Jobfixers Belgian Rally Championship

I'm now contesting the 2020 Jobfixers Belgian Rally Championship, sadly only the virtual one but it's a step in the right direction I suppose. If you're out and about on the virtual stages let me know!

COVID-19

My plans have been altered by COVID-19 - as I suspect everyone's have. I'm staying at home and staying safe; as should everyone else who possibly can!

So from doing very little I'm now doing the Azores DIRT 2.0 Rally plus various other events that come along. I've not got pedals and a wheel in time but it's just a bit of fun!

Other projects are still coming along well and I might even start a Rally Round event after Easter.

A return to the hot seat - at last!!

I finally got back into the hot seat on the recent Washingpool Farm targa rally! A good run with James Graham in his Saxo saw us a mere 3 seconds off a class trophy. Not bad for a team that hadn't sat in a rally car for a minimum of 10 years each..

More events are planned.

Is rallying healthy?

I tend to think it isn't even though there seems to be a feeling amongst those rallying that it is.

For example the WRC has attracted Volkswagen for next year, which must be a great move. Well has it attracted VW? With the current chaos regarding television rights for the WRC Volkswagen's board have started to re-think their huge commitment and there is certainly some doubt as to whether the Polo WRC will start a stage next year as a works entered car in the WRC..... Should Volkswagen pull out before even entering the blow to the WRC would be huge and can't be under estimated!

Is British rallying healthy? It seems to be surviving which is all it can hope to do in reality through the present economic climate. Once the economic dark clouds have lifted there are more battles to be fought though..... Forestry rallying may well decline due to increase costs, lower available miles and worse road condition ensuring more vehicle damage. 

Should forest rallying decline further where will those cars go? Single venue events are becoming harder to organise and venues are becoming fewer and with no closed road rallying at present the future is far from bright, bleak may be a better choice of adjective.

Closed road rallying offers a sustainable future for British rallying but there seems to be an apathy to promoting the economic benefits events can bring. I remember being at Lurgan Park and hearing just how many millions of Pounds/Euros Irish rallies brought into local communities, an income stream totally unavailable to those areas without a rally. For a day of potential noise and congestion as well as limited access to certain roads the locals see their economy boosted beyond all recognition - surely this is a great selling point!!!

Will rallying still be around in 10 years? Of course but with economic and environmental pressures mounting it may be a different beast to when I was doing the Heart of England, BTRDA, West Midlands Road Rally and Welsh Road Rally Championships - all in the same year with a selection of drivers. That was a fun time and I was lucky enough to get class and championship victories galore that year!

Paperclix Jersey Rally.

Good luck to everyone competing on and organising this year's Jersey Rally.

Since I first did the event with Andy Corner in the Skoda Ford I've always enjoyed my trips to the island. As an event it's challenging and highly rewarding with an excellent social aspect too! If you've never been you are certainly missing out!

I'll be following the event (by any means possible) and expect it to be a very hard fought event, this year's entry really is quality!

Full event information and live results can be found here:~ link

Pentti Airikkala

Pentti Airikkala 1945 - 2009

I was fortunate to meet Pentti and learn a few valuable lessons from one of the original "Flying Finns". Always friendly, helpful and humorous Pentti was a true gentleman and a rallying expert. Not only did he know how to drive exceptionally fast he also knew how to set a car up to drive exceptionally fast! He views on the Metro 6R4 never cease to make me laugh.

Everytime I write a pacenote I'll think of him, he'll be greatly missed.

RIP Pentti.

Corner Motor Sport

Having co-driven for Andy Corner on many rallies (and having won a few championships with him) it's only fair to guide you to his website. Follow the link here through to the Corner Motor Sport web site.
Andy has set up the Corner Motor Sport web sit in conjunction with his son Dan, who is one of England's fastest and most impressive young rally drivers.

Jersey Rally picture.

Here's a picture from the Paperclix Jersey rally (prior to the event start) of a wonderful Escort mark 1 and the stunning Aston Martin GT rally car. As far as I know the Escort finished, the Aston certainly didn't.
When the Aston Martin GT was running it sounded absolutely wonderful, the most impressive car on the event by far. The black marks left by the spinning rear wheels off the start line were also mightily impressive. It is nice to see different cars being rallied, the Aston has to be one of the stranger choices though!

WRC ~ a new beginning?

There are plans announced on almost a weekly basis to revive/restructure/reinvent/rescue the World Rally Championship. I've got an idea that seems reasonably good (to me at least.....):~

Engine:~ 6 cylinder(max) with a capacity of 3500ccm (max). No turbos or traction control. Drive train:~ Mechanical diffs only. Rear wheel drive.

Body shell:~ Production model similar in style to current WRC styles with a minimum length a la current regs.

The rules would allow a manufacturer to use any V6 from their range in any suitable bodyshell ~ a V6 Astra would be allowed as would a V6 Volvo C30. Porsche could also field a team of Caymans and how about a Nissan 350Z or Chrysler Crossfire team?

All bar Suzuki of the current WRC teams could build cars, there are also a very wide range of other manufacturers who have suitable engines and models in their product range including Alfa Romeo, Honda, Toyota, Renault, Lancia, Dodge, Chevrolet, Mercedes, Lexus and BMW.

The howl of V6s, the sideways attitude of rear wheel drive, who could resist?

Maps.

I started rallying using OS maps on road rallies and even now quite enjoy rallying off maps. However I was up with my parents-in-law last weekend and saw a Victorian era map of their local area. Wow! With every field marked on the map became just difficult to read, being black and white didn't help either. It wasn't quite as difficult to read as the OS map for Jersey but then there wasn't as much habitation around Halsham when Victoria was queen.