Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship

News round-up after event four: Mid Wales Historic Stages

Welcome to the latest issue for 2007 of the post-event news and gossip update for the Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship.

The Mid Wales Historic Stages was as popular as ever, with some great stages in classic territory. NewsJames Potter had his last rally of the year on the Mid Wales Stages as he is going to spend the rest of the year re-shelling his Ford Escort Mk2. The Kent driver plans to be back in the BHRC in 2008 with the fresh car.After ongoing engine problems, which had caused them to retire on the previous two BHRC events in their Pinto-engined Ford Escort Mk2, Chris White/Chris Dewsnap hired the BDG-powered car of Grant Shand for the Mid Wales Stages. "It enabled us to get some much needed stage mileage," said White as they finished tenth in the classic category.Bob Bean was one of the drivers to re-start on Sunday morning in the Trophy Rally. His Lotus Cortina, which has been flying in recent events, broke a halfshaft on Saturday, but Bob still wore his customary grin when he rejoined the action on Sunday morning.Julian Reynolds made his BHRC debut on and plans to do more historic rallies in his BDG-powered Ford Escort Mk2. Having finished fifth in the 2006 BRC, Reynolds ran a strong second to Jimmy McRae in Wales."I very much enjoyed it and I want to do a lot more of this in the future. But I'm not sure if that will be this year," said Reynolds, who was partnered by Ian Oakey. "I've always wanted to rally a proper Mk2," said Reynolds earlier this year. "My first ever rally was in a 1600 Escort, but that was 18 years ago."Quotes of the weekend"All the way up the hill we couldn't see anything." Dessie Nutt had some windscreen wiper issues after the Sweet Lamb ford."I'd better not do anything too stupid." John Parker was the only B1 runner on Sunday, so class success was there for the taking."Martin Freestone leant me some chewing gum, which seems to be doing OK!" James Potter had an unusual fix to a leaking fuel tank early on Sunday."I had a great first stage and he took 11s off us." Neil Calvert was impressed by the pace of Philip Atkinson in the Lotus Cortina battle."We went well off at the end of stage two, but fortunately an earth bank threw us back on." Paul Mankin survived a scare on Saturday."I've always been intrigued to find out how he pedals that car so quickly. He just doesn't lift off!" Gill Cotton has her first event in the Volvo Amazon of Graham Waite."We went into a hairpin way too fast and stalled." Terry Brown explains the loss of 15s on the opening leg."We could see absolutely bugger all!" Tim Mason has demister dramas after the Sweet Lamb water splash. "We'll have a push today and see if we can worry the old man," he added, running second in category 2 to David Stokes."The run of bad luck continues." Phil Squires lost a lot of time changing a puncture on the second stage."I've got nothing to report!" Martin Freestone on Sunday morning, before recalling a moment at the hairpin that caught many people out. "Over the crest and hairpin right. I didn't hear a word she was saying," he confessed of co-driver Joanne Oakey."That was our first water splash. I hope it's our last." Martin McCormack lost his chance of victory in the Sweet Lamb water."We're doing very badly, thank you." Not a good rally for Graham Samuel."He's driven that absolutely brilliantly." Arlene Cookson gives partner Neil Calvert a pat on the back at the end of Hafren North."We started slow and we're slowing down." Mike Barratt against the pace of Clive King and Terry Cree."For an old man, that was pretty good." Den Golding assesses Terry Brown at the end of Hafren North. "Two old men," corrects Brown."I can report no problems at all." David Stokes continued his almost serene progress towards another big championship score.PointsProvisional BHRC overall driver points after round four:1 David Stokes            1202 Jimmy McRae          1133 Dessie Nutt             1114 Neil Calvert             955 Philip Atkinson         916 Vincent Bristow        897 Terry Cree                878 Patrick Watts           849 Martin McCormack    8110 Richard Lane           78= Nick Whale               78Provisional BHRC overall co-driver points after round four:1 Guy Weaver              1202 Andy Richardson       1133 Geraldine McBride     1114 Arlene Cookson         955 Simon Coates            916 Dean Mitchell             897 Richard Shores           878 Elgan Davies               849 Liam Moynihan            8110 Frank Richer             78= Sally Wood                78