Bexley Light Car Club organised a successful tarmac stage rally at Chertsey.

It attracted 47 starters with many club members either involved with the organisation of the rally or competing.

The event ran over eight competitive stages and witnessed a close battle at the front of the field between Dave Jacobs in a Metro 6R4 and Eian Pritchard in a Subaru WRC.

Jacobs eventually took the victory by just one second after 50 miles of competitive rallying. Third and fourth places were also separated by just one second.

Bexley crews had a mixed day with the club award being claimed by Ian Broadfoot and Keith Edwards in a Ford Escort. They finished 25h overall but would have been higher but for two late spins.

Tom Roberts and Nick Heasman had the misfortune of being the first retirements when they broke the steering on a high curb on stage one, while Gary Speight and Jason Tolan only lasted until stage two when the engine failed on their Talbot Sunbeam.

Two club crews that suffered misfortune while running well were Ian Copping and Dave Rowley, who crashed when the brakes failed on their Fiesta and Graham Sansom and Jason Malpas, who retired from a top-ten position on the last stage with transmission failure.

For more information on Bexley Light Car Club, call Phil Wells on 01322 276081.

July 9, 2002 12:30