Spadeadam’s Champion Driver  2010

&

Winner of the North Of England Tarmac Rally Championship 2011

Barry Lindsay.

What do you rally? What’s its history?

Peugeot 106 1.6 Gti.

I’d Spotted a (damaged) 106 Gti, I remember pricing bits with Allan Bateman at Graham Bowness, he said “If the engine and the ECU are damaged don’t get it!”. A few hours later I lifted the bonnet and the chassis leg had moved… On it was the ECU, it had gone through the timing belt, smashed the cam pulley and all the guards!! A bit more look but I was having it…! BLM built up the engine and prepared the pocket rocket for its début Christmas 2001. The first season with it was a nightmare. It was showing speed but couldn’t get results various problems: Diff / Driveshaft / Fuel pump/ Relay. Then came Christmas 2002, the start of the 11 class wins on 12 events.

How long have you been rallying? What was your first event?

First event was 1993 Derwent Stages on Great Orton in a Talbot Sunbeam. We finished despite the bonnet coming loose and then a coil wire coming off. After 4 years, front wheel drive beckoned. A Peugeot 205 had been built by BLM and we sneaked off to Flookburgh to début it. 2nd in class with standard suspension and exhaust (which we lost part of during the event!).

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This months “Who’s That?” is SMC #2 driver ….

David Hope

What car do you rally ?

Subaru.

How long have you been rallying and what was your  first event ?

Been rallying on and off since 1991, first event was Hallburn – came 15^th if I remember correctly.

Best result?

Back in those days I could get in the top ten. Best result was 3^rd overall from a field of 60 odd at Hallburn, but also came 7^th from 100 on the Pendragon. Continue reading →

..is Back!

This month it’s SMC’s 2010 number 4 driver

Geoffrey Harkness

What car do you rally ? Vauxhall Corsa 1.6 (the same car for the last 16 years)

How long have you been rallying and what was your  first event ? 

About 18 years, before that I sprinted and hillclimbed for 7 or 8 years, and still do occasionally. The first rally I did was on the 14MU site (Kingmoor park) in a 1400 Nova with Nigel navigating. We were doing quite well until the front wheel parted company on a corner, but we got the wheel back and borrowed some studs from the other wheels to let us complete the stage.

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Time for the SMC 2010 number 7 driver..

Phil Jobson

What car do you rally ?

‘Snowy’ a Ford Escort Mark 2 stage rally car fitted with 1600cc Rover K series engine‘. It’s been in the family ( so to speak) since I acquired it from Neil Routledge in 1987. Then it was fitted with an all steel crossflow 1600cc producing around 122bhp. Modern engines have progressed so much that the current engine produces nearly 200bhp and possesses much more favourable driving characteristics. It’s just a shame that the potential of the driver has progressed equally in the opposite direction!

I also rally ‘Silver bullet’, a road rally spec mark 2 Escort, fitted with a 1600cc crossflow. I bought it as a 4 door left hand drive from the brother of Richard Hill (he of Evo and Historic fame) he later asked if he could buy it back!

How long have you been rallying and what was your first event?

I started in 12 car events driving as Mark 1 Escort, navigated by Ian Robinson – who will remember being stranded in the middle of a hedge at a square left just outside Little Orton with ½ a tree protruding through the footwell.

My first stage event was competing against Colin McRae ( well his name was on the entry list to). On the Fellside stages in West Cumbria. My navigator was Billy Murray from Brampton, we had loads of problems including a leaking fuel tank, culminating in a roll leaving us upside downacross a farm track near Pica. Isn’t it funny how you remember every detail of where your rally ended!

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We are now on to our number 8 driver of 2010

Nigel Hepburn

What car do you rally ?
Peugeot 206
How long have you been rallying ?
I have driven for about 6 years – I used to navigate in the eighties.
What’s your Best result ?
Won my class on the Jim Clark in 1400cc Puma in 2006
What is your favourite car?
My favourite rally car is 1600 Puma Kit Car but my favourite road car is
Porche 911 996

Who is Your Favourite Driver ?
Colin McRae
What is your Dream Rally and why ?
Rally Barbados, it looks like a very good rally and it has good weather.
Any Plans for 2011?
Prom Stages, 3 of 3 Sisters, 2 Weeton, Pendragon

(Photos © B. Lindsay / Spadeadam Motor Club)

This month we have the driver who came in 9^th in the SMC  2010 Rally Championship:-

David Rutherford

What car do you rally ?

Up to now a Vauxhall Nova, which we have developed and are currently building it into a Corsa shell.

How long have you been rallying and what was your  first event ? 

I’ve been into rallying all my life, but driving for 4 years and my first event was the 2007 Autumn Stages at Drumlanrig.

What is your best result?

Probably getting a finish on the 2010 Galloway Hills, but results wise, 26 o/a 4^th in class at Halburn 2009,  or 32 o/a 7^th in class in the 2009 Galloway Hills.

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