1964 UAC Winter Rally

1964 ULSTER A.C. WINTER RALLY.

This report first appeared in Autosport Magazine 31 January 1964

For their Winter Rally on the afternoon and evening of 11th January 1964, Ulster Automobile Club introduced the rather novel idea of dividing the event into two quite distinct sections. The first section of some 50 miles included all the driving tests and some fairly simple navigation and was intended primarily for the less experienced drivers and navigators and for those who simply do not like navigation events. The second section of 80 miles consisted solely of more difficult navigation. Separate awards were given for the first section and for those who competed in the whole rally.

An excellent entry of 55 competitors assembled at the start near Megaberry Airfield. Twenty-three of these were competing in the first section only, demonstrating the popularity of the club’s latest move. A rather unusual combination was that of Robert Woodside, who had Paddy Hopkirk in the navigator’s seat of his Okrasa-modified Volkswagen.

Straight from the start the first two of the six driving tests were tackled. The marking of these was based on the principle of Class fastest losing no marks, and best here were Reggie McSpadden (VW 1500S), Ian Woodside (M.G. Midget), who lost no marks; Cecil Molyneaux Mini-Cooper S), Robin Steenson (Mini) with 0.2 and Robert McBurney (Okrasa VW) with 0.6 marks lost.

This was followed by a Tulip section down sheet 6 (3rd series) which was fairly straight-forward except for the rough white through 143/531. A check at each end of this caught a few people napping. Also interesting was the very muddy and slippery goer through 135/508 where the locals showed their displeasure by blocking the road with a barrier of sticks.

A notable crew to lose marks here was Reggie McSpadden/John Armstrong, who dropped 2 mins., while navigator Hopkirk apparently did not find the U.A.C.’s pace notes to his liking and lost 4 mins. Then came the remaining four tests in quarry near Banbridge which, by U.A.C. standards, was very smooth. Best here were Robert Woodside (0.2), Robin Steenson (0.4), Ian Woodside (0.6) and Adrian Boyd (Rapier) (2.2).

The first half of the rally finished with a 23-mile section with seven time checks. This was on sheet 10 (popular series) and although some of the roads were eg rough, notably the white through 185/457, it was fairly easily on. Ken Shields/ Norman Henderson (VX4/90) had a slight lapse and contrived to drop 2 mins. The overall winners of section one were Roger Cree/S. Poots (Mini) with 10.2 marks lost, while Ian Woodside/Esler Crawford were leading those who were doing the complete rally with a loss of 0.6 marks, 2.2 ahead of Robert McBurney/Fenton Coulter (Okrasa VW).

Non-starters in the second half were Neville Haire/Bill Beattie, who were having brake trouble with their Mini. Robert Woodside and Derek Boyd also did not start — the former due to pressure of business and the latter had more amorous pursuits in mind! As an unofficial entry Paddy Hopkirk and Beatty Crawford teamed up to do this section in Robert Woodside’s car.

The second section was a really excellent “plot and bash” 80-mile effort on sheet 8 (3rd series) with 29 time checks. The route described a rough figure eight through the maze of white roads in the hills north-west of Newry and although, section by section, it was definitely on at a 30 average, most people were dropping the odd minute here and there, and by time check 15 the only remaining clean sheet was that of Ronnie and Doris White (Sebring Sprite).

Colin Andrew/Donald Grieve (Mini-Cooper S) and Hopkirk/Crawford dropped 3 mins. at time check 8 when they had to follow for a mile a herd of cattle doing a steady 5 m.p.h. Donald Grieve’s troubles were added to by the fact that he had to navigate without his usual illuminated map magnifier. Paddy was finding the Okrasa VW to his liking although he said it was a shade on the big side to “set-up” for the corners on the narrow roads. Robert McBurney/Fenton Coulter were seen stationary at time check 11 due to navigator sickness and they retired soon after.

The cars then followed the rough white over Deadman’s Hill where lan Woodside/Esler Crawford dropped 2 mins. when they had to change a wheel. Punctures seemed to be very rife, and other people to suffer from this malady were Fred Stimson, John McClean and Eddie Baird. The greatest trouble was caused by the double T-junction at 052/350 which was on the approach to time check 28.

The roads there are not as shown on the map (actually the old popular series map has got it right — so much for progress!) and this was Doris White’s downfall, for after a very good run she dropped a further 8 mins. here. Hopkirk/Crawtord described a large circle and dropped 6 mins., while Cecil Molyneaux/Hal Patton (Mini-Cooper S) got completely lost and had to skip the final two time checks after having dropped only 4 mins. up till then.

The rally then returned again to the finish in Newry where the results showed Woodside/Crawford as the winners with 11.6 marks lost, followed by McSpadden/Armstrong (17.8) and Ronnie White/Doris White (20.2). Car No. 45, crewed at various stages by Robert Woodside, Paddy Hopkirk and Beatty Crawford, finished an unofficial fourth! Best navigators on the second section were John Armstrong (10 mins. down), Esler Crawford (11) and Ken Atkinson (14).

This was a typically efficiently run U.A.C. rally with a well planned route involving no trickery — it is a club policy to give out a list of non-goers with the final instructions. The competitors’ main grouse was the rather long 110-minute stop between the first and second sections. Most people would have preferred to have done the lot in one go.

Beatty CRAWFORD.

RESULTS

Section one:

1. Roger Cree/S. Poots (Mini), 10.2 marks lost;
2. Brian Falcon/Denis Wilkins (Turner-Climax), 13.2;
3. Lee Lucas/A. Lucas (Grasshopper), 17.8;

Overall “Rally”:

1. Ian Woodside/Dr Beatty Crawford (M.G. Midget), 11.6;
2. Reggie McSpadden/John Armstrong (VW 1500S) 17.8;
3. Ronnie White/Doris White (Sebring Site), 30.2;
4. Cecil Molyneaux/Hal Patton (Mini-Cooper S), 28.4;
5. Colin Andrew/Donald Grieve (Mini-Cooper S), 30.2;
6. Maurice Acheson/Jack Long (Mini-Cooper S), 31.2;
7. Dr. Jack Keatley/Norman Devlin (Mini-Cooper S), 35.0;
8. Billy McKnight/Robert Ardis (Vitesse), 35.4;
9. Dennis Bell/Colin McMeekin (A.-H. Sprite), 35.8;
10. Ken Shields/Norman Henderson (VX4/90), 47.0.