Halton pair take victory despite visibility problems due to dust

Saturday night saw Morecambe Car Club’s Caravan and Towing Services road rally which started at Burton M6 Services.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jul 2015, 09:00 BST
Simon Harrison/Dave Pedley - Subaru in dust at a control.Simon Harrison/Dave Pedley - Subaru in dust at a control.
Simon Harrison/Dave Pedley - Subaru in dust at a control.

The 32-car entry had four crews from Morecambe Car Club: Simon Harrison/Dave Pedley (Subaru 2WD) seeded at number seven, Ian Newton/Ian Jones (Escort Mk2) at number nine, Ayrton Harrison/Maurice Ellison (Rover 200) at number 18 and Bill Hignett/Paul Gray (Sierra) at 29.

The route, devised by MCC’s Danny Cowell took in many of the favourite lanes and tracks on Ordnance Survey map 97 and took crews east of Lancaster, Kirkby Lonsdale and Killington before returning to the M6 Burton Services for a breakfast finish.

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Despite the UK’s damp summer, dust was to be an issue for the competitors - especially over the unsurfaced track alongside the M6 near Caton,

Halton’s Simon Harrison/Dave Pedley took overall honours with a 45-second lead over Carl Hawkins/Iain Tullie (Mitsubishi Colt) followed by John Leckie (Rhyl)/Sion Matthews (Proton Coupe).

Unfortunately local crew Steve Hunson/Richard Crozier (Proton, 12) fell off the route later in the rally - again due to lack of visibility in thick dust.

Hignett/Gray finished in 18th overall and fourth in Class.

Harrison and Ellison’s rally ended when their car succumbed to gearbox problems and Ian Newton and Ian Jones also retired.

Report: GMS