This was the second time I’ve been to the South Downs Stages Rally held at Goodwood Motor circuit home of the revival and there was only a little rain so definitely better than last year! As anyone who looks at my posts knows, I love old Fords. So to get around lots of pictures of the same car being posted I have decided to bump all of the Escorts to the bottom of the post… apart from the one above – Graham ‘Crank’ Palmer in his Pinto powered Mk1 which shed some spare parts before the end of the event.
I’ll start with another two wheel drive rally classic. The 205 of Rob Aslett and Ashley Aslett who finished 12th in class C.
This Nova was going very quickly all day and I was surprised to see that it was in the under 1,400CC class. What I wasn’t surprised at is that Christopher & Anthony Newton placed very high getting 3rd place overall in the event against some much more powerful machines as well as 1st in class.
Like the Ferrari 308 of Neil McMahon / Dave Mellett which was 37th overall but 3rd in class.
Not an Escort but it’s replacement. Nigel Mummery’s RS200 which came 1st in class and 11th overall going the ‘wrong’ way down Goodwood’s main straight.
Now some mocked the Micra when they saw my pictures last year but Stuart Andrews was about the fastest thing through the chicane on the main straight in stage 8. I’m not sure he even braked!
A 1,600cc 205 heads to a 4th in class B which probably would have been a 3rd were it not for this detour(they should have turned left before they got this far!) Matthew Ockendon drives with Vicky Barry co-driving.
8 places ahead of them was Abi Mahmood & Colin Felstead to gain second place in class B with a pretty rapid Fiat Punto.
The 2L Astra was putting in top 10 stage times until an oil fire put them out of contention shortly after this picture was taken on stage 3. They exit the chicane onto the main straight the right way.
Nice to see a humble Sierra out competing though of course McRae’s Junior and Senior have run one at various times. This one is on proper sized wheels too, not ones borrowed BTCC super tourer! Bill Stewart & Caroline Brampton got second in class.
Disappointingly this was the only Mini but it finished second in class a long way clear of third place beaten only by the Nova above. Alec Holding & Dom Worsfold.
Heading up the Escort cavalcade is a Fiesta driven by Stephen & Melissa Hall.
1st in class C in the Mk2 Escort Stuart Cogger & Ade Summers get very sideways.
Vince Sillett & Samm Keeley just as sideways but a slow stage 4 harmed their final position.
Tim Mewett got the braking wrong in stage 4 and missed his turn in but still got 6th overall. Liz Jordan laughs(?) as they make their way back on course and is seen again in the afternoon.
2.3l Escort Mk2 which I didn’t get a chance to look at in the paddock but now wish I had! Geoffrey & Claire Martin who got second in class D.
Steve Toney & Ross Wilson get their Mk1 very sideways. No this didn’t end well but fortunately they missed anything solid and nearly every car got it wrong here on this pass.
Kevin & Lee Jones spin the wheels of the ex-works escort as they recover from a spin. I have quite a lot of pictures of this car so might do a mini update with just pictures of it.
A funny looking Caterham this one…?
Escort awaits stage six but sadly retired before the end with a broken clutch cable.
One of the great things about this event i that it runs into the dark. In all honesty I positioned myself on the wrong side of the track for these shots but lesson learnt… Richard & Irene Lewsey running for fun after failing to post a time in stage 2.
Garagesta Photographic 