richard Cook 60 pts, Michael Glendinning 46 pts, Charlie Taylor 42 pts, Joanna Wickham and John Bainbridge 27 pts and Barry Lindsay 24 pts.
Co-drivers.
Edwin Cook 60 pts, Steve Bielby 42 pts, St John Dykes 35 pts, Andrew Roughhead 33 pts, Caroline Lodge 28 pts and Josh Davison 26 pts
The championship returns to tarmac for the fist time since the Jack Frost Stages in January with two rallies in consecutive weekends. The first being the rescheduled
Stobart Rail Pendragon Stages on the 22nd May. The Pendragon is fully contained on Warcop Ranges the total mileage will be approx 55 miles in the form of 8 special stages on good macadam and concrete roads, with some short sections of well-compacted gravel all on private property. The public highway will not be used for link sections; therefore cars do not need to be taxed. Regs and on-line entry are available at www.rallies.info/webentry/2011/pendragon and late entries are still being taken.
The Pendragan is followed a week later with the only closed road rally in the championship, the Jim Clark Reivers Rally in the Scottish Borders on the 29th May. Full details are available on the rally website www.jimclarkrally.com
Because the Pendragon is on the same day as the reece for the Jim Clark Reivers Rally competitors will not be able to score points on both rallies and if they are planning to do both must state before the start of the Pendragon which rally they wish to have as their counting event.
After 3 rounds in four weeks there is then a six week break before the P&R Benn Greystoke Stages Rally on the 10th July. The rally offers 38 stage miles all inside Greystoke Forest for £295. Full details, regs and on-line entry are available on the rally website www.greystokestages.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, Tour of Hamsterley on: May 16th, 2011