The 2005 season has seen a resurgence of club members taking to the stages with 12 drivers and 9 co-drivers scoring so far at the beginning of June. To score you don’t have to register, just send a copy of the results of any stage rally you enter, to me at the address on the contacts page of Acorn, it is as simple as that!

Points are based on class positions, plus a point for every class competitor beaten, so it doesn’t favour more modified cars, but rewards consistent driving. Non-finishers also score 5 points; so even if you have a nightmare event, get those results in, as it will be close by the end of the year.

The first event for 3 crews was the South Downs Stages at the beginning of February, run by Southsea and Bognor Regis Motor Clubs, and held at Goodwood circuit. Many people will remember rallying at Goodwood, with the club’s own Spotted Dick and Custard being one of the last events to run there, back in 1998, before circuit improvements and noise restrictions brought them to an end.

Unfortunately the event this time was hampered by stage stoppages and lost mileage, caused by the circuits fixed sound level meters tripping out when the track direction was reversed – very frustrating for the organisers.

Nonetheless, Peugeot 205 crews Rob Sartain/Robert Fisher (25^th o/a, 3^rd in class) and Mark Instance/A J Wright (35^th o/a, 4^th in class) and Iain and Andy Gibson in their Honda Integra (12tho/a, 5^th in class) enjoyed themselves on the 7 quick stages that ran.

A month later and the regional championships for the first of many visits to the ever-popular Longcross test track in Surrey, for the Mini Tempest Stages. Five 7oaks crews made the start for Sutton & Cheam MC’s infamous 9 mile multiple split/merge opening stages, but Dick and Tom Athow failed to finish in their smart Mk 1 Escort.

Iain and Andy Gibson (Intregra Type-R) had a trouble free run to 26^th overall and 9^th in class, despite overtaking Vince and Matt Wheeler’s Metro Gti on one stage and then promptly out breaking themselves into the next chicane…..DOH!

The Wheelers came home an excellent 3^rd in class and 37^th overall, one place and 36 seconds in front of Chris Wise and Sam Collins (205 Rallye), who took time on the early stages getting used to a new diff, but had found the pace by the last couple of short stages. Also finding pace by the last stage and after a slow start were Jason Mortlock/Bill Smith, to finish 43^rd overall and 16^th in class, in their colourful 16oo Mk2 Escort, matching the Wheelers on the last stage.

See the June Acorn for Dick Athow’s report on the very eventful Thames Valley Motorsport stages at Longcross.

Next up for the 2½ 7oaks crews was the Abingdon CAR-nival Stages, run the day after the very popular sprint. This saw a number of club members engaging in beer – based rehydration programmes, including the “Cowpie Challenge” – don’t ask! (Oh but you have got to explain that one Iain – The Ed)

After that lot, the rally should be easy, and for Nigel Mummery it was, bringing his Escort Cosworth home in 16^th overall and 4^th in class.

The Gibsons have always had mixed fortunes on this event and this continued – hitting a kerb on SS2 and taking a four inch chunk out of a front rim – but no puncture! Then on SS5 they suffered a rare break pad failure, with the friction material coming adrift and jamming in the calliper, resulting in metal on metal meltdown! Slight panic in service saw the brakes replaced (thank goodness for Nomex gloves!) and a result of 25^th overall and 12^th in a very fierce class C.

In the equally competitive Class B, Jason Mortlock/Bill Smith came home 11^th and 51^st overall, with some consistent times. Unlike the 35 (!) cars that failed to finish this always demanding 90-mile event.