AFTER an unfortunate set of circumstances with the original site it was decided to run Morecambe Car Clubs Event, the Hi-de-hi Stages Rally at the disused airfield site at Haverigg.

Running at car number one Lyndon Barton wowed the crowds with a newly acquired spectacular Metro 6R4, but must have been kicking himself after the first few stages when the 6R4 gave up the ghost with steering problems whilst his old car a GpA Escort Cosworth stormed into an early lead and romped on to win.

Local crews Phil Burton and Mick Fallows in the Northern Hydraulics Gp4 Mk 2 Escort and Garage Proprietor Andrew Murphy and Ashley Hodge in Lancaster Bomber/C M Motors backed Sierra Cosworth 4x4 had an almighty scrap for second and third swapping 2-3 seconds over each stage until on the 11th stage with Murphy 3 seconds up, a 10 minute shower made it impossible to get Burton's 200+ BHP down onto the tarmac without spinning the wheels the slippery conditions, losing time getting out of the corners, leaving the Cosworth 4x4 of Murphy to revel in the conditions, taking second place Burton in third.

Alan Pleat and Steve Turner had a torrid time chasing mechanical fitness and after various misfires were happy to gain second in 1600cc Class, giving them valuable points towards the MCC Purple Haze Stage Championship using their CM Motors liveried Peugeot 205 GTi. Shane Musgrove and "Dickie" of Lancaster Auto Salvage, took an Mk 2 Escort a piece up to the event with Shane succumbing to mechanical maladies, but with "Dickie" finishing in a respectable position in the new car.

It was generally considered to be well run and highly entertaining day of motor sport and with that in mind, future events to look out for are, "The Jim Clarke Memorial (tarmac) Rally" held in Dunns and the "Manx National Road Race," of similar format to the TT Race but run for clubmen, where local motorcycle racer, Karl Moss, on his Northern Hydraulics backed Suzuki GSXR 750cc, will be out to take the new comers award, after an excellent fourth place finish on last weekend's New Brighton Promenade Races. Both events are well worth a ride out to watch as motor sport events become ever more spectacular.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.