HRCR Mini Cup opens with great success

The HRCR Mini Cup kicked off on the Weston Park estate Stafford on the 20th March at the Paint Worx ABGO Stages Rally.
 

Some 19 Minis passed scrutineering and started the event. Most of the Minis were complying to the MSA Historic Rules and Regulations, but this year the HRCR have an open class for Minis not quite meeting the MSA Historic regulations, which had attracted four cars.

The day started overcast as the Mini crews started the first stage, but the sun eventually broke through the cloud during the afternoon making the day dry for all the Mini competitors. This first stage was not kind to Shame Gamble / Bob Ward in their Morris Cooper S when the engine cried enough and stopped. Behind them on stage three was reigning champions Andrew O'Hanlon / Ryan Taylor in their Austin Mini which suddenly stopped after the rotor arm broke, leaving them stranded off the stage whilst making an attempt to repair it by calling their service crew for parts.

Clive King in the love:mini backed Mini was unwell before and during the event so was not on his top form, however, he and his co-driver Anton Bird managed to hold onto the lead and take 1st Mini home title and Cat 2 award at the end of the day.

Adrian Kermode is his regular blue Mini Cooper S sat with Maurice Beckett to take 2nd Mini home having no major issues all day. The leading 1-litre Mini was the 970 S of Gordon Cameron and Sheila Grimshaw.

The open Mini award went to Jonathan / Nigel Bennett in their Morris Mini. Other Mini Crews were not so lucky, M&H Motorsport / Cancer Research Mini of Martin Melling and Carmel Venables came into service with trim hanging off their Mini Mayfair after a little contact with a bale during that last stage. Carmel explained: “It’s always the co-driver’s side that gets hit.” However, their luck improved with the pair winning the draw for a pair of Yokohama tyres.

Peter Horsbugh / Graham Carter in the Mini Spares Cooper S 'kissed' a bale during the day losing vital seconds in the race to finish. Many of the Mini crews struggled with heat problems throughout the day with Eric Davis taking the grille off his Clubman to improve airflow, perhaps making use of the cutters he won in the ‘Snap On’ draw.

Jim Brindle was very fortunate to get a way with a high speed accident in is R.A.C.E Mini Clubman when his brakes failed and he hit a tree stump at speed turning the front of the Mini into a ‘V’ shape. He is hoping to be back on the next event.

The next round of the Championship takes the crews to the daunting Epynt Ranges for the South Wales Automobile Club organised Dixies Historic Challenge on the 1st of May.

https://www.hrcr.co.uk/hrcr-championships/old-stager-stage-rally-championship/

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