The Gossip...

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Roger Albert Clark Rally

So what have you heard?

I heard that...

13/01/09	...There's nothing more annoying than an engine that refuses to start. Nulon SYB should be kept on hand at all times as one never knows when an engine will become stubborn and refuse, or be difficult to start. One spray of Nulon SYB is all that is necessary to start the most stubborn of engines... So what is this miracle product from Australia that one of our number endorses so much that he not only has the T-shirt, but wears the hat? Why, none other than the famed Start Ya Bastard'!!
01/01/09	*...that the RAC "staff" are really cutting costs so much they are all sleeping in the motorhome on the Autosport stand???*
01/01/09	...as another cost cutting exercise, staff are looking for volunteer cyclists, Sir Chris Hoy would be more than welcome, to ride a static cycle powdered electric generator to cut the cost of electric ... lol
01/01/09	*...t*here is, we are reliably told, no truth in the rumour that Dave Hemmingway will be appearing on a turntable on our stand at the Autosport show wearing nowt but a tutu....but he may have his car there !!!
	...on Sunday night at the end of the Clubmans rally in Scotland, it appears that a rumour went out to the effect that the organisers had offered "free entry" to the Kielder Challenge event on Monday. One crew eager not to throw kindness in the face of the organisers, decided to turn out again on Monday (Not mentioning any names .. Car 70). So they arrived at the Kielder Scout Camp start with car in tow, not much fun that run to Kielder with no brakes on the Service vehicle apparently. Not even a service crew with them as they all had to go home!!! However they joined the field and came away with some more trophies at the end. Although allegedly the day was not without mishaps....should've gone home on Sunday boys. The promise from the Crayke crew was, "we will be back to do the full event next year"...we'll hold you to that!
20/11/08	We hear that 2 genuine press photographers enjoyed themselves so much that they gave their tabard deposits of £50 each back to the organisers, to help with the costs of the rally. No names but thanks Simon and Jason it is very much appreciated. The winner of this years event has been using a secret weapon, now this may go against the grain for many historic drivers (and i do mean the drivers not the cars here) ... he has had a month or so of physical training to get ready ... and i have to say I don't think I've ever seen a fitter or trimmer "boss" for a few years. Despite the "training" it was interesting to note that the winners car did most of the stages on 13inch fronts and not the 15inch it appeared on at scrutineering... more weight training needed here methinks. Undisputed "star" of the event had to have been Bob Bean. 71 and still going as strong and as sideways and committed as ever. Look out for an even higher finish next year...he's building a Mk I. The Webmaster lost his shirt...on a bet.... and yes the web site topped 20,000 hits in a single day. Question.....do scrutineers have blue bols? answer... Yes! just ask which ones.
	*...*this event seems to be turning into a battle of the Rally Teams before its even started. We Have Malcolm Wilson, boss of M-Sport, Stuart Newby, boss of TEG Sport, Richard Lepley, boss of Prepfab and finally Mad Mick Jones, boss of SJR. All in Escorts with 2 in the Open and 2 in the Historic's..... let battle commence !!
	*...I hear that "muttering Nudes" may well be worth buying next wednsday.... a good preview I'm told!*
	*...in fact you should look out for two Lepley's...Lepliis?...entering very late!*
	*...an entry is due shortly from a certain Lepley brother. It will be good to see the ex McRae Porsche 911RS out on the Roger Albert again!*
	...Following on from the last story regarding well know Welsh Co-Driver it would appear he is competing with a neighbour from across the English border, not far from his Welsh home.... and NOT in an Escort either
	...A recent conversation with a certain Welsh Co-driver seems to indicate that he will be turning out in November, however it doesn't appear he was willing to say who with....um, any guesses? Suppose he will be bringing his merchandise too?
	...Phil Collins, no not the drummer, debuted his Ascona 400 on the McRae stages having worked hard to get it ready his initial aim was to debut it on the Roger Albert but finishing early means he could blow the rust out of his veins before November.
	...Oh My God, reading the latest news, does this mean we now have 2 lurid dayglow red cars from the "Onions" fleet ? I think Mr Onions should supply all speccies and marshals with sun glasses" !!!
	...Interesting to see a certain M Wilson getting some stage mileage in before November. He seems to have "borrowed" the Chesterfield car with a Kick, for the McRae stages, in preparation no doubt for his own car being ready for the Roger Albert !!
	...A little bird tells me that it might well be worth buying Motorsport News this week....something about a returning well known, some may say "star" competitor!! Remember where you heard it first...
	...Team Chaos website ...www.teamchaos.co.uk ....reckons "Mad" Mick Jones and erstwhile co-driver Andy "Chunky" Morgan are definitely on for the Open Category on the Roger Albert this year.... but I don't think they have decided what to call their revamped machine....is it a Escorda or a Honscort...any suggestions for a Honda Vtec MkII?
	...Chesterfield's Richard Hill has stated, in this weeks Motorsport News, his intension of doing this years RAC again funding permitting!... isn't there another Chesterfield local doing it as well? ... A Twisted Spires Team perhaps??
	...Chatsworth Chat or "You'll never guess who I had in the back of my car"...
	...Young (?) Banner was spotted, in winning mode, on last weekend's all tarmac Jim Clark Reivers Rally. Difficult to miss him really... Do we think it was just a practice for Temple Newsum and the as-yet-unannounced tarmac stage on this year's Roger Albert? Unfortunately Banner didn't win as a penalty was removed for another competitor and he finally finished second ... Top two wheel drive by miles though!
	...Jimmy McRae and co-driver Andy Richardson were taken to hospital at Carlisle following an off during the Pirelli International on the on Saturday morning whilst leading the Historic Rally. Five times British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae was airlifted out of the forest with fractures to his sternum and wrist while Andy Richardson was taken by Ambulance for an investigation into a back problem. Neither man’s injuries were described as serious.
	...Following the Robin Hood Rally Mr Waldegard has been pestering a certain Italian-car owning driver to be able to use the car in November...
	...Geoff Bell from South Africa, driving the car that Banner drove to win the 'Roger Albert' last year leaves Mr Perez far adrift in the bank balance department - so he shouldn't have to worry about the cost of running the car on the Pirelli then...
	..."Stuart Clarke, former Bulldog rally winner, from Usk, is building himself a new car for this years Roger Albert Clark Rally"
	..."Paul Griffiths is also planning a return to this years 'Roger Albert' along with outings on BHRC rounds as well"
	...Phil Squires has been out of rallying recently following a "360" on a finger in his workshop... we won't ask what he was doing at the time!! Lets hope he's recovered in time for November. The Roger Albert' wouldn't be the same without Phil and Mick.
	...Great piece on Waldegard in Steve Perez' Stratos in Motorsport News... urmm now there's a thought for November !!
	...Marku Alen and Bjorn Waldegard were at Stonleigh last weekend - deep in discussion with David Sutton...
	...Phil Short has been given the week of the 'Roger Albert' off by M-Sport and would like to come out and play...
	Your Wish is our command... Just after last year's event, Rob Lees asked if there was "Any chance of getting the rally into Craik? Fantastic stage, not that much further north than Twiglees and Castle O'er...." And now Craik is on the agenda for 2008. Is there anything else you would like Rob?
	That Bob Bean was 70 on Saturday- yes, you heard that right, 70! I can't believe that as it doesn't seem that long ago that the 'Yumping Bean' was up there with the front runners in the days of the 'old' RAC rally in his Escort in the 1970's. Bob was, of course out over the weekend in his trusty Mk 1 Cortina and promised not to overdo the celebrations on Saturday night so as to spoil his chances on Sunday!
	...There may be a new tarmac stage on Saturday morning that hasn't been used on the 'Roger Albert' before...
	Which bit of "Rally" in it's current form do the FIA and the organisers of the Monte Carlo rally not understand...I heard this snippet on the event coverage on Dave!! "...and as the cars are packaged into transporters and taken the 500kms to the stages nearer the principality of Monaco for the final day....." TRANSPORTER, come and do a proper event, what do you think?
	Mark Higgins was at the Autosport show and was seen to have a look in his 2008 diary!
	A source in the know says they have heard that a certain outfit from the North West of England have apparently bought some new Escorts which could be available for November!
	I heard that the 2008 event will run on pretty much the same route as 2007 but a certain Principality could be used in the future...

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