Massive victory for Andrew Pullan in Ilkley rally

John and Andrew, in a 1972 Ford Escort Mexico, comfortably won the national event by over half a minute when, on this type of event, seconds usually decide the results.

Organiser Henry Carr had devised a route of 150 miles in North Yorkshire, starting and finishing at the Millstones Harrogate, and including ten special tests on private land.

Competitors had come from as far afield as the Isle of Man, Wales and Cornwall, and vehicles ranged from Porsche 911s and MGBs to the oldest vehicle – a 1956 Austin A35.

Andrew’s father Nick, with navigator Ian Canavan from Bainbridge in the lowest-powered car – an 875cc Imp – finished an excellent tenth overall and second on regularities, the power, or lack of it, making the difference.

Darell Staniforth (Harrogate) and Les McGuffog (Bradford) finished 13th overall and second in class, and Ron Kendall (Bradford) and Nick Cooper (Otley) were 15th overall.

Pete Birtles, from Leeds, and Bradford’s Pete Johnson won the run section in a Volvo Amazon, with event sponsor Simon Green, from KT Green's Bramhope, fourth overall with Andrew Thorpe in an MG A.

The first club autotest of the year, organised by Nick and Hazel Pullan, was held recently at Skipton.

Quickest on the night was David Mosey in his Proton, while Pullan won Class One in a Suzuki Alto from Cooper in a Corsa. Henry Kitching, also in a Corsa, won the over-45 award.

Graham Hepworth, in an MR2, and Stuart Cariss, in an Escort, were first in their respective classes.

The previous Sunday, Yeadon’s Neil Raven and his navigator Ann Forster in a Subaru Impreza finished a fantastic third overall on the Lookout Stages Rally, organised by Trackrod Motor Club at Melbourne, near York.

This was far and away the best result of their career so far and sets them up nicely for the Jim Clark Rally next month.

Jim Slater and Graham Hepworth finished 20th and fourth in class, with Terry Pressdee and Mark Broadbent 28th and seventh in class.