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Bardy Heads Christmas Stages Entry At Croft |
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Sunday, 17 December 2006 |
Scotch Corner ace Tony Bardy will start at car number one in a bid to retain his title when he heads the capacity field away on the annual Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally at Croft Circuit on Sunday 30th December
With Richmond co driver Reg Smith on the maps, the former British
Rallycross Champion is also looking to make it three Croft victories on
the bounce having taken victory on the Jack Frost Stages in January
also but is keeping whatever car he’ll be using a closely guarded
secret for now.
Whatever he turns out in, it will be hard going
as Northallerton Auto Club has assembled yet another class entry for
the festive event which comprises rounds of the 2006 Walkers/Techo 2
ANECCC Stage Rally Championship and the 2007 Tyrespot North of England
Tarmacadam Rally Championships.
Chasing Bardy will be a number
of other local crews in the shape of British Championship contender
Ryan Champion from Castleton in a Mitsubishi, Pickhill driver Chris
Wise in an MG Metro 6R4 and Club Champion Dave Craven from Redcar in
another MSR Mitsubishi. Cumbrian Tim Finch should figure well in his
Ford Escort Cosworth whereas young Scot David Bogie will be hoping to
go one better than dad John and actually win the event in the Oakbank
Services MG Metro 6R4.
And the ladies are sure to get a look in
also with Thirsk’s Carol Rosendale sitting with Champion, Tracey Taylor
West from Pickhill accompanies Chris Wise and Redcar’s Claire Craven is
on the maps for dad Dave meaning three females in the top four cars.
In
the two wheel drive class, Stockton driver Keith Davison is favourite
in his Darrian T90 but can expect stiff opposition from Northallerton
rallycrosser Dave Bellerby (Ford Escort Mk2) and Whitby’s Nick Cook in
a Mk 1 version.
Other local drivers expected to do well on the
event include Richmond brothers Mark and Andrew Constantine (Vauxhall
Corsa), the Darlington pairing of David Jones and Paul Swift
(Mitsubishi), Bishop Auckland driver Bob ‘The Log’ Dennis (Subaru) and
Saltburn’s Ian and Neil Colman in their Nissan Sunny GTi-R
An
interesting entry has come in the shape of former tarmac champion Andy
Fenwick from Gateshead who has seconded Tyne Tees Television Sports
Presenter Andy Kerr in as co driver in his Astra Kit Car and the pair
will be the subject of a prime-time television feature on ITV.
Utilising
all of the tarmac roads around the popular North East venue, a massive
crowd is once again expected as the first of the ninety cars gets
underway at 09.15 with the first of eight stages which will run into
darkness.
Admission costs £8.00 per adult with accompanied
children under 15 admitted free and gates open at 8.00am. Entry lists
costing 50p are available from the Scout Tent with all proceeds going
directly to Northallerton Scouts.
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