Roundabout Tyres Keith A. Wood Memorial Stages Rally

Report by Phil James
Organising club: High Moor Motor Club.
Date: 08/10/06.
Where: Three Sisters Circuit, Nr Wigan.
Championships: ANWCC; SD34
Stages: 12
Starters: 49 

Ian Savage and Gary Heslop completely dominated proceedings leading from start to finish in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI. At the finish no one was more surprised than event sponsor Savage who explained “After the engine expired on last weekend’s Promenade Stages I dropped the spare in which is just a standard unit so we could do our own club’s event. It’s run perfectly all day, we’ve never put a spanner on it and I can’t believe how lucky we’ve been!” 

A trio of crews came closest to Savage through SS1. ANWCC Champions-elect Dean and Wayne Jones in the Escort Mk II, Brian Hardman and Paul Jackson in a similar car and the Impreza of Duncan Taylor and Stephen Graveson were all two seconds slower. These three crews remained Savage’s biggest challengers throughout the day. Jones was closest through the opening tests before Taylor moved ahead on SS5. Jones took second back after SS7 then Taylor broke a differential on SS11 and slipped behind Hardman. Taylor then had to complete the final test with one eye on the Impreza 555 of Keith Taylor and Steve Rogers who closed within two seconds. 

The Escort Mk II of Peter Tattersall and Stephen Riley had been fifth after SS8 but had slipped behind the similar car of sixth placed Kevin Jones and John Davies by the finish. Only two seconds separated Geoff McQuilling and Rob Hopewell (Honda Civic), Reg Marshall and Tony Collins (Ford Escort Mk II) and Bruce Edwards and Jim Smith (Darrian T9) who completed the top ten.  

Despite the dry conditions there were the usual quota of spins, most notably Mike Taylor and Kathy Stewart who marked every panel bar the roof on their formerly immaculate Nissan Micra RWD. Adam and Keith Lawrence were unanimously nominated for the most spins on the day, the one over the flying finish being judged the highlight! Steven Sheehan and Dave Hind recorded the only roll of the day retiring the Astra immediately afterwards.  

With Savage and Jones taking overall honours the class 4 award went to Taylor with class 3 going to Hardman. McQuilling took class 2 with Edwards winning class 1, a suitable reward for his journey down from Scotland. 

Top 10 

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