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OXFORD MOTOR CLUB |
Here's to 2009
At the time of writing, we are coming to the end of 2008 and already my mind is full of 2009 rallying plans!
On Tuesday Jonathan Sargeant and I went to visit Rob and Alan of ‘SBL Motorsport’ a midlands based part time rally team. Jonathan intends to ride with Rob Price in a Vauxhall Corsa; I am planning to sit with Alan Abbey in a Ford Puma. Rob and Jonathan are looking to compete in the BTRDA whilst Alan and I want to concentrate on the Heart of England Championship. As we sit there talking websites, embroidered Tshirts and pace notes I think back in amazement at how this time 2 years ago I was joining Oxford Motor Club planning to “just do a few road rallies.”
My first Oxford Motor Club event was a 12 car rally in 2006 organised by Simon Lassam. Simon was extremely welcoming and kindly agreed to sit with me in my Ford Focus on a few 12 cars in 2007. Simon and I quickly achieved some good results but when the full costs of running a rally car came to light I decided to give navigating a try. The first event I did as a co-driver was alongside Kev Belcher in his Subaru. We won that 12 car, all be it on marked maps, and I knew that I had found something enjoyable and excellent value for money!
As 2008 began I co-drove in a few more 12 cars until Jonathan kindly set me up with a ride in the Abingdon Car-nival Stages. As I already competed in the karting scene I did not need another MSA license and thanks to a very generous loan from Simon I had the required kit! A DNF at Abingdon did little to deter my sudden enthusiasm for co-driving; I was well and truly hooked.
My next event alongside Jack Cooper at Twyford Wood saw us finishing 38th overall in his 106 Rallye. Since then I have also competed at Longcross, Caerwent and in the Grizedale Forest.
The peak of my short co-driving career has got to be the 2008 Grizedale Stages co-driving for David Head (father of British Rally class champ, Steve) in his Suzuki Swift. The Grizedale saw many leading British crews out for a run including Mark Higgins and Nicky Grist in a Carlos Sainz 1995 Subaru Impreza – wow! Higgins and Grist went on to win the event. Also at the Grizedale from Oxford Motor Club were Jonathan who got a fantastic class win and Simon who overcame some mechanical issues to finish the trophy rally in the afternoon.
On a personal note I would like to thank Jonathan and Simon for their help, not just on the weekend of the Grizedale but throughout the last couple of years: without them I wouldn’t be where I am now. Oxford Motor Club were welcoming from the outset and I hope that the success of Lewis Hamilton and the potential success of Matthew Wilson will drive more competitors to the sport. It is important that motorsport is accessible to everyone and thanks to friendly welcoming clubs like Oxford Motor Club it really can be.
Over the course of 2008 I have gone from a local 12 car in January to the Grizedale Stages in November competing against the likes of Mark Higgins (three times British Rally Champ) and Nicky Grist (one of the most successful co-drivers of all time). If you have ambition and drive it really is achievable to compete at a high level in motorsport without spending a fortune, simply swap seats!
For more information on my (and Jonathan’s) 2009 plans visit
www.sblmotorsport.co.uk and
www.abernethymotorsport.com.
Joe Abernethy
ABERNETHY MOTORSPORT