MOTORSPORT By Tony Brunskill

Last updated 10:22, Friday, 31 October 2008

IT’S not often that motorsport drivers are self effacing and readily admit to making mistakes because I think we are all a bit concerned with image and face.

But one who is not is David Ewin, the rapid Appleby rallycross star who was competing in last weekend’s Get Connected! S G Petch Rallycross Championship held at Croft Circuit, near Darlington.

Speaking to David after the event he without hesitation admitted he had driven “like a pillock” – though obviously fast enough to cling onto a leaderboard finish in fifth.

As a farmer who has to fit in races round lambing and other agricultural requirements means that David never completes the entire series and thus relies on gaining as high a position and therefore points when he can escape to events.

After a brilliant season is in his veteran Fiesta which he fettles himself, David with good wins under belt was in a position to get third place if he could gain good top finishes in both heats over the weekend which could have seen him on the podium but sadly feeling less than well his honest summary of his driving resulted in three spins in the first heat.

Giving himself a good talking to before the second heat, it seemed to pay dividends as he drove the door handles of the underpowered Ford  to finish third but it was not sufficient to negate the point deficit and he had to be content with fifth.

One of the true and great amateurs of the local motorsport, David told me that the Fiesta will now go back to his garage for over winter for tuning and sorting to be able to chase the 2009 championship.

Though we have some national rallies such as the Lombard and Roger Albert to watch and enter, this time of year is a bit of a lull for rallying as championships and clubs get ready for prize giving and competitors take time out to sort their cars.

However, the dates are starting to come out for the 2009 season such as the popular ANCRO (Association of National Championship Rally Organisers) Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship that kicks off in February 27-28 in Bournemouth with the Rallye Sunseeker followed by the Border Counties in Jedburgh on March 22, our own Pirelli Rally April 8th. Manx May 9, Severn Valley May 30, Swansea Bay July 18 Woodpecker September 5 and it finishes with the Trackrod on September 26.  For full details log onto www.gravelrally.co.uk <http://www.gravelrally.co.uk>

The Lombard Rally for classic rally machines starts on 6th November at 10am from Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens (just like the famous Lombard RAC 1971 event) and passes through our area and Keilder before the Scottish stages and back via Greystoke before the finish four days later back in Harrogate. There should be some fine rally cars and drivers to watch, so if you want to know more log onto www.lombardrally.com <http://www.lombardrally.com> and remember that many of the local car clubs are helping to marshal, so offer your services if you can to prove our area is the best!

For the two and four wheel petrol heads, the York Autojumble is on November 8th at Murton York, (YO19 5GF for your sat nav) and the International Classic Motor Show is on at the NEC Birmingham from November 14-17, the same time as the Roger Albert Clark Rally which again passes through our area and more details next week.

If my mechanically minded mate can find the bits and the time to Jerry rig the Jag, I hope I will be able to stir the beast into life for the Wigton Motor Club Christmas Cracker Run on December 7 which kicks off from Rheged with coffee.