Classic cars roar to Regis Rally driving success

A total of 50 classic cars lined up for the rally on Saturday, which had a new starting grid at the Brookfield Hotel in Emsworth.

As part of the Richard Eggar Insurance HRCR Clubman's Rally Championship, it drew enthusiastic crowds eager to catch a glimpse of classic cars.

Vehicles included MG Midgets, an Austin Mini, a Riley 1.5, a rather newer Porsche 911, and the winning pair of Jonathan Hancox and Richard Lambley from Brighton in their 1962 Triumph TR4.

The highest-placed Bognor entry was fifth place for Geoff Twigg and Peter Blackett, who were first in the classic class, driving a 1965 Mini Cooper S.

Drivers pitted themselves against early rain-soaked roads as they put their cars through their paces across West Sussex.

More than 80 marshals were required to ensure the event ran smoothly and without major incident during its series of challenges.

After a pitstop at Fishbourne Roman Palace, entrants tackled tests in the grounds of Goodwood racecourse, Ides Wood, before heading to Tangmere Airfield nurseries for a series of four tests.

Ali Green, of Eastergate, who is a member of Bognor Regis Motor Club and competed in a Riley Elf, felt it had been a great day.

She said: "We were thrilled with the event, though the weather was pretty shocking on the morning.

"This is our 17th year of running the event and we've been going since the 1950s as a club which makes us one of the oldest classic car clubs around.

"We do an event with Southsea Motor Club at Goodwood and also the Bognor Regis Classic in March, which have all combined to help us raise a total of more than 250,000 over the years for cancer charities.

"I enjoyed competing this year and have been going to it a long time '“ it has such a marvellous atmosphere and I just love being a part of it."

Despite being unable to compete due to course clerk duties on the day, Regis Rally organisers Mick Briggs from Eastergate and Martin Neal from Bognor Regis have been officially confirmed as the winners of the Historic Rally Car Register's Richard Eggar Insurance Clubman's Rally championship for 2009.

One outright win and two seconds, plus a fifth overall, gave them enough points to scoop the coveted main trophies. There will be an awards ceremony taking place in Daventry in February 2010.

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