Newby returns from a short sabbatical with strong victory
Phoenix Stages Rally
Organiser: Eastwood & DMC When: August 7 Where: Fulbeck, Lincs Championships: Roadrunner/ Phoenix Awards ANEMMC; Alexander Calder Financial EMAMC; Heck Sausage ANCC Stages: 9 Starters: 55.
With the fastest time on every stage TEG Sport’s Arron Newby and Gary Tomlinson were victorious in their Subaru Impreza by almost two minutes on the Phoenix Stages.
Newby was back driving for the first time since the North West Stages earlier in the year, and dedicated the win to a school friend Harry Kay who had died the week before.
Behind Newby, Dave Welch/ Stuart Proctor’s Impreza had a good battle with Dave Wood/ Pete Kettle’s Mitsubishi Lancer. Wood took the position on stage four but it would only last for two stages as Welch came through to usurp him.
Ex-circuit racer John Griffiths, with Nigel Wetton on the notes, sealed fourth and Dave Hornbrook/matthew Sample (Mitsubishi Lancer E7) rounded out the top five.
Simon Belcher had been in contention for a top four finish but he took a stage maximum on the fifth tour.
Ian Tiffany/graham White were part of the battle for fourth but they encountered problems. Their Subaru Impreza yielded to electrical gremlins.
In class one, Joe Cunningham/ Chris Pattison’s Vauxhall Corsa was never headed, despite visiting a field on stage four.
They took the win by two minutes from Andrew and Rachel Foster’s Vauxhall Nova, with Jonathan Hudson/adi Collins’ Peugeot 106 GTI third after Paddy Homan retired.
Matt Wood/riki Musson’s Corsa led class two all day as Chris Bellamy/anthony Sharpe’s Honda Civic VTI took second. Class three went to Dave Roberts/dave Owen’s Escort Mk2 after a duel with Andy and Cass Graham’s similar car, while, in class four, Phil and Mick Gallagher followed home Mick Pickles’ Escort.
Organiser: Coventry Stadium When: August 6 Starters: 70
Stuart Smith Sr is regarded as the greatest ever stock car driver: on Saturday night Stuart Smith Jr gave a performance that emulated his late father when he won the final in dominant style, winning by nearly half a lap.
Mark Sargent grabbed the lead from the drop of the green flag and he looked to be on his way to add to the heat race win he scored earlier in the evening. However, Smith was beginning to barge his way towards the front.
After a yellow flag , Smith muscled his way into the lead with five laps to go. As the laps wound down Smith extended his lead and crossed the line over five seconds clear, a huge winning margin in a stock car race, ahead of second place man Rob Speak with Frankie Wainman Jr close by in third. Sargent was forced to retire with two laps remaining and was classified in 15th.
“After the season I have had I needed that,” said Smith. “I had a feeling during the week