Group B MG Metro 6R4 History

[KA]

As always, when you're looking for something, you trip over something interesting by accident...

Another of the original rally 6R4 privateers from 1986- Ian Donaldson, usually seen on tarmac events in the UK and Europe in B391LPC
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...37-17_0054.jpg
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...23-30_0040.jpg

[RGM]

The history of A20ROV is interesting, and it doesn't appear to have had too hard a life.

The plan is to get it running in some degree of road trim, use it as cpurse car on some local events here in sweden. The main goal is to exploit a loophole in the swedish law that will enable us to register it in sweden for road use, it will then be the only swedish registered one.
Loophole is that if you move to sweden you can bring your foriegn registered car with you, avoiding the emissions and type approval regulations.

i) Did Craig buy it from Max Wakefield
? YES
ii) Do you know roughly when this was, ie a month / year for my files?
JAN 2005

iii) Do you know what Max did with the car during the time he owned it?
Robbed it for parts to build a works replica car.

iv) Was it complete or a rolling shell when Craig bought it?
Rolling shell

v) Is Craig based in Sweden too?
Yes.

vi) Do you have any photos of A20 ROV - either when Craig acquired it or even now if there is any change?
No significant changes to it since he bought it as we have wasted our time on other projects, I will send pictures.

Mike

[KA]

A few more UK 6R4 drivers...

another fairly recent one- Ian Rowlance (2006)
http://www.ianhardy.net/gallery/main..._2006_0764.jpg

from the early 90's, Brodie Branch. Don't remember much about him except he was around in British rallycross for a few years around 1990- he's listed in a programme I've just dug out for the first round of the British series at Lydden in Feb 1990. I seem to have a few pics of my own of his Metro (possibly more than one car?) showing it in other colours- plain white, and red/white
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howiend...7623103164915/

The Feb 1990 Lydden entry list featured the following 6R4 entries

GB1- Michael Shield
11- Steve Palmer (Practica Computers/TFC)
12- Tom Bissett
62- Brodie Branch
74- Guy Williams
110- Richard Hutton
173- Aiden Creegan (Creegan Properties Ltd)
366- Vic Moyce
777- Mark Flaherty

Bissett, Hutton and Creegan seem to have been non-starters, Shield won from Steve Palmer

As I remember, Lydden owner Bissett's car was always distinctive- a diagonal striped paintjob similar to Gollop's Silkolene car, but with red stripes on a silver or gold car.
Hutton's was usually red and white I think.
Flaherty's Metro was generally metallic blue, and sponsored by 'Hallmarks' (a Mitsubishi dealer), though I've also got a pic of it in white.

There were certainly a few other Metros around the British/Irish rallycross scene in the early 90's- looking at a photo album I've got here, I've got pics of the cars of Dermot Carnegie and Denis Biggerstaff, plus a couple I don't immediately recognise. I should also have some of the European Metro entries at the Lydden ERC round and Brands GP somewhere

[RGM]

Originally Posted by MG Rover Sport

Many thanks for the kind words of sentiment chaps, and the suggestions for some suitable names. Unfortunately Grandad doesn't have any clout when it comes to choosing his name I'm afraid, so all of your suggestions are falling on deaf ears on this occasion, so...

...Leo David it is then! His first name after his Great Grandad, and his middle name after yours truly!

Back to the topic of this thread, and the important history of 6R4 No 176's background. Thanks to a good mate of mine, this is it in it's former glory on the 1996 Woodpecker Stages - hence the yellow paint you found under the 6R4 No plate...



6R4 No 176 was sold by Austin Rover to Russel Hale in January 1987 as a bare bodyshell, and un-used for four years. It was then built up into Russel Hale's second rallycar in late 1991 with the mechanics, VIN No XXX and Reg No D111 BEG from his first rallycar as that was getting a bit tired!

The work was carried out by TRX Motorsport in late 1991, and the new car debuted on the 1992 Natwest Midwinter Stages Rally at Snetterton on 26 January. I do not have any reference to hand at the moment regarding how long the Hales continued to use it competitively, but I can find out if it is of interest?

D111 BEG was then sold to Steve Fleck in November 1995 and rallied by him on the 1995 Peter Lloyd Rallying Stages and 1995 Cadwell Park Stages - possibly others too, which I can dig into if of interest? Steve Winter was next to acquire it in March 1996 and he rallied it for the year. Steve debuted it on the 1996 Porlock Hillclimb on 30 June – emerging with fastest time of the day (FTD)! Steve then contested the 1996 Quinton Stages, Tempest Stages, Woodpecker Stages and Cambrian Rally - ditto comment re events contested.

Carl Broad bought it in January 1997 - likewise. Which then brings it pretty much up to date with the next owner being Max Wakefield (as you stated) and then yourself Mike. Any more recent history, with either Max or yourself would be very much appreciated, as I seem to have a lack of information from that period.

The car changed Reg No to A20 ROV when either Carl or Max had it, and the original Reg No D111 BEG is now on Roger Binyon's blue DAM 4100 long wheelbase spaceframe rally car - although I am not sure if the original VIN No is on that car as well?

NOTE! : The following photo which shows the area directly behind the right hand front suspension turret, including the kill switch mounted on a bracket over the 6R4 No plate, and the detail matches the photo of the same area on A20 ROV posted on the previous page (bottom photo)...

D111 BEG as seen on 1996 Woodpecker Stages...


A20 ROV as seen now in March 2010...

In the picture from the woodpecker stages was it being driven by Steve Winter?
And the John Price Rallying windscreen strip, Johns service barge(?) and someone who might even be John in Duckhams overalls.....
Was this car ever in John Price's care...?

[MG Rover Sport]

Quickly because I am just about to dash out, but yes Mike it was being driven by Steve Winter with Neil Dashfield alongside. That's Steve in the red overalls just getting out of the car in service, and you are quite right, John Price in the Duckhams overalls.

John ran the car for Steve during 1996, but whether John ever actually owned it himself is difficult to say. Steve completed one of my forms in May 1996 and stated that he acquired it from Steve Fleck.

[MG Rover Sport]

Taking this thread back a few pages, look what I just found Mike...

http://www.gatebil.no/index.php?pageid=280&memberid=432

...a translation of which would be much appreciated - not all but just the following two sections, AND what the article is about?

Personlig beskrivelse:
Driver Aabenraa Fælglager`s avdeling i Norge samt Kongsberg Styling. Selger Rondell 58 til Volvo og alt fra H&R. Selger også Motorsport felger!

Beskrivelse av din bil:
Orginal gruppe B Rothmans fabrikksbygd bil. MG METRO 6R4 3,8L sugemotor ca 430hk 1050kg. 4x4 med 65/35 fordeling. Artig liten bil som går bra.

[RGM]

Originally Posted by MG Rover Sport

Taking this thread back a few pages, look what I just found Mike...

http://www.gatebil.no/index.php?pageid=280&memberid=432

...a translation of which would be much appreciated - not all but just the following two sections, AND what the article is about?

Personlig beskrivelse:
Driver Aabenraa Fælglager`s avdeling i Norge samt Kongsberg Styling. Selger Rondell 58 til Volvo og alt fra H&R. Selger også Motorsport felger!

Beskrivelse av din bil:
Orginal gruppe B Rothmans fabrikksbygd bil. MG METRO 6R4 3,8L sugemotor ca 430hk 1050kg. 4x4 med 65/35 fordeling. Artig liten bil som går bra.

Personal description of what the guy works with, styling cars, selling wheels and lowering kits.

Description of the car, which is about as wrong as it could possibly be.
IT is not a factory built car, but the Rothmans metro C84RBD. 3,5L engine. And it actually has a 45/55 torque split fitted, one of the few in existance.
"Cute little car that goes well".

Nothing of interest there.... Mike.

[MG Rover Sport]

OK Mike - but still some new photos for me to get excited about...

Many thanks.

[MG Rover Sport]

Some great links there KA, and a very good overview of the cars that competed in the British rallycross scene. I often forget exactly how many there were altogether.

Originally Posted by KA

12- Tom Bissett

As I remember, Lydden owner Bissett's car was always distinctive- a diagonal striped paintjob similar to Gollop's Silkolene car, but with red stripes on a silver or gold car.

That's because it was an ex-Gollop car KA. All Tom did was replace the black with more gold if I remember right. Here's a photo of Gollop's, but I cannot find a photo of Bissett's to compare it with at the moment - but I bet you've got a link to one KA!

[KA]

Originally Posted by MG Rover Sport

Some great links there KA, and a very good overview of the cars that competed in the British rallycross scene. I often forget exactly how many there were altogether.


That's because it was an ex-Gollop car KA. All Tom did was replace the black with more gold if I remember right. Here's a photo of Gollop's, but I cannot find a photo of Bissett's to compare it with at the moment - but I bet you've got a link to one KA!

Thanks- I had a vague memory that Will was involved with the car but wasn't sure if it was an ex-Gollop car or not

IIRC did Gollop's G-Tech workshops continue to prepare and maintain the car for Bissett? I'm sure they did some customer 6R4 work at that time, I think the Hans te Pas car in Holland had Gollop links as well
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1992N...mg1992057.html
it usually had a 'G-Tech' decal in the side window, and his sponsor 'Troostwijk' sometimes appeared on Gollop's car at European events
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1992N...mg1992052.html

I've got a couple of fairly poor pics of the Bissett car at home, but not sure if they're worth scanning. I can't find one so far on the web...

I'm still trying to work out how many UK/Irish 6R4s there were as well- think I've got most of the well-known British ones, but I'm not so up to speed on the Irish scene, apart from the drivers like Dermot Carnegie and Denis Biggerstaff who regularly appeared at British events (I know there's a separate thread on Irish 6R4s elsewhere). I'll try and post some of my pics at the weekend

[KA]

From the same source, some of the European cars, particularly French ones which I must admit to knowing absolutely nothing about...
Pics are presumably from a mixture of French Championship rounds and French ERC rounds

Joel Champs, 1988
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1988N...mg1988004.html
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1988N...mg1988082.html

another shot of Steve Palmer's Practica car, 1989
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1989N...mg1989142.html

I ought to know this one, as I've got pics of it myself, but can't bring a name to mind- 1989 apparently
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1989N...mg1989070.html

Bernard Bertrand, 1990
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990010.html
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990005.html
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990029.html


Pauli Silvenoinnen from Finland
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990028.html

Rob Gibson again- the Clarion/Camel car he's chasing is presumably Per Eklund
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990064.html

Another pic of Gollop- think he was running the Biturbo by 1990?
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990125.html

another unidentified one- in the colours of the Belgian Car Glass team. I know I've got a pic of a similar car at Lydden. I've got a very vague memory of Steve Palmer running in Car Glass colours at a couple of events, but might be imagining this... He certainly had sponsorship from Dianetics fairly regularly after the end of the Practica deal, but so did lots of people....
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1991N...mg1991059.html

[KA]

1991- more Will Gollop pics
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1991N...mg1991064.html
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1991N...mg1991073.html
Is that a 'Car Glass' car in the background?

Will had a big shunt at Lydden in '91- think I got pics of this myself, but I was at the opposite side of the track, so they're not up to much
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1991N...mg1991065.html

Back to 1990- John Fernandes again I think, on the outside of the pic with 'Emeraude Lines' sponsorship
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990098.html

A question- who had the first 6R4 in rallycross? I know Will Gollop and some of the other UK drivers had them as early as 1987, when the Group B cars started to flood into rallycross after being banned from rallying.

http://www.fanderallycross.com/1987N...mg1987039.html
Did any appear in '86?- I've got a vague memory that the first RS200s might have been seen at the Brands Rallycross GP that year, and that Gollop's car first appeared then- certainly this pic of him in a plain white car suggests so.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwphoto_kent/938993536/
Did anyone get out before then?

[MG Rover Sport]

Originally Posted by KA

Thanks- I had a vague memory that Will was involved with the car but wasn't sure if it was an ex-Gollop car or not

IIRC did Gollop's G-Tech workshops continue to prepare and maintain the car for Bissett? I'm sure they did some customer 6R4 work at that time, I think the Hans te Pas car in Holland had Gollop links as well
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1992N...mg1992057.html
it usually had a 'G-Tech' decal in the side window, and his sponsor 'Troostwijk' sometimes appeared on Gollop's car at European events
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1992N...mg1992052.html

I've got a couple of fairly poor pics of the Bissett car at home, but not sure if they're worth scanning. I can't find one so far on the web...

I cannot remember whether G-Tech continued to look after the car in Bissett's hands at the moment KA, but I'll try and dig out some period articles to see if there is any mention of it.

G-Tech certainly ran the various cars of Hans Te Pas, which also included a few outings by sportscar racer Cor Euser in Hans' cars on a few occasions as well.

I actually saw a web photo of Bissett's god / red car the other day, but forgot to bookmark it at the time, and cannot find the blessed thing now!

[MG Rover Sport]

Originally Posted by KA

From the same source, some of the European cars, particularly French ones which I must admit to knowing absolutely nothing about...
Pics are presumably from a mixture of French Championship rounds and French ERC rounds

Joel Champs, 1988
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1988N...mg1988004.html
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1988N...mg1988082.html

Bernard Bertrand, 1990
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990010.html
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990005.html
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1990N...mg1990029.html

Joel Champs' and Bernard Bertrand's cars were one and the same as far as I know, and originally prepared by TRX Motorsport in the UK.

Originally Posted by KA

I ought to know this one, as I've got pics of it myself, but can't bring a name to mind- 1989 apparently
http://www.fanderallycross.com/1989N...mg1989070.html

That's Norwegian Arne Rasmushaugen's bi-turbo - he finished 6th in Division 2 of the 1989 European Rallycross Championship.

[MG Rover Sport]

Originally Posted by KA

A question- who had the first 6R4 in rallycross? I know Will Gollop and some of the other UK drivers had them as early as 1987, when the Group B cars started to flood into rallycross after being banned from rallying.

http://www.fanderallycross.com/1987N...mg1987039.html
Did any appear in '86?- I've got a vague memory that the first RS200s might have been seen at the Brands Rallycross GP that year, and that Gollop's car first appeared then- certainly this pic of him in a plain white car suggests so.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwphoto_kent/938993536/
Did anyone get out before then?

Will Gollop was indeed the first driver to rallycross a 6R4, and I'm pretty sure he debuted it on 2 November 1986 at a round of the Lydden Winterseries finishing 3rd in the A Final in plain white livery.

During 1986 Will went on to win the Superfinal at Croft on 23 November, 2nd in the A Final at Lydden on 30 November, win the B Final and 5th in the Grand Prix at the Motaquip British Rallycross Grand Prix @ Brands Hatch on 6/7 December, 2nd in the Grand Final at Brands Hatch on 20/21 December and 2nd in the A Final at Lydden on28 December.

I'd have to look back through some Motoring News / Autosport to see when the switch was made from the white livery to the red / blue Mobil themed livery.

Not sure whether you know, but Will was actually heavily supported by Austin Rover Motorsport during this early programme. John Davenport was obviously keen to have Will out there promoting the 6R4 as he realised that rallycross could be a very lucrative market place to dispose of the cars that were still left in the compound following the Group B ban.

In fact, if you look at some early photos of Will's car you can clearly see the Austin Rover Motorsport helmet sticker displayed on his rear wing 'shark fins'.

[MG Rover Sport]

Tiff Needell also appeared in a G-Tech 6R4 at the Rallycross Grands Prix - part of the tie up with the BBC covering the event on telly if I remember right. Murray Walker even had a passenger ride with Will as a preview to the event one year.

[KA]

We've probably mentioned most of them through the thread, but a quick recap on the original 6R4 privateers on UK/Irish national rallies in 1985/6.

Alistair Sutherland (CBC Motorsport)- I don't recall the reg number, and it's not visible in the only pic I can find so far
http://www.admc.org.uk/images/GCR86.jpg
Appeared on National Championship events, winning the championship. Did the RAC in a 'Cowley' car, rather than his regular one

Ken Wood (Golden Wonder) 261GWC- Replaced his big Rover with a 6R4, appearing on the Scottish championship and some National championship events. Won the Scottish championship. Might have been one of the first privateer Metros out, possibly doing at least one event in late '85? Also did a couple of internationals-the Scottish and RAC
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/...c9a5143423.jpg

David Gillanders (Gillanders Motors) C670JSU- previously ran a Group A Volvo 240 Turbo. Another driver seen on the Scottish & National championships trail. Like Wood, he also did the Scottish International and RAC
http://www.admc.org.uk/images/GCR87.jpg

Willie Rutherford (Rally Engineering Development/Sanyo) C998LCA Previously drove RED's unique 4wd Sierra XR4 Turbo. Another National Championship competitor, also appeared on the '86 RAC. Car was in blue Sanyo/Comet colours

RED boss Geoff Fielding also appeared in his own car C288JFM- another of the earliest privateer Metros, seen on a couple of late 1985 events, including the RAC. Not sure of his exact programme, a mixture of UK national events, some overseas internationals and the RAC. Car was originally white, but on the '86 RAC had blue Sanyo livery to match Rutherford's car
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3...elding2cu1.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4...elding1sa9.jpg

Cyril Bolton (Presspart) Q979GFR- former Manta 400 driver, usually seen on tarmac events. Did the 'home' tarmac internationals, (Circuit of Ireland, Ulster, Manx) plus Irish events. Was he ever seen in Europe?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howiend...7623103164915/

Mike Stuart -C507LTU- Stuart replaced his Group A Rover with a Metro, appeared on some, if not all, of the British international events, and possibly some European rallies? Any idea of the entrant for Stuart's car- think it was blue/white with some Castrol sponsorship?

Ian Donaldson (Wey Valley Cars/A-Z Technology) B391LPC- Another tarmac specialist, seen on national tarmac events at home, and some European (Belgian?) events.
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...37-17_0054.jpg

Alistair Brearley (Sprintex Superchargers) Q733WFS- Another Scottish championship competitor, using a unique supercharged 6R4, developed by sponsor Fleming Thermodynamics - non-homologated spec for the car meant he didn't appear on international events, but did do the national event that ran behind the Scottish international
http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/5727/davedixon2ac8.jpg
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/5...edixon1ak8.jpg

Were there any others?

Although banned from international events from 1987, many more Metros would appear on British events- IIRC ARG reduced the price of the car in order to clear their remaining unsold stock

[Gloves]

Originally Posted by MG Rover Sport

Will Gollop was indeed the first driver to rallycross a 6R4, and I'm pretty sure he debuted it on 2 November 1986 at a round of the Lydden Winterseries finishing 3rd in the A Final in plain white livery.

I think this is it....

[MG Rover Sport]

Originally Posted by KA

Alistair Sutherland (CBC Motorsport)- I don't recall the reg number, and it's not visible in the only pic I can find so far
http://www.admc.org.uk/images/GCR86.jpg
Appeared on National Championship events, winning the championship. Did the RAC in a 'Cowley' car, rather than his regular one

Alistair's CBC Motorsport (which actually stood for Can Build Cars!) was C630 PRP.

Originally Posted by KA

Ken Wood (Golden Wonder) 261GWC- Replaced his big Rover with a 6R4, appearing on the Scottish championship and some National championship events. Won the Scottish championship. Might have been one of the first privateer Metros out, possibly doing at least one event in late '85? Also did a couple of internationals-the Scottish and RAC
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/...c9a5143423.jpg

Ken was the 2nd to use a Clubman 6R4 on a rally KA - 26 October on the 1985 Sprint Tyres Trossachs Rally.

Originally Posted by KA

RED boss Geoff Fielding also appeared in his own car C288JFM- another of the earliest privateer Metros, seen on a couple of late 1985 events, including the RAC. Not sure of his exact programme, a mixture of UK national events, some overseas internationals and the RAC. Car was originally white, but on the '86 RAC had blue Sanyo livery to match Rutherford's car
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3...elding2cu1.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4...elding1sa9.jpg

Geoff was the 1st to use a Clubman 6R4 on a rally KA - 19 October on the 1985 Audi Sport National Rally.

Originally Posted by KA

Cyril Bolton (Presspart) Q979GFR- former Manta 400 driver, usually seen on tarmac events. Did the 'home' tarmac internationals, (Circuit of Ireland, Ulster, Manx) plus Irish events. Was he ever seen in Europe?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howiend...7623103164915/

Cyril was never seen in Europe as far as I understand it KA - 1986 Galway, Circuit of Ireland, Donegal, Ulster, Manx and finally the Cork '20'.

Originally Posted by KA

Mike Stuart -C507LTU- Stuart replaced his Group A Rover with a Metro, appeared on some, if not all, of the British international events, and possibly some European rallies? Any idea of the entrant for Stuart's car- think it was blue/white with some Castrol sponsorship?

Mike's car was entered by Paul Windsor Cars, I think? He was a late starter due to delays in getting his car ready as far as I recall. So even though he entered three rallies early in the season but always withdrew. He finally debuted on the 1986 Tulip Rally in Holland, and then contested the Welsh, Scottish, Ulster and Manx Rally. Not the best of fortune either as he retired from all five rallies!

Originally Posted by KA

Ian Donaldson (Wey Valley Cars/A-Z Technology) B391LPC- Another tarmac specialist, seen on national tarmac events at home, and some European (Belgian?) events.
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...37-17_0054.jpg

Ian's car was also registered C744 ENM for a while as well. His only foray into Europe was to Belgium for the Ypres where he finished 9th Overall.

Originally Posted by KA

Were there any others?

John Brown in the multi-coloured Artix Enginering C300 OCN is possibly the only one I can think of who appeared regularly KA.

[MG Rover Sport]

It certainly looks very much like it might be Will's debuit in the car. Many thanks for sharing those with us, as it looks stunning in plain white me thinks! I suppose in these very early days Will's car was pretty much exactly to works International specification regarding engine, transmission, bodywork etc.

Another point. If anyone out there in ten-tenths world feels that they like to contribute to this topic, but don't actually know anything about individual cars, who sold what to who, when a car was debuted, etc, then don't worry about it - we can't all be sad anoraks!

I am positive you all have some fantastic 6R4 photos that you've taken over the years - as Gloves has above! - so why not contribute by posting some of them so that we can all appreciate them?

WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS!

[KA]

Originally Posted by MG Rover Sport

Alistair's CBC Motorsport (which actually stood for Can Build Cars!) was C630 PRP.

Ken was the 2nd to use a Clubman 6R4 on a rally KA - 26 October on the 1985 Sprint Tyres Trossachs Rally.

Geoff was the 1st to use a Clubman 6R4 on a rally KA - 19 October on the 1985 Audi Sport National Rally.


Cyril was never seen in Europe as far as I understand it KA - 1986 Galway, Circuit of Ireland, Donegal, Ulster, Manx and finally the Cork '20'.

Mike's car was entered by Paul Windsor Cars, I think? He was a late starter due to delays in getting his car ready as far as I recall. So even though he entered three rallies early in the season but always withdrew. He finally debuted on the 1986 Tulip Rally in Holland, and then contested the Welsh, Scottish, Ulster and Manx Rally. Not the best of fortune either as he retired from all five rallies!

Ian's car was also registered C744 ENM for a while as well. His only foray into Europe was to Belgium for the Ypres where he finished 9th Overall.

John Brown in the multi-coloured Artix Enginering C300 OCN is possibly the only one I can think of who appeared regularly KA.

Thanks for filling those gaps in David- I'd pretty much forgotten John Brown- I'd seen a pic of the Artix car somewhere, but couldn't remember whether it was around in '86 or not

Yes, now you mention it, Mike Stuart's car probably was entered by Paul Windsor Cars- they were certainly involved with his Rover

Some pics might follow later, if I can persuade my temperamental scanner to behave itself.....

[SAMD]

Originally Posted by KA

We've probably mentioned most of them through the thread, but a quick recap on the original 6R4 privateers on UK/Irish national rallies in 1985/6.


Cyril Bolton (Presspart) Q979GFR- former Manta 400 driver, usually seen on tarmac events. Did the 'home' tarmac internationals, (Circuit of Ireland, Ulster, Manx) plus Irish events. Was he ever seen in Europe?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howiend...7623103164915/

Was Cyril Bolton not a mini driver extraordinaire? When I used to consume CCC in large quantities I think he was mentioned a lot.

[Gloves]

Originally Posted by MG Rover Sport

Tiff Needell also appeared in a G-Tech 6R4 at the Rallycross Grands Prix - part of the tie up with the BBC covering the event on telly if I remember right. Murray Walker even had a passenger ride with Will as a preview to the event one year.

From memory this event was shown live on Grandstand, as a result you can see the early transmitting equipment on the roof for in-car footage. I seem to remember Tiff did a live running commentary of a race. Steve Ryder did do some demo laps in the passenger seat and I also have some pictures of this.
Any in-car stuff in those days was rare and the Metro was certainly a mighty machine. This came across well on the TV.
Will kept rolling tyres off the rim that day as can be seen the second picture.

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by KA

Ian Donaldson (Wey Valley Cars/A-Z Technology) B391LPC- Another tarmac specialist, seen on national tarmac events at home, and some European (Belgian?) events.

I believe Ian Donaldson sold his car to John McKerrel in 1987. John rallied the car up until about 1995.

[KA]

Originally Posted by phoenix

I believe Ian Donaldson sold his car to John McKerrel in 1987. John rallied the car up until about 1995.

Yes, that rings a bell with me as well. Going slightly off-topic, wasn't John rallying something very unlikely and Italian before the 6R4- De Tomaso Pantera or something like that...?