2004 News Archive

Our first stage rally for several years proved a great success. 75 crews started the event on a dry but cold day for the first running of a stage rally at Rockingham Motor Speedway, on 12th December.

Blackpool's John Stone and Lee Carter took the top honours in their class 5 MG Metro 6R4, ahead of Steve Simpson and Mark Booth's ex-Freddie Loix Hyundai Accent WRC, by the narrow margin of just 3 seconds.

Robert Lowe and Stephen Shephard were the first two wheel drive competitors home, taking 5th overall and top honours in Class 3 in their immaculate Ford Escort MKII. The leading Class 4 car was just behind them in 6th place, with Welsh duo David Allmark and J Tate in their Ford Escort MKII.

The leading Class 2 pairing were Tim Seipal and Louise Clark in the MG ZR who finished in a credible 8th overall, 6 places ahead of their nearest rivals, Ian Brooks and Matt Sunderland in their Peugeot 106GTi.

In the smallest engined class, Owen Cule and Jason Mann brought their little Citroen AX Sport home in 33rd overall and 1st in class, four places in front of their nearest rivals.

Late running forced the cancellation of stage 6 but the remaining seven stages ran to time, with 45 of the 75 starters making it to the finish of the rally. The final car to take the chequered flag belonged to Rockingham safety marshal Mike O'Connor and his wife Ellie in their Ford Fiesta MKI.

"It has been a fantastic event, with everyone really enjoying the spectacle of the first ever Rockingham Stages Rally," said Rockingham spokesman Jeff Carter. "The competitors and the organisers have really done a superb job and the feedback we have been getting from them is they want to do this again next year."

The Organisers would like to thank everyone who helped make the rally a success, especially the marshals who spent all day out in the cold and without whom the rally could not have taken place.

The results are now online together with a selection of photographs from the rally.
Visit the Rockingham Stages website for more details.

August Grass Autotest - 08/08/04

A beautiful, hot, sunny day for this our second Autotest of the year. Being in August we obviously suffered a little on entries as the holiday season was in full swing. The new field, right opposite Duncan's and James's is ideally placed and of just the size for two tests in adjoining fields.

A special welcome to Paul West, who took part in a 1/2 day rally at Vision on Saturday and is keen to know more about rallying. Thanks again to the Corner's for their continued support, and thanks for bringing Alison and Alex, who were a hoot!

The competition was tight, with the fastest times highlighted and underlined. Fastest times were set by 4 different people. Andy Corner again put in a star performance, but his son Dan is getting better and better, losing 4 and 2 to Andy.

Thanks to James and Katie for the great idea of asking everyone back to theirs (across the road) for cold drinks and Apple flapjacks whilst Pete cranked out the results. James also provided sunblock and fizzy water during the competition. All in all a great event, friendly and thoughtful - well done James!

Name	Test 1	Test 2	Test 3	Test 4	Half time	Test 5	Test 6	Test 7	Test 8	Total
Andy Corner	40.11	37.20	30.56	36.76	144.63	32.58	33.67	48.62	35.47	294.97
Dan Corner	40.76	40.07	30.43	42.11	153.37	32.45	33.57	51.79	38.01	309.19
Duncan Edwards	39.23	39.39	33.32	40.24	152.18	36.48	33.34	54.62	38.84	315.46
Andy Cadle	39.15	41.88	33.11	40.23	154.37	38.34	33.68	55.36	38.55	320.30
Rob Slingerland	46.18	37.58	31.12	40.18	155.06	33.52	30.90	63.67	42.46	325.61
Paul West	42.97	42.85	34.63	42.80	163.25	34.56	33.45	58.44	38.79	328.49
Alison	44.23	49.90	34.83	43.60	172.56	35.41	36.40	57.80	50.98	353.15
Alex	49.66	62.29	33.25	49.78	194.98	37.36	36.57	59.32	47.02	375.25

Thame to co-promote the first Rockingham Stages

We are co-promoting the Rockingham Stages, the first stage rally to be run at Rockingham Motor Speedway. The event will take place on 12th December and is a joint promotion with Middlesex County Automobile Club. We have set up a separate website with details of the rally. Please visit the event website for more information.

Andy Corner goes Dragon-slaying again

Andy was out on the Oak Leaf Stages at Wilbarston on Sunday 25th April, in his 205 with the recent MI-16 engine. The event attracted a maximum 85 entries and was a round of the 205 Championship. There were over 10 4wd entries lead away by a 6R4 that duly won.

Andy's class of 12 cars had a very quick 2ltr Nova to give him some competition! He was 4= fastest on SS1 and the car ran perfectly all day - not a spin to report. Andy reported that he got the loudest cheers for his power slide in front of the Service area and won the class by over a minute to finish an excellent 5th overall. He was first 2wd by 5 places and beat a couple of EVOs / Subarus.

Twyford Wood Stages, 11th April

Steve Markham and John Sinclair were out in the 30+-year-old Avenger in an entry of 55 cars. Class B featured 14 entries, including 6 Peugeots (and a Fiesta seeded at 6!).

"Rally a big success, 19th o/all and 6th in class. Had gearbox out after stage two and sorted out oil leaks. SS3 + 4 rear brakes seizing on, cured by fitting new shoes and "marmelizing" the auto adjusters! Ran on Matador tyres for first time, magnifique."

"Had to throw car about quite a lot, absolutely no one making any ground on us in the slippy tighter stuff but a thirty two year old push rod engine no match for modern 16-valve power." High rate of attrition with two rolls and numerous 'birds nesting' capers."

"Car now too high geared with new Ford box so must sort out my new diff for a lower ratio! More bloody expense and time. Service crew of Glyn, Darren, Gordon and Joe spot on and Karen keeping us copiously supplied with tea."

Karting Championship 2004 Round 1

Klub Karting, Aylesbury. Tuesday 24th March. Julz worked hard to get the seven teams assembled for this the opening round of the Karting Championship. A hard-fought battle was slightly spoiled by the uneven condition of some of the Karts – Brian Cammack was forced to change machine mid-race and this is his excuse for the poor showing of team Twin-cam.

Get news on the next round from Julz – it is either Milton Keynes or Silverstone.

Gavin Bristow & Matt Brennan win class on Regency Stages.

The Regency Stages Rally 2004 was held at Brean Leisure Park on Saturday 31st Jan & Sunday 1st February. There were 82 starters in total and 12 in their class. Gavin & Matt not only won their class but took the 1400 Nova to 26th overall.

New Micra Kit Car for Matthew Humphris

Following the roll on the 2003 Bulldog Rally, which severely damaged the shell of Matt's Group A Micra, work is now well underway on rebuilding the car. In addition to the new shell, the car will be upgraded to Kit Car specification. This includes lightweight wide-arch kevlar wings, wide track axles and upgraded braking system. The car should appear on a round of the Kumho championship later in the year.

Thame Motorsport Club members were in 3 cars for this rally, run through the Forest of Dean, on 14th February. In addition to the two TMC crews of Dave Nutt & Steve Greenhill (Escort Cosworth) and Gavin Bristow & Matt Brennan (Vauxhall Nova) our chairman, Brian Cammack, was co-driving for London based driver Richard Phillipson, in a Peugeot 206 XSi.

50 of the 180 starters failed to finish the rally but all Thame's crews made it to the end without any major incidents. Click here for the full event report. Apologies to Brian for missing him off the report but he did not tell anyone he was doing the rally and we did not spot his name on the entry list! (a reminder to everyone to please let us know what you are up to so we can keep everyone updated on your results).

Richard Crossland & Linette Applegate had a very successful season in BTRDA winning three awards: 2nd in class B13, Best improvement on seeding and best Lady Co-driver. However following the major accident to Richard's Cossy, as reported in the last magazine, we can report that a 4WD Focus is emerging from the workshops of Vision Motor Sport carrying donor engine etc. from said cossy.

2004 News

Rockingham Stages - A Great Success