Nick Vine & Dave Galbraith

Nick and Dave teamed up at the start of the 2001 season and had a mixed start before the rally calendar was decimated by the foot and mouth outbreak. By the end of the year they had competed in only five events but were able to secure a championship win in class A of the Oakington Challenge. The team will start the 2003 season with two trips to Oakington to give the car a shakedown before moving on to larger events with a possible assault on a championship in 2003 when the new engine is in place.

The Team
Driver: Nick Vine
Co-Driver: Dave Galbraith

The Car
Model: Vauxhall Nova.
Engine: 1.3 Litres.
Specification: Like many club competitors this car is built to conform to MSA technical regulations, rather than being a homologated group N or A car. This permits greater flexibility on modifications, keeps costs down, but restricts the car from being used on larger events.

Recent Results
2001 Oakington Challenge - Class A Champions.

Nick was born and raised in Aylesbury. After joining Thame motor club he joined forces with old friend Steve Volkes, who was an experienced navigator, together they rallied a Hillman Imp that Steve had a half share in and Nick brought the over half. The Imp was a bit long in the tooth and was soon to make way for the original Nova C 640 in 1994. The car was perfect for Nick’s driving style and class wins between 1994 - 1999 were bountiful. These were to include; five at Down Ampney near Cirencester, Aylesbury motor clubs Finmere stages three years in a row, but the most impressive was the 1999 Tempest, a multi venue stage rally, where a class win was achieved against several cars costing in excess of £20K. By the end of the 1999 season something was not quite right with C 640 so Nick and Steve found a good straight shell and using the parts from C 640 built A853 finishing part way through the 2000 season. During this period Steve's interest in navigating had dwindled and he and Nick only competed in a handful of events in the new car. Pat Jackson of Vision Motorsport rally school was impressed by Nick’s driving and asked him to be an instructor at the school where his has taught several students who have gone on to be good drivers in their own rights. Nick has also shocked members of the road rallying world when he joined forces with Thame motor club chairman Brian Cammack to enter Oxford's Bullnose rally. He won his one and only event!

Dave was born in Stirling and has spent most of his life traveling with the armed forces. He took his first step into motor sport in 1995 when joining mid Northants motor club and was successful in winning the novice navigator championship (for road rallies) in not only this club but in two others. By the end of 1996 a career change moved him to Thame where he joined the local club. Over the next year he competed on club events not only with Nick but some times against. In 1997 Dave moved up a step by moving into historic road rallies where he won a number of trophies for class wins. The best being second on the 50th anniversary Ross Traders in an ex works Rover 2000. Even although Dave has dabbled in driving he feels success was more likely when navigating.