SERIOUS FUN IN MOTORSPORT! 8 MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ONE Membership gives access to more than 100 Events including the famous GOLD, SILVER & BRONZE Stars

JORDAN ROAD SURFACING BTRDA PROTYRE MOTORSPORT UK ASPHALT FOREST RALLY SERIES RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 7 Events 7 Events 20 Classes including 1400’s & Historic 12 Classes 2018 Champion Driver: Matt Edwards 2018 Champion Driver: Jason Pritchard 2018 Champion Co Driver: Darren Garrod 2018 Champion Co Driver: Phil Clarke

BTRDA CAR TRIAL DEMON TWEEKS BTRDA AUTOTEST CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP 10 Events 12 Events 4 Classes 9 Classes 2018 Champion: Mark Hoppe 2018 Champion: Malcolm Livingston

TOYO TYRES/AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL BTRDA SPORTING TRIALS BTRDA CLUBMANS RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP 24 Events 8 Events 6 Classes 12 Classes 2018 Champion: Roland Uglow 2018 Champion: Luke Constantine

BTRDA AUTOSOLO BTRDA ALLROUNDERS CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP 20 Events ALL BTRDA Events qualify for the Allrounders 5 Classes Championship. 2018 Champion: Neil Jones 2018 Champion: Jamie Yapp

JOINING US...? GO TO BTRDA.COM SPECIAL FEATURE

Scratching the Surface Newark-based Jordan Road Surfacing was set up by Barry Jordan more than 25 years ago. Having worked in the SERIOUS FUN IN MOTORSPORT! industry since he left school, ‘Baz’ now lists a number of blue-chip companies among his clients, including several well-known supermarkets, plus the likes of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire 8 MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS County Councils. ONE Membership gives access to more than 100 Events including the famous GOLD, SILVER & BRONZE Stars “As a service provider, we’re a one-stop shop,” Baz told Pacenotes. “Everything required for their contracts - apart from the tarmac - is available in-house and our Welcome to Pacenotes Rally Magazine's special feature on the BTRDA Rally slogan, ‘Working with you – not for you’, Serious Fun! obviously strikes a chord that has seen the JORDAN ROAD SURFACING BTRDA PROTYRE MOTORSPORT UK ASPHALT Championships! With a focus on the hugely successful gravel series, Howard company evolve into the success it is today. Wilcock turns back the clock to look at some of the most poignant moments FOREST RALLY SERIES RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP in the BTRDA's history... As a self-confessed petrolhead, it was Baz’s 7 Events 7 Events involvement in rallying that culminated in the Jordan Road Surfacing sponsorship 20 Classes including 1400’s & Historic 12 Classes he BTRDA started life in 1938 At dawn, the event changed back to of the BTRDA Rally Series which features 2018 Champion Driver: Matt Edwards 2018 Champion Driver: Jason Pritchard as the British Trial Drivers' a stage event and ran six stages in seven of the best forest rallies that England 2018 Champion Co Driver: Darren Garrod 2018 Champion Co Driver: Phil Clarke TAssociation (BTDA) but Sherwood Forest before a lunchtime and Wales have to offer. as motoring and the availability finish at the Olde Bell at Barnby Baz’s love of motorsport, both on two of cars developed, there were Moor. wheels and four, dates back to his teens. many competitors who wished Interestingly, on this event in 1968, Allied to a particular affinity with Ford to participate in longer and more Escorts, this led to his first rally car arriving arduous motorsport events. To meet the leader was Brian Bell until he crashed out during the last of the as a result of a part-exchange deal when BTRDA CAR TRIAL DEMON TWEEKS BTRDA AUTOTEST this demand, the BTRDA Rallies he was 18. Committee was formed in 1953 and 1991 GS Holfield night-time selectives. Fast-forward CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP created the BTRDA Gold Star and 51 years and he is still actively His initial foray into the world of competition Silver Star Rally Championships. competing on BTRDA Rally Series occurred not far from home on a single 10 Events 12 Events Star, Motoring News and RAC Rally events! venue event held at the former RAF base at 4 Classes 9 Classes The original championship events championships in a Mk1 Lotus Fulbeck in 1985. We’re not privy to how he included the RAC Rally, Circuit Cortina. As a reward for his British The 1970s fared but it was the beginning of an active 2018 Champion: Mark Hoppe 2018 Champion: Malcolm Livingston of Ireland, Morecambe Rally, love affair with the sport! title, Bullough got one of the first By 1970, competitors and cars Scarborough Rally, Scottish Rally Escort Twin Cams for 1968. During the past 30 years, many Escorts and Rally of the Dams. These were were beginning to specialise and 1972 was the last Gold Star Rally have passed through Baz’s hands, not the most challenging rallies in the This was a period when British to mention examples of each of the 10 UK at the time and were mostly long rallying was moving from road to Championship to use both stage and road events. The last of the different Mitsubishi Lancer Evos and a distance, endurance road events. stage rallies and Bullough showed Subaru Impreza formerly driven by 1991 that he was part of that change by multi-tasking champions were Will TOYO TYRES/AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL BTRDA SPORTING TRIALS Sparrow and Nigel Raeburn in their and 1993 World Rally Champion, Juha This was the era of British sports finishing third on the RAC Rally that Kankkunen. BTRDA CLUBMANS RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP cars such as the Triumph and the year, thus helping Ford to win the Mini Cooper S. Austin Healey. At the end of the European manufacturers' title. None of them have spent more than a year CHAMPIONSHIP 24 Events 1950s, a very young Stuart Turner From 1973, the Gold Star in the Jordan stable before being moved Championship was contested 8 Events 6 Classes was the champion navigator for In the mid 1960s, some events on but, when a deal for a Ford Focus three successive years. As the started to incorporate timed ‘Special exclusively on stage rallies, whilst World Rally Car fell through, it prompted 12 Classes 2018 Champion: Roland Uglow championship developed, the events Stages’ in addition to a competitive the Silver Star Championship the purchase of an ‘historic’ specification were changed to include many of night road rally. A typical example continued for road rally competitors Hillman Avenger. 2018 Champion: Luke Constantine and often ran alongside and the most competitive night-time of these combined road and stage Not possessing a particularly illustrious road rallies in the UK including the events was the 1968 Dukeries Rally. complemented the Motoring News Road Rally Championship. pedigree in terms of competition, no great Express & Star, Mini Miglia and the hopes were attached to its arrival but, four London Rally. This started on the Saturday evening with six special stages using private Both these championships were very years and 68 rallies later, it’s still there! roads (including a then unused popular throughout the 1970s and BTRDA AUTOSOLO BTRDA ALLROUNDERS 1980s with good events and huge A 100 per cent finishing record on all seven The 1960s Donington Park). A brief supper rounds of the 2017 BTRDA Rally Series CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP By the 1960s, most of the rally halt was followed by a full 200-mile entries attracting some of the best saw the Avenger finish third overall in the cars being used were a reflection Derbyshire / Staffordshire road rally competitors from around the UK. two-wheel drive category, only beaten by a 20 Events ALL BTRDA Events qualify for the Allrounders of the cars being sold on the high with ‘selectives’ timed to the second. couple of far more powerful Ford Escorts. 5 Classes Championship. street, but with relatively simple Sponsors This year Baz and co-driver Paul Wakely 2018 Champion: Neil Jones modifications to make them more Commercial sponsors have been 2018 Champion: Jamie Yapp have concentrated on the Historic section suitable for use on night-time road an important element of stage rally of the series, winning their class by a rallies. Moving through the decade, championships since the 1970s. country mile and finishing runners-up in the the most successful rally cars were The original title sponsor of the category overall – and the smiles are still Ford Anglias and Mini Coopers, BTRDA Gold Star Championship in evident! through the Cortina GTs to the Lotus the 1970s and 1980s was Esso and Cortinas and early MkI Escorts. Esso Uniflow followed by European In 1967, Jim Bullough and navigator Motorsport. Don Barrow won the BTRDA Gold In the 1990s, it was Ashley JOINING US...? GO TO BTRDA.COM 1992 GS Steve Petch JULY 2019 pacenotes | 33 DRIVER THOUGHTS ON BTRDA

1997 GS Littler 2001 GS Wetton 2002 GS Perrott Graham Middleton Competition Exhausts followed ubiquitous MkII Ford Escort was Ron Crellin, Phil Short, Chris Lord, Former Gold, Silver & by Peugeot Sport. Since then, used to win this title. Stephen Bye, Mike Sones and Jon 1400 Champion! Clear System Solutions, Dunlop, Ballinger have all had a big influence Silverstone Tyres, Get Connected, In 1983, an Audi Quattro driven on the work of the Rallies Committee REIS Insurance, Ravenol and now by Darryl Weidner became the over the years. “My best memory was in the early ‘80s first four-wheel drive car to win a when I competed in the Woodpecker Jordan Road Surfacing have all backed the series. BTRDA Rally Championship, but The idea of ‘reverse seeding’, which Stages which was my first forest rally. was followed by three years of Gold was first used in the mid 1980s, I had been doing the Motoring News Their financial support has Star Champions all driving Opels; came about at the BTRDA Rally and Welsh Championship road rallies enabled the BTRDA Stage Rally 1994 Clinton Smith / Stuart Dytham Committee from a suggestion by so it was quite a bit different to what I Championships to develop and (Ascona 400), 1995 Vince Wetton / Phil Short. It was based on the idea had been used to.” flourish while helping to provide Chris Allen (Ascona 400) and 1996 of creating a build-up of tension and “We entered the 1300 class and coverage and publicity for the Pete Doughty / Lyn Jenkins in a excitement as the final competitors registered for the 1300 Championship. championships as well as pay for Manta 400. (who were the likely winners) some of the essential admin costs. approach the finish of the event. We were seeded at 50-something, and Because of a rising demand from were pleasantly surprised to finish in For 40 years, Tynemouth Computer club competitors, the BTRDA Likewise, the Rallies Committee also a good overall position and win our Services (TCS) has been providing Rallies Committee introduced a developed a ‘second per mile’ time class.” computerised results for the various BTRDA Clubman's Stage Rally handicap system and later a bonus “We continued to have great results championship events. As the BTRDA Championship in 1987, which placed points system to try and balance out throughout the season which then Rally Series has grown in popularity, more emphasis on lower cost forest the performance difference between allowed us to have our first BTRDA TCS has become an indispensable rallies. the various rally cars and, thus, Championship win. We were very partner, undertaking the huge task surprised to win the largest trophy at of collating the championship class, the table. I have very good memories category and overall points after of that year and how welcoming the each event. whole of the championship organisers Martin Liddle and David James were, from top to bottom.” have an excellent results archive of “My second best memory was to win events and championships which the Gold Star Championship. It was can be found online. something that I had my eye on whilst competing in some of the rounds One-Make Series before deciding to make a serious effort to win the championship. Luckily The BTRDA rally championships for me, we won it against some stiff have been a natural home for the opposition in 2004.” one-make stage rally competitions targeted at the club competitor. “Following that, the Silver Star was These have included the Escort my next target. That came in 2007 and Mexicos, Escort 1300s, Faberge again it was a very competitive class Fiestas, the Astra and Nova and a pleasure to win.” Challenges, some rounds of the Lada Challenge, various Peugeot 2004 GS Middleton “I was then asked to compete in the Cups and Trophies, Ford KA Rally new, very competitive 1400 category in Championships and more recently an attempt to make a little bit of history. the revival of the Fiesta ST Trophy. I embraced all of the banter that came That year also saw Ron Beecroft in the way of ‘could the old man beat 1979 was a particularly busy year increase the level of competition and and Mike Kidd crowned as the final the youngsters?’ We managed to do it in this respect with Ford promoting participation. champions of the very competitive in 2009!” both the Ford 1300 Championship Silver Star and Motoring News Road Ian Butcher (Gold Star Champion, and the Faberge Fiesta Ladies Rally Championship, the demise of 1994/95) was Chairman when “It was great to achieve so much Championship which created a huge which is still much lamented. the BTRDA became the first rally and I must give thanks to those who demand for entries on some events. braved the passenger seat in steering championship to switch to Formula Also in 1987, Ian and Pat Beveridge me to the success – thanks to Ella Former British Autotest Champion, 2, and Richie Holfeld (Gold Star became the first BTRDA Gold Star Flynn, John O’Gorman, Paul Morris Trevor Smith, was the Gold Star Champion, 1991) was Chairman Champions driving a Metro 6R4 and Gemma Price. I’d still like to win Rally Champion twice in the early when the current successful format and that model continued to be the another title before I retire so will 1980s but that was the last time was adopted. dominant championship winning car continue to compete in the modern that the for the following five years. BTRDA events!” Organisers The BTRDA Rally Championships are organised and administered by the BTRDA Rallies Committee, a specialist committee of BTRDA Ltd, which has always encouraged the involvement of competitors and former competitors. Mike Broad, 2005 GS Chilman 2003 GS Burton

34 | pacenotes JULY 2019 DRIVER THOUGHTS ON BTRDA

2006 GS Gardener 2008 GS Hunter 2007 GS Nicholls RICKY EVANS The 1990s year?!) this role for the Silver Star Road What is it that draws you to Rally Championship. Since then, the participating the BTRDA series? 1993 was a year of consolidation for It was partly Andy’s success on BTRDA Stage Rally Championship UK stage rallying with the Gold Star events in 2000 which led the Rallies co-ordinators have included Chris “I suppose this goes back to 1994. and Clubman's Rally Championships Committee to review the format of Lord, Phil Short, Keith Baud, Andrew Peugeot supported me and asked if I running on the same calendar of the stage rally championships for the Kellitt, Howard Wilcock, Andy Bull, would be interested in building a 205 events. new millennium. Steve Gregg and more recently Ian to compete in what was known at the time as the Peugeot Sport Formula 2 The BTRDA Rally Championships Arden. Series which ran as part of the BTRDA maintained their popularity The Noughties Championship. We decided to put a car throughout the 1990s with eight In 2001, to reflect rally car trends Benefits of Success together and went on to win the series successful years (1993 - 2000) and competitor demand, the format One of the main reasons for running and also claimed the Gold Star award. when the Gold Star Championship, was changed, with the Gold Star any championship is to bring Then, in 1995, we thought we would supported by Peugeot Sport, was Championship again being open together competitors so that they give it another go but this time try to win exclusively for front-wheel drive to all stage rally cars, the Silver can compete against each other on all of the events that year. We did just Formula 2 cars, whilst the Silver Star Championship exclusively a number of similar events over a as we said and made it a clean sweep! Star Championship was contested for the two-wheel drive cars, and season. This competition creates a Personally, the BTRDA has always had by non-homologated two and four- the creation of the BTRDA 1400 great sense of camaraderie between the best organised clubman events wheel drive cars. Championship. the crews and their supporters which hence the reason why my sons, Matthew This change was a great success The aim was to encourage is often illustrated by the help that and Dan, have followed in my footsteps and attracted competitive fields of participation in forest stage rival teams give to each other during and are currently taking part in the up to 70 F2 cars in addition to the rallying by providing a range of the season. championship with a 205!” traditional mix of two and four-wheel well supported and competitive A key benefit of being part of a What is your favourite BTRDA drive rally cars. rally championships which successful championship is that memory? were accessible to the clubman Ricky Evans and Ian Butcher were bringing together a large number competitor. The BTRDA 1400 “For me it has to be the 1995 the Gold Star champions in both of competitors means that the Championship quickly became very Woodpecker Rally! Why? I started as car 1994 and 1995 when a hard-driven championship events become popular and developed a devoted one on the road, with the number one on Peugeot 205 GTi was initially the car financially viable. It’s all about the following. Some of the event results my doors and I remember being on the to have. This changed to an Astra numbers! achieved by 1400 crews have been start ramp waiting to be waved off by the GSi for a couple of years and by truly amazing. The current breakeven point for a UK Lord Mayor. I was sitting there thinking 1998, when Adam Kent and Andy forest event has gradually increased to myself, ‘wow...is this what it feels like Bull were Gold Star champions, it It was around this time that the term over the years and is now around to be a world rally driver about to start an was a Peugeot 306 S16. BTRDA Rally Series was introduced 110 entries. Therefore, being part of event with the crowds gathered?’ It was to better describe the growing Nick Elsmore used a Nissan Sunny a championship that is able to attract an amazing moment!” number of championships and 60, 70 or even 80 crews is a huge to win in 1999 and in the final year categories. The rally championships’ of F2 cars, Martin Meadows and Ian advantage to any rally organiser and Golden Jubilee year in 2002 was one means that they can plan their event Oakey won using a Proton Compact of the most popular with 210 drivers and were chased by a whole host with confidence. and 230 co-drivers registered, JAP POWER of Peugeot 106 GTis. Whatever the including a very young Jari-Matti In turn, this should mean that they ISSUE 166 MAY 2018 MK2 ESCORT make and model of car, one constant Latvala, and full entries on every are able to set the event entry fee SWIFT MOVER! throughout the Formula 2 era was event. at a ‘reasonable’ level - although MATT EDWARDS WINS IN WALES the very close competition. stage rallying is never going to be Andy Burton also made his mark Co-ordinators cheap! A bumper championship entry during this period, winning the also makes it a little easier to attract The role of the BTRDA Rally enough marshals and officials, Silver Star Championship in 1995 CHRIS LLOYD Championship Co-ordinator has also without whose support rallying would AN INSPIRATION and again in 2000. (Who could developed and expanded over time. JOHN NAYLOR INTERVIEW / MARTIN HOLMES WRAP-UP / FIESTA ST-LINE REVIEW forget his hilarious speech at the simply not happen. Championship Awards presentation During the 1980s, the official The individual rallies that have been BOGIE BAGS SPEYSIDE EVANS WINS CLACTON MONAGHAN MAGIC

ERC AZORES // WRC CORSICA // SPEYSIDE // RALLYNUTS // CIRCUIT OF KERRY // 04 where he brought out all the Championship Co-ordinator for the REPORTS MONAGHAN // SHACKLETON // EASTER STAGES // NORTH WALES // CORBEAU STAGES 7 CAERWENT // WARCOP // LIMERICK FORESTRY // SMC // DCC // MOONRAKER // included in the BTRDA Rally Series 18 INSIDE RSA AGHADOWEY // ALAN HEALY MEMORIAL + MUCH MORE 71473 72509 mechanical parts of the car that had Stage Rally Championship was Ron over the past 66 years are one of PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH SINCE 2003 TWITTER.COM/PACENOTESRALLY FACEBOOK.COM/RALLYMAG 97 “stopped him winning” during the Crellin with Mike Sones undertaking the key reasons for its success.

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2009 GS Wright 2010 GS Perez 2011 GS Burton

Since 1993, the BTRDA Rally Series that the BTRDA award each year is minimum. Better to spend a limited has had a more settled calendar of the Bill Turner Trophy for the ‘best rallying budget on competing events with only small changes from event in the BTRDA Rally Series’. A on events and gaining valuable JASON LEPLEY year to year. list of the events and clubs that have experience, rather than buying What is it that draws you to won this award can be found in the expensive performance modifications participating the BTRDA series? Some of the traditional BTRDA archive section of the BTRDA Rally which are often unreliable and may events, such as the Dukeries Series website. only help you to go off quicker! “Because it’s the biggest National and the Somerset Stages, are no Rally Championship in the UK, not to longer included because they are Andy Burton and the Peugeot Rally First cars are very economical mention the longest standing with the unable to run as forest stage rallies. Cosworth became synonymous in fuel and tyres and have generally best reputation and best supported. If But events such as the Malcolm with the BTRDA Rally Series, not been more reliable than other more you win in the BTRDA, then you really Wilson Rally, the Nicky Grist Stages only by winning the Gold Star modified rally cars. They also do very did deserve to win. That’s no disrespect (formerly Quinton), the Woodpecker Championship in 2003 and 2011, little damage to the gravel roads, so to championships such as the BRC but and the Plains rallies have all been but also for winning many BTRDA they are relatively environmentally the numbers of competitors are very low part of the BTRDA Rally Series for events, including a remarkable run friendly. so the winner is usually whoever has more than 30 years. of victories on his home event, the the least issues and the gaps between Woodpecker Stages. This idea quickly caught on and by The ‘specification’ for a successful 2011, there were up to 20 of the the top five are huge. Along with the BTRDA Rally Series event has not Graham Middleton also completed Rally First cars on events, some of costs aspect, time wise and financially changed much over recent years a unique feat of being Gold Star which were being hired by relatively the BTRDA offers good value compared and is really quite straightforward. Champion in 2004, Silver Star new competitors as an ideal to the BRC. The BTRDA has moved The aim is to provide a one-day, 45 Champion in 2007 and finally the introduction to stage rallying. with the times and constantly change stage mile event with good stages BTRDA 1400 Champion in 2009. or create new classes, for example, the that competitors enjoy. Dave Bennett and Alistair McNeil new R2 class, historic class, 1400s and Jon Ballinger has competed in the were the first BTRDA Rally First B13 for modified Group N cars.” Time is a very valuable for the vast BTRDA Silver Star Championship champions in 2008 and again in majority of competitors, service for many years and became a triple 2009. They went on to win the What is your favourite BTRDA crews, officials and marshals so BTRDA champion by winning in BTRDA 1400 Championship in 2015. memory? any event needs to be structured 2002, 2003 and 2010 in his trusty “Although I competed and won, seeing to make the best use of the time Opel Manta. The feat was matched Challenges my son George win the Silver Star needed to participate. by Matthew Robinson who was For eight years, until 2017, the Championship last year in an underdog Silver Star Champion in 2012, 2013 car, and being the youngest ever All the formalities of scrutineering and 2014. BTRDA Rallies Committee was led and documentation should be by Norman Robertson and had to person to do so, was a great father completed on a Friday afternoon or During this period, Julian Wilkes successfully negotiate significant and son moment. It’s a great sense of evening and the competition should and Will Rutherford were the challenges within UK stage rallying, achievement.” take place within an eight-hour dominant crew in the BTRDA 1400 the BTRDA Rally Series and the envelope, finishing by late Saturday Championship, winning in both 2012 Committee. afternoon so that competitors can and 2013, and achieving some travel home on the Saturday evening memorable results way above what The restriction on the stage rally and spend Sunday at home with was expected of a 1400 Nova. running order imposed suddenly by their families. the MSA in 2015 at the time of the A roll of honour of the all the BTRDA Stage Rally Safety Review was a Rally Champions over the past 65 significant blow to the BTRDA Rally Volunteers, Trophies & years is on page 46. Series, especially competitors in the Champions popular BTRDA 1400 and Rally First Just like the BTRDA, all the Rally First championships as well as those with individual event organisers are older Historic spec rally cars. volunteers who make a huge The BTRDA Rally First commitment to their events in order Championship was introduced in These cars were - and still are - an to provide the platform for the rally 2008. This innovative idea was to essential part of any BTRDA rally crews to compete. Unfortunately, the create a category for essentially entry. The decision was imposed STEVE BROWN recent ‘Rally Future’ Stage Safety standard cars based on any of the without consultation and was a knee- Requirements, whilst necessary, popular small hatchbacks that are jerk reaction without justification or What is it that draws you to have significantly increased the readily available at a modest price. evidence base. It soon had an effect participating the BTRDA series? burden on the event organisers. on competitor numbers and by the Only very limited modifications start of the following season, there “When I did the BTRDA, they had a One of the most coveted trophies are permitted to keep costs to a was a 50 per cent reduction good F1000 Championship with lots of competition with the classes being full and all having the same cars. The BTRDA do a brilliant job of looking after all competitors from the top of the entry list down to the bottom.” What is your favourite BTRDA memory? “Winning the championship in 2010 on the last stage of the last round at the Cambrian Rally. It was a good battle all 2012 GS Gardener year, meaning it literally went to the last 2013 GS Thorburn 2014 GS Perez stage of the season.”

JULY 2019 pacenotes | 37 DRIVER THOUGHTS ON BTRDA

2016 GS Payne 2017 GS Petch 2015 GS Weston

(approx. 25 crews) in the 1400 and the BTRDA Rally Championships. the Silver Star Championships in DYLAN DAVIES Rally First entries. For Matt Edwards, his success in the 1990s and grandfather, Graham 2018 was the culmination of a long Lepley, was runner up in the Gold What is it that draws you to This had a detrimental effect on participating the BTRDA series? journey which began back in 2004 Star Championship in the mid-70s. the BTRDA events as well as the when he first started to compete on “The BTRDA is achievable to the BTRDA Rally Series. It was not just BTRDA events in an old 1300 Astra. 2019 Committee working man. We only need to take the an issue of running first through the Friday off from work and go rally. Most stages, but also the loss of identity Since then he has become the The present committee, under other championships rely on nearly a and the camaraderie that had been BTRDA 1400 Champion and the Chairmanship of Neil Cross, week away.” created in these groups. English Rally Champion in 2010 continues to include a number of in a MG ZR, and then, in 2012, he current and former competitors as Favourite BTRDA memory? Thankfully, this restriction was was the runner-up in the Gold Star well as experienced event organisers rescinded midway through 2018 Championship with a Mitsubishi Evo. and officials. So it has first-hand “It has to be the Quinton Stages in and this year more competitors experience of present-day stage 2011. It was our first year in a four- have returned to the BTRDA 1400 2018 started with a difficult result rallying and is able to understand wheel drive car and we battled hard Championship, but unfortunately the on his home event, the Cambrian what competitors want. with Tom Cave and Jamie Anderson BTRDA Rally First numbers have not Rally, but from then on Matt and in Group N. We managed to finish fifth yet recovered. co-driver Darren Garrod dominated The BTRDA is always on the overall and won Group N.” with four event wins and maximum lookout for new members to join its Competitors cannot simply be points on the Rallynuts, Plains, Rallies Committee – so, if you have ‘switched on’ and from making the Nicky Grist and the Woodpecker to an interest in helping to drive the decision to compete on stage rallies, give them an unassailable lead. Matt future of the most successful Rally it takes significant time and money and Darren had a stellar rallying Championships in the UK, then get to get both the car and crew to the year, also securing the British Rally in touch! start line. Championship title. The 2019 Jordan Road Surfacing Fiestas and R2 George Lepley and Tom Woodburn BTRDA Rally Series is the 66th (Fiesta R2) are the 65th BTRDA consecutive year of the BTRDA The Fiesta ST Trophy has been Silver Star Champions, and at the Gold Star and Silver Star Rally a valuable addition to the BTRDA age of 21, George is the youngest Championships. It is open to all Rally Series since 2016, and thanks ever winner. He was quick and Motorsport UK licence holders and particularly to the enthusiasm consistent throughout the year with includes a wide range of competition of Ian Arden, it has become an six class wins in six events, and classes to ensure that all stage rally ideal starting point for forest stage wrapped up the BTRDA Rallye R2 cars are accommodated. rallying. Cup on the Woodpecker Stages. As well as the Gold Star, Silver ED FOSSEY It was also a precursor to the They often finished events in the top Star, BTRDA 1400 and Rally First introduction of the BTRDA Rallye R2 20 and on the Carlisle Stages, they Championships, there is the Historic What is it that draws you to Cup in 2018 which has been a great were 14th and the highest placed Cup, Production Cup, the BTRDA participating the BTRDA series? success, with 15 crews registered 2WD crew. In recognition of his Rally R2 Cup and the Fiesta ST this year. The more modern range domination of the inaugural BTRDA Trophy. “The biggest draw to competing in the of R2 cars are perceived as more R2 Cup and for being the youngest BTRDA is the competitiveness of the relevant by younger competitors and ever BTRDA Silver Star Rally The 2019 calendar includes seven entire series, regardless of what class the Rallye R2 Cup will certainly be Champion, George also received the one-day forest rallies with the best you’re in. There’s competition from an important element in the future of Phil Price Trophy for Rally Man of five scores to count, and plans for Rally First all the way up to the Gold the BTRDA Rally Series. the Championship. 2020 are already being discussed. Star class, and this is something that you cannot find in any other series Current Champions However, George was not the first Other Series across the UK. The range of events is ‘Lepley’ to compete in the BTRDA The current Gold Star and Silver While the gravel rally series also world class with differing forests Rally Championships. His father, Star Champion drivers both have is among the most successful around England and Wales offering very Jason, was a serious competitor in differing stages.” a long-standing association with motorsport championships in the UK, the BTRDA encompasses many What is your favourite BTRDA other motorsport events too. memory? The association also holds the permit “My favourite BTRDA memory is for the popular Protyre Motorsport probably of the 2017 Trackrod Rally UK Asphalt Championship as well when we won the 1400 championship. as a host of grassroots events that The event itself is my favourite on the include autosolos, autotests, car calendar with a great mix of fast and trials, sporting trials and rallycross. technical sections, and to be able to win the title on the very last stage of Whether you want to compete in the event was an amazing feeling! To your everyday road car or a potent be able to repay Mum and Dad and high-powered rally car, there's everyone at Yokohama, Harrow Wood something there for everyone. Check Farm, TS Tools and SVP for all their out www.btrda.com to find out more! hard work throughout the year was a great feeling.” 2018 Gold Star Champion Matt Edwards Loads more over >>>

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JN5245_REISS_ADVERT_265x170_prf1.indd 2 23/02/2018 16:37 Pleased to be associated with the Competitors & Events of the BTRDA Rally Championship!

JULY 2019 pacenotes | 39 DRIVER THOUGHTS ON BTRDA Rallies Chair: Neil Cross I’ve been Chair of the BTRDA Rallies Committee for a little over 18 months now, having been a member since 2011 when the event I clerk, the Nicky Grist Stages, won the coveted Bill Turner Trophy for ‘Best Event’...

I sat on the committee as a MATTHEW HIRST representative of the events in that What is it that draws you to first year and then stood for election participating the BTRDA series? as a member in my own right. When the previous Chair, Norman “Firstly, the pace within the championship Robertson, stood down, I stepped is fierce. There are around 15 forward. competitors all capable of being the first non-R5/WRC on a good day. If you really The BTRDA Rallies Committee study the results, you will see that it’s runs the BTRDA Rally Series, and often just seconds here and there that the Motorsport UK English Rally decide positions. That means you really Championship on behalf of the have to focus on the little things and by BTRDA. We meet three times a doing that, you can really up your level year where we discuss all things of performance. Secondly, the variety of championship, from what events will events. There are lots of classic stages form the series through to organising and the fact that all the events are one the awards evening. As Chair, I have day works for everyone involved. Thirdly, responsibility for all the budgets and I the championship offers generous junior agree the final arrangements with the 30 years ago when Pete brought competitors who have suffered a driver incentives and prizes. Finally, the sponsors and supporters. an ex-Electricity Board Series 3 mechanical breakdown or have ‘run camaraderie and just general enjoyment We are a small committee when you Land Rover. Since then, we have out of talent’ and parked their car in you get from competing in what is a consider what we organise and will used a couple of Range Rovers and the undergrowth. welcoming championship with a tight knit always welcome willing volunteers. Discoveries, and used the call sign loyal bunch of competitors and organisers ‘Quinton Recovery’ during that time. Our record for being on duty was One volunteer is worth 10 pressed at a Woodpecker event. We signed is a big draw.” men, as they say! Our current call sign comes from my time working at the Channel on at 7am and during the running of Favourite BTRDA memory? As I already mentioned, my Tunnel. Our normal radio call sign is the stage, we attended the scene involvement with the Committee ‘Cheriton’. of a car fire with the Rescue Unit. “Putting aside personal memories of the Then we spent five hours recovering championship, you’d be hard pressed started when I represented the Nicky Grist Stages way back in 2011 as We have covered events from a car, eventually leaving the forest to look past Andy Burton’s Peugeot. It’s local single venues through to the at 2am. After that, we were back on quite possibly the coolest thing ever! Clerk of the Course. I have been Clerk for 10 years now, having first BTRDA Rally Series, the old ANCRO duty at another stage at 7.30am the However, I’m sure that will be mentioned National Championship, British Rally following day! elsewhere, so for a left of field mention marshalled on the event in 1986 when it was known as the Nicolet. Championship and the World Rally I’d suggest Dave Brick in his 1400 Nova. Championship’s Wales Rally GB. We Sometimes we work with other I don’t know him, but I have seen quite a The event is now celebrating its 40th have also provided cover at several units to complete a difficult or tricky few videos of him doing some certifiable running, 30 years if which it has WRC teams’ pre-event tests. recovery. Each unit has gone through things in that car and I’ve got nothing but been a round of the BTRDA Rally the same training and carries the respect for him for putting on such a good Series and 10 years of which it’s had same basic kit so it makes working show.” with others fairly seamless. sponsorship from Nicky Grist. What do we do and As Chair of the Rally Series and a how do we do it? When it comes to competitors, we have had a number of repeat Clerk of the Course, it’s important Motorsport UK set out what kit we that I’m out and about supporting customers over the years. One have to carry and what training competitor we recovered twice on other events, including those outside we need to do gain our licence to of the championship. To that end, one event and then once again on operate. Basically, we carry stops the next event! I’m often out marshalling in various and chains, fire extinguishers and guises, be it in a safety car, or first aid kit. We also have suspended We can often be found ‘resting our running a time control or a radio tow facilities. eyelids’ during an event but rest point. assured, we can spring into action As a Recovery Unit, we are there and be ready in a moment! However, some of our competitors to support our rescue colleagues get to see me in another role. Along should they need to attend an with my brother, Pete, we run a fully incident. Thankfully, these aren’t too STEPHEN PETCH licensed Motorsport UK Recovery often but we can assist with vehicle Unit – call sign ‘Tunnel Recovery’. stabilisation and casualty extraction. What is it that draws you to Chair,Neil BTRDA Cross Rallies Committee participating the BTRDA series? We started life as Rover 27, nearly Our main role is to remove stricken “The championship suits my lifestyle with work commitments and not too much time away. It also has a great selection of gravel rallies but it’s a shame they’re not a bit longer.” Favourite BTRDA memory? “My favourite memory is probably winning the Trackrod Rally because it was local and my first BTRDA rally victory.”

40 | pacenotes JULY 2019 Tel: 07791433628 Email: [email protected] www.dylandaviesrally.com RALLYING

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JULY 2019 pacenotes | 41 The Rise of

theIt was an intriguing opportunity when Pacenotes Magazine invited me WORDS BTRDA MARTIN HOLMES to write my column this month about the golden days of the British Trial IMAGES and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA)... MARTIN HOLMES RALLYING

o my surprise, I realised that I had never really known very much about the BTRDA Twhen I was competing in British rallying, even though I had been in the thick of the action. I could even say that the BTRDA was a forgotten championship, even if it is now in its 66th year; it is the oldest rally championship in the land. The British Rally championship started operations in 1958, the Motoring News championship in 1961 but the BTRDA began in 1953 and for a long time, the qualifying events largely overlapped. Until the Forestry Commission opened its property to motorsport in the ‘60s, the essence of rallying in mainland Britain had been night rallying on open roads, MIDNIGHT AT THE 1971 CILWENDEG RALLY held in locations where the roads were less crowded. Welsh Road Rallying from South Wales in a Mini Cooper S. We were doing fine until the car suddenly stopped. In the days before the internet arrived, the Wales was the active area of the British Isles for medium which held the sport together was the night closed road rallying, a sport that was so “Driveshaft again,” he exclaimed. As I collected Motoring News weekly newspaper and outside popular that compulsory systems of allocations my maps hoping for a passing spectator to take the major international rallies, the centre of the of roads became necessary. All over the me to safety, I found Alun joking with a local national sport was the Motoring News road Principality it was not just the competitors who farmer. rally series, helped by commercial support from rushed around the countryside at night - almost Castrol. as many cars were manned by marshals who “I know him well, in fact I retired here on a rally last weekend." What broke that time? “That was It was a crowded sport in which the leading dashed from one location to set up their next control. a driveshaft as well, and it failed in exactly the national championship rallies of the day counted same spot on this road!” for at least two of the championships – indeed And then, on the bigger events, there were more than two as the BTRDA series was itself the fans dashing from one exciting spot to the Wales has some splendid if sometimes very split up into two different series, the Gold and next. Some rallies were spectator meccas, testing rally roads. Virtually the highest road the Silver series. The media world ensured that not the least was the Newcastle Emlyn based in Wales, the Bwlch-y-Groes (the Pass of the the MN series was the major interest source of Cilwendeg Rally. Cross), was frequently used on road rallies, very the sport in those days but basking in reflected close to the family home of Elfyn Evans. glory was BTRDA. On the nearby Nutcracker Rally (a typical joint MN and BTRDA event) my driver was Alun Rees On one frozen night in 1965, the Shunpiker Rally used this road. A ‘shunpiker’ was a traveller in Wales who took to side roads in olden days to avoid paying the tolls at the turnpike gates. It was so icy that many crews, including our Mini Cooper 998 could only climb the pass in reverse, at night, up a road on the edge of an unguarded drop down to a valley. It was only 50 years later, when Rally GB used this road as a daylight road section, did we discover how dangerous it had been. The road had now been extensively barriered, but the daylight now allowed competitors to see what a spectacular part of Wales this was. The night rallies were spread over many other areas of Britain, one of the most attractive was in South West England. One night we came to a halt with a detached tie bar on our Cooper S on a Plymouth Rally and hobbled off to seek refuge off rally route in a farmyard. We switched off the engine and heard a lot of gun fire. Did they hate rally drivers so much? WORKS PREPARED ONE-LITRE HILLMAN IMP OF TRIPLE CHAMPIONS COLIN MALKIN AND JOHN BROWN (BTRDA GOLD STAR, BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP AND MOTORING NEWS SERIES 1968)

42 | pacenotes JULY 2019 WELL USED MINI COOPER S OF ALUN REES (RALLY OF THE EARLY RALLY EXPERIENCES FOR TONY POND AT THE 1968 BWLCH-Y-GROES FINALLY VISIBLE IN DAYLIGHT ON WALES VALES 1969) NUTCRACKER RALLY RALLY GB 2018

Eventually the firearms bearing farmers found were few and far between up there. organisational controls were imposed. These us quivering in the car. It seemed we had were not helped by the imposition of a new interrupted their weekend vigil of shooting the When Paul Faulkner (from Waterlooville in open road overall speed limit of 50 miles per vermin in the farmyard! They happily welded up Hampshire) and I (from Woking) won the hour (80kph), the transition from major events to the car’s subframe for us, enough for us to drive Illuminations in Lancashire, we were treated special stage events was inevitable. to civilisation. like friendly aliens! We made friendships which lasted a lifetime and we learned so much about The BTRDA championship survived this The character of the roads in Devon were the our country. transition and nowadays they aim themselves high banks on either side. It was like driving all firmly on stage rallying for amateur competitors night through tunnels. Rallying round the country Road to Stage - their Gold Star series for drivers of four-wheel taught us the character of the people around the drive cars and the Silver series for two-wheel country. The BTRDA gradually replaced road rallies drive cars. with stage rallying at the end of the ‘60s, but Every northern rally finished at some large before then the road rallies, whether they were The old times were glorious days while we had country club estate which had obtained local national championship, Motoring News or them. The recently enacted public road closing licences to sell beer to competitors so they could BTRDA events, attracted competitors who had opportunities are being studied to discover if any drink to celebrate the arrival of dawn and await considerable experience of foreign events. of the classic night rally roads could now be run the publication of the results. competitively in daylight, maintaining the driving Semi professional high speed road rallying had delights while providing the chance to see the Yorkshire rallies were popular, long, high-speed a relatively short lifespan. Rallying underwent a countryside for the first time. moorland roads which meant that for navigators metamorphosis in the ‘70s when the fuel crisis it was hard to get lost as there were very few brought British road motorsport to a standstill, junctions. Crews from the south of the country and as the sport waited to start up again, new

Malcolm Gibbs and Randal Morgan, Gold Star and Silver Star Champions, also Motoring News Champions, 1966

JULY 2019 pacenotes | 43 BTRDA MEMORIES BTRDA Loyal Photos by www.pro-rally.co.uk LookingCustomers back at the BTRDA series over the past quarter of a century, there’s been plenty of changes in terms of both crews and cars. Phil James reports... COLIN MCRAE ON BTRDA Colin McRae only ever contested one round, the 1988 Border Auto Developments Rally (Border Counties), where he and Derek Ringer took victory in a RED Ford 2002 NHFR: JOEL/WOOD 2004 CAMBRIAN: JOEL/WOOD 2011 WOODPECKER: JOEL/WOOD Sierra Cosworth. Pictured: Colin McRae/Derek Ringer t's not surprising really. What is 120mph and braking, the car was still their Lancashire base on a Friday - 1988 Border Auto Developments surprising is that throughout this travelling at 98mph when it hit a tree. afternoon and are back home with period of time, one particular crew, their families on a Saturday evening. Rally – Craik Forest.// pro-rally.co.uk I It wasn’t just the end of their rally, Ian Joel and Graeme Wood in a ------Ford Escort Cosworth, have been a it was the end of that particular car, They enjoy all the rallies on the familiar sight on BTRDA rounds. which was then replaced by the one calendar, but some more than Current Hyundai World Rally Team they still compete in today. others. Both of them like the driver, Andreas Mikkelsen, has a Since competing together for the first Trackrod, despite it often using bend in Greystoke Forest named time on the 1995 Wyedean Rally, Another ‘down’ came on the final Cropton, while Ian singles out after him. It’s where he crashed his the pair have started close to 100 round of the 1999 series, the the Nicky Grist and Graeme the Ford Focus WRC on the Malcolm BTRDA rounds together in one of Cambrian Rally, when a ‘10 pence’ Woodpecker and Cambrian. Wilson Rally in 2007. The location two Ford Escort Cosworths. mechanical failure left them stranded is hardly recognisable today as the on the road section en-route to the They both miss the Carlisle and trees have been felled! The only year in which they didn’t start of the opening stage. They’d the Somerset rallies, despite the contest any BTRDA rounds was hoped for a good result in order to long journey, but suggest that the ------2010 when they dabbled with some pip Brian Bell and Paul Spooner for current crop of events contains too tarmac events but that didn’t last. the title but it wasn’t to be. many stages in Wales. As a national Richard Burns contested four The draw of gravel rallying soon championship, they feel it should BTRDA rounds between 1988 and pulled them back into the forests Such incidents are brushed off as have a more geographical spread, 1991, winning his class on both the and their love affair with the BTRDA part and parcel of the sport as they including a round in Scotland, and 1989 Cambrian Rally in a Toyota series continues to this day. have far more positives to look back put forward the Border Counties as a Corolla GT and the 1991 York on. Winning the Somerset in that suitable candidate. National Rally in a Peugeot 205 GTi. As with most things in life, it hasn’t 1999 campaign is obviously one all been plain sailing and they’ve of them and more recently their Notwithstanding that, they both ------experienced some ups and a few runners-up finish on this year’s reckon the championship benefits Jari-Matti Latvala contested four downs along the way. Indeed, it was Malcolm Wilson Rally is another. from having some of the UK’s best rounds of the 2002 series - the one of those downs that could have stages, Radnor being a particular put paid to their rally careers, and The positives clearly outweigh the favourite of Graeme’s while Ian rates Dukeries, Quinton, Plains and negatives though and one of the Cambrian. His best result came with more besides, but thankfully they the Woodpecker’s Haye Park, in survived to tell the tale. biggest positives for Ian and Graeme whichever direction it’s run! second place on the Cambrian at the is the way each round is formatted. wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6. Well, Graeme can, but Ian, whose For most events, together with their There’s more to their continued ------helmet split after hitting the roll cage, long-standing service crew, Paul support of the BTRDA series than can’t remember a single thing about Alderson and Dave Hurst, they leave the calendar though. It clearly meets The 1979 BTRDA Gold Star Series the whole of that fateful day that their budget constraints and the opener, the Dukeries National Rally, ended with him being hospitalised in camaraderie between competitors attracted no fewer than 270 entries Scarborough. ranks high in their reasons to return all vying for a place on the start list to the championship year after year. that was limited to 130 cars. How The day in question was Saturday times have changed! 6 April, 2002, and the event was "We see all the events as a the North Humberside Forest Rally. challenge and we never get tired of ------Entering a tightening left hand doing them," Ian revealed. "Added bend in Cropton at 2015 TRACKROD: JOEL/WOOD to that, we enjoy some really good WIN WIN fESTIvAL TICkETS PG 23 PRODUCTION CAR DIRECTORY banter with those we’re in close Pacenotes competition with.” RALLY MAGAZINE Issue 122 | MAY 2014 www.rAllYMAgAzIne.coM Graeme summed up why many BTRDA regulars continue to support the series STEvE SEALS SOMERSET when he said: “It’s SUCCESS been the best rally championship in the UK for the past 25 years!” What more can 05 BREEN: SEB’S 9 771473 725080 A GREEk fAB £3.95 / €5.25 / Benelux €8.95 GOD fOURTH be said? REPORTS FROM PADDY WRC PORTUGAL // BORDER COUNTIES // LOOKOUT STAGES // MURPHY’S POWER TALBENNY // SOMERSET // MIDLAND // CIRCUIT OF KERRY // MOONWALk ALAN HEALEY MEMORIAL // TOUR OF CAERWENT // AGBO // SMC STAGES // GET IT SIDEWAYS // AGHADOWEY // ERC ACROPOLIS // MOONRAKER // DCC STAGES

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44 | pacenotes JULY 2019 George Lepley & Tom Woodburn

2018 BTRDA Silver Star Champions 2018 R2 Rallye Cup Champions 2018 BTRDA Junior Driver Champion 2018 English Championship Junior Champion 2019 Cambrian Rally Historic Winner & 1st 2WD 2019 Malcolm Wilson Rally Historic Winner &1st 2WD 2019 Rallynuts Stages Historic Winner & 1st 2WD 2019 Plains Rally Historic Winner & 1st 2WD

A special thank you to Baz Jordan for the loan of his Special thanks to the following for their continued support... car this season, and to Jondel for a superb engine.

Pleased to be associated with the BTRDA Rally Championship & wishing them future success!

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JULY 2019 pacenotes | 45 ROLLS OF HONOUR GOLD SILVER STAR STAR 1954 JIMMY RAY DR J T SPARE 1955 JOHN WADDINGTON ERNIE SNEATH 1956 JOHN WADDINGTON ALEC NEWSUM 1957 RON GOULDBOURNE BOBBY PARKES The Recipe of Success 1958 RON GOULDBOURNE TOM GOLD The BTRDA Rally Championships have been a consistent favourite 1959 JOHN SPRINZEL KEN WALKER 1960 BRIAN HARPER ARTHUR HOBSON among competitors and rally fans for many years. But what is it that 1961 BILL BENGRY BRIAN HARPER makes the gravel championship such a popular series? 1962 TONY FISHER REG MCBRIDE 1963 TONY FISHER REG MCBRIDE 1964 ERIC JACKSON DAVID FRISWELL 1965 BRIAN MELIA PETER NOAD 1966 MALCOLM GIBBS MALCOLM GIBBS SUPER 1967 ROY FIDLER JIM BULLOUGH EVENTS 1968 COLIN MALKIN LIZ BARLOW 1969 JOHN BLOXHAM LIZ GRELLIN 1970 JIM BULLOUGH WILL SPARROW VALUE GREAT 1971 WILL SPARROW FRANK PEIRSON FOR CLASS 1972 WILL SPARROW RANK PEIRSON MON£Y BATTLES 1973 RICHARD ILIFFE JOHN EDWARDS-PARTON 1974 GORDON BATCHLOR KEITH WATKINSON 1975 DAVID STOKES MIKE BRIANT 1976 GEOFF SIMPSON MIKE PATTERSON 1977 MIKE BAYLISS BILL GYWNNE 1978 TIM BRISE BILL GYWNNE 1979 GEOFF SIMPSON MIKE BRIANT 1980 MALCOLM PATRICK MIKE BRIANT 1981 TREVOR SMITH RON BEECROFT 1982 TREVOR SMITH MIKE HUTCHINSON 1983 DARREL WEIDNER THEO BENGRY 1984 CLINTON SMITH GWYNDAF EVANS 1985 VINCE WETTON RON BEECROFT 1986 PETER DOUGHTY STEVE HILL 1987 IAN BEVERIDGE RON BEECROFT 1988 BILL PARTON BOB MORLEY he secret recipe for success lies with the variety Who wants an extra £24 on their entry fee? And 1989 SIMON PATON KEIRON PATTERSON of categories that cater to all competitors, the that’s before we start to think about any additional 1990 ANDY SHARAM MARTYN ANDREWS Tformat of events, plus the challenging stages Forestry Commission fees. 1991 RICHIE HOLFIELD WILL CLARKE that form part of well-organised rallies. 1992 STEVE PETCH JASON BIRD Classes 1993 NEIL FREEMAN STEPHEN FRENCH Over the years, the BTRDA has nailed every aspects 1994 RICKY EVANS ADRIAN STRUTHERS of those requirements. The series has always When we talk about the BTRDA gravel championship, 1995 RICKY EVANS ANDY BURTON changed with the times, helping it to stay relevant we're actually referring to a number of different 1996 STUART EGGLESTON MATTHEW CLARKE and affordable for competitors at all levels of the championships. And within each of those, there is 1997 PETER LITTLER WARREN PHILLISKIRK sport. a huge variety of classes and awards that gives all 1998 ADAM KENT THEO BENGRY Like many things in life, people want to get maximum competitors something to fight for. 1999 NIK ELSMORE BRIAN BELL enjoyment but spend as little as possible. Also known At the top of the tree are the Gold Star, Silver 2000 MARTIN MEADOWS ANDY BURTON as smiles per mile! 2001 VINCE WETTON PHIL COLLINS Star and soon to be Bronze Star championships 2002 JOHN PERROT JON BALLINGER By making the championship an attractive prospect, - a renaming of the Fuchs Lubricants 1400 2003 ANDY BURTON JON BALLINGER competition has remained high at all events and with Championship. Within each of these series are a host 2004 GRAHAM MIDDLETON PHILLIP SQUIRES each round being well-supported by crews, it ensures of classes and categories. 2005 ROGER CHILMAN JAMES BELTON that all of the series’ categories are worth fighting There is also the Historic Cup, Production Cup, 2006 SHAUN GARDENER PAUL BARRETT for... Rallye R2 Cup and ST Trophy which is open to any 2007 WILL NICHOLLS GRAHAM MIDDLETON Fiesta running the M-Sport Fiesta ST specification. 2008 HUGH HUNTER FRANK KELLY Rallying on a Budget 2009 DAVID WRIGHT WILL ONIONS There's even a 'Rally First' Championship - a series 2010 STEVE PEREZ JON BALLINGER Keeping the costs at an ‘affordable’ level is crucial. that was designed to be a low cost category for 2011 ANDY BURTON ALLAN MCDOWALL Stage rallying is always going to be expensive and 'standard' cars. There are some strict technical 2012 SHAUN GARDENER MATTHEW ROBINSON very few people are lucky enough to have massive regulations that competitors must adhere to, all 2013 EUAN THORBURN MATTHEW ROBINSON budgets. So to encourage more competitors to helping to keep the costs down. Body shells must 2014 STEVE PEREZ MATTHEW ROBINSON commit to a full championship campaign, costs have not be modified unless for strengthening or guarding 2015 DAVID WESTON JNR BOYD KERSHAW to be kept as low as possible. purposes, while standard engines and gearboxes 2016 CHARLIE PAYNE GAVIN EDWARDS must be used. 2017 STEPHEN PETCH ASHLEY DAVIES Part of the BTRDA’s secret in doing that is to only 2018 MATT EDWARDS GEORGE LEPLEY include one-day events in its championship calendar. That means that competitors can finish work on a In Summary... Friday, compete on a Saturday and be back home So it’s not rocket science! Shorter events keep the and ready to go to work before a Monday morning. costs down and make events affordable for more BRONZE STAR No time off required! competitors, especially if they don’t need to take time THE NEW NAME FOR 1400 CLASS It also helps that stage mileage is kept around 45 off work. 2001 PAUL GRIFFITHS 2011 DARREN PINCHIN stage miles. Not only do competitors need to use less 2002 RUPERT HOPCRAFT 2012 JULIAN WILKES Combined with having a selection of well-organised 2003 SHAUN WOFFINDEN 2013 JULIAN WILKES fuel but this keeps entry fees lower too... events on the calendar - all of which have stages that 2004 IAN EVANS 2014 MATTHEW SMITH Event organisers incur extra insurance costs for competitors love as well as low road miles - plus a 2005 GEORGE THOMAS 2015 DAVID BENNETT variety of categories that give something for everyone 2006 NEIL WEAVER 2016 JORDAN HONE routes that include more than 45 stage miles - an 2007 CLIVE WHEELER 2017 ED FOSSEY extra £24 (per competing crew) for those higher to fight for, it attracts higher numbers of competing 2008 DARREN PINCHIN 2018 DAVE BRICK mileage events. It might not sound like much of a crews which makes for a really competitive series. 2009 GRAHAM MIDDLETON 2010 MATT EDWARDS difference but it’s another cost that would ultimately And that all amounts to serious fun in motorsport! be passed to competitors via the entry fee.

46 | pacenotes JULY 2019 BTRDA MEMORIES

MADS OSTBERG - 2009 CAMBRIAN Generation WWW.PRO-RALLY.CO.UK Games... MADS WINS CAMBRIAN WRC! Running less than a week before Wales Rally GB, the 2009 Cambrian Rally attracted a star-studded international entry with some high- profile names on the entry list. Not surprisingly the stages were packed with fans, making the most of the brilliant sunshine and enjoying some brilliant driving to match! GRAHAM IN ACTION GRAHAM LEPLEY The then World Rally Championship leaders, Mikko Hirvonnen and Jarmo The Lepleys have a long association with the opted to use the historic Hillman Lehtinen, were running as car 0 in a Avenger belonging to headline works Ford Focus WRC and from their BTRDA rally series as four generations of the rally BTRDA sponsor, Baz Jordan. (unofficial) stage times, would almost undoubtedly have won the rally. immersed family have made their mark on the It's been another highly successful series. It all started back in the 1970s... season. The young gun has Officially, it was Norwegians, Mads managed to secure both the Silver Ostberg and Jonas Andersson, who took that honour after setting four raham Lepley competed on to compete in motorsport too. He Star and Junior awards once again. And in another first for the Lepley fastest stage times in their Subaru his first rally in 1970. He went used a variety of cars over the years Impreza WRC08. on to win numerous BTRDA and in 2003, he won the BTRDA family, it's the first time an historic G class car has won the championship! events during the early '70s in a Silverstar Championship on the Nasser Al-Attiyah and Giovanni variety of Escort MkI rally cars before tie-break in his Escort MkII. After 10 The Lepley family has certainly made Bernnacchini took B13 awards after upgrading to a MkII Escort. hard-fought rounds, he and John their mark on the BTRDA series... finishing fourth overall in their Impreza Ballinger finished the season on while Eyvind Brynildsen and Denis However, it was Graham's father that and we're sure that there's more to equal points, with Jason taking his come! Giraudet had been fifth before retiring donated the largest trophy on the grandfather's trophy home. their Skoda Fabia S2000. BTRDA awards table which is still handed out today. He kindly donated The Lepley's BTRDA success British honours were upheld by Hugh the famous Graham Lepley/Derby didn't stop there. George Lepley is Hunter and Andy Marchbank who Road Garage BTRDA trophy during the latest in the line to take up the finished as runners-up in their Ford the early '70s. driving seat. He is the family's third Focus WRC01 while Steve Perez and generation rally driver, but given Paul Spooner completed the podium Fast-forward a few years and it was his great-grandfather who in their Ford Focus WRC05. The rally Graham’s son, Jason Lepley, started donated the sought-after trophy, also saw Graham Middleton complete it technically means that he is the a unique set of BTRDA wins, adding fourth generation Lepley link in the the 1400 title to his previous Gold and BTRDA! Silver Star successes. In 2018, George won the Junior category and the Silver Star Championship with a Fiesta R2 - the first time a front-wheel drive car won the series in more than 10 years! He is also the youngest ever winner of the Silver Star Championship, JASON LEPLEY having won the series at the tender age of 21. For 2019, George switched vehicles GEORGE LEPLEY to something a little bit different - he

GEORGE IN ACTION JASON LEPLEY IN ACTION

JULY 2019 pacenotes | 47 FamilyA host of family teams have been Fortunes... successful in the BTRDA’s Gravel Championship over the years. Many successful rally driving fathers have drafted their offspring into the co-driving seat (and vice versa) but the family successes all kicked off with a successful husband and wife team back in 1969...

Liz and Ron Crellin were a force to be known for her navigating skills, having more names joined the list. Rupert and Many others have vied for success, reckoned with during their 1969 Silver partnered the likes of Pat Moss- Susan Hopcraft won the 1400 title in although some haven’t reached the Star campaign. With Liz driving and Carlsson at various international 2002 while Philip and Michael Squires dizzying heights of Silver Star or Gold Ron reading the maps, they proved events such as Monte Carlo and RAC. picked up the 2004 Silver Star title. Star awards. At least not yet anyway... to be unbeatable as they powered to glory. Richard and Stuart Iliffe claimed the And in a somewhat unusual Martin Meadows was the Gold Star 1973 Gold Star title while Ian and Pat combination, Jordan Hone had his champion in 2000 and his son, Tommi, Interestingly, it was Ron’s second Beveridge took the 1987 Gold Star father, Paul, navigate him to the is definitely one to watch for the future. successive title, having navigated award. The Egglestone brothers, 2016 1400 Championship title. More He was voted as the 2016 Young Rally Elizabeth Barlow to the same award Stuart and Steve, enjoyed much recently, Dave and Tony Brick claimed Driver of the Year at the Professional in 1968. As for Liz Crellin, she also success during the ‘90s which included last year’s 1400 title. Motorsport World Expo in Germany won the Ladies’ Cup in a Mini at the a 1996 Gold Star title. and is now making tracks in the 1970 RAC Rally but became better Sometimes the family successes BTRDA’s R2 category. Fast-forward to the have been achieved at different times. noughties and Steve Petch, for example, won the Shaun Gardener is a two-times Gold Gold Star title back in 1992 while his Star champion (2006 and 2012) and son, Stephen Petch, followed in his now his son, Perry, is also tackling the footsteps by taking the same award R2 category. Other father and sons in 2017. include John and Russ Thompson, David and David (Jnr) Weston plus Looking back even further, Bill Steve and Callum Black. Bengry took the Gold Star title in 1961 while his son, There are plenty more too. It must be Theo, went on to win true that success breeds success! the Silver Star award in RUSS THOMPSON 1983 and 1998.

BTRDA Rally Champions 25 Years Apart!

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48 | pacenotes JULY 2019 DRIVER THOUGHTS All Haill Asphalt ON BTRDA JASON PRITCHARD Current Champion King Andrew! What is it that draws you to Andrew Haill was the co-ordinator for the Asphalt Championship for more participating the BTRDA series? than 20 years. It all started back in the mid-90s for the West Midlands “What draws me to the BTRDA motorsport fan. He reveals a bit more about his story... Championship is the little amount of time away from work. Usually we only need y 1995, I’d already been were extremely accommodating to take the Friday off so time from the working with the BTRDA when it came to getting the show business is limited. There’s always a great Bfor quite a while when the back on the road. atmosphere within the championship and opportunity to co-ordinate what was its competitors.” then known as the EARS Motorsport/ With the exception of 2001, when Motoring News National Rally Series the ‘Foot & Mouth’ epidemic in the What is your favourite BTRDA presented itself. UK drastically curtailed all rallying memory? activities, the Asphalt Championship I still have the letter from the late has paid at least one visit to Ireland “My favourite memory recently has to David Williams (DKW) confirming my every season - either north or south be winning the Mewla Rally on its 40th appointment! ‘Right’, I thought, ‘I’ll John Price - 12 Times Champion! and sometimes both. And while there anniversary. This event starts on the sort this lot out’ and, 20 years later, I were certain differences between Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, was still trying! the MSA and Motorsport Ireland opposite North Road Garage. To win it regulations, we were always sure of a after watching my Dad win the same rally It was universally known as very warm welcome and a keenness on three occasions when I was a child the Tarmac Championship - to exchange best practice. was a very special day for me.” understandable, really, because it was a Championship and all the Even for those of us not actively events ran on tarmac! But then I involved in a recce, most of the Irish started receiving letters from the events necessitated a five-day trip legal department of a certain large from the mainland and, especially in company based in Wolverhampton An amazing sound... the early days, they could turn into requesting that I stop using their quite an adventure! trade name. people some of the time’ etc, seems Memories of B&Bs in Holyhead in A glance at the Oxford English particularly pertinent! Somebody readiness for crossing the Irish Sea Dictionary proves that ‘Tarmac’ is once described me as a benign the following morning and what a always spelt with a capital ‘T’ - and, dictator - others have been less revelation the introduction of the high- while we had no control over how it complimentary... speed HSS on the route proved to was referred to in conversation, after be...as long as the wind speed wasn’t a brief flirtation with ‘tarmacadam’, Due, in no small part, to the more than about 2 knots. If it was, the word ‘asphalt’ began to appear challenging nature of the terrain, it was cancelled for the day and we on all printed matter. a number of rounds of the Asphalt were redirected to a more traditional In the early days, the MSA permit for the Championship was in my name There was a time when I was the undisputed ‘King of and it was only when our governing body decreed that such documents the Cancellations’ - or, to be more precise, dealing with should, in future, purely be issued the aftermath of such occurrences! to motor clubs or organisations with whom it had been dealing for a number of years, that I went Championship have always taken tub - eventually! ‘Character-building’, Asphalt scurrying off to see my friends at the place on MoD land and permission they used to call it... BTRDA and make them an offer they for these to proceed is granted on could quite easily have refused! In a career that dates back more Cover Stars the understanding that it can be wrc retro: safari rally elliott nicks mid-wales withdrawn at very short notice. than 40 years now and which began Fortunately, as there wasn’t a Plan in Dunlop’s Competition Centre, B, they didn’t - and the Asphalt I’ve always tried to adopt the maxim Pacenotes For various reasons, there was a RALLY MAGAZINE Championship was added to the time when I was the undisputed that rallying at national level, while already impressive arsenal of ‘King of the Cancellations’ - or, to nevertheless fiercely competitive, is Issue 132 | APRIL 2015 www.RALLymAgAzIne.com motorsport disciplines that came be more precise, dealing with the supposed to be fun and, for most, a under the BTRDA’s umbrella. aftermath of such occurrences! But in leisure activity. MAJOR WIN SIMON SEALS ONE SECOND EpYNT VICTORY 04 most instances, all parties involved, 8.95 Even with this new-found backing, However, especially in recent times, € rally championship co-ordination can especially those based in Colnbrook, 5.25 / Benelux

that view has necessarily been € £3.95 / be a lonely place, not least when tempered by a realisation that the 9 771473 725080 it comes to formulating a calendar! amount of money required - certainly You can ask a dozen people for towards the front of the field - to their thoughts on which events to attain that level of enjoyment is include and, likely as not, get a dozen considerable! different answers. WEST CORK INTERVIEW WITH COOLER My job was to try and ensure that, for DECLAN However, the buck stops with you all the right reasons, the ‘experience’ GALLAGHER - you have to weigh up the options REPORTS FROM was a memorable one - by and large wrc mexico // bishopscourt // malcolm wilson // birr mayo // spring rally // west cork // snowman // epynt and take a view, which is where the mid wales // roskirk // willie loughman // riponian Jack neal + much more the plan worked, but we all have bad JOCK’S SNOWMAN JOY THORBURN’S BTRDA BEST old adage ‘you can please all the puBlisheD eVery month since 2003 twitter.com/pACENOTESRALLY FaceBook.com/RALLYMAG Damian Cole - Multiple Champ days at the office!

JULY 2019 pacenotes | 49 BTRDA MEMORIES

DownThe 2012 Gold Star Championship to the went right Wire! to the wire with three crews going into the final round, the Cambrian Rally, with a chance of taking the title. But who could have predicted what was about to unfold?

Having recorded their third win of the series on the previous round at the Woodpecker Stages, Roger Chilman and Bryan Thomas were piling the pressure on DARKEST DAY ON championship leaders Hugh Hunter and Andy Marchbank. Meanwhile, Shaun Gardener and Ben Innes had finished DUKERIES every round and had piled up the points but with dropped Tragedy struck the BTRDA Series on scores coming into play, they were the rank outsiders in the 15 June 2010 when Martyn Lewis the title race. died after his Vauxhall Nova rolled The scene was set with three crews all in with a shout and hit a tree in SS7, Harlow Wood, of becoming Gold Star Champions but by the end of the during the Dukeries Rally. The stage opening test in Clocaenog Main, the three were reduced was cancelled, as was the awards to two. It was rally over for Chilman and Thomas, having ceremony, as a mark of respect. rolled their Subaru Impreza after clipping a bank and SHAUN GARDENER/BEN INNES - 2012 CAMBRIAN / PRO-RALLY.CO.UK The 32-year-old, from Kerry in Mid- launching the car onto two-wheels. missing as well. They completed the test in second gear Wales, was co-driven by his brother All was going well for Hunter and Marchbank. By the time Richard who was taken to hospital but their lead was cut to 16 seconds and with no way of they reached the start of SS5 Clocaenog East 2, they fixing it, Hunter decided to drive the car home. for checks and later released. It was headed the standings by almost a minute and looked the fifth year that they had contested assured to take the title. Gardener and Innes went on to finish the rally fifth overall rounds of the BTRDA series and they in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5.9 and with that they took had a number of class wins to their Sadly, for them, it was about to go wrong. Launching their the 2012 Gold Star Driver and Co-driver Championship credit, the most recent being on the Ford Focus WRC car off the start line, Hunter selected first titles. previous month’s Plains Rally. gear, then second gear, then third gear, then BANG! A highly-delighted Gardener told Pacenotes, “It was a hare The gearbox exploded and his efforts to bypass the and tortoise scenario, all a bit fraught and I never thought third slot resulted in fourth, fifth and sixth gears all going it would happen.” But happen it did!

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50 | pacenotes JULY 2019 George Lepley & Tom Woodburn Total Domination in the BTRDA Championship to date! Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear

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JULY 2019 pacenotes | 51 Engineering Excellence! No BTRDA special would be complete without touching upon what was perhaps the series’ most beloved and controversial car, Andy Burton’s homebrew Peugeot 306 Cosworth. Jamie Arkle reports... ANDY BURTON WITH STEVE PEREZ

t its heart, watching rallying is a purely Not that Burton was an unknown before the as any long-term rally fan will tell you, ranks visceral, sensory experience. Without emergence of the 306 back in 1997. He’d among the most evocative motors ever to grace Awanting to sound trite or to ‘over egg the spent a good portion of the preceding decade a special stage. pudding,’ the smell of a damp pine forest, the charging round the British forests in another, squelch of mud underfoot and the background almost as beloved creation, his Ferrari Austin Rover struggled to make the 6R4 lump chatter of like-minded, bobble hat-clad 308-powered Alfa Romeo Alfasud. a viable proposition though, and so in turn did individuals; these are nothing less than sensory Burton. This led him to fit the engine that’s since bookmarks for those of us raised on a rallying Come the mid ‘90s though, and even a car become more closely associated with the car diet from a young age. as well built and well driven as the ‘Alferrari’ than any other, the Cosworth KF V6. The KF couldn’t stem the rising tide of Group A was actually designed for Opel’s all assault While it’s true that there’s nothing quite like the machinery flooding the lower echelons of British on the FIA DTM/ITCC, and as such benefited sight of a car being chucked, broadside, through rallying. It was this that eventually convinced our from having untold millions invested in its a technical bit of special stage at full chat, I’m hero to begin work on what would become the development. going to go out on a limb and suggest that it’s 306 Cosworth. actually the noise of the said car that makes The 54-degree angle of the KF’s banks gifted watching a rally such a beguiling spectacle. it compact dimensions, perfect for fitment to The 306 Build an Opel Calibra DTM racer, and as it turned I’d never be as brazen as to attempt to ID the Rallying is no stranger to well-engineered, big out, a home-brew 306 rally car. It made a good best sounding rally car of all time (seriously, power engines with high-pitched notes, warbles 455bhp in race trim, and while this was pegged that’s a gallon drum of worms right there) but I and wails of course, and the upshot is that it back to ‘just’ 400bhp for special stage duties, it do have a suggestion - Andy Burton’s Peugeot really does take something rather special to nevertheless looked and sounded the part. 306 Cosworth. raise the eyebrows (and eardrums?) of your average speccy. Indeed, very few engines have sounded as Burton’s Pug was one of those rare cars able good, the KF’s unhinged note bouncing to provide visual and audible sensory drama in The 306 was that, equal measure, and that’s before we touch upon and from the other, less tangible aspects, not least its ability outset it made to scalp WRC cars for fun! a glorious cacophony This, coupled with the disquiet it subsequently thanks to the stirred, makes the home-built 306 the most addition of ‘punk’ rally car of all, and it’s therefore no a modified surprise that it retains a rabidly passionate, cult Metro 6R4 following to this day. lump, which

52 | pacenotes JULY 2019 2004 CAMBRIAN BURTON WAS A FAN FAVOURITE 2011 DUKERIES off the pine trees as it sung its way to a piercing production origins, with the Cosworth unit being case of the floor-pans, plastic. 11,000rpm. particularly immense by dint of its all steel bottom end. It would still rev to 9000rpm, still The sheer amount of custom metalwork, let Not that everything was plain sailing from the made a good 400bhp, and still sounded like alone the associated drive to get everything off. The rigors of stage rallying proved too much God moving trying to manoeuvre an especially functioning correctly and reliably, beggars belief, for the highly-strung touring car KF to deal with, heavy chest of drawers down a tight staircase and also underscores just why Burton’s creation at least initially. with a bad hangover. was as beloved by spectators as it was disliked by the powers that be. This isn’t such a surprise when you realise this it was commissioned and designed by a mass Engineering at its Finest It goes without saying that the thing looked market car maker in the mid ‘90s, a decade While the engine understandably garnered great, if slightly unhinged. The blistered arches, of spiraling motorsport budgets and little to no much of the rallying public’s attention, the rest of the Morette headlights and the ever-changing consideration given to either cost or length of Burton’s creation was just as noteworthy and as roster of aerodynamic devices (first a 306 Maxi time between service. Indeed, Opel reckoned its exquisitely engineered. wing, then a 206 WRC), all helped make the pneumatically valved KFs had a lifespan of 200 306 look out of this world and gave it the kind of miles at most, with rebuilds after each and every A Hewland six-speed sequential was a pretty stage presence anything this side of a Group B round of the DTM - and that was in a relatively trick bit of kit when the 306 was first laid down, Quattro would kill for. clean, gravel-free (unless something went awry) and it only became more so with the passage environment! of time and Burton’s attentions. A paddle-shift Another, less obvious trait of the 306 was the setup could be seen on the car from 2002 ease with which it could be serviced, something “We had to build it after each and every rally onwards, this twinned with pneumatically Burton had built into his creation from the very as a matter of course purely because it’s such governed actuators for the clutch and beginning. a highly-strung engine,” explained Burton in ‘gearstick.’ an interview 10 years ago. “It would rev to Indeed, it’s no exaggeration to suggest that 11,000rpm, so sounded lovely and was very Other drivetrain elements were just as cleverly nothing this side of a works WRC car was built popular, but the work that went into maintaining sited, not least the trio of differentials – one with as clear a commitment to being serviced that engine…we went through loads of pistons per axle, plus another, slightly offset, centrally and repaired as swiftly and as simply as this and cylinder heads each and every season.” mounted torque-apportioning unit to dole out barn-built car. (And that’s before we even touch drive fore and aft. It sported custom driveshafts upon Burton’s equally brilliant, improbably The need to retain some semblance of sanity, and Impreza WRC hubs, another addition capacious custom Land Discovery support not to mention a few hours away from the which would’ve been considered the height of vehicle.) workbench when not at rallies, eventually forced technology when Burton first set about building You need only look to the gearbox to get a Burton to swap the KF for a Cosworth the car nearly a quarter of a century ago. 24v from a Granada Scorpio, the taste of just how committed to ease of servicing BOA, and later still a similarly All of this was crammed within the bare Burton was, with the Hewland only connected to configured Nissan engine. bones of a Peugeot 306 body shell, albeit the bellhousing by means of a pair of lynchpins. so comprehensively modified as to be all but It could therefore be decoupled within moments, Both of these engines unrecognisable to anyone from PSA. saving precious seconds. had power outputs and notes It was of course based upon a tubular space- The result of Burton’s engineering brilliance and which belied framed chassis, one carefully blended into ability to peddle his creation were dramatic. Not their the Custom Cages roll-cage and designed only did the Cosworth Pug attain the kind of cult with both low mass and strength in mind. forest following that it’s hard to imagine ever Peugeot structure was notable by its near total being repeated, it proved incredibly competitive. absence, with only bulkhead, inner front Countless outright rally wins soon fell to the wings and door apertures carried affable farmer and his bonkers creation, and over ‘as stock.’ Everything by the late ‘90s, it was a fully paid up BTRDA else was reconfigured legend, able to take its owner to a brace of titles in either a composite in 2003 and 2011. material, or, in the

ARKLE’S ANGLE WORDS: JAMIE ARKLE IMAGES: JMS PHOTOGRAPHIC & WWW.PRO-RALLY.CO.UK

JULY 2019 pacenotes | 53 The Death Knell never deemed suitable of by their maker, were social media storm generated when a new placed on death row, and the way cleared photo of it emerged last year, still in one piece There’s a sad end to this tale though, one for more conventional, production-based and with Burton standing proudly alongside. It well known by the rally community and all but machinery. does at least still exist, and for that we should all guaranteed to crop up whenever a discussion be thankful. on British motorsport politicking rears its ugly The 306’s final BTRDA season was in 2011 head, and that’s that the Cosworth Pug is no (though Burton was at least able to retire Perhaps the most galling aspect of writing a longer with us. as Gold Star Champion), after which it was feature on a car of this kind, quite apart from wheeled into forced retirement in its creator’s the challenge of nailing down a definitive The legitimacy of the decision has been well barn where it has remained ever since. specification, is the knowledge that, try as I debated by people better versed in the minutiae might, I’ll never be able to convey the true of Motorsport UK’s regulations than me, but the Proof of just how loved this car remains, if character of the diminutive Pug. impact of the ruling, one designed to outlaw indeed it were required, can be seen in the non-production rally cars, reduce performance For that, you need to have been there, stage and bring British rallying more closely in line side in the early part of the last decade, with one with that of our friends on the continent, was hand cupped to your ear and straining to dramatic to say the least. hear the first notes of its manic, bark- shredding V6 howl. Nothing short As is so often the case with sweeping of a Works Stratos has ever come regulation revisions designed to bring about close and owing to the increasingly sporting sea changes, the name was homogenised nature of modern nothing if not innocuous – the K37 rallying, probably never will. review (now section R46). Dry it might’ve been, but the implication was clear: cars like Burton’s, cars with engines from different manufacturers, mounted in configurations

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54 | pacenotes JULY 2019 Cast of Champions...

Proud to be associated with the BTRDA Rally Championship

Matt Edwards | Gold Star Champion 2018 Ian Joel | Gold Star Class B13 Champion 2018 Matthew Baddeley | Rally First Champion 2018

Ed Fossey | 1400 Champion 2017 Jordan Hone | 1400 Champion 2016 Dave Bennett | 1400 Champion 2015

Mat Smith | 1400 Champion 2014 Andy Burton | Gold Star Champion 2011 David Wright | Gold Star Champion 2009

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www.speedlinecorse.net • [email protected] Mike Broad PRESIDENT How did you become organiser for South America! That put member since then." different things if we think they'll interested in motorsport? my name on the map because all the work. The standards of events are well-known drivers did it." "The BTRDA is an association of generally very high. One of the big "My elder brother was a member people - it's not like a car club with awards we hand out at the end of of the local Curborough Car Club "I ended up organising the entire members who meet regularly. We the year is for the best event - and to and started doing regularity type South American leg - it was an have quarterly committee meetings be the best event is a big accolade. rallies and sprints. The club owned amazing task. After that, I managed there are some very committed Every event wants to win that so its own sprint course so I started to get some good drives because people involved. That's why the competitors known that they're going doing sprints when I was 17. I also people knew who I was from being BTRDA is so successful. There to get a good rally if they enter a did some night rallies with my twin heavily involved in the London to are a lot of competitors and event BTRDA event." brother. We didn't get on too well but I Mexico event." organisers involved who know enjoyed navigating so I entered some what they're talking bout. It's run by events with my elder brother and Best achievements? people who compete at the highest other people in the club." "Event wise, winning the London to level or who organise championship Sydney event in 1977 with Andrew events. They are all very committed The BTRDA "My mentor was Ron Crellin, who volunteers." took me under his wing. From very Cowan and Colin Malkin. That was is an early on, I was his 'number two' and probably the highlight of my whole What's so good about the association was Deputy Clerk of the Course for career. Also the years of competing in BTRDA Rally Championships? an event when I was 20 years old. the British Rally Championship with of people... When he retired, I continued on from Russell Brookes was the best time I "The stability of the championship there. I did an RAC Rally with Alan had in motorsport." has been its forte. Number one - we try to welcome everybody. We Jones and soon after that I was doing "I've been very fortunate to be with Anything else you want to international events." accommodate every car and every some brilliant drivers, including competitor. We don't exclude cars - say? First rally? people like Walter Rohrl. I think we find a class for them somewhere." he was the best driver of the era... "I'm so pleased to bring back the "My first ever rally was a Shenstone he was so smooth and instinctive. "Number two - we don't change the Asphalt Championship. It's still in its Car Club event called the Little Rally. I had a good innings in motorsport championship too much. We tweak infancy but over the next couple of I entered with my elder brother and - 20 good years of competing it and massage it to suit. Over the years it will get stronger and stronger. we won it! It was June, 1966, and I professionally and then I was years, some people have come up As an association, the BTRDA isn't was 17 at the time. It was a regularity involved in team management too." with brilliant ideas. We were first to afraid to invest in things we believe event in those days and afterwards, I come up with the idea of reverse in. I think the Asphalt will become a thought 'this is the sport for me'. How did you become involved seeding. In fact, Russell Brookes really, really strong championship with the BTRDA? and I won the first event with reverse over the next two to three years, "I wasn't particularly great at night seeding - I think it was the Wyedean especially with the new closed roads navigation rallies but my big break "It was thanks to Ron Crellin. He was legislation as we'll be able to get Chairman of the Rallies Committee in 1982. We started as the last car on came after I talked myself onto the the road and won it." even better quality events in the London to Mexico organising team. I in the late '60s so I also became championship." landed the role of Chief Marshal and involved in the committee around "So we're not afraid to introduce the same time. I've been a BTRDA

ADMINISTRATOR HowHoward did you become Wilcock“As a organiser, I started getting that I want to do. When competitors interested in motorsport? involved in the organisation side back have a full-time job or a business in 1975. I ran a couple of road rallies to run as well as young families, it’s “When I was 18, I went to marshal in Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, and It was freezing difficult for them to find the time to with a friend at a rally in Yorkshire. then I was Clerk of the Course for the compete.” We ended up in Wycombe forest Dukeries in the ‘70s and ‘80s. After and we spent in the middle of the night. It was that, I got involved with the Lombard most of the night “My son is into running and does park freezing and we spent most of the RAC Rally for 20 or 30 years. Those watching cars runs.. That’s quite simple - he turns night watching cars slide into ditches were the days when it used to go slide into ditches up at 9am, completes the run, the before helping to push them out. Not all around the country. I organised results are emailed to him and he’s surprisingly, by the end of the night I the Sunday stages and arranged for before helping to doing something else by 10am. But thought it was really enjoyable!” Chatsworth to be used.” push them out... you can’t just jump into a car at the start of the first stage of a rally and First event? How did you become involved drive. It takes a lot of commitment to get to that point. Motorsport is “A friend bought a Mini and we with BTRDA? aspiration for people to come and much more difficult to do so keeping started doing events in the 1960s. enter the events regardless of the car “I joined the BTRDA rallies committee the time commitment to a minimum Our first event was a road rally they have. It’s open to everybody.” in 1979. At the time, they were is key.” around Hull. It went up as far up as looking for people who were not only “Rallying isn’t cheap but relatively the Yorkshire moors. I remember competitors but also organisers. By speaking, the BTRDA championships Anything else you want to one particularly long selective that chance, I was still competing but have always tried to be open and say? went up one side of the valley and was also organising the Dukeries practical for as many people to enter back down again. I remember seeing Rally, which was a round of the “I started running championships as possible. Time is a big factor and all these Twin Cam Escorts. We BTRDA, so I fitted the bill. It was a in ‘87 and was effectively the with the BTRDA events, competitors certainly didn’t win...we were near the very interesting rallies committee championship co-ordinator for 13 can rally on the Saturday and be back of field!” and I always enjoyed going to the years. I’m still involved and try to home the same evening, giving them meetings.” help behind the scenes but I’m also Best achievements? the Sunday with their family.” heavily involved with the Dukeries “As a competitor, I was the East What’s so good about the “I genuinely understand why some Motor Club as well. We run three Midlands Road Rally Champion BTRDA Rally Championships? events need a recce but that requires events per year and I’ve been Secretary of the Meeting for 20 or 30 navigator back in 1979. That was “Mike Broad uses the expression a lot more time commitment and really good. It was a season of road time is the key factor, especially rallies over the last few years...and A Chat with... “serious fun” for the BTRDA in I’m also the Treasurer.” rallies with Rob Hughes and we came general and I think that’s what the nowadays. I’m retired but I still don’t out as winners of the championship.” BTRDA is there for. It’s a realistic have enough time to do all the things

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BUMPER EDITION! MAGA INE ISSUE 162 DEC/JANUARY 2018

MAGA INE FinLAYs ISSUE 161 NOVEMBER 201 FLYeRs PRIT PERET tE uLtIMA ELFYN EVANS pRitchARds LANCIA INtERVIEW histoRic COLLECtION tRebLe

MoFFetts dARRiAn cARs Bellissimo! ReoLtion MontinG SEASON REVIEW sccess wheeLs tuRN ALL 11 CHAMPIONSHIPS

COLuMNIStS MARtin hoLMes becs wiLLiAMs Mike nichoLson pLM tYndALL 12

2017 7 // SUNSET wALES RALLY gB // RoGeR ALbeRt cLARk stnet REPORTS neiL howARd // RSA AgHADOwEY // FA DEMON TwEEKS 2018 CATALOgUE MALTON // bAnnA Mini // MANx POKERSTARS + MoRe INSIDE 71473 72509

11 97 TwITTER.COM/pAcenotesRALLY FACEBOOK.COM/RALLYMAG PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH SINCE 2003

tRAckRod ictoRY dARRiAn deLiGht hRsons hARest 11

7 CORK 20 // DONEA ARVEST // RALLY DAY // MRAE AENE REPORTS AROD PAIN // TRACKROD // EROES STAES // RSA NUTTS CORNER ADgESPEED // BUSWAER RA + MUCH MORE INSIDE 71473 72509

11 97 FACEBOOK.COM TwITTER.COM/pAcenotesRALLY /RALLYMAG 01904 766 787 PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH SINCE 2003 www.teamcoordin8.com

The Ulster Rally returns on the 16th & 17th of August 2019 Recce, Scrutineering and Shakedown stage with a new venue & format. will take place in Newry on Friday 16th August. Competitive stages will take place on Saturday A Counting Round of the... 17th August near Newry and Banbridge. • British Rally Championship 94 stage miles with a really compact route. • Irish Tarmac Rally Championship No long road sections. • Irish Tarmac Historic Championship • British Historic Rally Championship For more information contact us through our website. • FIA Celtic Rally Trophy www.ulsterrally.com Entries open 25th June 2019 Online entry submission through www.rallyscore.net Follow us @ulsterrally

JULY 2019 pacenotes | 57