Last updated at 07:26, Friday, 05 February 2010

THE regulations for the 35th Malcolm Wilson Rally are now available.

The rally takes place on March 6 and is remaining faithful to its start in Cockermouth High Street despite the continuing recovery work going on there.

The rally will be returning there despite these inconveniences as the welcome the event receives is second to none.

To help some way towards the costs involved in making good the damage from the flood the rally organisers – KLMC, MCC and WCMSC – raffled an entry which was very well supported, and the appeal to other motorsport contacts was well received and the amount raised will announce on the website.

Although the rally is run to a tried and tested format there are some changes. With only the super smooth Greystoke stages used twice, clerk of the course Kevin Savage has found some new roads in Grizedale to use so that stage will be rather to different to that used in the past.

Also entrants will be able to pay their fee online via PayPal, although this will have a 3.5 per cent premium. However it will also be possible to pay by stages on a credit card. The entry fee has been kept down to what is a reasonable £400 plus a further £25 for management and then most crews will fork out for the pace notes.

Altogether with the PayPal supplement it will put the total entry fee to around the £500 make depending on how people pay.

The rally features in a wide range of championships – the usual BTRDA ones, the M-Sport-run Fiesta Sport Trophy UK, the MG ZR Challenge and the SG Petch ANECCC Stage Championship. There are also three classes for historic and classic rally cars.

With the MSA reducing the overall number of championships in rallying this year, the consolidation should bring a full entry to the MWR, although at this stage we have no idea how the recession will continue to hit rallying but I would expect, as the worse case scenario, the same number of entries as last year.

M-Sport will again provide their superb facilities for scrutineering and overnight secure rally car park, with signing on in the new merchandising unit. Access to the site will not be restricted to competitors only and service crews will be welcomed in the Merchandising Suite and Chequered Flag Café.

The Chequered Flag will be open for food and drink for the benefit of the competitors and service crews at very reasonable prices both on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Full regulations and entry forms are available at www. malcolmwilson.co.uk/

At a rather low speed but every bit as entertaining for the participants is the Roof of England Challenge on April 11 run by MG Cumbria.

This year’s event starts near Kendal and finishes near Penrith after visiting some of the highest roads in England. The tour is open to all ages of MGs and other fine cars and the entry fee, which includes food for the day, is just £34. Entry forms are at www.wigtonmc.co.uk

There is classic car action on Sunday when Wigton MC have their winter pub run starting at Armathwaite Hall at 10am. This is a popular event and gives those who keep their cars on the road all winter a good run out followed by some good food and chat at a quality Lakeland hotel.

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 04 February 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk