BTRDA 75th Anniversary Rallycross Event - Croft

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by AlamakiRX

A little over 2 weeks to go until the event.

64 cars entered, current drivers who are joined by loads of new drivers in new cars.

http://clubmansrallycross.weebly.com...ntry-list.html

Should be a cracking event.

Plus..... the BTRDA will launch there 2014 BTRDA Championship over this weekend. Firstly at the Anniversary Dinner on 23rd at the Jersey Farm hotel, then at the Croft Circuit on race day.

This will include a draft calender and a full class structure.

Excellent stuff! Can't wait.

[AlamakiRX]

A new one-day event for 2013 will celebrate the fabled BTRDA’s diamond anniversary and is a real bonus for rallycross fans. With no championships at stake, it’s very much a ‘free for all’, with competitors from across the BTRDA’s two-wheel-drive classes up against one another as the event takes on an ‘old school’ format with eight starters per grid. Organiser the Darlington & District Motor Club has confirmed a 65 entry for the event.

15th November is the LAST day to get reduced priced tickets direct from Croft Circuit priced £8 per adult.

Otherwise they will be £10 on the gate.

Practice starts 9.30, racing 10.45 spread the word....

[flagwaver]

This time next week it will all be over. Really looking forward to this event.

[Steve Gibson]

There have been a couple of withdrawals
So got a car?
Get entered

See you all next weekend

[AlamakiRX]

Competition time:

Visit www.twitter.com/croft_circuit for a chance to win one of three pairs of tickets to our special BTRDA 75th Anniversary Rallycross Trophy event this coming Sunday 24 November. Two-wheel-cars only, 'old skool' 8 cars per grid format, no classes, 10-car finals, prospect of some giant-killing performances. Among those starring
Paul Swift Stunts...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Croft...92137174165939

https://twitter.com/croft_circuit

Share and win.............. spread the word..........

[The Count]

A preview of what I've submitted to the local newspapers, good luck to everyone

LC

CLASS ENTRY FOR CROFT 75th ANNIVERSARY RALLYCROSS

Clubman’s rallycross returns in style to Croft Circuit this Sunday for Darlington and District Motor Club’s BTRDA 75th Anniversary Rallycross Trophy.

The event is designed to reflect the early days of the sport when the organising club was mainly responsible in running open grids with a quick turn around and everyone in with a chance of an award. Every competitor will have the opportunity of racing in a Final and the class awards will be extracted from the overall results.

The format for the event will see drivers compete in two qualification heats followed by a final. The competitors will not compete within classes; instead they will race together in a grid of up to eight cars throughout qualification. The action will be further enhanced with ten car grids for the finals with the first two finishers in each Final being promoted to the next one.

Drivers have responded well to the event which has attracted a fantastic entry of over 60 cars. This includes over 20 local drivers including Hartlepool’s Des Wheatley who is returning to the sport in his Judd powered Rover Metro having last competed nine years ago. Other top North East drivers include Jarrow’s Michael Boak (Audi TT), Barnard Castle hotelier ‘Mad’ Mark Watson (Ford Fiesta), Martin Peters from Ingleby Barwick (Citroen Saxo) and Lance Foster (BL Mini) who will all be hoping to put on a good show for the locals.

Such is the diversity of competitors entered, another driver normally found doing stunts on film sets and on Top Gear is Darlington’s Paul Swift who will compete in his rally-specification Ford Escort MK2 and he’ll be joined by fellow rally drivers John Gaskin from Chop Gate in his Citroen Saxo and Northallerton journalist and commentator Larry Carter in his Super 1600 specification Peugeot 206.

The fiercely-contested Stock Hatch class will see Colin and Tim Ramsey from Bedale as well as Great Ayton’s Ian Horn in action whereas Brompton’s Darren Grimston (Citroen Saxo) and Yarm driver John Rook also in a Citroen hoping for honours in the Hot Hatch class. Ripon brothers Kris and Keifer Hudson head the BMW Mini challenge but will come under pressure from Ferryhill’s David Bell whereas after a three year sabbatical, Middlesbrough’s Kelly Bird will be back in action in her older version Mini in the Classic Minicross class.

But if the local contingent fancies their chances, top British competitor Stuart Emery is making the long trip north from Kent in his Peugeot 206 Turbo where he’ll be joined by Margate’s Vince Bristow (BMW), Gary Dixon from Lincoln in his Vauxhall Astra and perhaps the dark horse, Devon driver Steve Cozens in his Lotus Exige.

Normally found at rallycross events acting as a start line marshal and former BTRDA Co-ordinator, Andrew Bedford will fulfil his lifelong ambition to compete in rallycross, he will take to the wheel of a 1400cc VW Lupo for the event. Former BTRDA Champion Gary Cook in his MG ZR will be hoping for a good event and will be joined by fellow regular BTRDA competitors, Barry Dutton (Renault Megane), Dave Ewin (Ford Fiesta), Mike Yates (Proton Satria), Brian Jukes (Audi TT) as well as former Supercar drivers Simon Horton (MG) and Kevin McCann (Ford Escort).

BTRDA Rallycross Committee member and competitor John Rook commented: “It is truly fantastic to have such a well supported event talking place at Croft. This event is a stepping stone to a standalone BTRDA Rallycross Championship which will return in 2014”.

D&DMC Chairman and Event Secretary Terry Wright commented: “I always felt that there was a demand for a true clubman’s event aimed specifically at the two wheel drive competitor. The entry filling up so quickly within a couple of weeks has proved this. All we have to do now is provide a slick event to compliment the competitor’s faith in us!”

The event will also give the BTRDA the opportunity to launch their 2014 Clubman’s Rallycross Championship, which will feature a number of rounds from February to November with a wide range of classes. Practice gets underway at 9.30 with the first heats commencing at 10.30. The second set of heats starts at 12.30 with the finals from 1.45pm.

Adult admission costs just £10 with accompanied children free. Free parking within the circuit on hard standing is also available and for more information, please visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk or www.darlington-motor-club.org.uk.

[AlamakiRX]

Great preview Larry

Make sure you get a copy of this weeks Motorsport News which features a full page preview on the event

Great to see clubman Rallycross getting such good exposure and coverage

Let's just hope a good crowd is present to watch some fabulous rallycross action

[AlamakiRX]

Good articles;

The event getting some good exposure;

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/o...ycross-6318609

good article shame about the picture;
http://www.yorkshiretimes.co.uk/arti...-November-24th

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/spo...lycross_event/

http://rallycross360.com/btrda/

Who's going?

[AlamakiRX]

Provisional Timetable:
Signing On 7.30
Scrutineering 7.30
Drivers Briefing 9.00
Practice 9.30
Heat 1 will follow
11.30 until 12.30 Lunch Break
Heat 2 will follow
13.45 Finals will follow
Drivers Presentation

Tickets priced £10 on the gate

[flagwaver]

Well I thought that was a great meeting. Big grids, some close racing, what more can you ask?

Paul Swift was the overall winner, having hot footed over from the Neil Howard memorial Rally at Outlon where he had finished 7 overall

[The Count]

SWIFT WINS 75th ANNIVERSARY BTRDA RALLYCROSS TROPHY

Darlington driver Paul Swift overcame not only the tricky conditions but also some of the best rallycross drivers in the country to sensationally take outright victory in the BTRDA 75th Anniversary Rallycross meeting at Croft Circuit near Darlington today.

In only his second ever rallycross meeting in Smith and Allan Oils-sponsored 2.4 litre Millington Ford Escort Mk2 with additional backing from PSI Global.co.uk, the seven times British Autotest champion set his stall out by setting fastest time in his qualifying heats at the Darlington and District Motor Club organised event.

That meant a pole position start as the ten fastest drivers lined up for the all-important ‘A’ Final over six laps of the three-quarter mile fast half sealed, half loose North Yorkshire track.

Despite his lack of experience in the sport, Swift got a great start and trailed the Peugeot 206 Turbo of Stuart Emery in the opening laps whilst the Audi TT of Michael Boak was pressing Swift hard from behind.

After a concerted effort on lap two, Swift made his decisive move around the outside at Hawthorn on lap three, edging past Emery whereby he was never headed. With a rain shower making conditions treacherous just before, Swift drove a calculated race to emerge victorious ahead of Lance Foster (BL Mini) with fellow rally driver John Gaskin (Citroen Saxo) finishing third.

Paul commented: "This is a fantastic result for me which ranks up there amongst my highest achievements in motorsport. Rallycross, the BTRDA and Croft are steeped in history so to win an event here against such class opposition is very special and I’m delighted to have taken victory. I was made to work hard for it as Stuart was driving brilliantly and Michael was letting me know he was there but everything worked out great in the end. I’d like to thank my team, the organisers and the marshals for all their hard work and I hope to be back to defend my crown next year.”

Paul would like to thank his sponsors and partners for their help in 2013.

Main Sponsors for 2013
Smith and Allan Classic Oils www.smithandallan.com
Millington Racing Engines www.millingtonengines.co.uk
Smart Independent Financial Advisors www.smartifa.co.uk
Evalu8d learning and development www.evalu8d.com
Carpet Time www.carpet-time.co.uk
ION Action Cameras www.iontheaction.co.uk
PSI Global www.psiglobal.co.uk

Other Partners
www.coach2.com
James Bean Motorsport
Pirelli Tyres www.pirelli.com
Cleveland Motorhomes www.clevelandmotorhomes.co.uk
Welund Training Solutions www.welundtraining.com
Avo Suspension www.avouk.com

Follow Paul Swift on the following networks and social media
twitter @paulswiftstunts
www.youtube.com/paulswiftstunts
www.facebook.com/paulswiftstunts

For further information, please visit www.paulswift.com or via Paul Swift Precision Driving, PO Box 116, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 9BT.

[AndyS]

Great meeting, thoroughly enjoyed it. Big grids and plenty of close racing. Shame a few cars didn't make it out or were lost in the earlier skirmish's but it didn't take away from the event at all. It was cold but not freezing, although the gap between the heats and finals made me release it was colder than I thought. Only grumble was only one burger van, cue a mile long, no hot drinks over lunch, they ran out of a lot of things and what I did get was fowl. I think we'll take our own food next time! Well done to the BTRDA, the DDMC and anyone else involved in organising the meeting. Good job all round.

[The Count]

Draft report for my column in the D&S Times, hence only 'locals' mentioned

SWIFT WINS BTRDA RALLYCROSS TROPHY AT CROFT

Darlington driver Paul Swift overcame not only the tricky conditions but also some of the best rallycross drivers in the country to sensationally take outright victory in the BTRDA 75th Anniversary Rallycross meeting at Croft Circuit near Darlington last Sunday.

In only his second ever rallycross meeting in Smith and Allan Oils-sponsored 2.4 litre Millington Ford Escort Mk2, the seven times British Autotest champion set his stall out by setting fastest time in both of his qualifying heats at the Darlington and District Motor Club organised event.

That meant a pole position start as the ten fastest drivers lined up for the all-important A Final over six laps of the three-quarter mile fast half sealed, half loose North Yorkshire track.

Despite his lack of experience in the sport, Swift got a great start and trailed the Peugeot 206 Turbo of Kent driver Stuart Emery in the opening laps whilst the Audi TT of Jarrow’s Michael Boak was pressing Swift hard from behind.

After a concerted effort on lap two, Swift made his decisive move around the outside at Hawthorn on lap three as he edged past Emery and was never headed and drove a calculated race to emerge victorious at the end of the six lap final.

Whereas Swift gained the glory, the dramatic A Final also saw two other local drivers climb the podium in a race of attrition. Both Emery’s and Boak’s challenges ended with mechanical problems late in the race which allowed the venerable BL Mini of Houghton le Spring driver Lance Foster to charge through into second place and claim a brilliant runner-up spot but it was Chop Gate’s John Gaskin who was the revelation of the meeting as he took his Citroen Saxo to an amazing third position.

Whereas the experienced Foster has shown good pace in the heats with a third and second place, it was Gaskin on his rallycross debut in the Hot Hatch specification Citroen Saxo who nearly stole the show. After comfortably winning his opening heat, Gaskin was fastest overall going into the second round but failed to finish heat two but had done enough to qualify alongside Britain’s rallycross elite and didn’t disappoint in the final.

Also making it into the A Final was Ingleby Barwick driver Martin Peters following a victory and second place in his heats/ However, with a couple of laps to go, he collided with the BMW of Gary Simpson leaving the Citroen Saxo with substantial front end damage.

Ripon brothers Keifer and Kris Hudson were also well to the fore throughout the meeting in their respective BMW Minis which saw Keifer placed second in the B Final and Kris in fourth, With the top two in each final progressing to the next, it meant Keifer took his place in the A Final and went on to take a brilliant fourth place at the chequered flag.

The C Final contained the Northallerton pair of Larry Carter (Peugeot 206) and Darren Grimston (Suzuki Swift) alongside the BMW Mini of Ferryhill’s David Bell whereby both Carter and Grimston had scored a second place in their respective heats with Bell claiming a best result of fourth. Carter held second place early on in the final before spinning out and rejoining which allowed Bell to finish third. Grimston got the better of Carter for seventh on the very last lap and in doing so, took second in the Super 1600 class with Carter third.

Barnard Castle ace Mark Watson was in action in an unfamiliar Toyota MR2 and after battling through the heats with a best result of third, and he fellow County Durham driver Brian Jukes (Audi TT) finished first and second respectively in the D Final to progress to the C Final whereby Watson finished a battling fifth but sadly Jukes retired. Also in the D Final was Newton Aycliffe’s Chris Harper who claimed sixth in his Citroen Saxo with the battle-scarred Vauxhall Nova of Stokesley driver Ian Horn finishing seventh in the same race.

The E Final contained Northallerton’s Colin Ramsey in his Peugeot 205 whereby he followed up third in his heat with a similar result in the final whereas Stanley driver Trevor Brown (Citroen Saxo) finished third in the F Final, three places ahead of Stokesley precision driver Kelly Bird who was making a return to the sport after three years away in her Mini.

Sadly, the much-awaited return to the sport of Hartlepool’s Des Wheatley after a nine year sabbatical ended when he suffered a problem with the Judd-powered Metro in the opening heat and sidelined him for the day.

[jcrally]

Please could you alter your comments on Martin Peters, it infers that Gary took him out, The incar from Gary clearly shows Martin out of control from his battle with Gary Cook , Gary S had no where to go and was taken out by Martin, a racing incident

Shame local driver does not cover York , as Gary S got driver of of the day having qualified for the A final by wining both the C & B, his event ending with the unfourtunate collision with Martin

[The Count]

From a competitor's perspective, it was a really good and enjoyable event. DDMC always run slick meetings and Sunday's was no exception and I think the compact format of two 'longer' heats (rather than three) and six lap finals worked well.

They were also experimenting with running the meeting as a 'non-noisy' day (so as not to take up one of Croft's precious and totally unnecessary 40 day allocation) and from what I gather, there was significant progress made so the upshot of that is PERHAPS, we may see more rallycross at Croft in the future providing the organisers can work with the circuit, of which a new manager starts in February.

It might mean a 10 or 15 break every hour but if competitors AND spectators are made aware of that as part of the conditions, then I see no problems but have to admit it was frustrating to have a long lunch break and then after four races, be held on the dummy grid for ten minutes (just enough time for it to rain before we started again!).

The inevitable delays between the finals as the two who progressed needed time to re-fuel etc, and meant that any delays for accidents/red flags had to be accommodated as you couldn't just start the next heat (as you would do if it was a class based structure for the finals) but there's no other way of doing it.

Would have been good to see some of the top 2WD drivers alongside Stuart Emery, Michael Boak, Simon Horton, Des Wheatley etc but can understand finding additional budget at the end of the season is hard, maybe the success of this meeting will tempt a few next year (pencilled in for 16th November at Croft).

Well done Paul Swift, all credit to Stuart Emery (who told me what lengths he'd been to to get the car ready for Croft) and an amazing drive by John Gaskin as well as Lance Foster.

As for me, who'd have thought a rally car complete with tax disc, trip meter and OK/SOS board which i forgot to take out could get into the C Final and even more remarkably, come away with virtually no damage so well done everyone on their generally impeccable driving standards.

I'll be back for more, probably at Blyton on February 9th if the 206 survives the two Croft rallies!

Well done to the organisers, marshals and BTRDA, more of the same please!

[gary396]

Originally Posted by The Count

...... we may see more rallycross at Croft in the future providing the organisers can work with the circuit, of which a new manager starts in February....

Didn't know that - is Tracey leaving?

[The Count]

Originally Posted by gary396

Didn't know that - is Tracey leaving?

Yes, she leaves on Friday, I found out a couple of months ago when I saw the post advertised and spoke to her on Sunday.

Don't know who is replacing her in the interim or full time but it's a challenging job.