Steve Markham / John Sinclair

Steve is doing the British Post Historic Championship this year (after a break from rallying of around 10 years) in a car that has taken him a year to build. The car is a 1972 Hillman Avenger 1600. It is not a Tiger but is built to roughly the same spec. He expects the car to perform very well and fully intends to be somewhere at the top of the points table come awards time.

Sponsors: Bill Gwynne Rallyschool, who amongst other things have given him 12 alloy wheels and so much good advice and technical help. Brett Maddison of South Lincs Plant Hire and Sales (Spalding), who built the engine for me. Crystal Connections (Spalding) have thrown a small but gratefully acceptable amount of cash at me, plus corporate clothing. Witham Oil and Paint Co of Lincoln supplied the paint for the car and are also supplying all oils for the season, so oil change every event as usual! Coupland Surfacing of Spalding allowed Steve to use their extensive workshop facilities in which to build the car and have enabled him to make a much better job of the build than perhaps might have been the case! Finally, Competition Car Insurance gave him a very good insurance deal. Steve hopes his current negotiations will culminate in gaining a fuel sponsor.

The Team
Driver: Steve Markham: "I started in motorsport according to Martin Snell, when someone walked in front of the car with a red flag! In actual fact, I got involved in motorsport with grass track car racing. A succession of cars including Hillman Husky side valve, Ford Zodiac Mk11, Jaguar Mk10. I also did chief marshal for the clubs most Sundays for about five years. I started in rallying as a navigator on road events with Kesteven Motor Club and as clerk of the course, ran the KMC Moonbeam rally in the AEMMC championship for three years. Won the same area championship three times and gave up. Took to Hot Rod Racing with Trackstar Promotions in 1972 and won the East Anglian Championship that year and second in the points to an eventual Speedworth world champion - Pete Grimer. Did start marshal for Brisca and Speedworth for many years before a big accident about ten years ago brought me to my senses.

Started driving in road rallies and did rather well in a Fiat 124ST but packed in after almost hitting a cyclist in deepest Derbyshire at three in the morning in the middle of a selective.

First serious stage car was when I bought VFD 614 X from Sam Leason in 1989. Won quite a lot of stuff with that car including the Countdown Magazine Championship in it's first year.

I have not competed in an event for some ten years but my job as a freelance rally instructor ought to stand me in good stead, time will be the judge!

Co-Driver: John Sinclair

The Car
Model: 1972 Hillman Avenger.
Engine: 1.6 Litres, 8 valve.
Power: 110 bhp.
Mods include Talbot Sport gearbox and Bilstien suspension.

Steve says: " The car has had more money spent on it than my wife is aware and looks almost like a new motor. Although only producing 110bhp, the car is very tractable and with the legendary handling properties of the marque, is expected to feature in the results (if I can do it justice!). My eternal gratitude also goes to the following people, without whose help would have seen me giving up the ghost months ago. Tony Coupland A.Coupland (Surfacing) Ltd. Brett Maddison. Brett Maddison. Graham Lunn. Friend and mentor. Pete, Bill and Ian Gwynne. Henry Whitfield at Vision. Alan Hare. Crystal Connections. Richard Scarborough. Witham Oil. Dave Winyard. Winyard Engineering. To all the other many and various people who have given me so much advice and encouragement not least Ian Freestone for selling me the bloody car in the first place, I salute you one and all."