More 1982 - different drivers, different navigators...
1982. Here’s a slightly later photo of the Black
RS2000, which now boasts sponsorship from Ray Developments and I’d clearly been
spending some time on the suspension and reducing weight since I bought the
car, as John and I are wearing intercoms.
It was so noisy in there that we needed Peltors just to hear each other!
Did
I mention that I had a company car? Well
Val still didn’t have any car, so for a while KKC became her shopping transport, and I know she would
have preferred something else. The
one-way system in Clitheroe means that in order to get around town you need to
drive along Lowergate and then turn hairpin right uphill at the junction on to
Moor Lane. Once Ray Developments had ‘looked
at’ the engine (although it was still tractable) it was much more cammy.
John
and I had certainly done the Mini-Miglia early in January 82, possibly our
first event together. My last article
about our first win together was a completely true account except that looking
back again I think it may have been Bury AC’s Torque BAC Rally, not Pendle’s Summer Rally (which was our second overall win.) At least I think that’s the order they came
in, but if anyone knows for sure, please let me know!
It was on the Mini-Miglia a few years earlier that I first met Dave McGarry. I think he was Tommy Ball's son-in-law and didn't seem to be without a bob or two - he certainly had an 'all singing and dancing' Escort. Ken Topp navigated for him, possibly for the first time. At the end of the event Ken said he'd been getting really annoyed because all the time
But
for some reason there was an overlap between my driving KKC and navigating for
a real talent, Mr Ian Woof in the bright yellow Atkinsons of Kendal Vauxhall Chevette. How our original partnership began I’m not
sure, but we did a few Motoring News rounds with solid performances but no
outright win. Ian was certainly capable
of winning, and with Derek Fryer in 1983 came second overall in the MN
Championship, no mean feat.
Looking at Ian it must have been warm in the car. So many spectators too - Cambrian News, June 1982.
On one
round, the Cambrian News Rally, which started in Aberystwyth in June 82, we
finished 13th after enduring a time-consuming front left puncture,
which we drove on for too long – the view from the left hand seat of chunks of
black rubber flying past the window was spectacular! It’s a long journey back from mid-Wales, and
I remember everyone needed the loo by the time they dropped me off on Sunday
morning, and they still had to go back to Carnforth. Everyone took their turn to go, including the
service crew which included David Metcalfe, a rally star in the making. David went on to become a works driver for
Vauxhall and seemed set for stardom until his life was cruelly cut short in a
road accident ten years later. Val still
says, now with a hint of sadness, “Dave Metcalfe used our toilet…”
One
other thing about that Cambrian News Rally:
I’ll never forget the brief mention I got in the next week’s Motoring News. It read:
“Woof was partnered by Bill
Honeywell, an accomplished driver in his own right. This was his first Welsh road rally and, when
asked how he found Wales, replied with a straight face “I turned right at
Chester.”
Ian
and I also did the R.L. Brown rally in September 82. Organised by Furness & DMC, this was one
of the classic MN rounds, always
using many of the Lake District’s best rally roads. One of my best recollections was starting the
selective down the challenging road on the east side of Coniston Water, from
north to south. I’m pretty sure we had
pace notes, not uncommon (and legal) on well-used roads in the early 80s.
Very
soon after the start, the throttle cable snapped and jammed the throttle wide
open. Ian calmly reached for the
ignition key and for the rest of the selective drove by turning the ignition on
and off – a binary use of full throttle demanding considerable skill and
concentration. It would be interesting
to see our time now, but I seem to remember we were still in the top ten!
John
Cressey navigated for me when we did Morecambe Car Club’s Illuminations Rally
in 82, another classic NW event, because John Meadows was making an appearance
with his erstwhile driver Mark Harrison (who’d had some time off, but you may
remember I won the Devil’s Own Rally with Mark in 1980).
‘JC’
and I were seeded at no 2, tipped for another win, but Ian Joel and Paul Bosdet
emerged victorious, whilst after a four-minute ‘tour’ (I can’t remember what happened!)
we lost our chance of a win and eventually took 5th. I must have taken a while to get over whatever
happened because the MN report says I was passed by Smith immediately
afterwards but on the final selective around Killington, Joel took fastest from
a ‘revitalised’ Honeywell. I must find
out what pills I was on…
John
Cressey could perhaps be described as a ‘seasoned’ competitor who, like me, can
turn his hand to driving or navigating.
He still drives the Mull Rally every year, getting very respectable
results despite his advancing years (sorry John!!) and has also been enjoying
himself immensely pedalling a classic Minisport Cooper ‘S’ at a very impressive pace.
'JC' in the classic Minisport Cooper 'S'
We
did the Lombard RAC Rally together in 1988.
I think John may well be the subject of the next chapter, even though
this puts some events out of order (as I also did the Lombard RAC with John
Morley in ’86.) But there’s no need to
spoil a good story just to get the order right…
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