Tweed Valley Stages - CANCELLED

EVENT CANCELLED

Posted: July 18, 2011 11:41 AM

North Humberside Motor Club Ltd and Glenrothes Motor Sport Club Ltd regret to announce that the 2011 Tweed Valley Stages with Clelands Volvo and Jaguar, which was due to run on 23rd July, has been cancelled.

At midnight on Friday (15th) the number of entries received was too low to run the event at an acceptable level of loss.

The event organisers would like to thank the event sponsor John Cleland (Clelands Volvo and Jaguar), the associate sponsors: Ben McCosh (Alba Water), Allan and John MacDowall (MacDowall Motors), Rodger MacFarlane (Kinstech PCB), Paul Crossley (Macro Motorsport), Tom Watson (710 Oil) and a special mention to those who offered extra support when we announced that entries were low, George Bryson (Howford Hydraulics) and Kevin Dunn (KDGrafix). Bill Sturrock (Scotmaps) delayed his recce to allow us time to reach this decision, so there will be no cost to competitors who ordered notes, and we shall be making a full refund of entry fees paid.

We also thank those competitors who have supported the event with entries, the Championship Co-ordinators, the stage commanders, radio co-ordinators, marshals, rescue units, recovery units, doctors and paramedics who committed their time to supporting the event, the Forestry Commission, Selkirk Leisure Centre and the residents on the proposed route.

Entries Required

Posted: July 14, 2011 3:33 PM

Organisers of the new Tweed Valley Stages rally with Clelands have issued an urgent war cry for competitors to book by Friday midnight to ensure the rally goes ahead.

The Selkirk-based event, due to take place on July 23rd, has been backed by leading names such as John Cleland and former British rally champion, Alister McRae.

Organisers have been lauded for reviving some of the best loved stages in British motor sport such as Elibank and Yair, unused since the late nineties.

However, unless a further 20 entrants are booked in by Friday (15th) midnight, the event partners may be forced to pull the plug.

The news comes as a third stage sponsor is about to come on board and organisers are willing to leave it late due to their belief in the event's future success.

Clerk of the Course, Ian James, said:
"The organising clubs are prepared to suffer a loss because we know this event could grow to become something major for the area, Scotland and the UK, as we go forward.

"All the ingredients are there. We have some great forest rallying on offer and the stages, whilst being well remembered in rally history, are also in fantastic condition.

"Nevertheless, if there are no more entries then we cannot run because the loss would be too large. Lots of drivers have expressed an interest and asked for details but many are in the habit of waiting until the last week to enter. If they entered now, there would be no problem. All we need is another 20 entrants by Friday midnight and we can run.

"If there are people who have not booked yet, or if their car is not quite ready, get the entries in now and the inaugural event will take place as planned."

Organising co-partners North Humberside Motor Club Ltd and Glenrothes Motor Sport Club Ltd have made it clear all existing entrants will receive a full refund if the rally doesn't go ahead.

Ian James added:
"There is an extra attraction for two wheel drive cars in this rally. These will be running at the front of the field so historics and similar, such as BDA Escorts or Manta 400s, are likely to win the two wheel drive category."

The Tweed Valley Stages rally with Clelands counts as a round of the Fuchs Titan Race ANCC Stage Rally Championship and the Scottish Borders Rally Championship.

It is also a round of the Competition Car Insurance EMAMC Multi-Venue Championship and competitors will battle it out for a Nation.s Cup.

Alister McRae recently recalled competing on some of the stages in his early career, saying: "Elibank and Yair are some of the best stages in Scotland."

With the Abbey Hotel Forestry Stages, County Donegal - due to run on the same day - cancelled due to forest fire damage in the area, organisers hope Irish crews may be temped to head to Scotland instead.

Legend McRae backs new borders rally

Posted: July 4, 2011 5:04 PM

Alister McRae has backed the new Tweed Valley Stages rally with Clelands, claiming the event will guarantee the survival of some of Scotland's best motorsport stages.

Next month, on July 23rd, the inaugural event will see competitors battling it out over 40 spectacular forest stage miles in the Scottish borders.

In the past, some of the routes were legendary, with many of Britain's rallying greats developing their skills there before going onto international fame.

Sadly, passages such as Elibank and Yair have not been used for over a decade and there were fears they may be lost to a new generation of drivers.

However, ex-British champion McRae is delighted to see some old favourites from his own career revived.

He contested events there as a youngster and watched some of the best competing, including father and 5-times British champion, Jimmy McRae.

He now hopes the event can go from strength to strength and put the area back on the British rallying map.

Asked about the quality of the stages, he said: "Elibank and Yair are some of the best stages in Scotland. I can remember spectating there as a kid on Scottish rallies that my father competed in.

"I then had the chance to drive them in the early part of my career in a Vauxhall Nova and really enjoyed the smooth, fast-flowing nature of them."

Rally co-organisers, Glenrothes Motor Sport Club Ltd and North Humberside Motor Club Ltd have ensured the stages are back to their best for the Selkirk-based event.

Scottish racing legend John Cleland has backed the rally through his company, Clelands Volvo and Jaguar.

And Proton driver McRae, who is set to return to Scotland for the Rally of Scotland on 7th-9th October, believes it is good for British rallying that the routes are to be used again.

"It is definitely great to get these Borders stages back on the map. I am sure the entrants will enjoy competing there."

The new event has been classified as a round of the Fuchs Titan Race ANCC Stage Rally Championship and the Scottish Borders Rally Championship.

It is also a round of the Competition Car Insurance EMAMC Multi-Venue Championship.

More Details

Tweed Valley Stages

Borders Rally revives Nations Cup

Posted: July 4, 2011 5:03 PM

Drivers competing on a new rally in the Scottish Borders next month will be able to fight it out for a specially commissioned Nations Cup trophy.

The Tweed Valley Stages with Clelands revs into action on July 23rd, bringing back into commission some iconic stages unused for over a decade.

Backed by former British Touring Car champion John Cleland, the event is expected to become a major draw for the Borders, with rally HQ being based in Selkirk.

However, competitors eager to triumph will not only gain the honour of being crowned inaugural champions.

They will also be able to do their bit for their country, thanks to a special award put forward by Macro Motorsport which resurrects an old tradition of 'friendly' national rivalry.

When the old Border Counties Rally ran in the forests of the Tweed Valley, Scottish and English crews competed for a nation's cup.

The innovation was popular and now it is to be reintroduced as a four-way contest, this time including Welsh and Northern Irish drivers.

To qualify, entrants will be asked which nation they wish to represent, based on current place of residence or birthplace.

The winners will be the four crews that score the highest, with no more than two crews from the same class.

Clerk of the Course, Ian James, said:
"The award is intended to be fun and to promote the friendly rivalry between the English and the Scots that originally took place on the old Border Counties Rally, a BTRDA Gold Star Championship round that was run annually in the Tweed valley forests.

"Paul Crossley at Macro Motorsport contacted me with the suggestion that we should carry on the tradition. However, we intend to include all the UK countries now, not just Scots and English."

The Tweed Valley Stages with Clelands Volvo and Jaguar, incorporating around 40 stage miles, is a partnership between North Humberside Motor Club Ltd and Glenrothes Motor Sport Club Ltd.

It will reintroduce famous stages like Elibank and Yair which sharpened the skills of drivers like Jimmy McRae, Roger Albert Clark and former Ladies World Champion, Louise-Aitken Walker.

More Details:

Tweed Valley Stages

Details / Regulations / Event Website

Posted: July 4, 2011 4:59 PM

Scottish racing legend John Cleland has endorsed a new rally this summer that will resurrect iconic Borders stages, unused for over a decade.

The Tweed Valley Stages rally will run on July 23rd, bringing back into commission the stunning routes of Elibank and Yair, last used in the late nineties.

These famous stages were driven by the likes of Ladies World Champion Louise Aitken-Walker, the McRaes and Roger Albert Clark but last saw competition on the McRae Forest Stages rally.
Around forty fast stage miles will be on offer for competitors and Cleland, who competed on them in a short rallying career, is sponsoring the event through Clelands Volvo and Jaguar.

The twice British Touring Car champion believes the rally could become a major draw for the area, economically, and may entice major series back to the Borders.
He is also delighted Elibank and Yair will be restored to the Scottish rally map, with several leading lights of the past honing their skills on its twists and crests.
"It is very important we reclaim these stages for rallying, said the 58 year old at yesterday's official launch in the Borders.
"I can recall thousands of spectators watching rallies here in the past. These stages are full of character.
"Scotland has produced world champions and we have young drivers who could be the next world champion.
"That is why it is vital people support occasions like this. Rallying brings an economic boost and I'd love to see the event work towards attracting quality championships to come up this far and use the stages on their rallies."

The event is a partnership between North Humberside Motor Club Ltd and Glenrothes Motor Sport Club Limited, the former losing its Yorkshire-based award winning rally as a result of Forestry Commission cuts.

The rally forms part of the Borders Rally Championship as well as the Fuchs Titan Race ANCC Stage Rally Championship and the Competition Car Insurance EMAMC Multi-Venue Championship 2011.

With the cost for competitors only £445, entries are expected to be high for the inaugural rally, with event HQ being Selkirk Leisure Centre and Caravan Park.

Clerk of the Course Ian James said:
"There will be a central service point on tarmac at Selkirk visited more than once and on the day scrutineering is offered. Caravanning and camping is available next to the service area for those planning to stay over. We shall not bank any cheques until after the first closing date and any competitors that withdraw their entries prior to first closing will have a full refund.
"I remember competing in these forests over 25 years ago when there was an annual competition to see whether a team of Scots or a team of English took the team award. Hopefully with two English championships running on the event and one Scottish one we can resurrect the spirit of the friendly rivalry from yesteryear."

Event regulations and more details at:

Tweed Valley Stages