All we ask is for you to introduce a new member or two to our fantastic motor club.

• If you introduce one new member in 2013, we will discount £5 off your 2014 membership.
• If you introduce two new members in 2013, we will discount £8 off your 2014 membership.
• And if you introduce 3+ new members in 2013, we will give you your 2014 membership free of charge!

On the membership form, there is a box which says ‘Did someone tell you about the club?’ Once a new member puts your name in this box, you get rewarded in 2014!

Richard was joining the championship on its second round in his Whitehaven Accident Repair Centre backed Subaru Impreza N8 having missed the first round, which was held in Wales, through work commitments.

Even before the rally started Richard problems began when co-driver Seb Turner had to withdraw from the rally through illness just 48 hours before the start. This meant Richard had to complete his recce and find an alternative co-driver within 36 hours. After a number of phone calls and emails two local co-drivers agreed to help complete the recce and make pace notes with Richard and co-driver for the rally was eventually agreed to be Jamie Foster who flew over from Liverpool on the Friday morning with the start being Friday afternoon. At least with the rally having a shakedown stage before the real action started meant the pairing were able to have some time together in the car to get used to each other’s ways of working.

Barnard/Foster – Manx National Rally 2013. Photo by Martyn Parnell.

The Friday evening stages took place in glorious sunshine and after the first loop of 5 stages the West Cumbrian was lying 2^nd in class with the crew still getting used to each other under competitive conditions. The second Friday loop of 3 stages saw Richard climb further up the overall leader board, but remaining 2^nd in class in the championship GpN Category finishing the night in 40^th overall ready for a push over the bulk of the special stages to be run during Saturday.

The first group of four stages on Saturday started well but on the second of these tests, the Curraghs, a high speed spin and off against a large kerb damaged a rear drive shaft and forced the RABrallyesport team to lose a lot of time on this stage and drop more time running with just two wheel drive over 2 more stages before the problem could be fixed at the next service halt.

With the car back in four wheel drive Richard then posted a good time over his favourite Manx stage, Druidale, stopping the clock 18^th fastest overall in a very high quality field of competitors, before having yet another excursion into the scenery on SS14, The Curraghs,, but managing to get away without major damage.

Having dropped down the Group N class rankings with the problems Richard set about clawing his way back and at one point having been 5 minutes behind the crew in third place in the class he climbed back up to 2nd in his class leading the third placed car of Julian Barnet by 3 minutes. An impressive recovery and one he hoped would score him valuable championship points.

Then on the final special stage with a comfortable margin ahead of 3^rd, and points assured, two punctures and two broken wheels caused by a rock on the inside of a corner put an end to the fight back.  The crew had to stop and change the tyre, and limp to the end on 3 wheels. All the hard work went to nothing as he dropped back down to 3^rd in class. Struggling back to the Douglas finish with a much worse for wear car on 3 wheels, Richard and Jamie clocked in to the final control with 20 seconds to spare and found they had finished the 2013 Manx National Rally in 35^th from the 64 car entry in the National A category of this event.

At the finish Richard said ‘That has to be the toughest rally I’ve ever done and never before have I had so many problems before and during a rally. I guess that’s what comes from pushing hard for a good result and that’s something I plan to keep doing over the coming events in my effort to win the Group N championship. I think I may have also given my new sponsor, Whitehaven Accident Repair, some work to do with a few dents in the rally car’s bodywork having bounced off a few Manx walls and banks!’

Now work will need to be done to the Impreza before the next championship round in July over in Ireland.

The 2013 Autotest Season kicks off on Sunday 21st April, and with a new venue at Maryport, your support will be hugely appreciated.

The event will be held on the ‘unused land’ alongside the West Coast Karting track. Approximate location;

Solway Trading Estate,
Maryport
Cumbria CA15 8NF

Orange arrows will be on display, but please contact Ryan for full details (contact number below).

The event starts at 10:00, but aim to be there by 09:30. The cost remains the same as 2012, at just £10.

Please contact Ryan Winthrop to let him know you will be attending – 07530316037

12 Car Rally Event – 13th March 2013 @ 19:00

The second round of the West Cumbria Motorsport Club 12 Car/Scatter Championship is to be held on Wednesday 13th 2013. The event will be ran off Map 89, and every competitor should bring a torch.

Signing on is at the Shepherds Hotel, Cockermouth at 19:00 for a 19:30 start (see map below).

Those who are wanting to take part in this event, please contact us by 12 noon on the 11th March, or call Sam Steel on 07595 2222 065

View Larger Map

What is a 12 Car Rally Event?

• These are navigational events taking place on public roads in West Cumbria.
• Cars have to be road legal, taxed and MOT tested.
• Events tend to be 45 to 50 miles long and usually take place on Monday evenings.
• Competitors only need a club membership card to enter and the entry fee tends to be £10.
• Requires a crew of two with the navigator solving the clues which are given out prior to the event start.

These events are generally ran through the winter months. To take part you will need a road legal car, a navigator who can read a map, a light for the car, the specified OS map, a pencil, a romer (not a must), and most importantly a watch. Don’t be scared off by all the gear you need as there is always someone on hand that will try and help out where they can!

Prior to setting off, you are given a series of clues which will coincide with places on the map, i.e. spot heights, grid references, pub names, signpost miles, and herringbones. You will set off at a specific time and are given a maximum amount of time to complete the event.

The most important thing, as with all motorsport events, is that it’s safe, well organised, and above all, enjoyable.

12 Car Rally Event – 18th February 2013 @ 18:30

The first round of the West Cumbria Motorsport Club 12 Car/Scatter Championship is to be held on Monday 18th February 2013. The event will be ran off Map 89, and every competitor should bring a torch.

Signing on is at the Shepherds Hotel, Cockermouth at 18:30 for a 19:00 start (see map below).

Those who are wanting to take part in this event, please contact us by 12 noon on the 16th February.

View Larger Map

What is a 12 Car Rally Event?

• These are navigational events taking place on public roads in West Cumbria.
• Cars have to be road legal, taxed and MOT tested.
• Events tend to be 45 to 50 miles long and usually take place on Monday evenings.
• Competitors only need a club membership card to enter and the entry fee tends to be £10.
• Requires a crew of two with the navigator solving the clues which are given out prior to the event start.

These events are generally ran through the winter months. To take part you will need a road legal car, a navigator who can read a map, a light for the car, the specified OS map, a pencil, a romer (not a must), and most importantly a watch. Don’t be scared off by all the gear you need as there is always someone on hand that will try and help out where they can!

Prior to setting off, you are given a series of clues which will coincide with places on the map, i.e. spot heights, grid references, pub names, signpost miles, and herringbones. You will set off at a specific time and are given a maximum amount of time to complete the event.

The most important thing, as with all motorsport events, is that it’s safe, well organised, and above all, enjoyable.

As usual, Russell would like you to bring along some wrapped items suitable for Tombola Prizes. We appreciate wacky ones as well as serious ones!

We are aiming to be seated and ready for our meal no later than 19:15.

Please let Russell know A.S.A.P. what you would like so he can order the food. You can find a menu at the bottom of this message.

Hopefully we will see you all there on the 16th for a food, crack and laughter!

Menu (£17 per head) 

To order please contact Russell, 07706788152

Starters:

• Mini Vegetable Spring Rolls with Sweet & Sour Dip
• Duck Pate with Cumberland Sauce
• Waverley Hotel Soup Bowl
• Garlic Mushrooms

Main Course:

• Roast Beef with Yorkshire Puddings
• Pork with Sage & Onion Stuffing
• Chicken Breast in Cheese & Bacon Sauce
• Salmon Steak with Creamy Prawn & Tarragon Sauce
• All of the above are served with fresh vegetables and potatoes

Sweets:

• Profiteroles
• Apple Crumble
• Sherry Trifle
• Fruit of the Forest Cheesecake
• Tea/Coffee and Mints

To order please contact Russell, 07706788152

12 Car Rally Event – 21st January 2013 @ 18:30

The first round of the West Cumbria Motorsport Club 12 Car/Scatter Championship is to be held on Monday 21st January 2013. The event will be ran off Map 89, and every competitor should bring a torch.

Signing on is at the Shepherds Hotel, Cockermouth at 18:30 for a 19:00 start (see map below).

Those who are wanting to take part in this event, please contact us by 12 noon on the 20th January.

View Larger Map

What is a 12 Car Rally Event?

• These are navigational events taking place on public roads in West Cumbria.
• Cars have to be road legal, taxed and MOT tested.
• Events tend to be 45 to 50 miles long and usually take place on Monday evenings.
• Competitors only need a club membership card to enter and the entry fee tends to be £10.
• Requires a crew of two with the navigator solving the clues which are given out prior to the event start.

These events are generally ran through the winter months. To take part you will need a road legal car, a navigator who can read a map, a light for the car, the specified OS map, a pencil, a romer (not a must), and most importantly a watch. Don’t be scared off by all the gear you need as there is always someone on hand that will try and help out where they can!

Prior to setting off, you are given a series of clues which will coincide with places on the map, i.e. spot heights, grid references, pub names, signpost miles, and herringbones. You will set off at a specific time and are given a maximum amount of time to complete the event.

The most important thing, as with all motorsport events, is that it’s safe, well organised, and above all, enjoyable.

Having never competed on a forest event before and with his own car being unsuitable for this type of surface Richard hired a forest specification Subaru Impreza from John Pye Motors and had Manx co-driver Seb Turner in the hot-seat to guide him around. Valuable support from Britain’s Energy Coast in West Cumbria meant this challenge could go ahead as without it them it would have been unlikely this final effort would have been possible.

Richard Barnard/Seb Turner | Rally Isle of Man | Photo by Martyn Parnell

10 special stages in a number of plantations on the island faced competitors as the event left the Douglas TT Grandstand start on Saturday morning and a steady run through the first two stages saw Richard start to acclimatise himself to a different car on a very different surface. The unfamiliarity with the car led to a stall at a hairpin bend on stage two but back at the first service area the team were around the top ten with no major issues. Connor Corkhill wasn’t faring so well and had some suspension problems which resulted in him dropping out from the main results and continuing for the rest of the day for fun. Martyn Jones had also had a problem on the early stages and he too dropped from the main field. This meant it had to be a steady run for the remaining 8 stages for Barnard and this very nearly didn’t happen with a big ‘moment’ at a junction on stage 3 when the Subaru crew went too quickly into a left hand corner going off the road, over some logs and between some trees before emerging unscathed and back in the fray.

There were few dramas for the Cockermouth driver over the remaining stages and when results were posted in fading light at the TT Grandstand finish they showed that Richard had finished 7^th overall, 2^nd in Class E and picked up the Best Newcomer Award as well. But, more importantly he had gained enough points to leapfrog the 2 drivers in front of him in the Manx Junior Rally Championship and finish up 2012 Manx Junior Rally Champion. This award has never been won before by an off island driver so a fantastic first for Richard and his team. At the rally awards ceremony at the Creg ny Baa Hotel on Saturday evening Richard said ‘I am absolutely delighted to have won the championship and know that I have a lot of people to thank for helping me achieve this. The businesses and organisations who have sponsored me this year, the guys who have prepared and run the cars for me and the co-drivers who have sat in with me. Obviously I would also to like to thank the organisers and marshals on the rallies without which we couldn’t go out and enjoy ourselves.’ He went on to add ‘ I would also like to announce my retirement from gravel rallying (after this 1 event) and look forward to returning to  good old tarmac next year when I enter the REIS Get Connected MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, yet another step up for me.’

The result from the Isle of Man will also help Richard in the West Cumbria Motor Sports Club Stage Rally Drivers Championship as points scored on the Isle of Man count towards it as well. Richard is well placed and in this championship and is also currently leading the Association of North West Car Clubs Junior Rally Drivers Championship He will now have to sit and wait to see if anyone can pip him at the post to these titles and if not give him a unique treble for the 2012.

The fourth round of the West Cumbria Motorsport Club Scatter Championship is on Monday 19th November 2012. The event will be ran off Map 89, and every competitor will require a torch.

Signing on is at the Shepherds Hotel, Cockermouth at 18:30 for a 19:00 start (see map below).

Those who are wanting to take part in this event, please contact us by the 11am on 18th November.

View Larger Map

What is a Scatter Event?

• These are navigational events taking place on public roads in West Cumbria.
• Cars have to be road legal, taxed and MOT tested.
• Events tend to be 45 to 50 miles long and usually take place on Monday evenings.
• Competitors only need a club membership card to enter and the entry fee tends to be £10.
• Requires a crew of two with the navigator solving the clues which are given out prior to the event start.

These events are generally ran through the winter months. To take part you will need a road legal car, a navigator who can read a map, a light for the car, the specified OS map, a pencil, a romer (not a must), and most importantly a watch. Don’t be scared off by all the gear you need as there is always someone on hand that will try and help out where they can!

Prior to setting off, you are given a series of clues which will coincide with places on the map, i.e. spot heights, grid references, pub names, signpost miles, and herringbones. You will set off at a specific time and are given a maximum amount of time to complete the event.

The most important thing, as with all motorsport events, is that it’s safe, well organised, and above all, enjoyable.