Club Magazine

December 2014

Events Calendar – 2015

28 Dec Hamilton Loco 2 Stages -

Basingstoke Sutton & Cheam MV

18 Jan Roger Holmes Trial -

Cambridge Cambridge CC

18 Jan MGJ Stages - Wethersfield CMC / AEMC SV

Championship

19 Jan WAC AGM at The Prince of Wales 24/25

Jan

Brean Stages - Weston-

super-Mare Club Rallysport West

7 Feb Rally Marshals Training Day

- Cambridge AEMC – Clive Grounds

14 Feb South Downs Stages -

Goodwood

Southsea/Bognor Regis

MCs – AEMC/ASEMC

1 Mar AutoSolo – North Weald B19 MC

8 Mar Targa Rally – Sculthorpe KLDMC

15 Mar Sprint – North Weald B19MC – AEMC

22 Mar Sprint – Rockingham BARC Mids - AEMC

29 Mar Cadman Woodbridge Stages CMC / AEMC / ACSMC

19 April Sprint – Blyton Park (Lincs) MiniXDA - AEMC

19 April Targa Rally – Wethersfield CMC

26 April Sprint – North Weald GBMC – AEMC

26 April Auto Solo – Debden WSMC

3 May Sprint – Hethel test track B19MC - AEMC

10 May Middlewick Stage Rally MCAC / AEMC

Chairmans News Here are 3 opportunities to end 2014 and kick off 2015 with a mixed bag of

events, starting with a chance to get away from the turkey leftovers and stale

mince pies and get some fresh air on a new variation on an old favourite.

Hamilton Classic LOCO TWO Stages 28th

December 2013 - Sutton & Cheam

Motor Club and Team Tempest are pleased to announce The Hamilton Classic

LOCO TWO Stages to be held on 28th December 2014 at Bramley Camp near Basingstoke. Bramley is a highly secure military location which contains a large

number of high-quality single-track roads through both woodland and open. The

stage selected has been designed to incorporate the very best roads, chosen for their character, driveability and fun appeal. There are at least 3 jumps as well as

the infamous hump-back bridge in the middle which some may remember from

the Tempest Rallysprints a few years ago. The format calls for competitors to contest the stage (minimum 3.2 miles) in one direction, park up and have a free

coffee or chat for about 35 minutes before lining up to drive the stage in the

opposite direction. We anticipate stage times of around 4 – 5 minutes so you can

see it isn’t a quick blast around an airfield! This event is restricted to 2 wheel cars only and No Spectators are allowed.

MGJ Wethersfield Stages - CMC is to run the Wethersfield Winter Stages, on

Sunday 18th January 2015. They are looking forward to bringing stage rallying back to MDPGA Wethersfield after a hiatus of over 14 years. The club intends to

run six stages of approximately 65 miles of smooth, twisty challenging stages.

Regulations have been published and entries are welcome. It is with regret that CMC has to announce there will be no MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter

Stages in 2015. Despite best efforts by all parties involved, a mutually agreeable

date could not be reached due to the essential winter maintenance programme

necessary at the circuit. Although later dates were available, Chelmsford Motor Club has no wish to impact or clash with events already established in the rallying

calendar

The Roger Holmes Trail – CCC are offering a chance to have a go at a car

trial at Halton nr Cambridge on Sunday 18th January. An alternative to

CMC’s Wethersfield Stages and classes for road cars but 4 wheel drive and

LSD’s are not welcome, contact Clive Grounds on 07860 461670 if you

fancy a go.

Chairmans News (contd)

WAC Champions for 2014

Rally Driver & Co-Driver - Phil Clarke

Rally Co-Driver - Ashley Davies

Autocross - Carl Stebbings

Sprint - Stuart Kingham

Best Newcomer - Harry Buchanan

Marshal - Ged Cooper

Donington Park - has announced that the circuit has been granted planning

permission to host two days of national rallying per year, starting in 2015.

The venue has a strong rallying heritage, and featured regularly on the

World Rally Championship Rally GB schedule as a Special Stage until the

event moved to Wales in 2000. Rally events have not been staged at the

venue since, despite holding the planning permission restricted to an WRC

round, but that will now change with the new national event planning

permission in place. Having worked on this issue with the relevant local

planning authorities at North West Leicestershire Council they now have

agreement to host two days of rallying at the circuit per year. In a time

where some venues are being restricted on event days, Donington is

bucking the trend by managing the environmental matters efficiently,

working with the Council and so now being able to expand the calendar to

include these new additions in 2015 and in the future.

They are currently in discussions with a national rally organiser regarding

an opening event and would welcome enquiries from other organisers who

would be interested in staging an event.

Dukeries Rally – The 2014 Rainworth Skoda Forest Rally was the 55th

consecutive running of the Dukeries Rally, but unfortunately it was the last

Dukeries Rally in its current multi venue forest format.

Chairmans News (contd again)

After discussions with the Forestry Commission they have confirmed that

due to increasing leisure and environmental pressures, rallying in the

Sherwood Forest area will in future be restricted to the Autumn and Winter

months. The Dukeries Rally is different from many other stage rallies in

that the forests it uses have many owners and are managed on long term

lease agreements by the FC. This multi ownership combined with the

involvement of an increasing number of other organisations and individuals

unconnected with motor sport has made it progressively more difficult to

organise a successful event.

Dukeries Motor Club is proud of the history of the Dukeries Rally and

wishes to record its immense gratitude to the event organisers, officials and

marshals who created, developed and maintained the event over so many

years. The Dukeries Rally quickly developed to be a British Championship

event within 10 years, but it is the association with the BTRDA Rally

Championships which began in 1968 which has been the most enduring.

Dukeries Motor Club would like to thank the BTRDA for their continued

support throughout this time. Finally thanks go to the many thousands of

competitors who have supported the Dukeries Rally over the years and

provided a justification for all the hard work and commitment from the

organisers.

JT & Tim admiring the scenery

New Zealand - SILVER FERN RALLY 2014

part 1 – will I won’t I, can I can’t I ?

With much deliberation, and I mean a LOT of shall I? shan't I? the decision

was made in January 2014 to enter and ship a car to compete on the 8 day

Silver Fern Rally in New Zealand on 8th - 15 November.

This is a predominantly loose surface event with approx 1150km of 49

special stages, all driven off road book as you saw it - No Pace notes ! and

2250 km of road sections, only one hour at the end of each day was

allowed to service before parc ferme, with 20-30 min at lunch service so

reliability of the car, and the service crews to be at the right location at the

right time was essential as the route went right round the south Island.

The last 11 months had been a long, time consuming slog and I had

questioned whether it had been a good idea along the way and had hoped

that all the effort and work would be outweighed competing on the rally

itself, and would I have the stamina ? time would tell.

The car, a BDA Engined historic spec mk1 Escort had been put together in

the workshop from scratch sometime back and I had promised myself that

when I was considering throwing in the towel on rallying , then the final

drives to 'flick the fun factor' would be with this car.

I had never used the car , and as any cars imported into NZ had to be 'mint'

due to Customs requirements, the fresh paint and build had to be preserved-

and the only shakedown testing was one dry evening down at Brands Hatch

with several people taking the wheel to knotch a few miles on it on a

trackday session. Various techniques were demonstrated by Tudor, Rich

and not forgetting Tim who was flagged off track due to flamboyant wheel

lifting, but needless to say if the engine was to 'let go' it would've done that

evening.

The car and spares, wheels, tyres, tools spare axle, gearbox engine...

kitchen sink... were all packed in container and dispatched for the two and

half month voyage- fingers crossed it was all sterile enough and had

included what we would need. The service/chase crew volunteers were

local- Don Bangs, who I used to navigate for some 30 years ago, Tudor

Davies ageing rallying WAC member, and Tim Clarke who would later be

substituted as Co Driver closer to event . Plus I had two kiwi service guys

who would prove essential, for their local knowledge and their sense of

humour!

JT & Tim kicking up some Kiwi dust, the dent in the Navi’s door

looks like JT has had a moment !

New Zealand - SILVER FERN RALLY 2014

part 2 – final prep and start

Leading up to the rally I was struggling to get a suitably experienced co

driver confirmed so Tim Clarke was persuaded / arm twisted to take the

hot seat and I was confident he would manage, and after all he was coming

out there anyway so might as well jump in !

We embarked on the flights and after a couple of harsh landings (would

recommend the skybus now needs new Bilsteins fitted!) we landed to very

spring like weather in Christchurch.

After settling into accommodation straight onto business duties including

the necessary registration of the car after it had been given a clean bill of

health from customs, collecting from storage, getting it WOF'd (MOT) and

scrutineered prior to event. Then to the heated outside Pool. got to get

priorities right from day 1 !

We had a right shock when we woke up that week to find a covering of

white outside from heavy hailstorm, they said we could expect all seasons

in one day!

JT & Tim signing autographs or posing for the Paparazzi ?

After we had met the two Kiwis from the north island who had come down

to assist I was feeling it was all coming together as the two service vans

now all packed, and more importantly everyone was gelling on well .

Tudor had been given the nickname 'welsh wizard' by the kiwi's 'Pinky' and

'possum roadkill' (don't ask?!)

We had been concerned as the Car needed a Rallysafe GPS unit fitted, the

fitment kits from Australia had been delayed by customs so was touch and

go if they would be there in time- but in typical laid back 'it'll be fine' kiwi

style it was sorted on the day. This was a special bit of kit that tracked the

car and acted like a time control check and trip combined.

After a ceremonial start from Picton with 10 uk entries, one irish, several

Oz it was a mixed bag from the ultimate Escort to a local very basic Skoda

130LR .

Had looked at the field and had secretly aimed for a late teen overall finish-

if we get to finish that is as we had allocated car 13!

The stages were out of this world!, bit of everything , long , fast sweeping,

technical - but the Mountainous views Breathtaking!

By day 3 we were 15th overall until we had a slight off taking out a stock

fence, but after a hasty recovery and back onto stage we continued. After a

river crossing that had risen to a high level cars needed a tow to drag across

it, and some sheer drops that only the most familiar locals could really nail

we were relieved to get that day out the way. Then, one hour to re shape

panels, fix headlight, and reglaze the door. Tudor was allocated the Glass

challenge and came back with a 'donated' Petrol forecourt display for this

purpose.

After day 5 we were definitely getting used to the days ahead. Starter

failure meant a push or tow once we had rolled it from park ferme daily, to

service crew partly roadkilled by being run over whilst starting the car but

all in a days work!!

WE FINISHED!! Completed all stages , 8 days approx 3400 km, 17th

overall , 4th in class Happy with that!

Car didn't miss a beat. Camaraderie between crews and competitors

Fantastic. Haven't laughed so much in years!!

A massive thank you to ALL that have helped to make it happen

What an event! If ever you want to do the rally of all rally's this is it-!!

WAC/GBMC - Autumn Autocross

Blue skies, sunny weekend forecast and a humungus stubble field...I can

feel an autocross coming on!! And so it was, at last, a local (ish) autocross

event and the added bonus of it being the final two rounds of the REIS

Southern Counties & Home Counties Autocross Championships. The last

meeting of the season was sadly my first meeting of the season due to a

very busy year re work and stuff. Nevertheless, the Saxo was dusted down

along with me and my racesuit and we were Essex bound.

The West Country and Welsh contingent were out in force along with other

WAC and GBMC club members for the finale. Sundays round would be a

"double pointer" so championship positions could be turned around.

The Saxo had a small, niggly oil leak which came to light on the Friday

evening but pleased to say that in the end it seemed to vanish but nothing

worse than knowing that there is a problem before you start racing. A huge

field and fast as well as the ground was firm and level for the most part and

it held up very well for both days and not too many deep tramlines or ruts.

Practice went well as did the racing each day, no dramas, good race times

and a class win each day so no complaints at all and good to get back into

the groove and get on the pace again.

The general feedback from everyone I spoke to was very positive with

regards to the event, many felt it was the best event of the season and I can

see why, well organised, good venue and atmosphere. Perhaps the catering

left a bit to be desired but hey, its the racing that counts.

Looking forward to next season, may be using a different car but intend to

compete as fully as possible in the Southern Championship which boasts

20 rounds next year and including a September weekend meeting again in

Essex so bring it on and lets enjoy it. May do a few rounds of the British

Rallycross Championship if time and money allow, will keep you posted.

Also, good to catch up with other club members at the dinner/dance at The

Chichester, a very enjoyable evening and thanks for the WAC Autocross

Champion award.

Wishing everyone a happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

Carl

WAC Committee Members 2014

President Dan Cornwall Tel: 01621 773446 dan-cornwall@hotmail.co.uk Chairman Chris Hunt Tel: 07802 882182 cshunt93@gmail.com Vice Chairman Stuart Kingham Tel: 07710040918 sdk_wickfordac@hotmail.co.uk Club Sec/Web Master Stanley Graham Tel: 07796 805 092 stanley@pcs-support.com Treasurer/Membership Adele Candy Tel: 01206 396917 adele17.candy@gmail.com Competition Sec: Stuart Kingham Tel: 07710 040918 sdk.wickfordac@hotmail.co. uk Social Secretary Allan Smith Tel: 01376 517525 allan.smith11@btconnect.com

Also – Richard Lewsey, Phil & Tim Clarke & Richard Candy

MEMBERSHIP FORM FOR

WICKFORD AUTO CLUB 2015

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Make cheque for £10 payable to: Wickford Auto Club Ltd and send to:

Adele Candy: 23 Merriams Close, Brantham. Manningtree. CO11 1RY