BRINGING THE MOJO BACK TO RALLYING
Paul lawrence talks to those at the heart of the r.a.c. rally
Two years ago, Roger Albert Clark Rally manager Colin Heppenstall had cancelled the 2015 event as a low entry made it financially unworkable. Many organisers would have given up and walked away, but Heppenstall is not a quitter. In equal measure determined, stubborn and full of energy, he worked away for 18 months to rebuild the event. It came back two weeks ago as a bigger, tougher and longer rally and it was a massive success.
For the first time, it went to Wales and that was a canny decision. It brought entries and interest from a region that had never seen the rally before and Heppenstall broke new ground by running a transport section on Friday night as the whole rally relocated from Leominster to Carlisle. It worked well.
Although the final start list was down to 91, still close to a record for the rally, it was important that over 140 crews initially lodged deposits. It was clear that four days, three countries, 280 stage miles and 30 special stages had grabbed the attention of crews more used to under 45 miles in little more than half a day. This was nearly seven BTRDA rallies in four days.
However, this was not just a rally about the crews. Spectators, marshals and organisers were all part of an adventure that took everyone completely away from their normal life for four days. Instead of unrelenting coverage of Donald Trump, Isis and Brexit, it was a blur of forests, service areas, lights across the night sky, Ford Escorts sideways, two-stroke Saabs ring-a-dinging, time controls, the noise of the Lancia Stratos, stunning scenery, wonderful humour and camaraderie, with the occasional visit to bed when time allowed. Everyone had a ball.
It is camaraderie that came up time and time again when talking to competitors. Everyone wanted to finish and see everyone else finish. Parts, tyres and fuel were all readily loaned out and service crews often worked on other people’s cars as well as their own. When Kim Baker’s crew were working overnight at Carlisle to rebuild her engine, the Den Motorsport team provided their awning, lights and fuel for the generator.
Ford Escort Mk1 driver Chris Browne says that camaraderie is a big factor for him: “The rally was amazing as always; the camaraderie is incredible. You don’t get that anywhere else.”
“Exactly like the RAC Rallies of old,” said Roger Chilman Sr as he watched his son take a podium finish. “The cars, the sounds, the night stages and the fantastic camaraderie; glad I was there.”
While Bdg-powered Ford Escort Mk2s provided an incredible sound track to the rally, less expensive cars were still giving their crews the experience of a lifetime. James Nicholls and David Allman finished second in the Open Rally in their Peugeot 205GTI, which is probably a £10,000 car. “We’d never done an event of this scale before and it was a massive challenge,” said Nicholls. “It was the best rally I’ve ever done, without a doubt. We had a warm reception for the 205, which started off as an accident-damaged project.”
At the other end of the scale in experience terms was Jimmy Mcrae, who contested the former RAC Rally 17 times and was on his fifth Roger Albert Clark. “What an event! We’ll be back in 2019,” he said after hearing Heppenstall confirm that the 13th edition would be in two years’ time.
For Escort Mk2 driver Alan Walker, it was his first rally as a driver since blowing the engine up comprehensively on the 2014 rally. With John Connor on the notes, he finished a superb fourth overall on what he said was the best rally he’d ever done: “They were fantastic stages and to do 20-mile stages was amazing. Stages like Twiglees and Castle O’er were brilliant.”
Hitting 9400rpm in top in Falstone added another chapter in Walker’s rallying memories.
Paul Griffiths, an event regular, was seventh in his Escort Mk2: “The stages were so good and what a day Monday in Kielder was: one stage after the other and in top condition. I cannot wait until I can do the rally again in 2019.”
This was an event that made memories that will last for years. Tony Graham was, as ever, co-driving for his brother Steve in their gorgeous Lancia Fulvia. He said: “The organisers are responsible for enabling all competitors, marshals, officials and spectators to create and share those memories and hey, what is life about if we cannot leave a legacy of memories for those we share life with. Well done to everyone involved in the best Roger Albert Clark so far.”
Spectators were more involved than on one-day sprints. For sure, they were more knowledgeable and responsible than on any other rally. John Pettit and a group of mates did all four days. “Fantastic event: what organisation that took! We watched eight stages starting in Wales on Friday and finishing in Kielder on Monday,” he said. “Well done all the crews who entered.”
Marshals turned out in good numbers to be part of the event and many did more than one day. “I had a great weekend and much respect to the very knowledgeable spectators out on this fabulous event,” said Chris Mallows. Brian Credland added: “What a great weekend; it was a privilege to marshal on an event this good.”
From the organising team, Peter Baker from Rallitrak summed up some common views: “Simply to be a part of the experience that is the Roger Albert Clark is without doubt unrivalled. This throwback is nothing short of magic. To work with a team who, to a man, woman and child simply got on with anything and everything that was thrown at them was inspiring.
“To achieve something of this magnitude takes a very special person, in this case a very special couple, and the team who support them. I am proud to call myself one of them. I have a feeling the R.A.C. will remain the gift to rallying that simply keeps on giving. I predict the next event will be bigger and better.”
The final word must go to the only man in British rallying who would even consider taking on such an event, Colin Heppenstall. “It was 18 months of hard work followed by four perfect days of rallying,” he said. “The response proved that the decision to rest the event and run it every two years is right. My sincere thanks are due to all the people who helped to make it happen, including all the marshals.” ■