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Northern Stage Rally Championship
Bulletin
5 – April 2004
I
hope that you all enjoyed the North Humberside event as much as I did.
It’s been a few years since I was out in the classic North Yorkshire
stages (with the exception of 5 miles of Dalby on last year’s Kall
Kwik) and it was great to get back into Langdale, Staindale, Dalby, Gale
Rigg & Cropton. My only disappointment was that I thought that the
long Langdale stage was spoiled by the rough chicanes – I know why
they’re required but I dread to think what it was like for the last
car as we got there before a WRC had left Hull! We had an eventful day
that included setting the brakes on fire at the end of Langdale –
it’s amazing how fast you can move when one of your chase car guys
says “pass me the extinguisher by your seat”! The following
Staindale stage was even more eventful with no brakes – but we
weren’t the slowest! The loss of second gear on the last stage did not
slow us unduly and we still caught the car in front to round off a good
day. One problem with the 1400’s running at the front was that I got
to see very few of you on the day. The
guys in the 2-litre class dominated the event in terms of high scores
– Nick Dobson / Jamie Forrest were top scorers with 113 points for
their 4th from 34 starters in the amalgamated 2-litre class, one place
ahead of Nigel & Colin Barber who in turn were a place ahead of
Chris Peart / Gordon Blyth. This was sufficient though to take Chris
& Gordon to the head of the overall and MV tables, with Alex Taylor
and Dave Hammond in second and Richard Wormald and Chris Smith in third
overall, despite Chris (and driver John Deegan) having a rotten run of
luck. They are the only crew to have started all 5 rounds to date but
after a great start at Croft they have failed to finish the last four
events – keep going, your luck will change eventually. John &
Chris still lead class 1 but watch out – Andy Hird and I are chasing
you! Bob Marshall & Richard Hage lead class 2, Chris & Gordon
head class 3 whilst Alex Taylor and Steve Ward lead class 4. With
the next two events being single venues then we could see some changes
as different crews come out to play… Next Events Bloodhound
Stages – 2nd May
www.lincolnmotorsport.co.uk This
event is the second round of the SV Challenge and runs at Swinderby,
between Newark and Lincoln. The event will have full use of the
Swinderby venue and offers 6 stages and 70 miles approx. on sealed
surfaces - either tarmac or concrete perimeter tracks. Scrutineering can
either be Saturday night or Sunday morning. Entry fee is
£160. You should have received regs by now – if not contact
Derek Arliss, 01472 824541. Proflex Stages – 29th May The
third SV round of the Championship takes place on tarmac stages at the
Leyland Test Track in Lancashire. Regs should be with you shortly. Event
Contact is Jill Foster, 01254
872935 Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally – 19th June
www.dukeries-rally.co.uk The
event will again based at the Civic Centre in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
On offer are 45 stage miles in the Sherwood Forest area. The website
will carry all the pre-event information such as supplementary
regulations, entry list, spectator information and marshalling
information. Event contact is Marie Dobson 01427 753592 Miscellaneous Matt Tarbutt requires a navigator for the Proflex
Stages in his 1300cc Nova. Matt was 2nd in class on the
recent NW Stages on his first time out in the car. Contact Matt directly
if you’re interested or know someone who is (they don’t have to be
registered for the Championship but Matt will encourage them to do so to
repay this favour!) – his number is 01484 305862 or Mobile 07789
455233. |