Motorsport By Tony Brunskill

Last updated at 10:36, Friday, 02 January 2009

It's not every day that I have been tempted to ask The Cumberland News editor to hold the front page.

But having been to Croft Circuit to watch the Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally, organised by the Northallerton Automobile Club, I nearly did.

A well-established fixture, the single venue event uses the racing circuit but made more difficult by some extra and temporary chicanes marked by sturdy round bales which are some what unforgiving if thumped hard, as Barry and father Michael Lindsay from Carlisle found out when they side swiped one with their diminutive Peugeot 106.

However, the newsworthy aspect of the event was that the father and son duo did not win the class award!

As their mantelpiece, sideboard and all available shelf space is full of class awards in every event known to man, not to pick up another was a major scoop and I had to high tail it back early to get this copy to the CN.

It was not the errant bale that inexplicably leapt out at Barry to modify the navigator door which was the cause of the fall from grace but a drive shaft that gave up the ghost due to the pair’s competitive driving and when I left not only were they not winning the class but were actually near the bottom at 12th.

Notwithstanding, these stalwarts of the Spadeadam Motor Club wore a jovial smile, having replaced the shaft, and were merrily attacking the field with gusto in true rally driver style of carrying on regardless as I left. Doing better was cousin Geoffrey Harkness, also from Carlisle, at the wheel of his Corsa and who managed to keep the right side of the bales.

Penrith’s Paul Bird, in his very powerful and rapid Vent Axia Subaru Impreza World Rally Car who, fished second in the event.

When I caught up with him earlier, he was not convinced he would come home with the win this time, as I chatted to him in service having had no handbrake for half the morning. Paul said he will have more time for rallying in 2009 and will be looking to swap his Scuby Doo for a Ford Focus, not because of any failing in the former but because he feels that Malcolm Wilson’s M-Sport is handier.

Paul also was very enthusiastic about the coming Superbike season as he has been chosen to manage the factory Kawasaki team and has already attracted some top riders to contest the series.

Stig also tells me that the Kawasaki ZX10Rs are real contenders to provide far better results for the Paul in 2008.

He also agreed with Paul when he said though 2009 will be good, he expects it to be bedding-in year and that the real results will come in 2010.

Let’s hope so to again bring the spotlight of excellence in all motorsport shinning on Cumbria. And I will do a full review of the coming season once I can sit Paul down for a half hour chat.

There is a bit of lull for a week but all motorsport enthusiasts will be welcome at the next Northern Phoenix Trialling Club event at Gale Hall, near Melmerby on Saturday January 10 when they will be able to see the best 50 sporting trial drivers in the country compete for the coveted Gold and Silver Stars.

Included in the line up will be Penrith’s top driver David Martin in his fantastic Harolds Tyres Crossle. David has not competed as much as he would have liked to this year but with his new, narrower front suspension he will be one to watch.

Also competing will be long-time trials driver, Dickie Milne from Carlisle.

First published at 05:15, Friday, 02 January 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk