Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship and HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge - News round-up after event five: Mid Wales Stages

Round five of both series, the Mid Wales Stages over the weekend of 25/26 June comprised 55 stage miles mainly in the Hafren and Sweet Lamb region, with the final two stages in the Sarnau and Ceri forests. As ever, the organisation was excellent and the reception from Newtown & DAC was professional and friendly.A remarkable third overall in post-historics has put Ken Forster and John Stanger-Leathes into third in the BHRC points after five events in their C2 Escort Mexico! "There's a long way to go and of course points to drop after seven events but, nevertheless, we're enjoying the situation for as long as it lasts!" says Forster. They have been rallying a Mexico for four years now, and have competed on every round of the HRCR championship since 2001. Having rolled his Escort on the Mutiny, Ralph Abel has taken a temporary break from the Classics while that car is fixed. Meantime, he'll keep his hand in by running a demon Millington-powered Mk2 from the Lepley stable on selected rallies.Graham Samuel/Tony Phillips were forced out on Saturday when a heavy landing in Sweet Lamb threw the oil pump belt off their Escort Mk1. Despite the crew's effort to fix the problem, they were out of the event on the second stage. "My fault for trying too hard," accepted Samuel.Classic crew Richard Perry and Clive Townend had two punctures on their Talbot Sunbeam; both on the same corner in Hafren North! Perry reckoned he'd not had a puncture before in eight years of rallying.While co-driving his son Matthew to another class B2 win in his Mini Cooper, Dood Pearce marked 30 years of rallying in Hafren. Dood first tackled the Welsh forest on the 1975 Welsh International, co-driving in a Lada!David Stokes has pledged to bounce back from his first non-finish of the year with another attack on the Isle of Man. His Escort is scheduled for engine and axle work before round six.If current plans are confirmed, there should be another convert from racing joining the BHRC on the Manx. No names yet, but all should be revealed soon. If it happens, he's a top bloke who will fit in historic rallying very well!Bill Robertson, co-driver in John Worthing's C2 Escort, reckoned the Mid Wales was his fourth visit to the Hafren and Sweet Lamb stages this season.Having won the Mid Wales on his birthday a year ago, Den Golding won it again this year, alongside Jeremy Easson, the day ahead of his birthday. Den was too shy to confirm exactly which birthday it was, although Easson's claim that it was 73 did seem a little high.Quotes of the weekend"What's this ski slope all about?" Patrick Watts hears about the steep downhill section in Ceri for the first time."We're a bit dizzy at the moment but making the most of our current championship position!" Ken Forster reflects on being third overall in the BHRC points in his 1600cc Escort Mexico."It's still a big handful on gravel." Andrew Street prepares to get more gravel experience of his new Porsche 911."We were asleep on the first stage." Gareth Lloyd ponders his time on the first Hafren stage on Saturday afternoon."That's never been known before." John Parker reflects on losing a wheel from his Saab 96."We're trying, safely!" David Stokes' view on taking a 10s lead over the opening two stages."I don't think I've ever driven as hard on a rally." Class B4 winner Neil Calvert."I was about to give him a slap." Calvert's co-driver and partner Arlene Cookson after the Cortina slid onto its side in a ditch on the last stage. Fortunately for Neil, it drove out of the ditch without losing the class lead.PointsProvisional BHRC overall driver points after five rounds:1 Steven Smith 1452 Ken Forster 1273 Dessie Nutt 1214 David Stokes 1195 Jeremy Easson  1156 Patrick Watts 1117 Matthew Pearce 1098 Graham Wilson 969 Ian Drummond 8810 John Worthing 85Provisional HRCR Classic overall driver points after five rounds:1 Martin Freestone 1332 Gareth Lloyd 1153 Mark Clifford 1074 Stephen Hall 715 Dick Slaughter 706 Ian Rix  697 Bryan Gill  408 Paul Morris  359 Stuart Clarke 3310 Ian Arden  32Championship DVDIssue 1 of the championship DVD covering the Robin Hood and the Astra was on sale at the Mid Wales and was playing on a TV at signing on. Issue 2, covering the Welsh and the Mutiny is now available from Hummingbird Productions, so please give them a call on to arrange an order.

Copies are £20 plus £2 P&P from Hummingbird on 01522 853587 or e-mail to: hummingbirdproduction@yahoo.co.uk