WARREN DOUBLES UP AS HE TAMES THE YORKSHIRE MOORS
Organiser: Rippon Motor Club When: August 11 Where: Yorkshire Moors Starters: 62.
Matt Warren secured backto-back victories by winning last weekend’s St Wilfrids Rally navigated on this occasion by Ali Procter in their Ford Escort. They held a 32-second advantage over John Ruddock and Cath Woodman’s Ford Escort Mexico with Darell and
Nicky Staniforth bringing their Mini Cooper S home in third position.
The event started from the historic square in Masham, north of Harrogate, with crews heading east to three tests at Thornborough. The first two were on grass and the third on mud, so traction was at a premium. These tests gave the Staniforths a one-second lead over James Griffiths/james Howell (Mini 1275GT) with Thomas and Roger Bricknell (Volkswagen Golf
GTI) a further two seconds back.
A trio of Regularities followed. The first, around Snape and Crakehall, went to Paul Hernaman/ray Crowther (Porsche 911) from Mark Turner/ Sasha Heriot (Ford Escort RS2000) and John Haygarth/david Taylor (Opel Kadett Rallye). The second was cut short due to a level crossing malfunction. The win was taken by Warren/procter, two seconds clear of Ruddock/ Woodman and the Bricknells.
The final regularity of the morning, from Osmotherley to Felixkirk, was another closefought affair with Ken and Sarah Binstead (MGB) dropping two marks, Paul Crosby/andy Pullan (Porsche 356) on three, Ruddock/ Woodman on four and novices Sally Hewitt and Mark Lewis (Mini Clubman) on five.
Crews then entered Boltby Forest for the first run through, and it was won by Warren/
Procter eight seconds clear of the Staniforths and Haygarth/ Taylor. This gave a top seven separated by under a minute at lunch, led by Warren/procter, Ruddock/woodman with the Bricknells and the Staniforths tying for third overall.
Regulation four around Coxwold and Ampleforth was won by Crosby/pullan, using this event to shake down their 1963 machine for the Rally of the Tests in November. Crosby was ruing a lack of power on the tests and that’s what the next challenge was with the first of two visits to Pry Rigg. Griffiths/howell were fastest from Ruddock/woodman and novices Nigel and Jonathan Bennett (Mini 1275).
Regulation five used the Cockayne loop, much revered over decades of road rallying, and it had 15 speed changes and seven timing points. The hotshots were Dan Willan/martyn Taylor (Volvo PV544), Gavin and Carrie Rodgers (Reliant Scimitar) and Phil Wood/ Kelvin Phipps (Volvo P1800).
The second visit to Pry Rigg followed with crews anxious to beat their previous times. The Minis of Griffiths/howell and the Staniforths shone ahead of Ruddock/woodman and the Bennetts’ proving their first time was no fluke.
On the final regulation past the White Horse and through
Old Byland, Crosby/pullan won from Ruddock/woodman and the Bricknells. All that remained was a final thrash through Boltby Forest, the Staniforths’ Mini beating the Escorts of Warren/ Procter and Ruddock/woodman.
In the Motorsport News car, Cameron Jackson and Amy Henchoz (Lancia Fulvia) came home in 15th position.
Results
1 Matt Warren/ali Procter (Ford Escort) 28.11marks; 2 John Ruddock/cath Woodman (Ford Escort) 28.43 marks; 3 Darell Staniforth/ Nicky Staniforth (Mini Cooper S); 4 Thomas Bricknell/roger Bricknell (Volkswagen Golf GTI); 5 John Haygarth/david Taylor (Opel Kadett); 6 James Griffiths/james Howell (Mini 1275 GT); 7 Dan Willan/martyn Taylor (Volvo PV544); 8 Gavin Rodgers/carrie Rodgers (Reliant Scimitar); 9 Richard Isherwood/niall Frost (Volkswagen Golf GTI); 10 Clive Martin/anji Martin (Ford Escort). Class: Expert; Ken Binstead/sarah Binstead (MGB). Novice; Martin Oglesby/john Parker (Opel Kadett).