Northern Stage Rally Championship

Bulletin 2 – March 2007

Here’s a quick update on progress in this year’s Championship. First of all, welcome to the Championship to those that have recently signed up. We now have passed the 100 contenders milestone.

But before I say more on this year’s championship I’d just like to say thank you to all of you that came along  to the awards presentation for last year’s championship. It was an enjoyable night and it was good to meet up with many of you.

Now back to the 2007 season…. Since the last bulletin we’ve had the North West Stages and the first Forest event – the Robin Hood Forest Stages. First came the hectic NWS based in Blackpool with 22 stages in a day, attracting 21 contenders. It proved to be too much of a challenge for many crews but for some contenders it was a chance to shine. Top of the pile were Alistair Hutchinson & St John Giles who picked up a superb haul of 116 points for their class winning performance in their Renault Clio, which despite some reports, does not run on diesel, but on LPG. Next up were Kevin Jeffray & Joe Parsons, (Subaru Impreza) and Paul Slingsby / Howard Turner (Escort Mk I) all collecting 101 points.

Last weekend’s Robin Hood Forest Stages attracted 16 contenders to the Nottinghamshire forests. There were class wins for Chris Peart / Gordon Blyth (Proton Satria Kit Car) and Dom Mernock (Vauxhall Nova) but Chris & Gordon picked up the top score due to there being a larger number of starters in the 1600cc class. If you enjoyed the stages on the RH you get another chance to play in them on the Dukeries Rally in June.

Next Events

Wold Construction North Humberside Forest Rally, Saturday 31^st March – www.northhumbersideforestrally.org.uk

The second forest round takes place in the North Yorkshire forests but in a change from previous years the event will be based in Whitby , not Hull , to cut down on road mileage.

Legend Electric SMC Stages, Sunday 1^st April – www.smcstages.co.uk

The next tarmacadam / multi-use event takes place at Weeton camp near Blackpool . Again, you should already have regs – if not, be quick! There will be 12 stages covering approximately 50 miles on a mixture of quick and twisty roads. Event contact is Mark Wilkinson,  0161 432 3490.

Nunns Mitsubishi Bloodhound Stages, Sunday 29^th April – http://website.lineone.net/~lincolnmotorsport

Regs are now out for this multi-use / tarmacadam event at ex RAF Swinderby, between Lincoln & Newark . There will be 65 stage miles for £170. Event contact is John Popplewell, 07836 314266, john@johnpop1.wanadoo.co.uk  

Best of luck on what will hopefully prove to be a busy and enjoyable weekend for the North Humberside and SMC Stages.

Mike