ROUND 1 - ERO Oak Leaf Stages, April 9 2006

1600, 1400 & RWD Challenge

Organisers Forward
Ecurie Royal Oak welcomes you to the Oak Leaf Stages at Desborough Airfield, Wilbarston, near Corby, Northampton.

The organisers have built on their many years of experience from running
events at Flookburgh, Binbrook and now at Desborough to bring you a 10 stage multi-use rally that promises to be enjoyable and exciting.

ERO have an ongoing commitment to the airfield and have invested in the airfield since 2004 to keep damage to a minimum and also ensure the format ensures you, the competitor, have a safe and enjoyable days motorsport.

The event is brought to you by an experienced organising team which has run events of this type for over ten years ably assisted by many volunteers from other clubs and associations, for which we are very grateful.

We hope you send your entries in quickly to avoid disappointment and look forward to the event and meeting you.

James Savage & Mike Rushton
Joint Clerks of the Course

Link to the event website

Event downloads & links
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What Pat said ....

What a day, sunny & dry in the morning Freezing cold and wet in the afternoon. The BMWs were on fire as was Stanny/Neil in the 205.

Warren led the BMWs from Start to Finish, him & Derek never missing a beat, however Ciro/Claire were never far behing, newboys Rich Felgate/Ray were flying, while Bayliss/Mason looked quick & tidy.

Steve/Ben Cressey had a bad start to their title defence with a stage maximum, but soon were banging in top times, while new boys Rich Felgate/Ray LLoyd were on fire from the start holding a top 10 overall from stage 1, but missing out on with a wet stage with the weather lottery!!!!

Fresh from martin Rowes tuition, Gaz/Jez were stars, they were quick & Smooth, the Foxs were also flying, while Toni/Sam were smooth and then really turned it on in the wet!!!

Stanny/Neil had Ian/Kerry Chadwick to contend with early on, while Andy/Derek Benson were flying, with newboys Sean Crowley/Davey Jones, also mixing it hard, Andy Davison/Dan were also spectacular!

In the 1400s Darky/Andy were head to head With Andy/Gem, it was neck & neck until Andy got lary with the gearlever and lost the gears, Barry/Holly were also flying making it a TI Motorsport 1-2, with young James Isherwood/Loz Taylor taking 3rd and the Beginners win in the 1400s

In the 1600 Classes , newboys Chris Woodward and 21st Birthday Boy Tom Bowen took novices from the Haymaking Will Parry/Alan lloyd, with peterboro' boys Rich preece/James reed taking 3rd.

In the Beginners the sensation was Craig Baker/Briggsy who got the "Drive of the Rally" after setting top 10 times they found themselves leading a good battle with Wayne DevonPort/Chaz, Peter Davies/Nasty STU, with Spike Tayl;or/Katherine also battling. Baker got a puncture to drop to 7th in class, but fought back to 2nd behing Pete Davies, with Wayne/Chaz 3rd.

The Bensons were superquick a puncture denying them the chance to take the battle to Stanny... but the BMWs pace was such that it took Warren to 3rd overall, Ciro to 4th and Chris to 5th Overall, a 3-4-5 for the beemers, with Stanny/Neil 6th, Toni/Sam took 7th, Crowlet 8th, Chaddy 9th.

Simon Povey/Paul Griffiths flew in the Hankook prize drive car to take a fine 10th overall, after a few hay bale nudges J90ELA was looking worse for wear, after too much late braking, Simon chose to brake earlier on the last 3 stages and went quicker to set some stunning times!!!!

Away from the Challenge the West Mids run Si Hawthorn/Ant Palmer were having a ball all day in the Escort on knobblys all day, but the suspencion broke on the last stage. Scrutineer Dom Hodge/Matt Barker had a great run in the 1900 [on knobblys] to a fine top 20 and2nd 2 litre.

New series scrutineer Nick Bailey was BRILLIANT, helpful, full of good advice and vigilant. With Paul benning/Prynny in charge of spec, the bmws were all checked with the 205s. Many random checks all year and not just the top cars as you see!

Images © Digital Motorsport


A committed drive from Warren Fairbairn/Derek Miller took the RWD win and 3rd overall on the event...


Ian Winstanley/Neil Bye took the 1600 win but were chased all the way to the finish...


Ti motorsport crew Paul Dark/Andy Juniper starting the season with a win in the 1400's