4:23pm Thursday 6th August 2009
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TERRY Martin has won the 2009 SD34 Championship after finishing third overall on the Morecambe Road Rally – his best result of the year.
The Blackburn driver claimed the title with four rounds still to go, but didn't have an easy time of it on the 120-mile long event, Martin and navigator Paul Taylor went off at Curwen Hall Farm, and then lost a minute with a high-speed spin on the approach to Woodacre Ford – but still cleaned the section.
However, hopes of second place went out of the window when Taylor booked in at a control early, incurring a two-minute penalty.
The pair ended the night just under six minutes behind overall winners – and number one seeds – Steve Retchless and Iain Tullie.
They dominated the event in their Ford Escort, steering clear of the early time penalties that affected many of the 35-car field, to claim a four-minue advantage over their nearest rivals, Tim and Leigh Powley.
Early frontrunners Alex Willan and Ali Proctor took the fastest time on the Wray white section, but then retired after hitting a gatepost at Gunnerthwaite.
ANWCC 1400cc championship front-runners Paul Buckel and Steve Butler made it through Gunnerthwaite unscathed.
But they then lost an argument with a wall shortly afterwards, damaging their Vauxhall Nova and forcing instant retirement.
Garth Jones and Gruff Parry made the long trip from North Wales worthwhile by finishing an excellent fourth overall in their Nissan Micra, just three seconds ahead of Roger Powley and Max Freeman’s Proton Satria.
They had to be content with fifth place instead of second after incurring early time penalties.
Accrington garage owner Simon Boardman and new mapman Ian Rayner, taking part in his first road rally for 20 years, finished an excellent ninth overall and second semi-experts in their Proton Satria.
Rossendale rallyman Mark Yates and Niall Cook brought their Nissan Micra home in 16th place overall and fourth in class.
On her first ever road rally, Marie Bamford guided Clitheroe DMC president Dave Barritt to 21st overall and fifth in class in their Mini, three places behind clubmates Neil McCarthy and Alan Barnes’ BMW.
Organiser Ashley Hodge and his team from Morecambe Car Club laid on an excellent route through North Lancashire and Cumbria, starting and finishing at the Punch Bowl Inn at Low Bentham.
Thanks to to co-operation of local farmers and landowners, the rally also included a selection of well-known ‘whites’ including Wray, Gunnerthwaite and Woodacre.
“We are very grateful to them for allowing us to use their land,” explained Ashley.
“As some crews found out, the roads are very demanding but give the Morecambe Road Rally its unique flavour.
“We are also indebted to all the marshals and our sponsors, Mitchells of Lancaster, York Brewery, Timber Jack, Lime Tree Garage of Halton, AI Harrisons of Bentham, C&M Motors and Armstrong Builders, Bentham, without whom the event simply wouldn’t run.”
>>Results
1: Steve Retchless/Iain Tullie (Ford Escort) 2m 37s; 2: Tim Powley/Leigh Powley (Proton Satria) 6m 52s; 3: Terry Martin/Paul Taylor (Proton) 8m 31s; 4: Garth Jones/Gruff Parry (Nissan Micra) 10m 47s; 5: Roger Powley/Max Freeman (Proton Coupe) 10m 50s.
Class winners: Paul Brereton/Chris Williams (Semi Experts), Thomas Byrne/Phil Martin (Novices) Fastest Wray White Award: Alex Willan/Ali Proctor.
Best Marshal Award: Sue Murgatroyd.
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