Rockingham Stages 2006
Rockingham Motor Speedway, 9th/10th December 2006
Report by Peter Wood
So in our October Committee meeting I declared that we had failed to reach agreement with Rockingham for the
rally, and that discussion with Silverstone had similarly failed on a cost well over £14k, I reluctantly said that I would
divi up the money with MCAC and that was that.
Then six days later Tony Phillips phones me in Cheltenham and says”You will not believe this, but it’s on!” We
arranged a rush meeting at the Stag PH, and the joint Committee discuss whether we can jack up the entry fee enough for the
£7k + VAT increase (£8,225), or 100 cars times £80, and would anybody enter?
We rush to promote on MSN and the British Rally website (over 4,000 hits by the rally), and arrange to get back into the
two Championships and we are on!
The upside for paying top dollar for the event was that the Welcome suite became available with bar and hot food – and
the Rally party, promised for two years and not delivered, was on!
We need not have worried – the event started to fill quickly, and we were through the 100 entries in under a month.
We had attracted a very strong field, with last year’s winner Simpson in his Accent WRC followed by Stone, now also in an
Accent. Then Marwood in the 6R4, Parkinson in a Subaru STI GPA Fifth away was Allmark with the very quick Mk11 with the 2.5
Millington entry, then Chris Davis with a Darrian T90 2.5, Martin Stockdale in his 4 litre (!) M3, who finished 7th
last year, and Graham Coffey in his Impreza at 9.
The Club entries were as follows:
- 12 Simon Mauger/ Samm Keeley Escort Mk11 Vauxhall 3
- 16 Richard Upton/ Paul Bareham Sierra Turbo 4
- 22 Dick Mauger/ Tom Peddle Escort Cossie WRC 5
- 23 Andy Corner/ Ade Camp Peugeot 205 Mi16 3
- 36 Ian Perry/ Dave West Escort Cossie 5
- 42 Stuart Gilks/ Adrian Rose Nissan Micra Ford/Lotus 2.2 4
- 58 Simon Clark/ Nathan Gamage Vauxhall Astra 2.0 3
- 74 Gary Johnson/ James Vowles Seat Ibeza Cupra R 1.8T 4
- 84 Nick Mauger/ Dan Cammack Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 1
- 85 Dan Corner/ James Greenwood Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 2
99 cars started, and an amazing 93 restarted on the Sunday morning, including 12 crews in the Trophy rally. Despite the
usual bitterly cold weather, we escaped the ice, but a shower on SS9 and 10 caught a few crews out. A total of 68 crews
finished the main event and a further 9 in the Trophy.
12 Simon Mauger/ Samm Keeley: On the back of a great run of results in the last 3 months – won the class at
Jersey, Tempest, Longcross, and fastest 2wd on all three.
Set 8= fastest on SS1, and then quicker to get 5th fastest on SS2, up to 6th overall, already leading
the class from a certain Andy Corner by an impressive 26s. SS3 and set 4th fastest in the first of the dark stages,
only beaten by Simpson’s Hyundai, T90 2.5 and Evo8! Trying too hard in the cooling conditions he was one of several crews to
slide significantly off the roadways on the wet grass, to end up in a drainage ditch – no damage done. They entered the
Trophy rally, and set fastest on SS5-8, but then were overtaken in the drizzle by the Evo8 (car 14)
 16 Richard Upton/ Paul Bareham: Seeded 16
after their great result last year here (9th overall). The poor car had been seriously bent al Longcross (see last
issue) and Richard said the track was only 9mm out, but the front camber was visibly different!
SS1 and were 6th fastest, but a half spin meant they were 12= on SS2, but 6th Overall. SS3 8th
quickest, but 13s slower on SS4 and down to 7th overall and 2nd in class. SS5+6 were 8= and 9th
fastest and dropped to 9th overall, passed by car 17 (Darrian T90 2.5), so no shame there. SS7+8 set 9th
fastest on both. SS9+10 only 14th fastest, but then 6th on the final stage – the car looked great in
the dark, spitting flames like a dragon! They are getting nearer to Stockdale’s M3 - they beat them by 27s last year, only
3s this year!
They finished an excellent 8th overall and picked up awards for third in class, best Thame crew, and AEMC
Class award, so just the three each to carry!
 22 Dick Mauger/ Tom Peddle: Disaster before
the event started – the Escort Cossie WRC was not ready, so at very short notice he arrived in a Mk11 2 litre running at the
back of the field. He had gearbox problems all through the event and it was an achievement to get to the finish.
They were 59th after SS2, and climbed to 48th after SS4. They set a good time on SS5, and were up to
45th, but stopped on Stage 6 and dropped 7 minutes 30s to be 68th. All fixed for SS7, and played
catch-up for the rest of the event, finishing 57th overall.
 23 Andy Corner/ Ade Camp: Not their luckiest
venue so far. Andy had “loaned” James Greenwood to Dan, his son, for his first ever rally.
SS1 and 15th fastest, plus 8s better on SS2 to be 17th overall and 2nd in class behind
Simon Mauger. SS3 + 4 16th and 17th fastest and up to 15th overall, but now 3rd in
class behind car 31 (2 litre Escort of Peter Rayner). SS5 and stopped on stage for 8 minutes with fuel starvation problems. OK
on SS6 but now dropped to 57th overall.
SS7 and set 17th fastest, and up 4 places to 53rd. SS9 + 10 and back to setting top 15 times and
climbing up to 43rd overall. Chased son Dan on one stage – we tried to seed them so they would not meet.
 36 Ian Perry/ Dave West: All started well for
this pairing and they were 21st overall after 2 stages.
They held this place after SS4 as well. They started on Sunday morning but retired on SS5.
 42 Stuart Gilks/ Adrian Rose: Adrian
rejoined the Club at the Committee night in December – he had done an earlier Rockingham as TMC, but was called out of
retirement to compete in this Micra/Ford/Lotus combo of 2.2 litres!
SS1 and 15th fastest, 9th fastest on SS2 to be 13th overall, 5th in class. They
dropped time on SS3, but 51s quicker on SS4 and down to 20th overall. SS5 and 15th quickest, and 10th
on SS6 got them up to 17th. SS7 they set 9th fastest. SS9 they were 7th fastest, but 13s
slower on SS10 (spin?) to finish an excellent 12th overall and 4th in class.
 58 Simon Clark/ Nathan Gamage: A very late
call to Nathan (24 hours before the event). They got on famously, every time I saw them they were giggling!
After SS2 they were up to 31st and 8th in class. SS3+4 and they are flying, up 8 places to 23rd and 5th
in class. SS5+6 are both clean, and they are up to 21st and 4th in class. SS7, still 21st,
but now 5th in class. SS9 + 10 and finished an excellent 25th overall and 6th in class.
 74 Gary Johnson/ James Vowles: Their
first ever event – had done a brief track day here at Rockingham with James the Chairman, so had some idea of the lie of the
land.
After SS2 they were 48th overall, having been 24s quicker on th second run of the stage. SS3 + 4 – getting
quicker, again 16s quicker on the second stage, now up to 37th overall. After SS6 were 33rd and 10th
in class. SS7 and set 23rd fastest to climb up to 30th.
They finished at 27th overall, a great result for a first effort – I think we will be seeing them out again
quite soon!
 84 Nick Mauger/ Dan Cammack: Set 50th
quickest on SS1 (remember, this is a 1,400), and 13s quicker on the second run – already 3rd in class.
SS3 + 4 again 24s quicker on the second run through, now up to 43rd and 3rd. SS5 + 6 a picture of
consistency, now 38th and 2nd in class by 5s. SS7 now up to 35th, but dropped back to 3rd
in class (the Micra woke up). SS9+10 lost a little time in the damp and growing gloom.
Another really good result at 38th overall and taking the award for third in class.
85 Dan Corner/ James Greenwood: Dan is now 17 and this was his first rally. The car was recently purchased as an
ex-challenge car – strong and reliable. There was some fun in the run-up to the event, when Andy fitted some over good rear
discs that locked solid each time Dan touched the brakes- these were soon replaced.
SS1+2 saw them at 62nd and 4th in class, 13s quicker on 2. SS3+4 progressed well and shot up to 46th
and 3rd in class. SS5+6 another good pair, improving by 19s on second run. Now 41st and 3rd.
SS7 and up to 39th. Bearing in mind the size of the field, a great first rally – well done – see you at the
Loco Stages.
An excellent result on your first event, Dan, taking 35th overall and collecting an award for third in class – well
done!
Many thanks to all for their incredible help in running this year – all ten stages ran and no incidents requiring the
ambulance on stage is a result, especially those 3 lappers in the dark!
Already booked for 2007 December 8th and 9th. |