The HRCR Mini Cup kicked off on the Weston Park estate Stafford on the 20th March at the Paint Worx ABGO Stages Rally.
The day started overcast as the Mini crews started the first stage, but the sun eventually broke through the cloud during the afternoon making the day dry for all the Mini competitors. This first stage was not kind to Shame Gamble / Bob Ward in their Morris Cooper S when the engine cried enough and stopped. Behind them on stage three was reigning champions Andrew O'Hanlon / Ryan Taylor in their Austin Mini which suddenly stopped after the rotor arm broke, leaving them stranded off the stage whilst making an attempt to repair it by calling their service crew for parts.
Clive King in the love:mini backed Mini was unwell before and during the event so was not on his top form, however, he and his co-driver Anton Bird managed to hold onto the lead and take 1st Mini home title and Cat 2 award at the end of the day.
Adrian Kermode is his regular blue Mini Cooper S sat with Maurice Beckett to take 2nd Mini home having no major issues all day. The leading 1-litre Mini was the 970 S of Gordon Cameron and Sheila Grimshaw.
Peter Horsbugh / Graham Carter in the Mini Spares Cooper S 'kissed' a bale during the day losing vital seconds in the race to finish. Many of the Mini crews struggled with heat problems throughout the day with Eric Davis taking the grille off his Clubman to improve airflow, perhaps making use of the cutters he won in the ‘Snap On’ draw.
The next round of the Championship takes the crews to the daunting Epynt Ranges for the South Wales Automobile Club organised Dixies Historic Challenge on the 1st of May.
https://www.hrcr.co.uk/hrcr-championships/old-stager-stage-rally-championship/
Post a Comment