The Old Stager championship is set to kick off at the Owen Motoring Club AGBO Stages Rally on March 20th 2016 only two weeks away and the HRCR provide us with an update of the competitors and cars which will be contending in this years acclaimed Old Stager Championship including the Mini Sport Mini Cup…
To date the HRCR has thirty-four registered crews in a variety of cars. There are several familiar faces returning to the championship this year. Among those making up the 20 minis, the flying mini crew of Clive King/Anton Bird who are not only competing in this championship but the HRCR Masters and have been invited over to Ireland for some events. Fellow Mini driver and rival Andrew O’Hanlon/Ryan Taylor will seek to retain Andrew’s title. Whilst in category 3 we see the return of two father and son teams Lee and Sean Sellars return in the Triumph 2.5 Pi and Stuart and Jack Anderson will be contesting the rounds in their Vauxhall Chevette. Simon Malins/Colin Tombs in the Wizbang Fabrications Vauxhall Firenza will be looking to improve on last years results with them only managing to finish one round with mechanical gremlins plaguing the crew on the rest of the rounds. Simon explains the improvements made for this year: “The engine, has had some upgrades over the winter at Dave Brooks Engines in Crewe which should now give us a competitive package in the CAT 2 class.”
A first for the championship the GTO Engineering Ferrari 308 Michelotti run by father and son team of Kevin and Lee Jones from the Brecon Beacons. Lee, a Ferrari mechanic by trade also has a sister car he is looking to bring out during the year to give his father a bit of family competition, so watch this space. Twins Doug and Mike Harrsion will bring their Lancia Fuliva, an Ex Italian rally car, it has under gone some extensive restoration and work to obtain the MSA stage log book ready to compete in this year asphalt championship.
Among the returning Escort crews are Jon Ford / Peter Thomas and Peter Lewis / Alan Jones in RS2000s. John Worthing is returning after a long absence with his recently rebuilt and immaculate looking Mexico and to complete the ‘Escort group we have Dick Mauger in his Appendix K RS1800. Gwilym Roberts and Debby Myers will be out in Gwilym’s Lotus Cortina.
Championship Secretary John Hunt “From launching the Championship at the HRCR Open day at the British Car Museum it has gone from strength to strength in numbers. We have just been overwhelmed by people coming back to the sport and wanting to take part in our championship. We look forward to seeing all the crews out on the stages during the forth coming season”For more information on the HRCR ‘Old Stager’ Championship incorporating the Mini Sport Mini Cup please visit the official page here – with all details of registration, rules and regulations.
