Wyedean Stages 2024
Top FODMC crew home in 2nd overall were Nik Elsmore and Pauline Nash in their CDS Hire/Calico Interiors Evo 9. They were delighted to come away with the runners-up spot, with it being a step better than last year and Nik's third and Pauline's second consecutive podiums.
Next crew home were Bob Morgan & Adie Williams in their Winner Garage Skoda Fabia R5, taking their first podium on their local event. After coming close for a number of years, but it just evading them, the pair arrived back to Ross delighted with the result, also netting 2nd in the Welsh championship on the day.
Bob's son Jason was out for his only appearance of the year in his crowd favourite Cinderford MG MG ZR S2400, striking some very affectionate L plates! Unfortunately for Jason, his bad luck from last year seemed to strike again with a costly overshoot in Speech House 2, but worse was to follow when a broken steering arm sent them off the road in Yorkley 2, less than 2 miles from the finish.
Finishing in an impressive 14th overall was crew Nigel & Kaz Jenkins in their NJ Auto Repairs 1400 Nova, taking category honours on the day as well. The result proved important for both the TCS & English championships, the Nigel picking up the Gravel Champion Driver for the TCS challenge and Kaz taking 3rd overall. The English championship though rumbles onto Grizedale this weekend.
Finishing just in the Top 20 at 20th overall were Geoff Phelps & Colin Jenkins in their Hartpury Farms Escort MK2. The result saw them unfortunately miss out on 2WD category honours and Welsh Challenge honours, however, Geoff still picked up 1st RWD and Colin took 1st in class W11, a great result for both after a high speed overshoot cost them time in Serridge 1.
Jeremy Easson & Mike Reynolds led the historic/1400 field away at Car 101 for a relatively trouble free day for the pair and taking a well deserved 23rd overall and 1st in class.
Next up was Luke Watts in his Ian Watts & Son 1400 MG ZR, taking a credible 26th overall and 2nd in class, despite completing over half the stage mileage without 1st gear making the starts and tight corners rather slow! The result saw him confirm 2nd in class W2 in the Welsh championship and third junior.
One placed behind was Tony Vart sat in with his driver for the first time. They had a successful day to 27th overall.
In 29th overall was Charles Hopkinson in his immaculately prepared Historic Escort MK2, making it a good end to a partial season for Charles, with a clear run on the day and some competitive stage times.
Andy Wolfe joined the club for the event and had a good run to 34th overall and 4th in class W8 in his historic Escort MK1.
Steve Chaplin finished 35th in his Historic Escort MK2, a result which saw him become another FODMC award winner as he secured 3rd in class W9 in the Welsh championship.
Event sponsor Rich Cole & nav Jemma Taylor were out for Rich's only event of 2024, navigating the tricky conditions to take a respectable 47th overall and 6th in class in their Rich Cole Contracting Escort MK2 along the way.
One place behind in 48th overall was Keith Bounds & Kevin Watkins in their Mini Cooper S, with a class result of 4th on the day.
Paul Lomas & Mark Leader would have an unfortunate end to their day in Speech House 2 with an accident that saw them bring down a tree into the middle of the stage. Fortunately Paul & Mark were both ok and emerged unscathed from the incident.
Steve Hopewell was another newly registered member, but unfortunately was forced to retire with clutch failure in Serridge 2.
In 49th overall was newly registered Nick Anwyl who had a trouble free run to another finish.
Taking 50th overall was James Dunkley in his Dunkley Auto Services 1400 Corsa, admitting he struggled for grip during the day on the tyres he ran, not helping his stage times.
Mike Jode once again was in the navigators seat for his regular driver, taking home 53rd overall and 7th in class W10.
Mike Truman & Martha Howells had a rather interesting day in their M.E. Damsell Impreza, with Mike by his own words admitting he spent more time off the road as he did on it. I am sure most people have seen the infamous Ferns on the bonnet photo. He completed the day in 56th overall and only a few scratches on the car.
Andi Skelley took on his 2nd ever rally in his Pinto Escort MK2, and had an enjoyable day with pace increasing to finish 58th overall and 8th in class.
Dave Parkin took on his first ever rally with Richard Hopkins navigating and made sure to gain the all important mileage and experience from the day, finishing the day in 65th overall in his Escort MK2.
In 66th overall was Mark Christopher & Jasmin Westcarr, another pair in a Mini Challenge spec Mini Cooper, showing their reliability to a trouble free run.
In 70th overall was newly registered Martin Corbett, finishing despite being parked up at the end of Yorkley 1 with issues with their Avenger. They survived the scare to finish the day.
Rounding out the FODMC crews was Dave Troughton & Natalie Heath in their rally first Hyundai I20. The pair led the rally away at Car 118 and had a trouble free day to finish 75th overall.
Trackrod Forest Stages
Photo Credits: Phil Taylor
Nigel & Kaz Jenkins
Hills Ford Stages 2024
Geoff Phelps & Colin Jenkins (Yellow Escort) and Steve Chaplin (White Escort)
competing on our local closed road event
Winner Garage Skoda Wyedean Stages 2019
- more images on FaceBook
copyright Paul Mitchell & Mark Little
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Club member stories video's and photo's will appear here - send them in :-
fodmotorclub@googlemail.com
One from the archive
King of the Dean is Historic Winner - 2008 Wyedean Forest Rally
THREE times
Wyedean winner Graham Elsmore rolled back the years when he teamed up with his
old co-driver Stuart Harrold to compete on the 2008 Get Connected Carless Fuels
Wyedean Forest Rally, in the Hydrex backed Escort RS1800, Graham’s return had
generated so much interest and publicity, not only in the Forest of Dean but
Nationwide as people turned out to watch ’The King of the Dean’.
The event held in glorious weather
consisted of seven special stages in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley with
rally HQ in the spacious Chepstow Racecourse, Graham had hired the Group 4
Escort from his old friend and rival Terry Brown. After finding Chepstow Park
somewhat on the rough side even though they were only seeded at car 36, the old
partnership soon settled into the event with Graham’s ’ever-sideways’ style
entertaining the thousands of spectators lining the route, many of whom had
just come to see Graham’s return. The only small problem they incurred all day
was a half spin in Serridge and their times dramatically improved as the day
wore on, finally bringing the Hydrex Escort RS1800 home 32nd overall and
winning the Historic category convincingly. A very happy Graham said at the
finish:-
"I have had a wonderful day, and I
am sure Stuart has as well. It has been great to relive old memories, but I
wish the Forestry Commission hadn’t cut down so many trees in the last 30
years, as I didn’t recognise some of the stages that well. A massive thank you
to Hydrex for allowing me the opportunity to compete once more, and congratulations
to the Forest of Dean Motor Club for a superb event. Thanks go to all the
people who came out to support myself and Stuart."
THREE times
Wyedean winner Graham Elsmore rolled back the years when he teamed up with his
old co-driver Stuart Harrold to compete on the 2008 Get Connected Carless Fuels
Wyedean Forest Rally, in the Hydrex backed Escort RS1800, Graham’s return had
generated so much interest and publicity, not only in the Forest of Dean but
Nationwide as people turned out to watch ’The King of the Dean’.
The event held in glorious weather
consisted of seven special stages in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley with
rally HQ in the spacious Chepstow Racecourse, Graham had hired the Group 4
Escort from his old friend and rival Terry Brown. After finding Chepstow Park
somewhat on the rough side even though they were only seeded at car 36, the old
partnership soon settled into the event with Graham’s ’ever-sideways’ style
entertaining the thousands of spectators lining the route, many of whom had
just come to see Graham’s return. The only small problem they incurred all day
was a half spin in Serridge and their times dramatically improved as the day
wore on, finally bringing the Hydrex Escort RS1800 home 32nd overall and
winning the Historic category convincingly. A very happy Graham said at the
finish:-
"I have had a wonderful day, and I
am sure Stuart has as well. It has been great to relive old memories, but I
wish the Forestry Commission hadn’t cut down so many trees in the last 30
years, as I didn’t recognise some of the stages that well. A massive thank you
to Hydrex for allowing me the opportunity to compete once more, and congratulations
to the Forest of Dean Motor Club for a superb event. Thanks go to all the
people who came out to support myself and Stuart."
