Mintex MSA BHRC round five – Harry Flatters Historic Rally
Posted: February 7, 2014 1:57 PM
Rikki Proffitt / Phill Harrison, David Stokes / Guy Weaver and Gareth James / Steffan Evans all came away from a very tough day's rallying over the Epynt military ranges having claimed maximum points in Mintex MSA BHRC Categories One, Two and Three. Conditions were made difficult by steady overnight rain that created numerous slippery patches on the stage surface, especially on the blind side of crests. These wet patches combined with a number of sudden heavy rainstorms that soaked the surface, causing several rally-ending accidents due to cars aquaplaning and lack of visibility.
BHRC leader Proffitt took his third pre-1968 Category One win of the 2013 campaign, beating fellow Porsche 911 pairing Dessie Nutt / Geraldine McBride by 16.9 seconds. Both drivers fought very hard to gain the upper hand in the early miles, stopping the clocks only two seconds apart on both opening stages. Proffitt's engine then developed a misfire, losing power and costing him around 15 seconds to Nutt on the third test.
"It's fluffing at high revs," he said at first service. Just as Nutt looked to be taking command he suffered the bad luck of his throttle jamming open, making his car 'push on' into corners and forcing him to brake harder than usual. Then, his Porsche's gear knob came loose which, he reported, unsettled him as he thought it was a broken gear linkage. With both drivers pushing as hard as they dare in the trying conditions, the result came down to an incident on the penultimate stage. Proffitt got a clear, unobstructed run whereas Nutt caught a much slower car in the opening miles and, with nowhere to pass safely had to sit behind, losing more than 10 seconds and with it, any chance of victory. Non-registered Peter Lewis / Alan Jones finished third in their venerable Ford Anglia.
In Category Two, for 1968-75 cars, David Stokes / Guy Weaver (Escort Mk1 RS 1800) got their tilt at the title back on course with victory by 2m 56 seconds over Roger Matthews / Paul Morris's similar machine. The opening stages saw the now-obligatory head-to-head between Stokes and Richard Hill / Pat Cooper. Despite going straight on at a junction on the New Road section and having to reverse out, Stokes maintained an advantage over Hill, who was troubled by gearbox woes. On stage seven, a sudden heavy downpour of rain dropped visibility to near-zero, causing third-placed (non-BHRC registered) Steve Loveridge / Mark Sattin to slide off into the undergrowth, ending a fine drive in their 1380cc Mini Clubman. It also put paid to Hill's day as he retired with further mechanical problems. With Hill on the trailer home, Stokes moderated his speed over the closing miles sufficiently to make sure of claiming maximum Mintex series points, moving him up the table to fifth overall. Matthews's all-day steady approach, coupled with changing tyres to a harder compound after the opening loop of stages, paid dividends with second place. He finished ahead of Wayne Bonser / Richard Aston's Escort Mk1 RS 2000, who were pleased to report that their gearbox, clutch and intercom had all held up under the strain, in contrast to previous outings.
James / Evans took maximum points in Category Three (1975-81 cars) and took overall rally victory in their Escort Mk2 RS 1800, by seven seconds over newly-BHRC registered Kevin Davies / Eifion Thomas with Tomas Davies / Den Golding third.
James set the early pace with Kevin Davies, in his first Tarmac event of the year holding off Tomas Davies and Ernie / Will Graham’s BDG-powered Escort Mk2. By the end of the opening three stages James held a four-second lead and had been the only driver to break the ten-minute barrier for the long third test. His reported trouble-free run contrasted with Kevin Davies, who got his car out of shape at Edmonds’ Bend on stage three. Further down the field another new BHRC registration, Neil Williams, with Eurig Davies alongside in their Mk2 was struggling to hold fifth, being plagued with gearbox problems.
On stage seven a sudden downpour of almost biblical proportions soaked the Tarmac, affecting everyone except the first three cars. While others aquaplaned and struggled in zero visibility – sixth-placed Will Rowlands / Richard Birch later reported their Escort Mk2's wipers physically bent due to the amount of rain hitting the screen – James, Kevin and Tomas Davies all got a clear run, nearly one minute faster than anyone else. This left the three leaders to fight it out over the last two stages. With another cloudburst hitting the start of the final stage, James’s confidence in his tyre choice gave him victory, despite Kevin Davies’s final stage charge. Tomas Davies took third, exactly two minutes behind, while Graham got steadily quicker throughout the day to take fourth.
Results
Posted: February 7, 2014 1:29 PM
Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship latest news
Posted: July 23, 2013 11:24 AM
Gareth James and co-driver Steffan Evans will carry the coveted number one seeding at the SGC Printing Harry Flatters Historic Rally, as the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship bursts into life for the second part of its eight round season this weekend. The Ford Escort Mk2 pairing made their mark on the historic scene by winning the 2012 Epynt-based event which, this year, takes place over nine challenging stages, totalling more than 80 miles. They currently lie second in the overall championship standings after four rounds, only eight points behind leaders Rikki Proffit / Phill Harrison in their Category One (pre-1968 cars) Porsche 911.
Category Two (1968-75 cars) leaders Richard Hill / Pat Cooper are seeded at five, immediately ahead of arch-rivals and fellow Ford Escort Mk1 exponents David Stokes / Guy Weaver.
Mintex MSA series leader Proffitt is seeded at 23, right on the heels of Category One protagonists Dessie Nutt / Gertaldine McBride in their Porsche 911.
In the sister HRCR 'old Stager' Cubman's Challenge, Clive King and co-driver 'Polly' lead away an all-Mini top three, with long-time HRC Mini Cup rivals Eric Davis / Russell Joseph and Nigel Dutson / Mat Rogers taking close order right behind.
HRCR Imp 50 Cup contenders Geraint Thomas / John Stanger-Leathes will add to an already varied field of machinery by switching from their usual steed to a Fiat X1 / 9. The little 1300cc Italian car was homologated into International Group 3 in the 1970s, examples running successfully in both the French and Italian national championships.
Regulations / Details
Posted: July 5, 2013 11:23 AM
News Stories
Classifieds
Shop
TV Guide
Links
Upcoming 
Most