HRCR MIDLANDS NEWSLETTER : OCTOBER 2015

Will electric / hybrid cars feature in future ? A Prius has already been tried but the outcome is unknown.

FORTHCOMING HRCR MIDLANDS EVENTS

5 Oct VISIT TO BMW STRATSTONE, DERBY Following contacts made with the driver of the BMW i8 at the Donington Historic Festival (see above photo), the Region will be visiting Stratstone Derby to see and learn more about the BMW i3 and i8 electric cars. Members are able to bring their partners and friends to the event. Tto gauge numbers and assist with the catering arrangements, please let us know by 2 October via [email protected] if you wish to attend. Where and time : Stratstone Derby, Sir Frank Whittle Road, Derby DE21 4RZ for 7pm

7/8 Nov DANSPORT RALLY - AND MORE Since there is a lot going on during the month, not the least the WRC’s Wales Rally GB and the Roger Albert Clark Rally, there will be no ‘Home’ meeting in November. However, support will be required for the 2015 Dansport Rally, to be held on 7/8 November is a local round of the HRCR Premier Rally Championship, the final round of the EMAMC, ANEMMC and ANCC Road Rally Championships and the penultimate round of the SD34 and ANWCC Road Rally Championships. The rally starts and finishes at Bakewell Showground, offering a different approach to the route which uses 140 miles through Derbyshire and Staffordshire on both new and familiar roads on maps 118 & 119. 12 miles will be on unsurfaced whites, all of which are said to be ‘easily traversed in a standard road car’. The rally is organised by current road rally competitors and will be ‘a no-nonsense event’ being run under a Navigational Rally permit to minimise costs and administration effort. However, it is said not to be ‘a plot-n-bash nightmare, so do not be put off!’ All handouts with information to be plotted will be given out in “non-comp” sections and should be easy to read, no tricks, grids or complicated numbering. Indeed, some handouts require no plotting at all!

151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 1 Entries opened on 21st September 2015, but since there is a maximum entry of 50 cars, early application is advised to avoid disappointment. There is an entry fee discount available if one brings one’s own marshal. And if one cannot enter, the Organisers ask you to help out by marshalling, for which there is a free goody bag for all and additionally a breakfast if two controls are marshalled. Whilst it is being organised by Matlock Motor Club, it is a round of the HRCR’s Premier Championship so help with marshalling and PR will be needed to ensure the rally is successful. So please come and support this HRCR event on ‘our’ patch. Where and time : Updates will be posted on the Matlock Motor Club website, Facebook page and rally forums or by contacting [email protected]

7 Dec ANOTHER ‘HOME’ MEETING / MEAL AT THE STANHOPE ARMS Less of a Christmas Special but more of a chance for a ‘noggin and natter’ and / or a meal amongst friends. We also need to discuss if the Region needs to do more for the HRCR Open Day in January than just promote the Derbyshire Dales Drive. Where and time : The Stanhope Arms, Stanton-by-Dale DE7 4QA, starting at 8.00pm.

11 Jan AN EVENING WITH SAM COLLIS Last year’s R.A.C Rally winning co-driver Sam has confirmed that he is available on two dates in January and is looking forward to coming. Since the meeting will be after this year’s R.A.C. Rally (which the pair intend to win ‘properly’ this time), expect to hear about how they fared. Though not the first Monday in the month, the date has been chosen to avoid Member’s commitments around the New Year. Where and time : The Stanhope Arms, Stanton-by-Dale DE7 4QA, starting at 8.00pm.

16 Jan HRCR OPEN DAY, GAYDON The Region will launch its 2016 Derbyshire Dales Drive at the Open Day. Regional Member support in manning / ‘personing’ the stand is requested. Where and time : British Motor Heritage Museum, Gaydon ; times to be notified later

CALENDAR OF EVENTS OF POSSIBLE INTEREST TO MEMBERS

1 HRCR Scenic Tour Series

2 HRCR Clubmans Road Rally Championship

3 HRCR Speed Series Hill Climb + Sprint Championship

4 HRCR Old Stager Historic Rally Championship

5 HRCR Premier Rally Championship (road rallies)

HRCR Date Event Organiser / contact 2/3 Oct MCC Edinburgh Trial : Start at Tamworth and then http://www.themotorcyclingclub.org.u into the Peak District k/events/edinburgh.htm 1 4 Oct Tour of Kent : Kent www.blackpalfrey.co.uk 4 Oct Devils Own Rally : Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria http://www.klmc.org.uk 4 Oct Harold Palin Memorial Stages Rally : Fulbeck Airfield, http://www.eastwoodmotorclub.co.uk Lincolnshire (map) 3 4 Oct Curborough Sprint : Lichfield BARC Midlands 5 Oct Tour of Kent : Kent(1) Tel 01243 542674 8 Oct Wales Rally GB Media Day: Llyn Brenig Visitor Tel 01753 765000 Centre, North Wales

151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 2 8 Oct Raymond Mays Evening : Bourne Corn Exchange Tel 07760 171045 9/11 Oct Beatson's Mull Rally : Tobermory, Isle of Mull www.mullrally.org 5 10 Oct Throckmorton Challenge www.heroevents.eu 10/11 Oct MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix : Croft Circuit Tel 01325 721815. 1 11 Oct Ludlow + The Marches Classic Tour : Shropshire, www.ludlowcastlemotorclub. Hereford + Powys co.uk 11 Oct Breakfast Club : Shelsley Walsh, near Worcester; Tel 01886 812211 11 Oct Auto Solo : : Fulbeck Airfield, Lincolnshire (map) http://www.eastwoodmotorclub.co.uk 15 Oct MIA Business Networking & Tour of Prodrive : Tel 02476 692600. Prodrive, Banbury 4 17 Oct Cambrian Rally : Llandudno + North Wales www.cambrianrally.co.uk REIS-Ravenol BTRDA Rally Series + others 18 Oct Rallycross : Blyton Circuit, Lincolnshire; Tel 01427 628922 BTRDA Autosport Clubmans Rallycross Championship 24 Oct Practice (untimed) Day : Curborough [email protected] or See later item in this newsletter for further details 0779 980 2107 24/25 Oct Illuminations Rally : Morecambe, Lancashire www.morecambecarclub.org.uk/events 25 Oct Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally : Donington Park http://www.dukeries- AWMMC Heart of England, EMAMC Single Venue + ANEMMC rally.co.uk/ Sealed Surface Championships See later item in this newsletter for further details 25 Oct Carole Nash National Restoration Show : Stoneleigh Tel 01775 768661 Park, Warwickshire 1 1 Nov Autumn Leaves : Forest of Dean : Note date change www.scenictours.co.uk 1 Nov MEM Malton Forest Rally : Dalby Forest, North Yorks Tel 01904 760050 SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship 1 Nov Bonhams Veteran Car Run : London to Brighton Tel 01372 414120 5/8 Nov Rally of the Tests : Newcastle - Blackpool www.craevents.eu 5 7/8 Nov Dansport Rally : Derbys + Staffs www.matlockmotorclub.co.uk 5 21/22 Nov Guy Fawkes Rally : South Hams MC www.shmc.co.uk 12/15 Nov Wales Rally Great Britain: Deeside 13 Nov Wales Rally Great Britain : Hafren http://www.walesrallygb.com/specta tors/route_information 14 Nov Wales Rally Great Britain : Chirk Castle 15 Nov Wales Rally Great Britain : Great Orme 15 Nov Stage Rally : Cadwell Park Circuit Tel 01507 343248 20/21 Nov Race of Champions : Olympic Stadium, London Tel 0800 072 2110 22 Nov Premier Stages : Reportedly NOW CANCELLED www.premier-rally.co.uk owing to MSA criteria for marshalling stage events 27 Nov Roger Albert Clark Rally : Pundershaw / http://www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org Shepherdshield 28 Nov Roger Albert Clark Rally : Kielder Forest 29 Nov Roger Albert Clark Rally : Redesdale, Wauchope, Craik

30 Nov / RACE TECH World Motorsport Symposium : Tel 0208 446 2100 1 Dec Millennium Point, Birmingham

151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 3 5 5/6 Dec The Preston Rally www.chelmsfordmc.co.uk/Preston 5/6 Dec Rockingham Stages Rally : Rockingham Circuit Tel 01923 822590 5/8 Dec Le Jog Classic Reliability Trial : Lands End to John o’ www.craevents.eu Groats 6 Dec Coppermines Grizedale Stages : Cumbria Tel 01946 841332 SG Petch ANECCC Stage Rally Championship 27 Dec Christmas Treasure Hunt Carlton + DMC

CARLTON + DMC PRACTICE DAY : CURBOROUGH : 24 OCTOBER 2015 Carlton and District Motor Club are holding its annual practice day on the international sprint course at Curborough. This is an ideal opportunity for ordinary club members [or specially invited guests] to take their normal road cars [no specials or single seaters] onto the track alone for just £35. Only one car will be permitted on the track at any time. The three lap sessions will comprise an opening lap; one full lap followed by a slowing down lap. Competing cars will then go to the pits or rejoin the queue for another run. Cars will need no special preparation. There is a noise test [105db @ 0.75m] which any unmodified car should pass easily, but if in doubt, you should contact the Organisers beforehand. Drivers and passengers must have a crash helmet. You may be able to borrow one on the day but please ask before the day. Timing devices are permitted only for comparative testing purposes [suspension , tuning alterations etc.] Marshals, first aid and fire extinguishers are provided. Toilets are on site and the club has again booked an on-site catering wagon which will be selling a wide range of food and drink at sensible prices. You are requested to make use of it so it can be a permanent arrangement. Places are being limited to enable everyone to get adequate track time and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. So contact Vince Orme by e-mail at [email protected] or 0779 980 2107 initially to find out if places are still available . Where and when : Curborough : short drivers briefing at 1030 hrs : The day ends about 1600hrs.

RAINWORTH SKODA DUKERIES RALLY : DONINGTON PARK : 25TH OCTOBER 2015 This year brings an exciting new challenge as the 56th Dukeries Rally moves from the forests of Sherwood to Donington Park to become the first competitive rally that the venue has hosted since 1998. The rally is a round of three popular Regional Stage Rally Championships, being the Alexander Calder Financial EMAMC Single Venue Stage Rally Championship; the Roadrunner/Phoenix Awards ANEMMC Sealed Surface Rally Championship and the Heart of England Rally Championship. It is also a round of the Dukeries Motor Club Rally Championship. Competitors will tackle 51 stage miles in 7 stages. The organisers have limited the maximum number of entries to 80 to ensure that the event runs as smoothly as possible, so entries are likely to be at a premium. There will be a Stage Practice event over the later stages for competitors who retire on the early stages. The event will make use of the excellent facilities at Donington Park and each entry includes 3 vehicle passes and 6 entry tickets. Additional tickets (not vehicle passes) can be bought on the day at a price of £10 (13yrs and under free) which gives pedestrian access to the Service Area and all the Spectator Areas. The event will be filmed by Special Stage for broadcast on Motors TV in November. Further information is available at www.dukeries-rally.co.uk

151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 4 REPORTS

Reports and articles with historic rallying interest are very much welcomed. The views expressed are not necessarily those of either the Region’s Management Team or the HRCR Committee. All rights are reserved by the respective contributors and their particular permission is required for reproduction of any material in this Newsletter.

VISIT TO M-SPORT, DOVENBY HALL, COCKERMOUTH : 14 AUGUST 2015

The M-Sport Museum : photos could not be taken elsewhere, for obvious reasons! This visit was arranged by Fran Banning for members of Matlock Motor Club and I managed to join them, opting not to stay overnight but do the round trip in the day. We all met up at Dovenby Hall, the former mental institution that became the base for the Ford Works Focus rally programme. Malcolm somehow manage to persuade the powers that be that Cumbria was an suitable location, the old but run-down buildings seemingly impressing Ford America’s purse string holders who saw them as a part of the heritage that went with the ‘Old Country’, no doubt influenced by their transatlantic ‘Mary Poppins’ and Disneyfied view of the UK. It was the first visit for everyone in the party and Roger Fisher was the knowledgeable guide who took us to see the Museum, workshop and build assembly facilities and gave us the history of the operation. Malcolm Wilson Motorsport was formed in 1979 and had been involved with MkII Escort and Sierra Cosworth rally programmes, its success sometimes embarrassing the Works Ford team, maybe so much so that, at the end of the 1990s, Malcolm was approached to develop the Focus for rallying. Ford’s intention was to base the programme at Dagenham but Malcolm was of entirely another opinion. Having looked elsewhere (Anywhere but Essex?), it was eventually agreed to settle in Cockermouth in 1998/9. The Focus programme lasted for 11 years, with just Ford and Citroen fielding Manufacturer Teams at the time. Ford have now pulled out of rallying so M-Sport is now going alone in the World Rally Championship. The Fiesta programme The FIA had been determined to cut the costs of WRC rallying by reducing permissible technologies and exotic materials, and have achieved this considerably. Changes in the regulations saw engine capacities reduce from turbocharged 2000cc engines to 1600cc, and from this came the Fiesta range of rally cars. • R1 – converted standard 2WD cars with safety equipment • R2 – as above but with sequential gearboxes and Ecoboost 175bhp engines ; 300 sold to date as complete builds or in kit form : the final cars cost some £45,000 each • R5 – mid-range 4WD cars built at Cockermouth : 120 built so far at £200,000 each.

151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 5 • WRC – 50 cars built and sold at £400,000 each, significantly cheaper than the last WRC Focus which cost £500,000 M-Sport also build ST, S2000 and other Fiestas to meet individual National specifications. It also builds Ken Block’s rallycross cars which return to Cockermouth two to three times per year. These are basically WRC cars with 2000cc engines, larger 45mm restrictors and rear mounted cooling packages to withstand damage from the regular bumping and boring. The building of a 4WD Fiesta Shell Ford supply the bare shells which require significant modifications underneath to house the extra transmission. Roll cages are fitted to WRC specification, having 50mm diameter T45 steel continuous tubes without cuts and welds and requiring the panels and roof to be removed for its installation. Setting out is by laser. The regulations require the use of the manufacturer’s original steel inner panels and some external ones as well. Where this is not demanded, kevlar is used for the fronts and carbon fibre for the rears and four corners. Weight is moved down the shell to accommodate beefed-up suspension and lower the centre of gravity. Preparation modifications are inspected by the FIA at homologation stage. Each shell costs £35000 to build over 2 to 2.5 weeks but painting is farmed out to others. Currently they are sprayed metallic grey then liveried by vinyl wrapping. To limit costs, each two-car WRC team is limited to eight shells per season for all events and testing and, to ensure that this is so, certain components are bar coded. However, the banning of titanium had meant that some steel and aluminium parts have to be replaced more frequently. Engine Engine power is limited to 300bhp by the use of a 33mm diameter restrictor. There are also limits on boost and rpm. Good torque is critical, being needed low down the rev range and with as flat a torque curve as possible. The engine location is moved back to give as close to the desirable 50:50 front : rear weight distribution. o Engines in WRC cars can be moved just 25mm and laid back at 20 about the crankshaft centre. o The exhaust manifold reaches 1100-1200 C so clever insulation is essential. Since the 2015 Rally Portugal, engines can be and are now being built by M-Sport since the FIA now allows teams to build their own. Before that, production blocks and heads had to be used, as was done for the Zetec, Duratc and Ecoboost units. Dry-sumping is also now permitted, which helps weight reduction, and oils are tested for friction reduction. Just one person builds each engine and two dynamometers are used, the lesser one for rebuilds. Testing is for two hours, the transient dyno used for development cost £1.5million. Each WRC driver has three engines per season, each being sealed and identified. No WRC engine can be rebuilt, but if all three become unusable, another can be used but a five minute penalty is applied. Fuel system The Fiesta’s 80 litre fuel tank is located underneath the car ahead of the rear axle, being saddle-shaped to accommodate the prop shaft and exhaust system. The Focus’ tank was 100 litres and had a hole through it for the prop and exhaust! For the WRC, fuel comes from just one supplier and, being 102RON, is not very aggressive. It costs £5 per litre and so a full tank costs £400. Consumption is 3.5mpg for the Fiesta : it was 2.5 for the Focus. Transmission These are critical items, complete with LSDs and aluminium rather than magnesium cases. Xtrac provides the systems for the WRC Fiestas, as they did for the Focus. Once, all three differentials were active and computer controlled, but since 2006, the front and rear have to be mechanical units, just the centre remaining active. Now, in the Fiesta era, there is no centre differential but the front and rear units are still mechanical items. A Fiesta front diff is £20,000 and rear £15,000 : they were £85,000 for a Focus. Spares are limited for WRC events. 2 gearboxes and 2 rear differentials are allowed per event, each being sealed and tagged at Scrutineering. Since the R5 class specifically limits vehicle costs, Sadev transmissions are used. 151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 6 Suspension Five sets of suspension are permitted for each WRC event. Wheel hubs are machined from billets and components have serial and batch numbers for ‘pathology’. Electronics Wiring looms are made to military and aircraft specifications, using pin tables for assembly. Their weight is kept to a minimum so wires can be very small indeed. Design and homologation The rules allow some minor changes once per year. For the Fiesta, it has involved fitting a new front end with the ‘Aston Martin’ grille and lengthening the wheelbase by two inches. M-Sport’s designers presently use 3D printing for prototyping. Workshop practices M-Sport’s input into the top WRC Fiestas is 60% so as to • ensure quality and reliability • control costs • control design and redesign in the light of experience and testing. This can be done overnight if needs be. There are no lifts or ramps in the workshop, simply because there are no such facilities in the rally service areas. There are also no employed apprentices or school leavers, the policy being that people must have suitable prior experience before joining the company. With Sellafield close by, there are some youngsters who have had suitable training. WRC events WRC rallies are usually on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with some starting on the Thursday afternoon / evening. M-Sport’s involvement is not just confined to what is needed for the rally cars and their crews. 200 guests of the sponsors have to be shown the action and also be fed. There are some 90 M-Sport folk present, including 70% of those who build the cars, all of which need meals between 0500 and 2300hrs. So it is perhaps not surprising that 15 articulated trucks are required. For a rally itself, the equipment arrives one week before the event itself. More people then show up 2-3 days before the start and recceing begins one day later. After the event, the cars and M-Sport staff always return to Cockermouth where the cars are specially cleaned before entering the workshop for strip down. The M-Sport Museum There were just three cars in the Museum, others being elsewhere for filming. One was a T-Car aimed at 14 to 17 year olds and whose specifications were closely controlled, having space frame chassis to which Ford and GM parts were fitted. This car was raced for several seasons by Matthew Wilson to obtain the required competition licenses. He won the championship in his second season when just 15 years old. Another was Malcolm’s personal and sole road-going RS1700T, the first such version ever seen in the metal by the writer. The Mk3 Escorts were unsuitable for WRC rallying, having front wheel drive and small engines. So the car was converted to rear wheel drive and fitted with an 1800cc turbo engine. Regrettably, delays in its development by Ford led to it being overtaken by the Audi with its Quattro and Lancia and its 4WD Deltas. Stuart Turner then scrapped the project and looked to the Sierra as a basis for Ford’s next rally car. One six RS1700Ts were built and sold to South Africa The third car was a Fiesta, being the S2000 version registered MM59 ORT in which Mika Hirvonen won the 2010 Rallye Monte Carlo when it was out of the WRC but in the International Rally (IRC) series. The same car was also used by Alistair Fisher in the IRC and ERC and had been restored recently. Malcolm’s own MkII Escort in Stobart livery was in the workshop, having been used for filming. Work commitments have prevented it being used in anger since 2008. Colin McRae’s 1999 Safari-winning Focus was on display elsewhere on the premises. It produced the first WRC win for the Ford Focus but unfortunately was only restore after Colin’s demise. The Future Presently M-Sport has 230 employees and additional contract staff. It receives no support of any kind from Ford now, apart from technical information. Malcolm wishes to diversify and produce high end road cars. The two endurance racing Bentley Continental GTs in the workshop demonstrate the beginnings of diversification, even though racing and 151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 7 rally practices prove not to be so very different in their quests to lighten, strengthen and improve performance. Space is currently at a premium so there are plans for expansion and a test track within the 115 acre site. But whilst it has outline planning approval, some neighbours have called for a judicial review of the proposal. Given that M-Sport provides top-end manufacturing and employment facilities in an area where other large scale engineering is confined to Sellafield and the shipyards of Barrow in Furness, it is hoped that the development will go ahead and add to the increase in manufacturing now (and very much belatedly) recognised as essential for national recovery. David Yorke

MSA ISSUES RALLY SAFETY PROGRESS REPORT : 3 SEPTEMBER 2015 This item is included since the future of stage rallying is at a critical point, and was certainly being discussed in relation to the marshalling of the recent Rally Isle of Man - Editor. The Motor Sports Association (MSA) reports significant progress in its response to the Scottish Government’s Motorsport Event Safety Review (MESR), which published 29 recommendations for UK stage rallying in January. The MSA committed to implementing the recommendations in a staged manner over approximately two years, until early 2017. Now known as RallyFuture, this programme of procedural and cultural change has made great progress on several fronts. Safety Delegate In February, the MSA confirmed the new role of Safety Delegate, with MSA Director Nicky Moffitt appointed to the post in Scotland on an interim basis. The Safety Delegate has overriding authority in matters of safety and is now an essential part of events north of the border. Further Safety Delegates will soon be appointed to cover all multi-venue stage rally events across the UK. Radio frequencies A second radio frequency was brought online for exclusive use by MSA Licensed Officials and safety personnel on stage rallies in Great Britain. The second MSA81 frequency allows for better management of rallies, particularly when there are stages running concurrently. Significant grant funding was made available to help retune and service existing MSA81 radios, or to replace them where necessary to accommodate the additional frequency. Multi-Venue Stage Rally Safety Requirements Published on 24 April and with effect from 1 June, this document detailed how UK rallies must currently be run. It covers topics including risk management, marshals’ training, communication and much more. This document will be superseded by the 2016 Stage Rally Safety Requirements, which will also apply to Single-Venue Stage Rallies and Rally Timed Trials. These are currently being developed and will include detailed guidance for the production of event safety manuals and stage set-up diagrams. Safety Car Roles & Responsibilities This document was published on the MSA website on 1 July, establishing protocols to improve and enhance the safe running of special stages throughout the UK. A pair of pilot training workshops for safety car crews has also been held. More will be run soon, including a unique workshop for closed-road events. Media accreditation A positive and productive meeting of rally media was held in mid-July. This established the framework for a new MSA rally media accreditation system from 2016; the accreditation documents, procedure and guidelines will be made available as soon as possible. Online marshals’ accreditation and training A new online accreditation and training system for rally and cross country marshals is in development and scheduled for launch in January 2016. Full details will be announced in due course but it is envisaged that there will be three modules, providing training in the basic marshalling skill sets required of rally and cross county marshals. Volunteers’ recognition scheme Plans are being developed for a volunteers’ recognition scheme to recognise the hard work and dedication of volunteer marshals and officials, without whom the sport could not function. The scheme is due to launch in 2016 and it will cover the full spectrum of volunteers, not just in rallying but across the disciplines. Full details will be announced in due course.

151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 8 Tracking systems Four different rally tracking systems have been live tested this year on the Mid Wales Stages and the Artwork RallyFuture artwork, featuring rally legend , has been produced and made available on the MSA website for organisers to download and use in event signage and literature. . Grant-aid The British Motor Sports Training Trust (BMSTT) has offered grant aid towards the purchase of red and white safety tape and additional Spectator Warning Notices required under the multi-venue stage rally safety requirements. Eligible clubs can claim up to 60 per cent of additional expenditure totalling up to £750 in 2015. MSA commitment Rob Jones, MSA Chief Executive and Chairman of the RallyFuture Project Steering Group, said: “A few months ago the Forestry Commission made plain that for it to offer a new Master Agreement, the sport must commit to the Motorsport Event Safety Review’s very carefully considered recommendations. Having done so, we are now well advanced with a far-reaching programme of change. “That is cultural as much as procedural change; as such it challenges the status quo and divides opinion in some quarters. However we see this very much as an opportunity not just to secure the future of UK stage rallying but to set new standards for the rest of the world to follow. “None of what the governing body has achieved would have been possible without the overall support of the rallying community and I cannot thank them enough for being with us.”

HRCR MIDLANDS ‘HOME’ MEETING : 7 SEPTEMBER 2015 Another film evening was held at the Stanhope Arms which proved particularly interesting. Bob Duck brought a VHS video of Matlock MC’s 1990 AutoWindscreen Rally, one where he was part of the winning crew, this time as the driver. Fun was had in identifying the competitors and the film crews’ chosen locations for a typical Derbyshire night rally. Bob also brought a Rolls Royce training film in which footage of the iconic blue WRC Impreza had been cleverly spliced with that of a friend’s similarly coloured model. Bill Grainger brought a video of the 2001 London-Sahara-London World Cup Rally 3 on which he had competed in a Citroen C15 diesel van, something that was proven by being visible on the screen. All cars had to be standard production cars with engines of no more than 1400cc. Some competitors were complete novices yet chose to tackle the 6000 miles. The filming was very good but time constraints meant that more will have to be shown on a future occasion. David Yorke has started to digitise his colour slides and showed some from the Crystal Palace start of the 1968 London to Sydney Rally and 1977 RAC Rally, the latter turning into an informal quiz as to who were the drivers and co-drivers. To bring things more up to date, photos taken at Chatsworth and the Winnats Pass during the 1000 Miles Trial reported in an earlier issue of this Newsletter were shown. The general opinion was that the evening had been worthwhile and should be repeated. A more formal picture quiz might be considered so long as a suitable handicap is calculated for Bob!

SHERWOOD RESTORATIONS CLASSIC CAR RUN : 13 SEPTEMBER 2015 Sunday morning and I pick up my usual passengers for the run – Mick & Carol – and we head off to the start. This classic run again had a full entry and it was great to see everyone squeezed into the car park of Sherwood Restorations. After quickly signing on, it was coffee time until the drivers briefing by Brian “The Whistler” Hodges, ably assisted by Andy Smedley. With nearly an hour to wait for our start time, it was a quick look round the showroom at the cars I can / cannot afford. From the start location, it was quickly off down pleasant country lanes and before too long we're at the coffee stop, which this year was the White Swan at Dunham where tea/coffee were served in exchange for the road book voucher, with the option to purchase [reasonably priced] bacon or sausage cogs. On the road again and it’s quick “where's the 40p” as we approach the Dunham toll bridge.

151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 9 Some superb roads now as we arrive at the lunch halt, the bubble gum museum at Langrick near Boston. Unfortunately the cafe struggled to cope with our numbers and there was quite a delay for service. This resulted in me being hastened to finish by Carol as we were the last in the car park! There was no need to panic, however, since the [mystery] food would not be served until 4.30 pm. We parked up to join the queue for food which this year was fish/chips/peas from a Greek mobile . A nice touch was the complementary serving of wine and great talking with others whilst queueing. The food was nicely prepared. Thanks to Brian , Andy and the other helpers for another well run Carlton event . Special thanks to Charles and Sherwood Restorations for their usual welcoming hospitality. Vincent Orme

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

Please send all contributions for next month’s newsletter by no later than Friday 23 October to David Yorke at [email protected] so that it may be sent out close to the beginning of the month.

151000 HRCR Midlands Newsletter 150926 final 10