Northern Stage Rally Championship

Bulletin 10 – November 2007

Now then Guys & Gals…. (Oh dear that sounds a bit like Jimmy Saville!)… there are now just two rounds remaining following the recent Malton Forest Rally. The event was based at Pickering Showground, with stages there and in the Dalby, Gale Rigg and Cropton forests and attracted a healthy number of contenders – twenty two. Top points score went to navigator Richard Burdon with 103 points for winning class 2 but not far behind were the East Yorkshire pairing of Chris Peart and Gordon Blyth with yet another 100+ score for 3rd in the 2-litre class – 101 in fact. Next up were Alan Richardson & Chris Roe (95), second in the upto 1400cc class.

So, Chris Peart now leads the Overall Driver’s Championship with 630 points ahead of Brett Mitton (581) and Alistair Hutchinson (527). Things must be getting serious as Alistair, usually a tarmac specialist, has ventured out into the woods on the last 2 forest rounds. Unfortunately luck has not been with him and he has had two retirements. In theory, as well as the leading three, the overall driver’s Championship can still also be taken by John Deegan, Garry Salmon, Gareth Frank or Graham Haigh so there is going to be no easy stroll to the end for anyone. It’s a similar story in the Navigator’s Championship. Gordon Blyth leads on 630 from St John Dykes (586) and Chris Smith (473).  In addition, Steve Dargan & John Birkitt are all capable of winning.

In the Forest Challenge, Chris & Gordon cannot now be caught so it all depends on whether they hold onto their overall Championship lead. If they don’t then they will be Forest Challenge winners, but if they do then Graham Haigh and John Birkitt will be Forest winners as they also can’t be caught on the remaining round. The classes are a mixed bag. Class 1 is still very open with three crews still in contention – it will be a fight between the ladies (Sian Beaty / Julianne Antrobus & Amanda Cornforth) and the gents (Derek Cornforth and Alan Richardson / Chris Roe) – should be interesting! Class 2 has some possibilities for navigators but the lead driver, Jonathan Bean, cannot be caught. Class 3 will go to Graham & John if they don’t take the outright Forest Challenge, otherwise it’s still undecided. Class 4 also goes to the wire for the drivers with Keith Turner and Dave Craven both potential winners. Steve Ward though has secured class 4 for the Navigators.

The Neil Howard Memorial Rally at Melbourne this weekend is the final Multi-Use event of the year. As well as having a large bearing on the destination of the Overall Championship it will be a showdown for the Multi-Use Challenge with 4 drivers (Brett, Alistair, John Deegan & Garry Salmon) all capable of taking the spoils. Three navigators are fighting it out too – St John , Chris Smith and Steve Dargan all in with a shout.

Good luck to all of you – let’s hope it’s settled on event positions and not retirements!

Next Events

Neil Howard Memorial Stages Rally, Sunday 25th November  www.bolton-le-moorscarclub.co.uk

55 mixed surface stage miles at Melbourne, York for £180. Event contact is Ian Perrott, 01204 885537

Grizedale Stages Rally, Saturday 8th December  www.grizedalestages.co.uk

The final round of this year’s Championship is based in Coniston and offers 41 forest stage miles in Grizedale West and Broughton Moor Forests . There is a tiered entry fee system this year set at £325 for 2WD 1600cc or below, £350 for 2WD above 1600cc, £375 for 4WD cars and £400 for WRC cars. Event contact is Andrew Moore, 01946 758189.

2008 Championship

I am very close to being able to announce the calendar for next year – hopefully later this week – so keep an eye on the website and your e-mail inbox for details. The format will remain the same although there are a few event changes forced by the loss of Swinderby and being able to get a good fit of dates and venues. What I can say is that the first round will once again be the Jack Frost Stages at Croft on 13th January. Regs are already out on the event website so don’t hang around. Please see www.darlington-motor-club.org.uk

Good luck this weekend to all contenders out at Melbourne .

Mike

This site is published and maintained by Steve Smith on behalf of the Association of Northern Car Clubs.