Posted 24 June 2008 - 10:29
When you think about it - it couldn't go on. The cars changed a lot over the years. In 1970 I did the Nutcracker in a Lancia Fulvia, and the Manx with Nick Mason in his Lotus Cortina. By 1978 there were such cars as full Group 4 works specification rally cars, RS1600/1800, RS2000, or even well prepared Escort Mexico (remember that championship?), Mini's with 1400cc crossflow engines, 2.3/2.6 Vauxhalls, etc., all capable of winning full blown European tarmac rallies. Yet we were using country lanes, open to the general public, at AVERAGE speeds of anything up to 80mph. (Ask any Clerk of the Course from those days what he set the clocks to). Even such famous roads as Hardknott Pass, Cumbria, or Abergwesyn to Tregarron, Wales, were being cleaned at crazy average speeds. The worst events were the longer challenges, such as the Cytax, which went on into daylight.......dangerous or what?? We were frequently over 100mph.
It was surprising how few accidents there were with non-competing traffic/public. I can remember a cyclist weaving his drunken way back from an early morning session at the pub - against rally traffic. He was the talk of the petrol halt........
When I went back to drive a Motoring News event in the early 80's, I was amazed that the road races were still going on. It was only a matter of time before it was all stopped.
The potential roads to use are superb, so what is now wanted is an act of Parliament to temporarily lift the speed limit. Closed roads........Mind you, they would have to de-tune the standard. The old road rallies were tougher than some of the latest rounds of the World Rally Championship. Just think 200 stage miles on a Saturday night!!
Anyone who thinks I'm talking c**p, about the speeds, I scored MN championship points in every year from 1970 to 1978. I also competed in Group B in European tarmac events. The night sections on events like Ypres were very reminicent of MN road rallies. (The navigation was easier - here's one we practiced earlier).