Hat Trick for Stimson on Millbrook Stages
The Ford Anglia of Honiton crew Peter Stimson/Mark Butler dominated the recent Millbrook Stages and notched up their third win in a row in the inaugural TR Enterprises supported Historic Stage Rally Challenge. The Clubmans event utilised eight out of a total of ten challenging stages on the undulating mountain circuit within the confines of the extensive Millbrook Test Track. Stimson also took third in the general class and 14th overall (moderns included). Second went to the similar bright red machine of Peter Lewis from Hereford. Clive King/Bob Ward (Mini) were third after driving hard through the field following a maximum on the opening stage. Stimson will miss the next round, The Rally of the Midlands as he will be on holiday.
The father and son crew of Derek and Robert Pike brought Derek's early Saab V4 into fourth place after another fast and consistant run. The variation of interesting machinery was complete with the first appearance of Roy Edwards' Ford Mustang co-driven by David Shields.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION.
1st Stimson/Butler - Anglia: 50:10.1
2nd Lewis/Cardell - Anglia: 53:52.1
3rd King/Ward - Mini: 57:41.6
4th Pike/Pike - Saab V4: 57:47.9
5th Cox/Gabb - Healey 3000: 58:49.1
6th Pugh/Pugh - Volvo 121: 59:01.2
7th Keene/Fowle - Cortina: 59:18.1
8th Goodall/Gilbert - Healey 3000: 1:01:04.4
9th Edwards/Shield - Mustang: 1:03:11.7
Steve Suckling 03/06/08
Stimson and Butler takes victory on opening round.
The winning Anglia of Peter Stimson/Mark Butler
Peter Stimson and Mark Butler took their Ford Anglia to a clear win on Amman District Motor Club's Red Kite Historic Stage Rally Challenge on Sunday (20th January). After five stages totalling 30 miles they finished 1min 23seconds ahead of the Mini Cooper S crew of Clive King/Bob Ward.
The event was run in wet and slippery conditions within the demanding Crychan/Halfway forest complex north of Llandovery. A pair of immaculately prepared Austin Healey 3000's drew massive spectator support but unfortunately both retired late in the event. These powerfull machines were in the hands of Chris Cox/Mike Gabb and Graham Goodall/Peter Gilbert.
RESULTS
Stimson/Butler 37.33
King/Ward 38.56
Cox/Gabb Retired
Goodall/Gilbert OTL
Great start for new Historic Stage Rally Challenge
News from the HRCR
Press release: Sunday, 20 January 2008
The new HRCR Historic Stage Rally Challenge, supported by TR Enterprises, got off to a fine start on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday (20 January) when the Ford Anglia of Peter Stimson and Mark Butler won the opening event.
In very wet and slippery conditions on some of the classic Wales Rally GB stages, the flying Anglia set a searing pace to fend off the hard-driven Mini Cooper S of Clive King and Bob Ward. After 30 stages miles, the Anglia was over a minute clear of King, although the Mini was running with a fresh engine, which King felt to be a bit down on power.
Drawing tremendous support from the spectators was the pair of Austin Healey 3000s that have been attracted to the new series, which is open only to Category 1 (pre '68) historic rally cars. Unfortunately, though both completed the five stages, neither was classified as a finisher. A final stage puncture sidelined the car of Chris Cox/Mike Gabb and the similar car of Graham Goodall/Peter Gilbert suffered after running out of fuel.
With over three months until the next round, series co-ordinator Steve Suckling reports tremendous interest in the new initiative and hopes to have at least 10 cars out for the later events on the calendar. The next event is the Welsh Rally on the asphalt roads of Epynt on 4 May.
The remaining dates are:
2 May 4, Welsh Rally, Epynt (asphalt)
3 May 26, Millbrook Stages, Bedfordshire (asphalt)
4 Jun 21, Rally of the Midlands, Nuneaton (asphalt)
5 Aug 16, Neath Valley Stages, South Wales (gravel)
6 Sep 27, Trackrod Historic Cup, Yorkshire (gravel)
The co-ordinator of the Historic Stage Rally Challenge is Steve Suckling, who can be contacted by e-mail at: steve@hrcr.co.uk