Competition Roundup

Since competing in the Abingdon Motorsport Carnival in June, Roger Binyon, and Catherine Phillipson have not been involved too much of late, apart from entering many events, only to pull out at the last minute due to business commitments.

A recent trip down to Avon park with fellow SCC team the ''two Colins '' saw them fall of the road, drop down into some trees and then arrive back on the circuit to end up 6th overall, 3rd in class.

The next outing for the ex taxi Montego was a planned trip the to Croft Rallycross Circuit, on the 19th of October. This was the first outing for the car this season, with the intention of getting through to the finals, if the trailer made to the circuit first of all that is! (Report to follow?)

A reunion trip to Snetterton for some night time stages in early November is always looked forward to in the Dam 4100, along with a planned trip to Longcross in early December. If they supply the noise marshal with some extra cotton wool for his sound level meter, or offer to take the local residents out for a nice Sunday pub lunch on the river in Chertsey they may get to start. A change of car to a newer evolution model of Dam 4100 is planned over the winter months, with a planned attack on a couple of championships for the 99 season, and hopefully actually doing an event around about next October or thereabouts!

Graham Davey, recently took part in an inter-company karting challenge at Buckmore Park. Although Graham’s team took 1st and 2nd places in the heats, they lost out on overall victory on points.

John Blaber reports that his new shell was due back this month. The build will begin as soon as the paint job is completed.

Justin Northgate, hasn’t competed since the Rally of Wales, but is currently investigating the British Rally Championship for 1999.

Hefin Harries, took part in the Silverstone Rallysprint and came 3rd overall. More recently he has spent 2 weeks being filmed in his N3 Vauxhall Astra for the drama series Peak Practice. Filming for Carlton TV took place in Chatsworth and Crich. The episode will be screened during the first week of January when you can see his car (a replica that is) being blow up!

Mark Shoosmith and Chris Morford contested both the Tamar Stages and the Kent Forestry on successive weekends. Mark has also recently purchased a Group A Mazda 323.

Paul Smith has been out in an official capacity on both the Manx and the Trackrod.

Longcross, the tarmac rally venue at Chertsey is earmarked for sale and redevelopment.

Tony Jardine rolled his RAC Insurance Direct backed Escort Cosworth on the recent Lotto Bianchi Rally in Belgium, whilst lying inside the top 20. The car and its spares package are now up for sale, but he and co-driver Des Kelly of the Daily Mirror, plan to contest the RAC Rally.

Dick Slaughter was out on the Kent Rally, chasing David Higgins for overall honours. The battle lasted until stage 8, when the engine in Dick’s Escort cried enough! He has also been out on the Trackrod with co-driver Geoff Dearing. The Trackrod was the first event for some time not on pace notes, which pleased co-driver Geoff. 1:25000 maps were provided by the organisers and the flow of information to Dick was nearly as good as using notes. Olivers Mount was great fun, but was a bit spoiled by a lack of bottom gear. (The gear lever bush had split and unless very careful - you should try being careful when handbraking round the hairpin - it was easy to find a false neutral). They were lying a comfortable 1st in class and 21st overall when they suffered a puncture in Langdale. With over 13 miles still to go, they had to stop and change it, dropping to a final position of 5th in class.

James Potter was yet another Southern Car Club member tackling the Kent, setting the fastest time on stage 4 before coming home 9th overall.

Sue Orchard and Graham Morris continue their challenge on the Belgian International Rally Championship and have now contested 6 out of 8 rounds.

The two latest events were the Tour of Flanders (based in Roesslare) on September 12th - 13th and the Lotto Bianchi Rally (based in Charleroi) on October 3rd - 4th.

For the Tour of Flanders, only one day’s recce was possible due to business commitments. They still managed to get round the stages at least twice. The only stage they could not recce was the ‘Zoning’ stage, which went through an industrial estate and took them the wrong way round the roundabouts etc. Because of this the organisers declared the first run through the stage during the rally as non-competitive so that crews could check things out properly.

There were 26 crews in the N1 class and a total of 8 lady drivers in the total entry of 120. Despite the appalling weather, (which included driving one stage in a hailstorm), Sue and co-driving husband Graham enjoyed a cracking run which saw them finish 5th in class and 44th overall, with sue as top lady driver.

Work commitments meant that Graham could not take his normal seat for the Lotto Bianchi Rally, so Christine Daniels stepped into the hot seat.

The rally was held over 2 days and at the end of the first evening Sue and Christine were lying 4th in class and 33rd overall. On the second day disaster struck on the run out to the first stage! The car suddenly stopped. Unable to rectify the problem in the 15 minutes lateness allowed they went OTL. It later turned out that it was an alternator problem.

Despite the non-finish Sue was now lying 3rd in class in the Championship, one point behind the second placed crew and just 3 points behind the leaders. With a class victory within their grasp Sue and Graham entered the Condroz Rally on the 23rd-24th October.

The Condroz proved to be very frustrating. There were a total of 150 cars entered, with no fewer than 23 in their class. With the weather as bad in Belgium as it was in the U.K. the car drowned out when they were lying 8th in class, losing them five minutes. Having managed to get the car going they suffered a clutch failure halfway through the second leg. Full report in next month’s Windscreen.

Ellya Gold and Ian Harden - Team Spirit Rally Sport News

The Cambrian stages were a non-starter, due to the house move and rally dates clashing. Ian still made it however, with a drive in a Sapphire Cosworth. Although they only made it as far a stage 9, it was valuable experience and he didn't revisit his breakfast! (Tom Cruise will be playing Ian in his movie sequel called 'Days of Chunder')

Bertie is still a little sick after Wales, 3rd gear still won't stay in. Once examined I'm sure we'll find a spring and ball bearing stuck to the magnet at the bottom of the box!

The 106 crew are preparing their car for their first forest event. Anyone out there got a sump guard for a 106 Rallye?

Team headquarters has now moved from Worthing to Burgess Hill.

OUR NEXT RALLIES

The 309 Crew

Grizedale Forest Stages, 7th December 1998

Our first trip to 'Grizzly' Grizdale in Cumbria. Cumbria is where I grew up, so this is home from home for me. I am rally looking forward to this event, I just hope we emerge at the end of each stage in one piece (and not one big flat piece!).

The 106 Crew

Longcross maybe?

Vanessa and Ian are hoping to get the car prepared for next ACSMC outing at Longcross in Surrey. Ian will also be taking the wheel for the next ACSMC event at Goodwood as Vanessa is off doing horsey things that weekend.

Tony Straker/Brian Hugh contested the Spotted Dick and Custard stages at Goodwood. The revamped facilities now include covered scrutineering, offices for signing on and the use of covered garages for competing crews. They took the Austin Healy Sprite to a class win.

David Jenkins is busy restoring his Austin Healey Sprite. which he hopes to sprint next year.

12 Car Rallies

As the nights draw in, it signals the start of the 1998/9 12 Car Series organised by Weald motor Club and promoted by our friends at Croydon and district and Sevenoaks and District Motor Clubs.

For those of you who have not competed on these events before, they start at around 8 pm and finish about 2 hours later. This is usually at a suitable hostelry, where the results are worked out and tales of mishaps recounted over a glass or two.

Typically the navigation is straightforward with novices and rusty experts in mind. If you need help the organisers or Robert Pike (01233 713076) will be pleased to help.

The regulations, with entry forms, will be available soon at club nights, or give Robert a ring and he will make sure you are sent a set.

Generally speaking the Sevenoaks’ events startr in the Otford area on Ordnance Survey map 188, whilst the Croydon events start in the Godstone area on map 187. The rallies take in some 50 miles of public roads timed at an average speed of 30 m.p.h. Standard or modified cars can compete as the emphasis is in keeping to the correct route. If you want to join the three Southern Car Club crews already planning to take part let Robert Pike know as soon as possible.