43 replies to this topic

[aitchman]

A number of members here have very generously helped me with reports and pictures from stage rallies that have taken place within The Forest of Dean.

I am, however, struggling to find copies of the full results for The Tour of Dean, prior to 1975.

I have some entry lists, but the events were so over subscribed that the starting lists were very different. One year Newport CC received 300 entries for 120 places!!

I have a complete database of results for the 34 Wyedean events, and wish to complete the same for the Tour of Dean before moving on to tackle The Dursley, Gulf London and RAC Rallies.

While recording all the events in The Dean, over what is nearly fifty years, I hope to be able to identify every competitors who has tackled a special stage in this area.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Neil Henderson
DEAN26

[HistoricMustang]

A number of members here have very generously helped me with reports and pictures from stage rallies that have taken place within The Forest of Dean.

I am, however, struggling to find copies of the full results for The Tour of Dean, prior to 1975.

I have some entry lists, but the events were so over subscribed that the starting lists were very different. One year Newport CC received 300 entries for 120 places!!

I have a complete database of results for the 34 Wyedean events, and wish to complete the same for the Tour of Dean before moving on to tackle The Dursley, Gulf London and RAC Rallies.

While recording all the events in The Dean, over what is nearly fifty years, I hope to be able to identify every competitors who has tackled a special stage in this area.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Neil, hang tight.

Am sure as soon as the old farts here at TNF get up, have a cup of coffee and make a trip to the toilet they will provide some information.

Plus, they really like it when someone new at the forum begs a bit.

Am curious, is this the general area?

Sorry I can not help with statistics.

Henry

[Geoff E]

Am curious, is this the general area?

Yes, zoom out a bit and the area of the forest is readily apparent
http://maps.google.c...&...mp;t=k&z=12

[aitchman]

Neil, hang tight.

Am sure as soon as the old farts here at TNF get up, have a cup of coffee and make a trip to the toilet they will provide some information.

Plus, they really like it when someone new at the forum begs a bit.

Am curious, is this the general area?

Sorry I can not help with statistics.

Henry

Henry,

Your map includes parts of four of the special stages within The Dean, however three of them are not currently used by The Wyedean Stages.
The area above Fancy Road is Russels, which is well known from early RAC rallies, and also shown are Churchill and Oakenhill stages. The fixed costs of each special stage now make the small stages uneconomic to run.

The map includes a small piece of Speech House enclosure, but The Barracks entrance is now part of the cycle track network, although the 2008 Wyedean did use a section quite close to this point.

[aitchman]

Neil, hang tight.

Am sure as soon as the old farts here at TNF get up, have a cup of coffee and make a trip to the toilet they will provide some information.

Plus, they really like it when someone new at the forum begs a bit.

Am curious, is this the general area?

Sorry I can not help with statistics.

Henry

I hope that any members with relevant information were not offended by your post.

[Fred Gallagher]

I hope that any members with relevant information were not offended by your post.

You have to try harder than that to offend people here!

I have a 1977 programme with 1 driver and 5 co-driver amendments if you would like a scan. It was the only rally I ever did with Russell Brookes.....

Fred

[Darren Galpin]

I'd be interested in that too, Fred, please!

[Fred Gallagher]

I'd be interested in that too, Fred, please!

Hope you can read this.

Fred

[Darren Galpin]

Thanks - I can read the images, but can't see all of them - seems to be a problem with the imageshack servers. Many thanks thougH!

[sterling49]

Car 23, David Lang, is my memory playing tricks again, or is this the Australian guy? What a super entry, lots of quality through the field

I see Tim Brise is at 60 entered by North Downs Motor Club

Edited by sterling49, 03 June 2009 - 17:55.

[aitchman]

Car 23, David Lang, is my memory playing tricks again, or is this the Australian guy? What a super entry, lots of quality through the field

I see Tim Brise is at 60 entered by North Downs Motor Club

Both failed to finish, but Julian Raymond had a good event, finishing 20th from 90th in a VW.

[simonlewisbooks]

Wow !!!!
Quite funny to see an aerial view of the place I grew up appearing on a TNF thread ! My mum and dad's house appears on the left hand edge and the majority of the image shows the long-defunct Chruchill stage with the similarly abandoned Russells to the top. The still-active Speech House is top right and the more recently abandoned Yorkley Wood and Oakenhill are on the right hand edge and the lower edge. Both of these last two were still used when I did the Wyedean in 2003 but as aitchman says, the set up costs now makes such short (2 miles approx) stages financially unworkable, unfortunately.

I went to the local junior school situated on the edge of Oakenhill and right opposite Church Hill(the shcool and playing field are visible to the left of the copyright text) . In 1980 when the RAC Rally used Russells for the final time I had only to cross the road from home and walk 100 yards to reach a junction in Russells and watch Toivonen and the like blasting through.... our school was deserted that day, I can tell you! The big news however was the mangled wreck of a Chevette that local hero Graham Ellesmore hauled through to the finish having rolled comprehensively nearby . I can still vividly recall the temporary windscreen stuck over the pasengers side of the car.
So much motor sport on the doorstep.... and it seemed so very normal when it was all happening!

[aitchman]

Wow !!!!
Quite funny to see an aerial view of the place I grew up appearing on a TNF thread ! My mum and dad's house appears on the left hand edge and the majority of the image shows the long-defunct Chruchill stage with the similarly abandoned Russells to the top. The still-active Speech House is top right and the more recently abandoned Yorkley Wood and Oakenhill are on the right hand edge and the lower edge. Both of these last two were still used when I did the Wyedean in 2003 but as aitchman says, the set up costs now makes such short (2 miles approx) stages financially unworkable, unfortunately.

I went to the local junior school situated on the edge of Oakenhill and right opposite Church Hill(the shcool and playing field are visible to the left of the copyright text) . In 1980 when the RAC Rally used Russells for the final time I had only to cross the road from home and walk 100 yards to reach a junction in Russells and watch Toivonen and the like blasting through.... our school was deserted that day, I can tell you! The big news however was the mangled wreck of a Chevette that local hero Graham Ellesmore hauled through to the finish having rolled comprehensively nearby . I can still vividly recall the temporary windscreen stuck over the pasengers side of the car.
So much motor sport on the doorstep.... and it seemed so very normal when it was all happening!

Graham set fastest time through Serridge, at one of the highest average speeds of the whole event.

[simonlewisbooks]

Graham set fastest time through Serridge, at one of the highest average speeds of the whole event.

And in a private HS Chevette.....the bloke could really drive, and no mistake.

[jrally]

Hello,

I think I can help You with statistics from the 70's if You tell me the dates of the events.
Maybe only top-ten but I could find other interesting things in the reports of MN newspapers !

Please, tell me what You need !

Best regards from Portugal
Jorge

[glyn parham]

Here is Graham on Sallowvallets, the last stage of the 1980 RAC.

Glyn

Edited by glyn parham, 09 June 2009 - 21:37.

[sterling49]

Great photo Glyn, nice modified bodywork, but he is still trying, that is what was so great about rallying

[simonlewisbooks]

Here is Graham on Sallowvallets, the last stage of the 1980 RAC.

Glyn

And here's one of him at the finish showing the 'ugly' side of the car!

[aitchman]

I am away at present and my BT phone will not allow me to access Imageshack,
Simons' picture illustrates Grahams' determination to finish, and the imaginative servicing of Charlie Probert and the late Rex Paddock.

Edited by aitchman, 11 June 2009 - 16:55.

[aitchman]

Video of 1980 RAC Rally here:

Forest of Dean coverage starts at 7:19, and Graham Elsmore in picture at 8:37.

[aitchman]

Bringing this back to the top for one more time, very surprised at response.


Looking forward to a meeting, in the near future, with the local organiser for The Gulf London Rally.

[simonlewisbooks]

Bringing this back to the top for one more time, very surprised at response.

Jeez...Graham was REALLY going for it! I was sure he was heading up the escape road!!!!!

Thanks for the link aitchman, great memories indeed. I missed this earlier thanks to the beloved new-format forum not sending any emails about new posts...

I don't know about the rest of you chaps but I seem to spend a lot less time enjoying TNF with this new style - which seems to be wholly counter-productive.
End of gripe.

Edited by simonlewisbooks, 24 June 2009 - 15:31.

[aitchman]

I now have quite a collection of paperwork and pictures from the Forest of Dean events.

A selection of items will be on display in The Loft at Beechenhurst Lodge on Tuesday 8th September, and I would be delighted to meet any Forum members who may wish to come along. We have to close at 20:00 hrs.

[aitchman]

I have failed to source results for The Tour of Dean for the period 1967 - 1975, and as time is quickly running out I am bringing this back to the top for the last time.

[aitchman]

I have now made progress with this project and have recently received Tour of Dean results for 1971,1972 and 1975.

Still looking for results for 1967 (01/10/1967), 1969 (12/01/1969), 1970 (11/01/1970) and 1973 (07/01/1973).

Newport CC employed Nottingham CSMA, headed by Deryck Smith, to prepare the results and maybe someone here has a contact there.
My investigations lead me to believe that Mr Smith has now passed away, and that his papers are lost.

I am also looking for Dursley Rally results for 1966 (29-30/01/1966), 1967 (25-26/02/1967), and 1968 (2-3/03/1968).
David Stokes kindly provided results for the 1969 event.

Fred Gallagher previously replied to this thread and so here are the entries that I have for Fred in my database:

Haughland John 1975 RAC Gallagher Fred Skoda S110
Haughland John 1976 RAC Gallagher Fred Skoda 130RS
Brookes Russell 1977 Tour Gallagher Fred Ford Escort RS1800 ODA 622R
Pond Tony J 1980 RAC Gallagher Fred Triumph TR7 V8 JJO 931W
Toivonen Henri 1982 RAC Gallagher Fred Opel Ascona 400
Kankkunen Juha 1985 RAC Gallagher Fred Toyota Celica Turbo

[RS2000]

Yes, Deryck Smith of CSMA Nottingham Group (and for several years manager of the CSMA team on the RAC Rally) has not been with us for some time - and neither has his then side-kick Harold Palin (who has a rally promoted by another club he belonged to named in memory of him). Current (retiring this year) CSMA Chairman Geoff Eteson will have appeared on your T of D entry lists around then and may be the only currently-active member with much motorsport knowledge of that period. Allan Goddard is the current main motorsport contact (and was a member then but not active in stage rallying in that period) but is not likely to have any records - but I'll ask. Knowing the system, I suspect it is a dead end now in terms of knowledge. Some Eastleigh & District Motor Club members (including Harold Palin?) may have helped CSMA Notts Group so you might try there if that club still exists.

I did the 69 Dursley. As you'll know, David Stokes was in an Anglia. I wish there were photos - one of his current BHRC competitors is attempting to produce a photo from the video of the 76 Castrol Autosport Championship (which stars Mr Stokes with the same acccent but with a mullet to die for...).

Edited by RS2000, 19 August 2011 - 21:54.

[aitchman]

Why am I not suprised at the first responder to my bouncing this thread back to the top.


Six visits to The Forest of Dean for Geoff : 73 Welsh, 74 Welsh, 75 Wyedean & RAC, 76 Tour of Dean & Wyedean.
Need a christian name for co-driver A.Gregory

Note 75 Wyedean 12/10/75 , 76 Tour of Dean 12/01/76 and 75 RAC Rally in the middle - busy few weeks!


I have picture of Yellow Anglia 4142 DW.

[aitchman]

Question relating to 1974 RAC Rally.

Did the Clubmans Trophy event take place over the first (Southern) loop of the Rally?

[RS2000]

74's the one year I had no part in the RACs of that era. I'd be very surprised if it did because the whole point of the "national" add on was to fill up where the main event had lost part of the field to retirements, reducing overall numbers (and thus FC charges) at any one time.

[aitchman]

Thanks Keith, I could find no reference to which loop Clubmans used, but did know that they did do the first loop on atleast one occasion.
As I understand the RAC Rally was one of only three events with permit to run 240 competitors.

[Tim Murray]

According to the Motoring News preview of the 1974 RAC, the event was run over three legs, the first leg being in the south and Wales, the second in the north and Scotland, and the third in the Yorkshire forests. The Clubman Trophy competitors contested only the second and third legs.

[aitchman]

According to the Motoring News preview of the 1974 RAC, the event was run over three legs, the first leg being in the south and Wales, the second in the north and Scotland, and the third in the Yorkshire forests. The Clubman Trophy competitors contested only the second and third legs.

Thanks Tim, I missed that in my copy of MN, but it confirms that The Clubmans Trophy did not visit The Forest of Dean.

[aitchman]

My pursuit of information relating to the rallies that have taken place within The Forest of Dean has resulted in an office full of files.

I have decided to make as much of this material available as I can, and this process has started via www.thedeanrallies.com

This will not be a fancy website, but I hope that those who visit find the items posted of interest.

I should add that my quest for Tour of Dean results has had some success, and for that I thank Martin Holmes and Ursula Partridge.
However, I am still searching for results for the Tours of 1967 - 1970.

[aitchman]

As part of different piece of work I am looking for an article which appeared in the 31st December 1964 issue of Motoring News.

This was a review of the 1964 Motoring News Rally Championship written by Tony Mason.

Hoping that someone here may be able to assist.



Neil Henderson
www.thedeanrallies.com

[aitchman]

This advert appeared in the regs for Forresters Car Club George Ford Trophy Rally 28/29th October 1972.

Adverts also taken in Rally Sport magazine.

Looking for any details that may assist me in making contact with this photographer.

[aitchman]

The Competitors database that I have produced as part of my project now contains over 9500 records, but new detailed information is becoming increasingly difficult to source.

I have now added the whole work to www.thedeanrallies.com and hope that competitors will examine their own details and provide additions and/or corrections.

[RS2000]

I can't open the relevant bit. All I get is: "Bad encrypt dictionary", whatever under the sun that means. Really helpful, Adobe. I guess it is something arising from not having the latest version of Adobe Reader - in which case they should say so, not post a mystery geek comment...
Reminds me how I will never forgive PDF documents for the time and trials I used to suffer in the days before broadband...

[aitchman]

I can't open the relevant bit. All I get is: "Bad encrypt dictionary", whatever under the sun that means. Really helpful, Adobe. I guess it is something arising from not having the latest version of Adobe Reader - in which case they should say so, not post a mystery geek comment...
Reminds me how I will never forgive PDF documents for the time and trials I used to suffer in the days before broadband...

That is unfortunate that you cannot open the files. The views now count in the hundreds and you are the first (as far as I know) to encounter a problem.

[aitchman]

While researching The Dean Rallies I have accumulated many duplicate copies of Autosport (1000+) and Motoring News (850+).

I will be holding a sale event in The Loft at Beechenhurst Lodge on Friday 19th July 2013, which will coincide with the Scrutineering and Documentation for The Ross Traders Classic Run.

50% of sale proceeds will be donated to our local Air Ambulance and the remainder will finance the hosting costs for www.thedeanrallies.com

The sale will also include a number of copies of Motor Magazine from 1960s and 1980s, listed here
Some very interesting Road Tests and event reports.

Edited by aitchman, 15 May 2013 - 21:02.

[aitchman]

Anyone able to tell me the christian name of "C" Kirby who, with Kevin Humble, rallied an Avenger in the early 80s?

[aitchman]

Question answered by Geoff Kitney.

 

Geoff actually bought the Avenger from "Colin" Kirby.

[aitchman]

1976 Tour of Dean.

 

http://www.mediafire...5/Mailscot1.avi

[aitchman]

Pete Wilson (BBC Radio Gloucestershire) has confirmed that the radio programme he recorded "on the hoof" during The Winner Garage SKODA Wyedean Stages Rally will be broadcast at 12:00 on Sunday 26th November, and again at 05:00 on Sunday 3rd December.

https://www.bbc.co.u...gloucestershire

[RS2000]

Do you know what the problem is with the Dean Rallies website? I saw someone asking elsewhere (BRF) so I checked that it doesn't open.

Edited by RS2000, 23 November 2017 - 16:26.