The Kielder region proved up to its daunting reputation on round two of the 2008 Dunlop/Gambia MSA British Historic Rally Championship, the Pirelli Historic Rally on 18/19 April.
While the unforgiving ditches caught out some of the leading contenders and mechanical dramas accounted for others, a tremendous performance from Darren Moon and John McNichol (Escort Mk2) netted category three spoils. Unfortunately, a major accident befell Jimmy McRae/Andy Richardson (Porsche 911RS) on the penultimate stage when battling for the category.In category one, Patrick Watts and Elgan Davies set a scorching pace in the Sunbeam Tiger to win the category and set times that put them up with the top six category two and three crews.
Meanwhile, in category two, a fine run for Rupert Lomax/David Alcock (Escort Mk2) brought them a first BHRC victory on their debut event in the region.
Overall, the event was well received by the 65-strong historic entry, with everyone enjoying the stages in the main Kielder complex. Only the poor state of the opening two stages detracted from the rally.Category 1With a big attack on the opening stage, Watts/Davies went immediately 20 seconds clear of the category one field and were able to maintain their pace through the following six stages to score a commanding win.
By the time they emerged from the final nine miles in Pundershaw, Watts was 1m20s clear of the Porsche 911 of John Keatley/Maurice Beckett, although there was a late scare for the Tiger crew. "We hit a bridge with a back wheel, but got away with it," said Watts. "But we didn’t go loony today," he added.
The battle for second was between the Porsches of Keatley and Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride and it was Keatley who grabbed the upperhand on Friday evening. Despite an attack on Saturday's stages, Nutt could not catch his countryman and the eight-second gap even grew a little.Bob Bean and Malcolm Smithson were one of the casualties of conditions in SS1 and a large pothole threw their Lotus Cortina off the road. Instead, Neil Calvert and Arlene Cookson had a trouble free run to B4 spoils. "It was a steady run; we did what we came to do," reported Calvert at the finish.
The B2 contest never really got going as the Mini Cooper S of Terry Cree/Richard Shores suffered badly on the opening leg with a cracked sump and a time consuming off. Meanwhile, James Stait/Gill Cotton had a good run in the MG Midget to go well clear, which was fortunate as they had an off of their own on Saturday and spent three minutes on a tree stump, but still took the class by a minute. "Those stages were much better," said Cree on the second leg.
B1 honours went to the Sunbeam Imp Sport of Geoff Taylor/Steve Greenhill, with their result aided when the Singer Chamois of Gary and Jane Edgington shed a wheel on Friday evening.Category 2It didn't take long for the drama to start in category two, with David Stokes/Guy Weaver (Escort Mk1) hobbled by an electrical gremlin thought to a dodgy master switch. Then, early leaders Steven Smith/John Nichols slid the Porsche 911RS into a ditch just before the end of the opening leg, all of which boosted Lomax/Alcock into a well-earned category lead overnight. "We go well on the twisty stuff," said Lomax after a very impressive run on his first attempt at these stages.
Leading the chase was the Escort of Ernie Graham/Robin Kellard and they were 25s down overnight after dropping time on stages three and four with badly worn tyres.
It was nip and tuck stuff on Saturday, but with the second of three stages cancelled, Graham didn’t have enough time to attack and the gap was still 18s at the finish. "It's gone to plan," said Lomax after a first BHRC victory.
As well as chasing Lomax, Graham had to watch for the pursuing Ken Forster/John Stanger-Leathes (Escort Mk1) in the leading class C3 car. First time out with Pinto power, Forster was flying along and finished just three seconds behind Graham after a tremendous run. "We had a slow first stage with the new car, but after that it was brilliant," said Forster, who also paid tribute to his co-driver's contribution. "John's notes were faultless," he added.
Chasing Forster in the hugely competitive class C3 were the Escort Mk1s of Tim Jones/Don James and Russell Morgan/Martin Kenyon. Morgan was left to rue a slow start on Friday evening, but was closing in on Jones at the finish.
C2 delivered a very welcome class win for Kevin Broadhurst/Andrew Turner, as Broadhurst finished a BHRC event for the first time since 2004. He didn't think much of the Friday stages, but picked up pace on Saturday and was elated just to finish, let alone win the class by 25s from Neil Rudd/Brian Hodgson (Escort Mk1).
The contest for C4 was a topsy-turvy affair and it was Tim Mason/Graham Wild who took the class in their Porsche 911. "I love the Kielder stages," said Tim, but after some tremendous times they lost six minutes when the centre pulled out of a wheel. However, with Andrew Haddon/Mark Crisp hobbled by a gearbox stuck in second, Mason pressed on and stunned everyone by being overall fastest through Pundershaw. Without the delay they could well have won category two.Category 3McRae was surprised to be leading at the end of Friday after having the Porsche's fan belt come off twice. They carried on through the stages, but watching the gauges hurt their pace. "We backed off a bit and maybe that was a good thing," said Jimmy.
However, others had bigger problems including Richard Hill/Patrick Cooper who parked their Escort M2 with a radiator problem at the end of stage two. A Kershope ditch claimed Simon Tysoe/Rob Dyson (Escort Mk2), while a similar fate befell Frank Cunningham/Ryland James.Meanwhile, Moon/McNichol dropped time on the last stage of Friday evening. "We did nine miles on wrecked tyres," said Moon at the end of the leg. They lost 24s to drop 11s behind McRae and set up a big battle for Saturday. They were virtually level on the first of Saturday's stages, The Shanks, but it all went wrong for McRae when the Porsche plunged off the road near the end of Archie's Rigg.
That left Moon taking a 23s lead into the final stage in Pundershaw, but it wasn't over as Jason Lepley/Howard Pridmore were still charging along in their Escort Mk2, despite being unsettled after stopping at the scene of McRae's accident. "We'd planned to change tyres for the last stage," said Jason, but there was no chance to do it. Nevertheless, they were just 10s behind Moon at the finish having clawed back 13s in nine miles.
A splendid third went to Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing (Escort Mk2). "Fairly uneventful, but a good run," reported Slaughter at the finish.Next up in category three and taking a fine D3 victory were Will Onions and Tim Hobbs in their Escort RS2000, after a straightforward rally. They had 1m20s in hand over Richard Lane/Frank Richer.
