by Malcolm BaylisThere was a runaway victory for the all-wheel drive Escort Cosworth at Saturday's Simpson Auto Salvage eight-stage one-venue rally organised by York Motor Club at Elvington airfield.

When the day started off wet it was thought that nothing would separate the Cosworth and another all-powerful four-wheel drive, the Mitsubishi Lancer, but as the weather improved and the course dried so the two-wheel engined cars nosed into the finishing frame.

And it was the skills of Craig Dykes (Hemingbrough) with co-driver Steve Hugill in the 2400cc Escort that eventually managed to separate the wet-weather leaders over the 60-mile event, which is also a qualifying round in Ridings Trophy.

However, such was the early pace set by the winners, Lancashire's Lyndon Barton and Linda Whitmore, that they finished nearly three-minutes ahead, a substantial lead when winning margins are generally counted within 30-seconds.

The Lancer Evo4 pairing of Richard Wood and Paul Stringer, from outside the region, finished third.

Steve Adamson and Pete Williams in the Vauxhall Chevette finished in fifth place overall, to take the highest spot for York Motor Club members. Andrew Apperley (Trackrod) partnered by York's Jonathan Belbin finished ninth overall.

It was a sad day for York pairing Craig McIntosh and Martin Welch. They had finished work on their 1997cc Escort only hours before the event, but then had to abandon the race in its early stages because of uncontrollable bouts of sickness.

Another York pairing, Phil Acomb and Carl Brown, driving a 1600cc Vauxhall Nova, were leading their class when, one stage from home, the front brakes jammed costing them two minutes. They, nonetheless, ended third in class and 28th overall.

York driver Steve Sanderson, with Selby co-driver Stephen Mcnulty, retired with an engine fault in the 2100cc Escort, while Matt Doncaster and Mark Ellerker, both York, and driving a 998cc Singer Imp coupe finished 36th overall, but only after a spot of bother tackling one of the chicanes.

Things did not work out for York night-club manager Steve Rogers. With co-driver Mick Quinn (York), he was out on his first rally in his Opel Manta, fitted with a 3.5-litre Rover 8 engine. Sadly, he was forced to retire when the engine blew.

Chris Mayers (York) and Al "Yoda" Wilks (Malton) in a Mazda 323 managed 17th overall, a commendable result considering that Chris was against the clock on tarmac for the first time.

Of the 52 entries there were eventually 13 retirements.

Meanwhile, Selby driver Charlie Lamb with co-driver Steve Lancaster drove to victory in the Robin Hood Forest stages rally yesterday seven seconds ahead of Northallerton pairing Kevin Proctor and Kari Bates.

Lamb, in his Escort Cosworth, led the 74 car field most of the way over the 42 miles of forest tracks finishing with a time penalty of 43.07 seconds.

Proctor driving a Ford Sierra clocked 43.14 seconds.

Another North Yorkshire pairing, Phil Hall and Nigel Hutchinson (Helperby), in an Escort Mk1, finished 21st.

Stuart Carris, of York Motor club, due to take part yesterday in the Autotest at Bingley in the first round of the Lark-Speed league, had to withdraw after his Mk1 Escort developed clutch problems.

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