Keith Udy and Keith Ashley, two of the key organisers on the Mutiny Rally, are returning to competing in 2004 for an assault on the Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship.
The duo is ending a 16-year break from competing to enter a Toyota Corolla Levin in the Post Historic (Category 2) section of the BHRC. However, they will have to miss round four of the championship, as that is the event they organise!
"We both retired in the 1980s after many years of stage rallying although we have both continued to be involved as organisers," says Udy. Ashley has been clerk of the course on the Mutiny Rally for many years, while Udy is secretary of the meeting for the June event.
Udy started rallying in 1967 and competed at all levels of the sport, winning the 1986 Welsh National title. "I retired in 1988 but after a few drinks at a party last year, Keith and I discussed the idea of getting back to competing," explains Udy. "Having been host to the BHRC on the Mutiny last year and been impressed by the friendliness and camaraderie of the championship, we decided to enter the championship this year. Unfortunately we won't be able to enter the Mutiny but hope to be out on all the other rounds!
"After some searching, we have found a rare vehicle which we hope will be competitive in the C2 class," continues Udy. Their chosen car is a 1973 Toyota Corolla Levin 1588 twin cam, which was prepared originally by Toyota Team Europe. The model was only rallied for a couple of seasons before Toyota switched to the Celica. Driven by Leif Asterhag, it first appeared on the RAC Rally in 1973 with an eight-valve engine. It was then fitted with a 16-valve engine and driven by Bjorn Waldegaard (4th on 1974 RAC), Ove Anderson (4th on 1974 Portugal Rally, 3rd on 1975 Portugal Rally) and Hannu Mikkola (1st on 1974 1000 Lakes Rally).
"Our car has the eight-valve engine and has been prepared by John Midgley in Yorkshire, who drove the model back in the 1970s," says Udy. "We are both looking forward to the Robin Hood and getting back to rallying as it used to be!"
