Barbados Historic Rally Carnival - 14-28 Jul 10

LOCAL BAJAN DRIVER WHITE WINS KING OF THE CARNIVAL 2010; JIMMY McRAE NETS CLASS WIN ON RALLY

Posted: August 3, 2010 6:02 PM

Barbados Historic Rally Carnival 2010 LOCAL BAJAN DRIVER WHITE WINS KING OF THE CARNIVAL 2010; JIMMY McRAE NETS CLASS WIN ON RALLY Driving a 3-litre Tuthill Porsche 911 through a totally tropical mixture of searing heat and flash downpours, five-times British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae adapted swiftly to the bumpy challenges of Barbados' Turners Hall special stage and relished the swift, smoother sections of the Pickerings stage, to clinch second overall and a class win in the Karcher Summer Stages Historic Rally.

"I was flat-out in fifth on the fast bit of Pickerings and spotted my wife Margaret spectating, something she almost never does anymore," explained Jim.

"Her mouth was wide open and it was clear she was pretty awestruck, so I kept my foot in it and nearly missed the braking point!", grinned Jim during the Carnival prizegiving at Surfside beach bar, Holetown the following Sunday.

The performance earned McRae and co-driver Campbell Roy the Classic Group 5 class win, after a determined early challenge from Andrew Jones fell by the wayside when the Bajan local had a spin in his Cosworth-powered Mk2 Escort.

Another Tuthill Porsche 911 was on the island for the event. It was driven to victory in 1993 by the founder of the company, Francis Tuthill. Two drivers, Francis and his London-Sydney co-driver and friend Anthony Showell drove the car in the RallySprint, with Anthony achieving sixth place. A minor 'off' relegated Francis to 12th, but he redeemed himself with fourth overall on the rally.

Overall Historic rally winners were Greg Cozier and Jamie Marsh. The 'father' of the Rally Carnival pedalled his immaculate Mk2 Escort to win both the Classic Group 4 class and overall honours. Cozier said: "We were quicker by three seconds on the first tight stage, but when Jimmy pulled back six seconds on the long Pickerings in the Porsche, I was a bit nervous. Not much I could do about it other than drive."

Bajan rallying hotshot Stuart White, co-driven by Jason O'Neil, dominated the RallySprint event at Bushy Park Raceway on the Rally Carnival's first weekend, in his highly-modified 1600cc Toyota Starlet, following this with a Classic Group 3 class win in the Historic asphalt rally on the second weekend.

White's consistent class performance throughout the two-week Rally Carnival - during RallySprint qualifying, RallySprint heats and both routes of the rally - all contributed to the final score and earned him the prestigious Andrew Phillips Memorial King of the Carnival prize. This award commemorates its namesake's huge efforts toward raising the profile of special stage rallying in Barbados, through inviting a succession of international drivers and cars to compete on the island. Andrew's initiative essentially laid the foundation for what became the Barbados Rally Carnival many years later.

The King of the Carnival prize is an exchange programme; if a local Barbadian crew wins, they get an all-expenses-paid entry to a foreign event which is consequently used as a promotional tour by Rally Carnival organisers. If a foreign crew wins the prize, they get a free entry back to the Barbados Rally Carnival. This exchange of people and ideas, the richest prize in Caribbean motor sport, helps the local organisers to promote and grow the Rally Carnival. This year, the exchange arrangement is with the Killarney Historic Rally in Ireland in December.

Greg Cozier is delighted with this result:
"We couldn't be happier with the outcome," he said.

"Stuart is the ultimate representation of a club competitor, building and maintaining his own car and subsidising the costs by working on other rally cars in his spare time."

A close-fought rally battle between Yorkshire drivers Graham Wilcock and Nick Cook for fourth Historic car was resolved when Cook lost 12 seconds spinning his Mk1 Escort, leaving Wilcock to maintain the pace in his Opel Manta and grab the position. A worthy Post Historic Group 1 class win and ninth of the 12 Historic cars was taken by the Oxford Universities Motorsport Federation's (OUMF) mid-1960s Riley 1.5. Driven by Ding Boston and co-driven by Ingo Jahn, the venerable BMC machine is well-known to Barbados fans, having now contested some six events on the island.

West Countrymen Bernard Northmore and Peter Brace took Northmore's 1972 Renault 12 Gordini to third in the Post Historic Group 1 class at the RallySprint and managed to repair a sheared alternator bracket in time to complete their rally, second in class to the OUMF Riley.

Praise came from all competitors for this inaugural Historic Rally Carnival; some comments that more stage distance and variation would be better next year will be taken into account for the 2011 event.

Jimmy McRae echoed the feelings of all at the rally's close-to-midnight finish, when he said:
"I tell you, I certainly know I've driven the stages we've done! It's been a great event and it would be really good to come back next year and go for the overall win. . . in fact, Greg has already invited us and we've been making plans!"

Obviously, a great time was had by all!

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Barbados Rally Carnival

OFFICIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH COLIN McRAE VISION

Posted: July 13, 2010 4:44 PM

Just before Historic rallying action starts on the motorsport-mad island of Barbados, Carnival organisers announce the event's partnership with the Colin McRae Vision charity.

An apt arrangement, entirely in keeping with the Carnival's tenth anniversary and evolution to a more-affordable Historic format, the alliance embodies the aims and objectives of both the admirable Vision charity and those of the Historic Rally Carnival organisers.

Colin McRae Vision was established in the aftermath of the tragic helicopter accident in September 2007, which claimed the lives of rally legend Colin McRae, his five year-old son Johnny and two family friends. The McRae family felt it correct to use Colin's name and legendary achievements to raise funds for charitable and worthwhile causes. It is among the many laudable aims of this initiative to advance public participation in sport; together with education, arts, culture, science and the provision or organisation, of recreational activities.

To achieve its aims fund-raising is part and parcel of the initiative and Barbados Historic Rally Carnival founder Greg Cozier, a staunch advocate of the Vision principles, is delighted with the new partnership: "It is a great privilege to be associated with Colin McRae Vision and its admirable objectives. Our event is thrilled to assist wherever possible in promoting the fund-raising efforts, through the sale of merchandise at the various motor sport and social events."

Colin's father - five-times British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae - is entered in the Historic Rally Carnival in a Porsche 911 prepared by Tuthill Porsche, renowned specialists in the German marque. During the Rally Carnival, Jimmy will be meeting fans and autographing McRae Motorsport and Rally Carnival merchandise.

The RallySprint is the first event of the Carnival, held at the challenging and technical Bushy Park race track in the east of the island on Saturday 17 July at noon. After some 'r, r and r' (rest, relaxation and reconnoitring) the following week, the Karcher Summer Stages starts at mid-day on Saturday 24 July. Running at the back of the modern rally, the Historic Rally continues into Saturday night, when passes over the dauntingly fast and varied surface Pickerings special stage in the dark will provide a truly historic opportunity for the 'men' to be sorted from the 'boys'.

UK competitors arrive in Barbados this week to meet their cars and equipment, which sailed to the island on Geest vessels weeks ago. Scrutineering is followed by a welcome party, both at a convenient hostelry, on Friday 16 July, before the RallySprint the following day.

As well as Jimmy McRae, UK competitors include Francis Tuthill, founder of the preparation specialists, who will drive the very 911 which he used to win the 1993 London-Sydney Marathon; Nick Cook will contest his 1973 MkI Escort and Graham 'Grum' Wilcock will be searing the Barbados stages in his 1978 Opel Manta. Cook and Wilcock are both three-time veterans of previous Rally Carnivals and both are addicted to the the Carnival's 14 days of happy social atmosphere.

Bernard Northmore takes his 1972 Renault 12 Gordini to the Caribbean for the first time, while Oxford University Motorsport Foundation's (OUMF) 1965 Riley 1.5 is now a favourite Bajan old stager. This year, the venerable BMC-mobile has 'rested' on the island since contesting May's Rally Barbados - its second international outing in Barbados. Driver and OUMF organiser Ding Boston is again bringing the OUMF crew of rally-mad students for the Historic Rally Carnival.

Local entries close later this week: some 20 Bajan historic rally cars and crews are expected to mix it with the European cars competing for the richest prize in Caribbean motor sport; the King of the Carnival prize for best overall class performances. This is provided by the Rally Carnival organiser's arrangement with the awesome and challenging Killarney Historic Stages in Ireland next December: if Barbadians win this year's Historic Carnival, they also win an 'all expenses paid' entry for Killarney this year; if an overseas crew wins in Barbados, they get an free entry back on the island in 2011.

JIMMY McRAE HEADS STAR-STUDDED EUROPEAN ENTRY Historic event link-up with Killarney

Posted: June 20, 2010 7:02 PM

The most successful British Rally Championship competitor of all time contests next month's Barbados Historic Rally Carnival in a 1972 Porsche 911, rally-prepared by renowned Porsche specialists Tuthill.

Jimmy McRae's five British Championship victories (from 1981 to 1988) and two Irish Tarmac Championships (in 1980 and 1981), plus a thoroughly astounding seven Circuit of Ireland wins) are unrivalled and, co-driven by rallying expert Campbell Roy, the 911 for Barbados carries formidable talent, experience and success to the Caribbean.
"I've been wanting to compete in Barbados for many years now, but car preparation delays always held us back," explained Jim.

"Now we're properly equipped with a good car, I'm really looking forward to what promises to be a fantastic experience. I've heard the roads are a bit like the lanes of Ireland or the Isle of Man, but bumpier - just the ticket!"

The Tuthill team's legendary experience of preparing and running historic Porsches in rallies will be deployed extensively in next month's (14-28 July) tenth anniversary celebration of this unique Caribbean Rally Carnival. As well as the McRae car, 2009 British Historic Rally Champion Dessie Nutt is entered in a 1972 Tuthill 911, while team founder, historic rallying stalwart and Porsche preparation wizard Francis Tuthill is looking forward to attacking the Barbados Carnival RallySprint and the Historic Rally special stages in his famous 1993 London-Sydney Marathon-winning 1969 911.

Others making the trip from the UK for this (inaugural historic) Rally Carnival anniversary include Nick Cook, who brings his 1973 Mk1 Escort and Graham 'Grum' Wilcock, bringing his 1978 Opel Manta. Cook and Wilcock are staunch advocates of the Barbados Rally Carnival; each is a three-time veteran of previous events and both are addicted fans of the happy social atmosphere prevailing during the Carnival's 14 days.

Also of note is Bernard Northmore's 1972 Renault 12 Gordini, on his first visit both to the event and to the island. Oxford University Motorsport Federation's [OUMF] 1965 Riley 1.5 is now a welcome favourite among Barbadian fans. It has 'rested' on the island since contesting Rally Barbados last May - its second international outing on the Caribbean island - and driver Ding Boston is bringing the University crew of petrolhead students out there again for the Historic Rally Carnival.

The first event - on the weekend after overseas crews arrive on Wednesday - is the RallySprint at Barbados' Bushy Park Raceway. Rally Carnival officials have reviewed entirely the track layout, installing new roads to create a proper rallysprint course; "wicked" is how one official describes the course's consequent challenge. Local Barbadian rally competitors will join the Historic crews for an exciting day of motor sport action.

Then there's a week of fun in the sun - with recceing for some - and the Carnival's BRC Summer Stages Rally starts at mid-day the following Saturday (24 July). The Historics run after the modern classes on the Summer Stages Rally, held over 75km of closed public asphalt roads through the north of the island. It runs into Saturday night, for a true taste of historic rallying!

Historic Rally Carnival organisers have also arranged to promote the 2011 Barbados Historic Rally Carnival at the Killarney Historic Stages next December: if Barbadians win this year's Historic Carnival, they also win an entry for Killarney this year; if an overseas crew wins in Barbados, they get an entry back on the island in 2011.

Barbados Rally Carnival founder and instigator of this Historic Carnival initiative, Greg Cozier said:
"We're excited about this re-launch as an historic event, which seems to be gathering some momentum locally as well as internationally. I think once local competitors realise why the international rallying world is going over to historic rallying, we'll see a big swing here. Fixing car specifications at a 1982 cut-off date levels the playing field substantially in terms of car build and running costs."

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Barbados Rally Carnival

NEW RALLY CARNIVAL FORMAT & ENTRY PACKAGE ANNOUNCED

Posted: May 25, 2010 12:52 PM

After many years of fine tuning the Barbados Rally Carnival format, organisers are planning something completely different.

Firstly, new financial backing has made it possible for organisers to slash entry fees for competitors from Europe. A sizeable US$1,000 has been sliced from the original cost, representing an unprecedented 61.5% reduction in the basic entry package. This includes return air fares from London Gatwick to Bridgetown for driver and co-driver, return shipping from Portsmouth, England (including port charges and brokerage fees) for one car packed with spares; a hotel room accommodating two people, entry to the rally and the rally sprint (including third party competition and road-going insurance) for a total cost of just US$1,600 - a remarkably economical way to enjoy two weeks of historic motor sport of the highest calibre.

Secondly, the 75km (estimated) asphalt rally will start at mid-day on Saturday, 24 July and run right into the night until conclusion. Rally Carnival founder and instigator of this historic initiative, Greg Cozier, had this to say: "When we think of the old long-distance rallies, memories of incredible night stages spring to mind. These days, organisers around the world try to avoid rallying in the dark, but we thought it would bring back a nice 'historic' element to the rally this year. It also leaves Sunday free for a cracking prizegiving party!"

Running between the 14th and the 27th July, the Barbados Rally Carnival has become an historic event this year, in celebration of its tenth anniversary. Cozier explains: "Top-level international historic rallying has never been more accessible to clubmen; who could think of a better way to take your historic rally car on holiday along with the family?"

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Barbados Rally Carnival

PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT REDUCES FOREIGN COMPETITORS' ENTRY FEES

Posted: May 18, 2010 4:05 PM

Barbados' Tourism Development Corporation [TDC] has agreed to provide financial support for the island's Rally Carnival.

Historic rally cars will contest the Barbados Rally Carnival this year in celebration of its tenth anniversary. This new financial support reduces entry fees for foreign competitors to a lower price than ever before.

TDC-sponsored initiatives include many diverse sports-tourism events held annually in Barbados, such as Masters football, beach volleyball and now historic rallying. A TDC spokesperson notes:
"TDC is committed to increasing visitor participation in annual sporting events by directing sponsorship support towards various marketing activities in overseas markets. In this instance, TDC's support has allowed the organisers to reduce entry package costs for foreign competitors in order to expose as many new rallyists as possible to the attractions of Barbados".

Greg Cozier, rally competitor, Barbados Rally Carnival founder and instigator of this tenth anniversary Historic initiative notes:
"It has never been easier to take your historic rally car on holiday along with the wife and kids; bargains like these for clubman competitors are hardly seen in international historic rallying and entries are limited".

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Barbados Rally Carnival

Historic Rally Carnival for 2010

Posted: April 27, 2010 12:29 PM

To celebrate the famous Barbados Rally Carnival’s 10th anniversary this year the event has evolved into a 14-day tarmac rallying festival for historic rally cars

The annual festival, which comprises a rallysprint one weekend and tarmac special stage rally the next with plenty of social activity in between, has become a bit of a cult event among British and European rally drivers.

Regulations for the Barbados Historic Rally Carnival are designed to include as many enthusiasts as possible; an additional set of ‘clubman’ regulations for Classic cars built before 1982 has been included, and Group B cars will also be eligible for class positions only. The event will run in the school holiday period from July 14th to 28th.

Greg Cozier is creator of the Barbados Rally Carnival and founder of the Historic event. The official website is: www.barbadosrallycarnival.com and contains everything you should know about this new event.

Event Website

Posted: April 27, 2010 12:28 PM

Barbados Rally Carnival