DOWN THE PUB
WITH ADAM MILNER
Age: 26 Lives: Malton, Yorkshire BHRC rising star
He started on two wheels
“I started doing motorbike trials at the age of 13 and progressed to the British championship but badly injured my knee in 2014. That put me out for 18 months. I competed in trials with Roy Jarvis and he had already been building a nice Ford Escort. He used to take me to trials when I was young as my dad was busy with the milking herd on the farm.”
The rallying started in 2015
“Roy said if I gave him a hand to build the Escort, I could drive it. His business is Ralloy Engineering and he’s based near Malton. We did one local event in 2013 in a borrowed car but our first proper event when we got the car finished was the Scottish Rally last summer.”
He was immediately on the pace
“We were seeded 42 and we thought that was too high, but we finished 28th in a 1600cc car. We both wanted to do more and did the Trackrod in September. This year we’re doing the British Historic Rally Championship and we’ve been to Wales for the first time. Wales is absolutely awesome, the roads are so twisty and I love it because it puts us on more of a level playing field with the two-litre cars.”
His speed stunned
“It was slippery on Rally North Wales and we were second fastest historic on the first stage. It was muddy, slippy and foggy and we could just keep up with them. Last weekend was my first rally in Kielder. I thought I’d be quick but I didn’t think I’d be this quick. Doing the motorbike trails is all about throttle control and balance and I do think it converts to the car. It’s all about finding grip. We’ll do some more but the Severn Valley clashes with a motorbike trial and Roy’s not keen on Epynt because he doesn’t trust me on asphalt. But we hope to do the Isle of Man, so that should be a big experience. We’ll definitely do the Trackrod.”
He wants to progress
“I started out wanting to finish in the top 30 of a rally and it’s escalated to wanting to finish in the top five overall of the BHRC. Then I’ll just see where it goes. But we go rallying on a tight budget and I do all the work on the car with Roy and if I bend it, I have to fix it.”