Spadeadam Motor Club record strong finishes at local rallies

Spadeadam Motor Club was marshalling and competing on the Carlisle Stages on Saturday, October 21 and the Solway Targa on Sunday, October 22.

Spadeadam ran the Buck Fell special stage in Kielder for the Carlisle-based event. The event organised by the Roger Albert Clark Motor Club started from Carlisle Auction where teams competed in the world-famous Kielder forest complex.

Helen Harkness and Heidi Garstang took a class win in their Corsa on the Sunday (Image: Spadeadam Motor Club)

These stages are where the rallies are won and lost with the loose roads tree-lined and deep ditches to catch out the drivers.

Marshals from the club record the times the cars enter and leave the forest starting at one-minute intervals, with the winner being the driver who registers the fastest time.

Cumbrian crews competing in the event were Longtown-based Darren Martin and Dan Hurst who used their Fiesta R5 to finish 9th overall.

Phil Jobson & Pete Johnson brought their Mk1 Escort home 18th overall and 2nd in the class for historic 1600 cars.

Club chairperson Barry Lindsay & Caroline Lodge finished 27th Overall and second in class despite three punctures due to loose rocks.

Barry said: "Our local event uses stages I know and usually go well on but this year wasn't our best day. the recent regrading of sections of roads lost us too much time to battle for the class win. A well organised and marshalled event though."

Phil Jobson and Peter Johnson competing in Carlisle (Image: Spadeadam Motor Club)

On Sunday, Spadeadam members helped run the Solway Targa event organised by Wigton Motor Club. Based at Rowrah kart track, farm tracks and a kart track helped to make up a competitive event.

Six of the 40 starters were Spadeadam members, with Barry and Martyn Petry battling for the win at an event that included competitors from all over the country. Despite leading early on they had to settle for second overall.

Anyone wishing to get involved with Spadeadam Motor Club can attend their 8pm meetings at Howards Arms Brampton on the second Thursday of each month, with more details available on their Facebook page and website.