Author Topic: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972  (Read 5553 times)

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Offline Bri Roberts

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Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« on: March 30, 2017, 04:02:22 pm »
DVT - Do you remember a few years ago I informed you I once took a photograph on the Isle of Man of OCC 3M?

You replied and said it was probably you and the late Colin Mack in the car.

Well me and Mrs R have been doing some spring cleaning this afternoon and I can across this interesting photo.






Offline DVT

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2017, 08:54:45 pm »
Yes, it's me.  Actually it's 1974 (M reg is 1973/4) and it is Colin Mack in the Red Garages Avenger.

I did do the Manx in 1972 with John Braid in a Mini but we crashed out during one of the night sections.

Returned again in 1975 with Colin Mack and we finished second in class, 13th overall - what I consider to be one of my best results as it was an International event with over 100 crews and it was on pacenotes which I'd written myself!  Colin had a lot to do with the result as well, of course!

Thanks for posting the pic - taken at the start outside the Villa Marina!


Offline Bri Roberts

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2017, 09:26:57 pm »
Thank you, DVT.

I did promise you I would find it one day.

Offline hollins

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2017, 07:28:38 am »
A great story and a great find.
The power of the forum and what a small world!

Offline DVT

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2017, 09:19:28 am »
It is amazing what turns up via the internet!

Thanks to Brian for posting that pic.

... a miscellany of old rally pics are on www.anwcc.org/oldpics.htm - many of them with local connections.

Offline Nemesis

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2017, 09:29:32 am »
I enjoyed your pics DVT, have always had an interest in anything motoring, rallying etc, in fact if you remember a lady rally driver called Anne Hall, ( she was with Sheila Van Dam) Her husband was a driving instructor in the late '60s and I had a few lessons with him.
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to know.

Offline Bri Roberts

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Lombard RAC Rally
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2017, 05:54:02 pm »
DVT may also enjoy these that I have come across.

If I had to date these at the Toll House, I would guess 1986 but I am confident DVT will soon correct me.


Offline DVT

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2017, 07:06:04 pm »
Excellent record Brian - but it was 1981 !!!  The rally started in Chester that year.

Car 2 - Ari Vatanen (SF) and David Richards (GB from Ruthin) Escort RS1800 Mk2 finished 2nd overall

Car 5 - Hannu Mikkola (SF) and Arne Hertz (S) Audi Quattro finished 1st overall - winning margin of 11 minutes and 5 seconds which is one the biggest winning margins in the history of the event.

Car 13 - Per Eklund (S) and Ragnar Spjuth (S) Toyota Celica 2000 GT finished 6th overall

Car 17 - Russell Brookes (GB) and Mike Broad (GB) Talbot Sunbeam-Lotus - non-finishers due to accident

Car 9 - Jean Ragnotti (F) and Martin Holmes (GB) Renault 5 Turbo finished 5th overall

Car 22 - Roger Clark (GB) and Chris Serle (GB) Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2 finished 10th overall.  Serle was a journalist working for a TV programme (cannot remember which, might have been Wheelbase) and was not the best at navigating.  On one motorway link section they missed the turn and had to continue for miles to be able to get back - Clark was a very quick driver and managed to get to the next stage with little time lost - what 70mph speed limit?!

Of the 154 starters only 54 classified as finishers.

Offline Bri Roberts

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Lombard RAC Rally - 1981
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2017, 08:46:08 pm »
What can I say?

Offline DVT

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #9 on: April 02, 2017, 09:07:54 am »
You certainly have some of the great names of 1980's rallying there!

Offline SteveH

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #10 on: April 02, 2017, 11:07:19 am »
DVT, I am not sure if the timeline is right, but did you ever cross paths with the Scottish driver Gerry Birrell, we were friends in our teens, and spent a lot of time at Ingliston, he was destined for bigger things, but unfortunately died aged 24.

Offline DVT

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #11 on: April 02, 2017, 05:14:53 pm »
Never actually came across him as he was a racer rather than a rally driver, but know of the name.  There is also Jenny Birrell, not sure if related, who rallied Hillman Imps.

Offline SteveH

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Re: Isle of Man Car Rally - 1972
« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2017, 06:30:01 pm »
Never actually came across him as he was a racer rather than a rally driver, but know of the name.  There is also Jenny Birrell, not sure if related, who rallied Hillman Imps.
Gerry started racing Imps,Capris a few mini coopers, and I think Jenny is his sister in law, married to his big brother Graham.
some info on Gerry..... https://sidepodcast.com/post/gerry-birrell-what-might-have-been