Slippery Stages  Report and images by Peter Baker Click to view gallery 

Steve and Mike O’Leary won the Cheltenham Motor Club-organised 2013 Get It Sideways Stages Rally yesterday, Saturday 13 April, in their Darrian T90 from Andy Corner/Ade Camp, whose very rapid Peugeot 205 finished just 1 minute 24 seconds in arrears. Third fastest over the ten stages was Tristian Bailey and James in their four-wheel-drive Mitsubishi WRC 04, but as the rally is for two wheel drive only, they were competing, just for fun.

Only two Ford Escorts figured in the top ten and the pair of Triumph TR4s both finished, albeit behind the Austin Healey 3000 of Graham Goodall/Peter Gilbert. Fifty-four cars started and 38 finished what proved a difficult day at Down Ampney, mostly because of the ever-worsening weather.


The format consisted, as usual, of ten stages, all slightly varied but all running the length of the perimeter track, and reversed in the afternoon. Service was freely available and an hour was allowed for lunch. The damp, almost impossible conditions that existed during the early morning caused real anxiety, but after lunch the heavy rain finally washed away the greasy top layer of the concrete allowing drivers to enjoy the long straights, knowing they could stop.

It was then, no surprise, that the Darrian, a purpose built rally car reminiscent of the Lancia Stratos, put in such a strong performance. However, our ‘driver of the day’ award must go to Andy Corner, whose times were faster than the winner on the final three stages and at no time looked under pressure in his bid to beat O’Leary.















Many cars suffered panel damage, in particular Mike Hall who was lucky not to roll his Escort when he fish-tailed into the scenery, and Nigel Jenkins, his Nova surviving a series of mis-fortunes but still making 7th place overall. Meanwhile, the TR4 of Michael Hunter pressed on without windscreen wipers and as a result side-swiped a straw bale. Unrepentant he continued to finish 35th, while the other Darrian, driven by Graham Davies, crossed the line in 4th place, the rear held together by no more than Sellotape and super-glue.

The only Mini, the 1293 GT of Stuart Hart/Paul Griffiths, hit just about every obstacle around the course, and although over-heating badly in the latter stages made it to the finish in 38th place although picking up a maximum on SS10. And the well-driven Ford Puma of Darren Stanley and Wayne Smith, always on the limit, deserved better than 31st overall. Meanwhile, long time friends of Team Retro-Speed, Graham Goodall and Peter Gilbert stayed out of trouble in their well-campaigned Austin Healey 3000, as did Nigel Allcock and his ‘first time’ navigator Rick Nixon, in the Triumph TR4.

It is not often the top ten includes such a variation; Darrian (two), a Peugeot 205, Mitsubishi WRC, BMW 325, Vauxhall Nova, Vauxhall Astra and only two Ford Escorts, but that’s what makes rallying at this level so enjoyable.

Well done Cheltenham Motor Club for organising such a ‘slick’ event, no wonder it’s called Get It Sideways, there seemed little choice.

Full results at cheltmc.com.