Legend Fires North West Stages Rally 2012
Winners in 2012 - Tony Bardy and Tony Walker
Congratulations to Tony Bardy and Tony Walker - Winners of the 2012 Legend Fires North West Stages Rally. Photo galleries featuring all competitors are now online at www.pro-rally.co.uk
2012 Legend Fires North West Stages Rally Report
After missing out on victory by only a second on last year's event Tony Bardy made sure of success this time around taking victory by over a minute in his familiar Nissan Sunny GTi-R. With regular co-driver Reg Smith out of the country Bardy renewed an old partnership with Tony Walker and despite not having competed together for 10 years they proved a winning combination.
Their closest challengers, John Stone and Lee Carter, enjoyed a brief spell as rally leaders on Saturday morning but a failing clutch saw the Skoda Fabia WRC crew settle for second.
Last year's winners Kevin Proctor and Dave Bellerby had headed the standings after Friday's four-stage leg but a wrong tyre choice on Saturday ruined any hopes the Subaru Impreza pairing of a repeat victory. After finishing third Proctor was full of praise for his friend and rival saying "Bardy drove like a demon!"
The final outcome could have been different but for a timing error that cost Paul Bird and Kirsty Riddick a six-minute penalty at the start of Friday's first Blackpool stage. It left them in 81st place overnight but an all out attack on Satuday saw them haul their Ford Focus WRC up to fifth place, finishing just two seconds behind the Escort Cosworth of Mark Roberts and Gareth Twiss.
Simon Bowen and Richard Robinson survived a huge spin in the final Clifton stage to take sixth in their Impreza ahead of the Forester of Alex Taylor and Martyn Taylor who hit the Armco there on Friday night.
Top two-wheel drive finishers Russell Morgan and Martin Kenyon claimed eighth place their Escort Mk1 ahead of Pete Gibson and Josh Davison. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6 crew had been sixth before being forced to tackle the last group of six stages with three-wheel drive after breaking a rear differential. Adrian Atkinson and Dave Riley completed the top ten in another Evo6 despite losing all their brakes in Weeton.
David and Steven Benson brought their Honda Civic home 11th overall after switching to ice tyres and setting a string of top ten stage times on the final leg to claim the Class B win. Class C winners Barry Stevenson-Wheeler and John Pickavance nursed their Escort RS home with an ailing gearbox finishing 12th overall whilst Class A winners Andrew Fawcett and Chris Purvis finished 17th in their Vauxhall Nova. Stephen Johnson and Steven Butler were forced to run their Nissan Micra without any auxillary lights simply because they didn't have any but they still came out on top of the Class F standings!
The icy conditions took their toll with a high rate of attrition resulting in no fewer than 40 of the 85 starters retiring and Saturday's Blackpool stages were only saved after the organisers arranged for the local Council to grit the stage. Blackpool Borough Council were rewarded for their efforts with the 'Spirit of the Rally' Award.
Rally Village
The Legend Fires North West Stages Rally has long been established as the biggest motor sport event of it's kind in the North of England but organisers now reckon it's reached a whole new level.
This weekend's event will be the rally's fifteenth year but it's the addition of the Cetus Solutions Rally Village, only in its third year, that has raised the event's status. It was the relocation of the rally headquarters to the Norbreck Castle Hotel in 2010 that provided the perfect setting for the new concept within the Norcalympia Exhibition Arena.
In the three years since that inaugural move the Rally Village Motorsport Show has developed to such an extent that it's now almost as big an attraction as the rally itself.
All manner of motorsport disciplines are represented including Karts, both modern and historic Stock Cars, Autograss cars, various rally cars and even a TT Motorcycle. There's slot car racing and model cars on display to keep the youngster's happy and at 1pm on Saturday the Village hosts the Indoor Radio Controlled Championship Races.
There's also lots of information on how to get started in various forms of motorsport whilst representatives of Kirkham's Carr Hill High School & Sixth Form College will be on hand to discuss motorsport courses and careers.
The Rally Village is open between 13:00 - 22:30 on Friday and 08.15 - 19:00 on Saturday and with rally special stages being run on the promenade directly opposite it makes for a great one-stop rally venue.
SMS Rally Results Service
Tynemouth Results will once again be offering the invaluable SMS results service. Please visit http://www.nersresults.co.uk/sms/html/order2.html to sign-up for the service. The cost is £3.50 for a set of results after each pair of stages.
Rally Regulations
Legend Fires North West Stages 2012 - Download Rally Regulations (PDF - 315Kb)
Marie Curie Sponsorship Form
Legend Fires North West Stages 2012 - Download Marie Curie Sponsorship Form (PDF - 262Kb)
Rally Entry Form
For Online Entries:
Legend Fires North West Stages 2012 - Online Entry Form. For further details, or to obtain a paper entry form, please contact Entries Secretary Ann McCormack entries@nwstages.co.uk.
It's Showtime!
"A Rally Show and More!" That's how organisers of the 2012 Legend Fires North West Stages Rally are describing the Cetus Solutions Rally Village that's being held at Norbreck Castle Hotel's Norcalympia Exhibition Area over the rally weekend.
The event, which takes place on Friday/Saturday 3rd/4th February attracts thousands of rally fans from all parts of the UK and all signs point to this year's event being bigger and better than ever!
This year's FREE to enter Rally Village provides for a greater diversification of motorsport interests with exhibitors from Stock Cars, Grass Tracking, Karting, AutoTests and AutoSolos to name but a few. There's also lots to interest the younger visitors with Slot Car Racing and Radio Control Cars due to feature.
Scrutineering and Rally Trade Stands are open to Spectators on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday at the Norbreck Castle Hotel's Norcalympia exhibition centre. Rally fans will be able to obtain up-to-date rally results and purchase hot food and drink within the Norbreck Castle Hotel complex.
Rally Village Manager, Darren Fox commented: "The Cetus Solutions Rally Village was at the heart of the 2011 Legend Fires North West Stages and for 2012 we're planning an even bigger, better Rally Village!"
For further details and to learn how your business can reserve a trade stand area, please contact Darren Fox.
Darren Fox (Rally Village Manager)
Telephone: 07730 422 528.
Email: trade@nwstages.co.uk
Rally Marshals
Around 600 officials signed on last year and helped make the 2011 rally a great success. Many comments have been received thanking the marshals and also commenting on their professional attitude.
Thanks again to all who signed on this year and hopefully we will see you next year.
Marshals Required for 2012 Event
If you're not competing and want to get a closer view of the action then why not Register as a Rally Marshal.
All Marshals are eligible for the superb end of rally prize draw. Marshals are required Friday afternoon/evening for scrutineering and all day Saturday for the rally itself. Previous marshalling experience is not required.
Guide to Marshalling
Marshalling is the term given to the job done by people on the ground who operate rally controls such as starts and finishes as well as controlling spectators on stages to ensure the stage is safe to run. Marshals are often responsible for a particular section of stage and often work under the supervision of a sector official. It is the Marshal's job to look out for the safety of the spectators and to maintain the stage furniture at all times for the safety of the competitors.
Equipment Needed
Warm clothing is essential, a good waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers plus appropriate footwear (metal toe capped type is recommended) with thermal socks (in winter). Gloves are also advisable for both warmth and protection.
- A Ski hat or similar headwear to provide warmth.
- A whistle, to be blown when cars are approaching.
- A flask with something warm inside to keep you going.
- Energy food, anything with glucose or as from personal experience Flapjacks.
Contact
Please contact our Chief Marshal to Register:
Mark Carter (Chief Marshal)
Telephone: 07724 472 756.
Email: marshals@nwstages.co.uk
