Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship and HRCR Classic Stage Rally ChallengeNews round-up after event two: Astra Stages Historic Rally

Welcome to the second issue for 2006 of the post-event news and gossip update for the 2006 Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship and HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge.

Round two of both series, the Denbighshire Astra Stages Historic Rally was a short, sharp blast through Clocaenog and Aberhirnant, with the first cars back at the finish in Llangollen soon after 1.30pm.A fabulous 80-car field for the combined historic categories was easily the biggest element of the 170-car entry for the overall event.NewsSteven Smith and John Nichols opted to run their familiar Escort RS2000 on the Astra after running out of time to test their new Porsche 911 before the rally. XS Racing will now use the month gap before the next round to have the car ready for the Welsh Rally on Epynt.Another eagerly-awaited new car that should emerge on Epynt is Dominic Frattaroli's Datsun 240Z. One or two small issues kept them away from the Astra, but another month should get it ready for round three.Peter Egerton changed his Hyundai Accent WRC for a MK2 Escort for the Astra. Egerton ran the BDA-powered car in the Classic category and will also rally a Mk1 Escort in the BHRC this season. "I'm not quite used to this sort of car," admitted Egerton after a steady run to ninth in class.With his daughter Michelle away backpacking around Australia, Neil Calvert drafted partner Arlene Cookson back into the co-driver's seat of his Lotus Cortina for the Astra Stages and duly won class B4. Michelle will be back on the notes for the next event.The Tuthill Porsche squad was a mammoth seven cars in North Wales, and to get the cars there a great big artic was used to carry a lot of them. Competition to be the best of the 'Tuthill' class is getting ever more intense and Dessie Nutt took it this time, although Peter Lythell and Graham Wilson from post-historics were chasing hard.Rikki Proffitt made a welcome to rallying on the Astra, competing for the first time since a trip to hospital after rolling out of the Roger Albert Clark Rally in Kielder last November. Proffitt and Phil Harrison achieved their aim of a finish in the rebuilt Mk1 Escort and the poultry farmer will now tackle further BHRC rounds this season.In order to co-drive for Kevin Broadhurst, Gary Wood had a difficult journey to Llangollen on Friday. His road car expired on the M1, so that was towed away and he got a train to Shrewsbury followed by a taxi to Llangollen. His efforts were repaid by a finish, the first time since the 2003 Trackrod that Kevin had seen the finish of a rally.Of the 21 category 1 BHRC cars that started the Astra Stages, only one failed to finish. Right out of luck were Mike Barratt and Joanne Watson who suffered a burnt out clutch on their Mini Cooper S trying to get up the rutted track that led crews to the opening Alwen South stage. Understandably, Mike was pretty fed up with the day.Saab 96 crew Robert Parker and Robert Harrison nearly missed the event when their service van blew its head-gasket on the Chester by-pass on the way to scrutineering. However, fellow Saab runner Nick Pinkett sportingly took his van to Chester to collect the spares and both crews serviced from Pinkett's van on Saturday. Parker duly won the class, with Pinkett third!Quotes of the rally"We're looking out for mounds of earth!" Guy Weaver, co-driver to David Stokes, aims to avoid a repeat of their last stage drama on the Robin Hood. "What an entry!" Graham Wilson ponders the ever-growing opposition, notably in C4 Porsches!"We're back in the proper toy." Dessie Nutt reverts to his 'old faithful' category 1 Porsche 911 after trying out the post-historic car on the Robin Hood. "We've put Bushmills in this time instead of oil," adds Geraldine McBride of lubrication plans for the freshly rebuilt engine."I've done this event twice before, but I can't remember my own name let alone forests." James Potter reckons prior knowledge of the stages is no help whatsoever."The last time I was in Aberhirnant was 28 years ago." Adrian Seabridge returned to Wales and came away with a finish, despite a minor ditch moment after the last stage. "It's a definite maybe." Andrew Street ponders the possible arrival of his new Porsche 911 for Epynt."We're ready to do it all again now." Dessie Nutt gets to the finish, raring to continue."It's Safari conditions with huge puddles." James Stait gets the Midget to the finish after a tough day – his first BHRC finish for two years."Anything that could have happened, happened." Jonathan Gale confirms a troubled day."I've never worked so hard to go so slow." Gordon Cameron on keeping the Mini buzzing along."Bit like a girl's blouse for the first two stages." John Parker makes a steady start."One side of the bonnet came up in SS5 and I couldn't see round right-handers." Mark Solloway has a few scary moments in Penllyn."No excuse – driving like a wuss." Self-assessment from Martin Freestone."That's the first time I've been at the end of a rally at the same time as everyone else!" Kevin Broadhurst celebrates a long-overdue finish.PointsProvisional BHRC overall driver points after two rounds:1 Mark Solloway 612 Steven Smith 603 Patrick Watts 574 Philip Atkinson 54= Neil Calvert  546 David Stokes 497 Sean Lockyear 488 John Parker  43= Ernie Graham  4310 Russell Morgan  40Provisional HRCR Classic overall driver points after two rounds:1 Gareth Lloyd 622 James Potter 433 Dick Slaughter 404 Arwel Evans 385 Martin Freestone 346 Chris Shooter  337 Richard Lane  288 Dave Cobb  269 Stuart Clarke 2610 Mark Clifford 23= Martin Jones 23Championship DVDHummingbird Productions will again be filming all rounds of the 2006 championship to compile unrivalled reports of the events. Copies of the 2005 DVDs are still available and include the hilarious 'out-take' footage that was showing at the Robin Hood. The first of the 2006 editions will shortly be out and more details are available from Hummingbird on 01522 853587 or e-mail to: hummingbirdproduction@yahoo.co.uk