Fancy some low cost rallying in 2001? Then get yourself a cheap and cheerful little 1950s family saloon, and enter the HERO Challenge - a brand new competition within the Historic Rally Car Register’s Historic Road Rally Championship supported by Nick Whale Sportscars.
Enter as few as six rounds during the year, either as driver or as navigator, and you could carry off the HERO Challenge for pre 1960 Cars.
There’s a super range of eligible cars you could choose from: MG sports cars or saloons; TR2s and TR3s; Riley 1.5s. You could even take up the example of Andrew Davies, who entered last year’s Palladwr Rally in a 1936 Riley Sports Special.
But some of the best rally cars of the 50s were plain uncomplicated small family saloons like the Austin A35 and the Ford Anglia 100E. Then again, there’s the Morris Minor 1000, the VW Beetle or of course the early Minis.
In the right hands earlier cars can be pretty competitive. In 1998 Derek Skinner, navigated by Tony Pettie, beat all comers to carry off the outright win on the HRCR Clubman’s Championship. They did it driving an Austin A35 throughout.
Give it a go! These weekend events aren’t too expensive, and offer valuable practice between major events. For both the HERO Challenge and the Championship itself, your best six results are what count towards the final awards from the overall calendar of 12 events.
Full regulations and event details for the HERO Challenge and the 2001 HRCR Historic Road Rally Championship are available from Andy Gibson (tel. 01227 792740 evenings; e-mail [email protected]) or from the Championship website: www.historicroadrally.co.uk
