Rally Championship and HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge

News round-up after event eight: Trackrod Historic CupWelcome to the post-event news and gossip update for the 2006 Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship and HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge.Round eight of both series, the Trackrod Historic Cup was a popular event, with the 18-miler in Dalby marking the longest stage of the season. As ever, the historic cars were a hit with the many fans out in the forests.NewsThe overall BHRC title will now be resolved on the Somerset Stages, with Patrick Watts/Elgan Davies and Steven Smith/John Nichols going head to head. With one score now dropped, Watts leads by seven points, but Smith has a lower score to drop on the final round. If they both score maximum points, which is pretty likely, Smith/Nichols will retain their title by two points. However, any other result will have us all reaching for the calculators!One of the best performances of the day came from Jason Lepley and Howard Pridmore in their Classic category Escort. Unfortunately, their category lead at service vanished in the afternoon when an engine mounting broke in Cropton. But they certainly served notice of their intention to be major championship contenders in 2007.Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes are almost there in the C2 title race and have elected to miss Somerset to get the car ready for the Roger Albert Clark Rally. However, if Vince Bristow/Dean Mitchell go to Somerset and if they win post-historic overall, they would nick the class title. "So we wish Steven Smith and David Stokes a good finish in Somerset," joked Ken. "But bearing in mind we finished third overall last year, we have stopped counting our chickens for now!"Chris Nixon was airlifted to hospital in Scarborough after his off in Langdale, but the news on Monday was positive. He was due to be discharged mid-week, with a cracked sternum. Apparently spirits are good and he is undeterred, even if the car has taken a bit of a beating. We wish him a swift recovery and hope to see him out again in 2007.

Ian Drummond and Tom Ward were one of the first retirements when they rolled their Escort early in High Moor, the first stage of the rally. "We went wide on a long open left, clipped something and rolled a couple of times," explained Drummond. "It's mostly panel damage and when we were pulled out, we drove back to service and the car drove OK. Canada Garage Motorsport has started repairs, but that’s it for this year!"Neil Parsons had a novel way of cleaning his windscreen after a mud splash in Dalby and a very bright low sun and no screen washers. He squirted water from his drinks bottle over the screen until a passing bush claimed the bottle.Joanne Oakey, co-driver to Martin Freestone in Classics, is part of a group of rally females who have put a 2007 charity calendar to raise money for Wales Air Ambulance. It is the brainchild of Nicola Parker who had a serious accident on the 2005 Cambrian and was rescued by WAA. "I want to raise awareness of the calendar and ultimately funds for the WAA," says Joanne. "After the humiliation of doing the calendar it would be nice to see some being sold!" More details at www.gravelgirls.co.ukJohn Worthing and Bill Robertson were gutted to retire their Escort on the opening stage when a screw fell out of the ignition. "The most disappointed end to a rally I can remember feeling," said John. "Even more gutting because we love those stages and we were full of confidence that we could force Ken and John to go to Somerset and take it right to the wire. Bill insists the Meldrew Motorsport stickers come off as they have brought us no luck!"Right, I accept no responsibility for this and the following information is entirely unofficial. However, by my reckoning, these are the classes that are now settled:B2 won by Clive KingB4 won by Neil Calvert/Michelle CalvertB5 won by Patrick Watts/Elgan DaviesC3 won by Martin KennyC5 won by David Stokes/Guy WeaverD5 won by Gareth Lloyd/Ryland JamesIf my calculations are correct, congratulations all round!Class B1 is all to play for in Somerset, with the Saabs of John Parker/Robert Harrison and Nick Pinkett split by just four points. Although Harrison is secure as champion B1 co-driver, the drivers will sort it out in Minehead. No wonder John and Robert are making the long trip south for the event!Quotes of the rally"We're missing Geraldine!" Elgan Davies notes the fact that Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride were in New Zealand and not in Pickering among the historic front-runners."The season I've had I couldn't finish a packet of crisps let alone a rally." Sadly, Mike Barratt retired two stages later to make it six retirements in eight rallies this season. "We threw it into the bushes in Langdale, but it came back. Just about…" James Valentine had a big moment in his Saab."I'm not doing anything stupid for a change." Fellow Saab driver Robert Parker had it under control this time."Second is not an option." Steven Smith knew he had to win to keep the title contest open against Patrick Watts."We spent 90 seconds up a fire-break in Dalby. I'm absolutely amazed we got out!" Russell Morgan had a bit of help from some willing spectators."On the first page of notes for every stage, we've got 'neat and tidy'." Ken Forster and John Stanger-Leathes had a game plan, and it worked."How's your chest, Michelle?" Forster again, this time concerned about TV presenter Michelle who was rapidly losing her voice thanks to a bug. "The last time we went off at that speed we destroyed a car!" Tim Mason had a big spin in Dalby in his new Porsche, but the Yorkshire forests were move forgiving than Epynt."I've been nagging him not to back off on the long straights!" Debby Myers keeps husband Hugh pushing on in Dalby."There's more power in a Morris 1000 than there is in this thing." Martin Freestone bemoans a failing alternator on his Escort Mk2."I didn’t knowingly hit anything! Fairly uneventful for us." Alison Lock summarises her rally."I tend to break the cars, so to get round is an achievement." Philip Senior is pleased with his day's work."That was the grumpy old git to my left." Steven Smith gives credit for their Trackrod game plan to co-driver John Nichols."He said 'we've got a fire' so I said 'switch something off'." David Stokes and Guy Weaver had a dashboard fire leaving the start! "He's very good without a trip," Stokes added about his co-driver."It’s nice to have long straights. It's all bends where we're from!" Welshman Aled Williams enjoyed his first trip to Yorkshire."He hasn’t frightened me too much." Hilary Green finishes her first event alongside son Lawrence.PointsProvisional BHRC overall driver points after eight rounds:1 Patrick Watts  2072 Steven Smith  2003 Neil Calvert            1874 David Stokes            1615 Dessie Nutt            1516 Philip Atkinson            1457 Clive King               1378 Ken Forster            1329 Paul Mankin            11610 Sean Lockyear            114Note: the totals shown include one dropped score where appropriate.Provisional HRCR Classic overall driver points after eight rounds:1 Gareth Lloyd   2172 Arwel Evans 1623 Mark Clifford            1454 Richard Lane   1245 Chris Shooter             1056 Dick Slaughter            937 Charlie Taylor  798 Martin Freestone            759 James Potter  6610 Ian Rix                   57Note: the totals shown include one dropped score where appropriate.Championship DVDHummingbird Productions is again filming all rounds of the 2006 championship to compile unrivalled reports of the events. The best way to order is to visit www.justrallying.co.uk and order on-line. More details are available from Hummingbird on 01522 853587 or e-mail to: hummingbirdproduction@yahoo.co.uk