Jack Frost Stages Rally @ Croft - 17 Jan 10

BIRD SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS JACK FROST TITLE

Posted: January 18, 2010 2:01 PM

Penrith rally driver Paul Bird returned to his local Croft circuit today and successfully defended the Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally title which he won for the first time twelve months ago.

Along with Scottish co driver Kirsty Riddick, the pair finished over two minutes ahead of their nearest rivals after the eight stages around the North Yorkshire track but their day wasn't without incident which started on the opening stage of the Darlington and District Motor Club event.

Driving the www.supercasino.com, Vent-Axia and Kick Energy-backed Ford Focus WRC08, the former national rally champion had a big overshoot on the day's opening stage and was only second overall before grabbing the lead on the next stage. However, a major spin, the result of a broken driveshaft, saw Bird limp the car out of SS3 whereby the Dom Buckley Motorsport Team set to work in rectifying the problem.

Bird was fastest on SS4 and but for a minor problem on the next stage would have been fastest on there too but he needn't have worried as he set fastest time on the final three stages to claim an easy victory.

"After recent events it was great to get back in the rally car and get rid of some pent up aggression and frustration and I'm delighted to win again. The club have done a wonderful job in getting the event on and made the stages very challenging but we had our fair share of problems too and we were lucky to get to the finish. It was good to see a lot of people again and it's been a good shakedown for Rallye Sunseeker and the Malcolm Wilson Rally which I intend on contesting next," said Bird.

Photos

Posted: January 18, 2010 2:00 PM

Ian Hardy Motorsport Photography

Results

Posted: January 18, 2010 1:58 PM

1 Paul Bird/Kirsty Riddick - Ford Focus WRC - 0:45:40s
2 Richard Cook/Edwin Cook - Mitsubishi Evo9 - 0:47:48
3 Chris Wise/Tracey Taylor-West - MG Metro 6R4 - 0:47:58
4 Martyn Tinker/Jack Morton - Lotus Exige - 0:47:59
5 John Gaskin/Mark Gaskin - Subaru Impreza - 0:48:07
6 Andy Davison/Mike Curry - BMW M3 - 0:48:27
7 Paul Swift/Andy Lees - Ford Escort RS2000 - 0:48:53
8 Christopher Singer/Katherine Singer - Mitsubishi Evo6 - 0:48:55
9 Michael Glendenning/Andrew Roughead - Ford Escort Mk2 - 0:48:58
10 Alistair Hutchinson/St John Dykes - Renault Clio LPG - 0:49:02

Full Results and Times

North East Rally Services

Darlington & District Motor Club

ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR JACK FROST RALLY...!

Posted: January 8, 2010 5:47 PM

Despite the freezing conditions gripping the country and the long-term forecast showing no sign of a quick let up, the organisers of the 2010 Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally to be held at Croft Circuit on Sunday 17th January have confirmed that it's all systems go as far as the event is concerned.

With snow clearing equipment and sufficient manpower set to start work on Tuesday of next week at the North Yorkshire track, coupled with the weather set to warm up over the rally weekend, Darlington & District Motor Club are confident that they will be able to run the event without any problems and as such, have assembled a near capacity entry for the annual event.

Last year's winner Paul Bird and Scottish co driver Kirsty Riddick head the entry list in their works-specification Ford Focus WRC08 and the Penrith driver will be the man to beat, especially after missing the recent Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally.

However, there is the small matter of double winners Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor West in their MG Metro 6R4 who finished runners up on last weekend's ice-bound Christmas Stages so have the advantage of some track time if conditions are similar.

Scotsmen Billy McLelland and Alistair Wylie will be in action in their Mitsubishi, as will former Kall Kwik Rally winner Tony Thompson from nearby Ingleton who makes a rare appearance in his Lancer Evo 9. Yorkshiremen Chris Myers and Matt Whattam will be hoping for better weather in their Mitsubishi and one pairing to look out for are Chop Gate's John and Mark Gaskin who were spectacular on the Christmas Stages in their Subaru.

2009 SG Petch/ANECCC Stage Rally Champions Richard and Edwin Cook from Cumbria once again have won the prize drive in the SGP Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 and other top seeds are Kev Dunn and Fiona Douglas (Subaru), Chris and Katherine Singer (Mitsubishi) and Nick and Heather Stamper (Subaru).

Leading the two-wheel drive brigade is the Barnard Castle pairing of Alistair Hutchinson and St John Dykes in their LPG-powered Renault Clio although they will have their work cut out with the likes of Catterick's Martyn Tinker (Lotus Exige), Ilkley driver Chris Platt (Vauxhall Tigra) and Carlisle's Barry Lindsay (Peugeot 106).

Other drivers to keep an eye on include Darlington stunt driver Paul Swift (Ford Escort), the historic-specification Datsun 240Z of ex circuit manager Brian Morris from Richmond and the road-going Audi A4 of Tyneside rallycrosser Michael Boak who took the car to an amazing 4th overall on the Christmas Stages!

Barnard Castle drivers Mark Thompson (Peugeot 206) and John Bainbridge (Subaru) should be well to the fore, as will Thirsk's Mat Smith (Peugeot 205) and Andy Davison from Stockton in his BMW M3, whilst don't rule out the likes of Ross Hunter (Honda Civic), Keith Fisher (Peugeot 205) or the Subarus of Martin Farrar and Mark McCulloch.

Local motorsport PR company Cartersport (www.cartersport.com ) are sponsoring the event and proprietor Larry Carter from Northallerton, who finished tenth on the Specsavers Christmas Stages, along with co driver Linda Ashman will also be in action in their MSR Motorsport-prepared Peugeot 206.

83 drivers will take to the start of the event which is a qualifying round of The AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship 2010, SG Petch/ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, Borders Stage Rally Championship 2010 and ANCC Stage Rally Championship 2010.

The first car starts at 09.05 and the event comprises eight stages totalling around forty miles throughout the day, including at least one in total darkness before the prize presentation at Croft around 6pm.

Gates open at 8am and admission is £8.00 per adult with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted FREE. There are catering and toilet facilities and further details and the full entry list can be found at

Darlington & District Motor Club

Seeded Entry List

Posted: January 8, 2010 12:10 PM

1 Paul Bird/Kirsty Riddick (Ford Focus WRC08)
2 Chris Wise/Tracey Taylor-West (MG Metro 6R4)
3 Billy McLelland/Alistair White (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo)
4 Tony Thompson/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Lancer Evo 9)
5 Chris Myers/Matt Whattam (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6)
6 John Gaskin/Mark Gaskin (Subaru Impreza)
7 Richard Cook/Edwin Cook (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
8 Kev Dunn/Fiona Douglas (Subaru Impreza)
9 Christopher Singer/Katherine Singer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6)
10 Nick Stamper/Heather Stamper (Subaru Impreza)

Full Entry LIst:

Darlington & District Motor Club

List of Entries to Date:

Posted: January 5, 2010 3:52 PM

Darlington & District Motor Club

BIRD TO DEFEND JACK FROST STAGES RALLY TITLE

Posted: January 1, 2010 12:29 AM

Former national rally champion Paul Bird has today confirmed he will defend his Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally title when he takes part in the event at Croft Circuit on Sunday 17th January 2010.

The Penrith driver will bring his latest Ford Focus WRC08 in which he will contest selected rounds of the World Rally Championship in 2010 to the Darlington & District Motor Club-organised event where he took an easy victory in his Subaru on last year's event.

Along with Scottish co-driver Kirsty Riddick, Bird was hoping to contest this weekend's Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally which takes place also at Croft this Saturday (2nd January) but due to a number of factors, is likely to miss the event organised by Northallerton Automobile Club.

Former winners Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor-West will be challenging in their MG Metro 6R4, and there is a very healthy two-wheel drive contingent including the Vauxhalls of Chris Platt and Kev Monaghan as well as Barry Lindsay's Peugeot 106 and the historic class is well represented also with Darlington stunt driver Paul Swift (Ford Escort Mk1) up against the mighty Datsun 240Z of ex circuit manager Brian Morris from Richmond.

Just twenty places remain available for the event which will again comprise up to eight stages totalling around 36 stage miles on the ribbon-smooth tarmac of the North East's only permanent racetrack and will be a qualifying round of The AS Performance North of England Tarmacadam Championship 2010, SG Petch/ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, Borders Stage Rally Championship 2010 and ANCC Stage Rally Championship 2010.

Entries close early next week so prospective competitors should submit their entry forms as a matter of urgency as no entries are reserved, it is strictly 'first-come, first-served'.

Scrutineering and Documentation take place the same day as the event which gets underway with the first car at 09.15 and there are classes for cars up to 1400cc, up to 1600cc, up to 2000cc, up to 2400cc and over 2400cc as well as pre-1976 classic rally cars. The entry fee is £190, which is the same as 2009, and the closing date is officially 4th January 2010 or soonest thereafter when full.

For further information, please contact Terry Wright on 01325 359895 (before 21.00). Regulations and entry forms are now available at

Darlington & District Motor Club

REGULATIONS AVAILABLE / DETAILS

Posted: November 2, 2009 12:42 PM

After last year's inaugural sponsorship of the event, local specialist motorsport PR company, Cartersport, have once again teamed up with Darlington and District Motor Club for the Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally which will take place at Croft Circuit on Sunday 17th January 2010.

The event will again comprise up to eight stages totalling around 36 stage miles on the ribbon-smooth tarmac of the North East's only permanent racetrack and will be a qualifying round of The North of England Rally Championship 2010, SG Petch/ANECCC Stage Rally Championship, Borders Stage Rally Championship 2010 and ANCC Stage Rally Championship 2010.

The event has gained in popularity over the years and usually attracts a capacity ninety-car entry, including some of the top drivers in the UK. Scotch Corner preparation expert Tony Bardy holds the record of three wins from 2004 to 2006 and prior to that, Scotland's John Bogie took a double victory in his MG Metro 6R4. However, more recently, Yorkshireman Chris Wise has taken the honours in his MG Metro 6R4 (2007 and 2008) but last year, maverick Cumbrian World Superbike team owner Paul Bird claimed victory in his Subaru WRC S9.

In addition to providing many services within the motorsport industry, Northallerton-based Cartersport look after the PR and publicity work for Croft Circuit meaning the association is once again mutually beneficial, especially in light of the High Court Injunction against the circuit earlier this year following complaints by three local residents, according to Managing Director, Larry Carter:
"This is a fantastic event at a great, historic and much-needed motorsport facility in our region and it's vital as many people as possible give Croft Circuit their support at this time. As such, we are delighted to have been invited back by Darlington & DMC and to be again sponsoring the Cartersport Jack Frost Stages Rally. I aim to be competing myself as it's always a great event which is now firmly established on the calendar in January."

Secretary of the Meeting, Terry Wright commented:
"Obviously running on the smooth tarmac surface of Croft means it can often live up to its name with a white coating greeting the early runners however DDMC always tries to provide an enjoyable event and we think we have a couple of new layouts to test competitors. In addition, our aim is to keep the stage layout open enough for the less powerful cars to carry speed whilst slowing the larger vehicles. We usually end up with a good mix of four and two-wheel drive cars in the top ten."

Scrutineering and Documentation take place the same day as the event which gets underway with the first car at 09.15 and there are classes for cars up to 1400cc, up to 1600cc, up to 2000cc, up to 2400cc and over 2400cc as well as pre-1976 classic rally cars. The entry fee is £190, which is the same as 2009, and the final closing date is 4th January 2010, although competitors are advised to enter early to avoid disappointment.

Regulations and entry forms are now available from the club website:

Club Website

Posted: November 2, 2009 12:40 PM

Darlington & District Motor Club