Beverley & District Motor Club

This was our first outing on the ANCC road rally championship, and even though Andy and Danny were actually competing, myself and Tim had decided to Marshal due to the fact that a suitable vehicle has not yet been sorted out to contest. Even though marshalling on an event is not a requirement for the championship, 20 points are on offer if you do - so we would probably get more points to marshal than we would actually competing.

Andy and Danny’s first hurdle had been overcome by actually getting to the start, due to the fact that because of distributor problems, the car would not even run on the Wednesday and Thursday before.

The start was at Washington, West of Lincoln. The turnout appeared to be good with some 42 starters. Gav Smith and Mike Ogram were, as usual, last through scrutineering. With everybody through okay, only being picked up on minor problems (Putting tape across fog lights and sunroofs seemed to be the order of the night), everything was in place for a good nights rallying.

Yet again Alistair Crosby and Jason Turner from Selby DMC were out in their old ‘X’ reg blue and silver Fiesta, this apparently being the cars 25th outing. These were the two who turned up for Beaver late, after noise check had finished, because they had been to their works Christmas party before they came. The car was now sporting a few creased panels due to an excursion into a ditch,(it could happen to anyone! - Ed.) unfortunately done on his way to work, not on a rally!

We had some time to kill before our first control, so we set off for an early spectator point, where the first car was due at 12.15. The point was on a crossroads on the B1202, south of Lincoln, where the route was to take a left off the main road. Mike and Oggy came through in surprisingly steady style, whereas Andy appeared to get a little frustrated with car 37 (another Mk1 Escort) which appeared to be a little lost and had stopped just before the junction, which resulted in Andy doing a standing start, sideways overtaking manoeuvre, ending in half a spin! - I don’t think anybody can slow this boy down! A code board was positioned a short distance away from this junction. This board was overshot by one crew in a Mini, who instead of reversing back, used the alternative method of two handbrake turns to get into a position to read it!

Our first control was TC25, located east of Lincoln, near Horsington on the B1190. Getting to this point, we passed through about four controls. The format of the event appearing to be that the route was off the main roads, but back to the main road for the control. Our opening time was 01.58 and due to close at 03.38. This was a fairly interesting spot being able to see headlights from some distance away and being able to see some crews heading along the wrong road, especially one crew, who could be seen heading down a ‘white’ - a very wet one if the sound of splashing water was anything to go by! They then attempted to WD our control, turning round at the last minute and driving off, never to be seen again. One of the crews in the Historics also drove through in the wrong direction in a Saab 96, not bothering to stop or turn around, just carrying on heading in the wrong direction! Gav and Oggy came through, still running a bit late and Andy and Danny coming through at about the right time. By this time, the weather was alternating between rain and hail, not that this bothered me sat in the car filling out the check sheet, but Tim did look a little wet stood outside! (doesn’t he always? - Ed.)

We then moved on to our second control of the night, TC44, located north of Lincoln, near Newton By Toft, due to open at 05.15 and close at 06.56. This was on a straight bit of country road, just before a ‘T’ junction, with the cars heading from the North and turning right. This time we had a change of roles with Tim sat in the warmth of the car, drying out. The rain and hail had now stopped, but the freeze had set in, this being confirmed by most of the crews coming through commenting on how slippery the roads were. Gav and Oggy came through, obviously being consistent by still running a little late. Andy and Danny coming into a control is obvious from some distance away, that car was certainly one of the louder ones out, but still going strong, albeit a bit late now. Quite a few of the novice and historic crews were now getting towards being OTL, but with not far to go, I’m sure most would have made it. Interestingly, the crew in the Cavalier who had attempted to WD our last control after coming down the white and the crew in the Saab 96, both came through this control!

With it having been a long cold night and the fact that breakfast was 1 1/2 hours old now and in totally the wrong direction, we decided to head off back home once the course closing car had been through. We had our first 20 points in the championship without even competing, which actually means we are ahead of Andy and Danny who finished 32nd overall and 2nd in class. Gav and Oggy finished 4th overall.

From Andy and Danny’s description, the navigation was quite tough - in fact they swear that they are not going to do this event again! (I think I’ve said that after nearly every event I’ve done as well)

Watch this space and I will attempt to review each of the rounds of the championship that we do, even though the next event we think we are doing, the Rhymoor. This is not even a round of the championship, but it appears to be a fairly cheap entry fee and we need the practice - we have only done two 12 cars this year, and the last road rally was the Beaver!

As the plan goes, at best we will only just get enough rounds in to get eight scores, never mind our best eight scores. The events we plan to do are:

Danum (May), Three Swans (June), St Wilfrids (August), Rally of the Dams (September), Seven Dales (October), Cossack (November), finishing with the Beaver in December.

It’s nearly two months since I wrote the above article and things have turned out a little different to the plan already. Tim purchased a certain 309 Gti from Carl Briggs to do the events and 12 cars (he read the story about this car on the club web site after he had bought it!)

Due to a lack of funds and that Danny had a prior engagement on the night of the Rhymoor, Tim ended up navigating for Andy in the RS2000, finishing a very respectable 3rd overall! - needless to say, Danny and myself were a little embarrassed that our drivers seem to do better without us. Just to rub more salt into the wound was the fact that on the 12 car before Rhymoor, Tim and myself had come 1st overall and on the 12 car after Rhymoor, we had come last! - Can anybody teach me how to tie a noose!

An entry on Danum looks fairly uncertain now due to a lack of funds and the fact that Tim feels the car needs a bit of work before it is used in real anger.

This changes the championship plan a little now, as it looks as though we won’t put enough rounds in to get a full result. In fact, recent discussions have only got us doing St Wilfrids, Seven Dales, Cossack ? and Beaver, but only time will tell - watch this space and we’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, we’ll get some practice in with some South Bank 12 cars.

How about a ‘Drive Home Championship?’ - and do I get any points in the club championship for this mammoth piece of ....Oops, I’d better close now, the boss has just walked in and he thinks I’m doing his monthly sales figures!