Hunters Night Trial 21st/22nd October: Our Autumn scatter around Buckinghamshire took place on a pleasant Saturday evening with the spoils going to Andrew Stacey and Rob Brook.  Results and Explanations now available.  The event was organised by Pete, Malc and Kirstin Farmer and thanks go to all the competitors and marshals.

Chiltern 12-Car Rally Rally 22nd September: Our navigational visit to the Chilterns, organised by Rob Brook, was won by Chris Keys & Graham Tuer.  Full results now available.

Rally of Japan Sep 1st - 3rd: Sebastien Loeb has set a new WRC record by taking his 27th career victory in Japan.  After a determined fight back, Marcus Gronholm was second (5.6 secs) and Mikko Hirvonen third (2min 46.5 secs).  Loeb now leads Gronholm by 33 points in the WRC standings.

Rally of Finland Aug 18th-20th: Marcus Gronholm has won his sixth Finnish rally with a margin of 1min 5.7secs over championship rival Sebastien Loeb with Mika Hirvonen third (1min 36.6secs).

Foto JenIC Fun Run and BBQ Sunday, 13th August: Our annual treasure hunt was won by Keith Chamberlain (+ Tricia, Penny, Graham and Reagan) with Pete Farmer (+ Jen and Kirstin) second and Malc Farmer (+ Rose and Jo) third.  With the threat of rain present for most of the time, Andy Greenland brought the BBQ and Christine Poxon organised the cooking team.  With the finish as usual at White Mark Farm, it was good to see John Williams joining us.  Thanks to Rob Brook for the days happenings.  Results now available.

London Irish Motor Club: We have received notification of a new motor club!  Formed in March, the club aim to be organising single venue rallies and sprints by late 2006/early 2007. London Irish Motor club are willing to provide marshals for forthcoming events organised by neighbouring clubs. The Chief Marshall for the LIMC is Gerard Moroney and he can be contacted on 0778-5257215. The official launch night is planned for Saturday the 15th of July at The Bell House Hotel, Oxford Rd, Beaconsfield Bucks.

Rally of Greece June 2nd-4th. Marcus Gronholm has won the event with a commanding 2min 26.8sec margin over Sebastien Loeb.  Mikko Hirvonen was third 3mins 43.8secs behind Gronholm.  Against the season's run of play, this time round it was Marcus 's rivals who had the problems. 

Rally of Italy May 18th-21st.  Sebastien Loeb has taken his 25th career victory with a 2m 41.4s advantage over Mikko Hirvonen.  Daniel Sordo was third 3m 27.7s behind Loeb.

Uxbridge Autoshow Autotest Saturday 15th July - Regrettably, the Saturday Autotest has now been cancelled.  It seems that the organisers of the Autoshow only rent the Uxbridge Showground on the Sunday and Saturday access is only permitted for setting up purposes.  Our apologies for the on/off/on/off confusion but both MCAC and the organisers hope to see the Autotest back in 2007 (19.05.06)

Women In The Hotseat Rally Challenge 2006: Hotseat Motorsport's 2006 challenge is up and running!  Rather than try and give you all the info here it will be easier to visit their website or contact Kate Heath via email or by phoning 01522 722018. (10.05.06)

The Middlesex Magazine: After being officially appointed as the Club's new magazine editor, Pete Farmer was mildly amused to be told that the next issue goes to print this week (stop laughing Chris!).  So, from blank sheet of paper to print in less than a week (well, almost)!  He desperately needs articles and his deadline has passed but he will still try and fit any articles in.  Your help would be really appreciated even if it's just a letter of commiserations!  Send to Pete on petef@mcac.co.uk (PS. Thanks to those who have already contributed)(15.05.06)

Rally of France April 7th - 9th. Sebastien Loeb has taken victory with a 29 second margin over Marcus Gronholm with Daniel Sordo third. 

Rally of Catalunya March 24th - 26th. Sebastien Loeb has cruised to his 22nd WRC victory with a 48.2 second margin over team mate Dani Sordo and Marcus Gronholm in third place after earlier turbo problems had derailed his lead.  The event was overshadowed by the death of German co-driver Joerg Bastuck who was struck by a another car whilst changing a wheel. 

Lookout Stages Rally 2006  Congratulations go to Rob & John Brook who came 25th overall and secured their first class win on this years Lookout Stages Rally.  Full results on the event website. (12.03.06)

Shell Donegal International Rally Ireland 2006.  The organisers have reported a big increase in enquiries for regulations for the Rally, which takes place on June 16th - 18th.  Read the Press Release for full details.

The MCAC website was offline over the weekend due to our web hosting company being the victim of a serious hacking attack (06.03.06).

Rally of Mexico March 3rd - 5th. Sebastien Loeb has won the event by 48.9secs from Petter Solberg with Manfred Stohl third.  Marcus Gronholm, having crashed out on day one, recovered to finish eighth. 

Plymouth - Banjul Challenge 2006  Congratulations go to Clare and David Samuel, driving  the 'General-lee Rusty', who reached the finish in Banjul on Wednesday after a journey of over 3,500 miles.  The car, a 1990 Ford Escort diesel prepared by Pete Cook, will now be auctioned with the proceeds going to charity.  See the Group 4 'Field Reports' on the event website for details of their journey.  (01.03.06).

Changing the subject. Former world rally champion Carlos Sainz could be the latest 'galactico' to sign for the Spanish football giants, Real Madrid.  Sainz has said before that he was interested in the job, but the shock resignation of Florentino Perez has led to speculation that he may bring forward plans to take charge at the club. Club director Fernando Martin has taken over from Perez as Real Madrid president and is expected to continue in charge until elections are held in 2008. However, the Spanish media have reported that board members may pressure him into holding an early poll at the end of this season (Reuters 01.03.06).

Valentine Scatter 18th/19th February.  Our Night Navigational Scatter in Buckinghamshire, organised by Andy Greenland, was won by Peter and Simon Cox.  Nat West's Ian Young and Vaughn Chadwick came second and Andrew Stacey/Rob Brook were third. Route Card and full Results now available.

SUCCESSFUL START FOR NEW RALLY FORMULA: Competitors, rally organisers and preparation companies are all backing RallyStar, the new formula designed to attract talented new drivers to British special stage rallying. Nearly 30 aspiring competitors have already pre-registered online at www.RallyStar.info, using cars as varied as Ford Fiesta, Skoda Fabia and Peugeot 106. Launched last month, RallyStar aims to drastically lower the three major costs of competing -- cars, events and tyres -- by running events open only to 1400cc cars, with very limited tuning and all using control tyres which do so little damage to gravel roads that the cost of those roads is greatly reduced. A budget created by a major firm of rally car builders indicates that even a professionally-prepared car will cost less than £10,000. A home-built RallyStar car, based on a typical 1400cc hatchback bought at auction for £1,000, should be ready to win for under £5,000. Several motor clubs from all over Great Britain have expressed interest in running RallyStar events. Proposed budgets suggest that a typical RallyStar rally, even with only 50 entries, will cost less than half as much to enter as a conventional forest rally (under £240 for 45 miles of special stages on forest roads, instead of £500). Russell Brookes, ex-British Rally Champion and the man behind RallyStar, has now embarked on a campaign to recruit competitors from university motor clubs, which used to be a rich source of new blood in motor sport, but whose members now find motor sport too expensive. Brookes says: "We need to find the next generation of Colin McRaes. There is no shortage of youngsters who want to go rallying, but they simply cannot afford a sport where it costs half a million pounds to buy a winning car. RallyStar will provide a much-needed level playing field, where the fastest drivers, not the richest, win rallies." RallyStar has already been endorsed by the Motor Sports Association (the UK governing body), the Forestry Commission (offering forest roads at bargain prices), Pi Research (technical advice and support) and Colway Motorsport Tyres (long-life, puncture-resistant control tyres at under £40 each). Start-up funding will come from a company limited by guarantee. RallyStar has provisional commitments from the likes of David Richards (Prodrive and ISC Television), Malcolm Wilson (Ford WRC team) and John Andrews (best known as the man behind the Andrews Heat for Hire sponsorship of Russell Brookes for 17 years). The first RallyStar events will run later this year, with a national championship planned for 2007. To keep down costs, the entire project will be administered through its own website at www.RallyStar.info.

Rallies Committee to reconsider K37 proposals: At yesterday's meeting of the Motor Sports Council (Thursday 9 February), representatives of the MSA Rallies Committee presented their initial findings, following a period of consultation into the proposed revision of rule K37 - the technical regulations for special stage rally cars.

The original proposal had been submitted in an attempt to bring UK regulations closer in line with internationally accepted regulations established by the FIA.

The Committee reported that the extensive and welcomed feedback from the rallying community had confirmed that there is a need for a thorough review of these regulations. However, the original proposals as set out for consultation have not been endorsed by the subsequent feedback and will be reconsidered.

The members of the Motor Sports Council endorsed the principle of moving the sport towards standard production touring cars and low volume specialist production cars.

However, it was agreed that any regulation changes concerning new cars will not be brought into effect any earlier than 2008, while all existing vehicles will remain eligible to compete until at least 1 January 2010.

"We have rigorous and established regulatory procedures," explained Graham Stoker, Chairman of the Motor Sports Council. "The consultation process is the ultimate safeguard that ensures that no regulations make it into the Blue Book without very careful analysis. On this occasion, the Committee went in one direction and the sport itself - those very people that the Committee represents - made its feelings known. That is right and proper and a good example of the process in action."

We have established that these regulations do need attention," confirmed John Richardson, Chairman of the Rallies Committee, "and we remain committed to moving the sport towards production vehicles, but over a longer timeframe than was at first envisaged.

We must acknowledge that a number of issues have been raised and on behalf of the Rallies Committee, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the debate, but we would also like to apologise for any confusion that may have been caused. We will report back to Council with our proposals in June, after which it will again go out to consultation." Release MSA06-021: 10 February 2006

Oakington Stages 2006 Sunday February 5th:  John Reddington and Bernard Glackin in their Ford Escort Mk II have taken victory, on the final stage of the event, by a second over and Richard Edwards and Paul Brown in their Ford Escort RS.  Highlights of the day were the thick fog on stages 1 and 2 together with the ensuring battle between the two Escorts.  Click for Award Winners with full results, stage times and photos from Digital Motorsport now available on the event webpage. Pictured: .John Reddington and Bernard Glackin on their way to victory at Oakington.

Swedish Rally Feb 3-5. Marcus Gronholm has won the event by 30.9 seconds over Sebastien Loeb with Daniel Carlsson third. 

Hants & Berks MC 49th PAIRS ‘POINT TO POINT’ 29th January 2006.  Andy Greenland and Pete Farmer organised three MCAC crews to take part in this event where teams of two cars work together to locate answers and marshals.  2nd overall (plus best MCAC) were the team comprising Rob Brook/John Brook and Mike Cawthra/Lara Cawthra (plus Annalisa).  Full results etc from Event page including a report from Pete Farmer and Paul Brown on their cross country 'shortcut'!! 

The Club's Annual Dinner-Dance and Presentation of Awards took place on Saturday 28th January 2006 at Stockley Park Golf Club.  For the record, the Best Newcomer award went to Paul Brown, the Bengt Armco Award to Pete Cook and the President's Award to Tom Ryan who has been at the forefront of all of the Club's activities for many years and was Club Chairman for 13 years until his retirement in 2005 - a most appropriate recipient.  Other award winners are available in PDF format. Congratulations go to these and all other award winners .Photos and other bits will be available soon.  Thanks go to Peter Nathan who organised the evening.

Monte Carlo Rally Jan 20-22:  Marcus Gronholm has won this years event but drive of the rally must go to Sebastien Loeb who has recovered from his earlier problems to take second place, on the final stage, from Toni Gardemeister.

Dakar Rally 31st December to 15th January.  With the final stage not being timed in memory of the two children that died in Guinea and Senegal, the final times remained as at the end of Saturday's stage 14.  Luc Alphand was crowned winner for the first time with Giniel de Villiers second.  Full results and other information can be found on the official website.

MSA Rally Marshals Training 2006: For more information on this scheme please visit the MSA website.  Details pertaining to the sessions available at each Training Day can be found at http://www.brmc.org.uk/training_events_2006.htm. Currently the nearest Training Days to MCAC are :-

1, at North Kent College (Dartford) on Saturday 18th March (http://www.brmc.org.uk/brooklands_2006.htm)

2, at Oxford & Cherwell College (Bicester) on Sunday 19th (http://www.brmc.org.uk/bicester_2006.htm)

3, at Lackham College (Chippenham) on Saturday 20th August (http://www.brmc.org.uk/chippenham_2006.htm)(all pages having links so that people can download the Training Application Form in MS WORD format for completion and return). As always this training is provided free of charge by MSA Marshals Instructors, the only costs to attendees being their fuel, plus either the college refectory or local café prices for breakfast and lunch, if people don't take their your own sandwiches, etc. As you will no doubt be aware for any marshal wishing to volunteer for the Rally Wales GB in December there is an MSA/Event requirement that they are listed on the National Marshals Register, which the Introduction To Rally Marshaling course can provide the necessary training to support their application. Similarly for existing MSA registered marshals there is an ongoing requirement for them to attend a Marshals Training Day, particularly if they wish to upgrade. Again the other courses provide the necessary training. If you have any queries regarding this MSA Training the please don't hesitate to contact either Allan Dean-Lewis at the MSA, ACSMC Regional Association Training Officer, Mike Farnworth or British Rally Marshals Club National Training Officer (2006) Derek Machin who supplied this information.  Derek can be contacted on phone/fax - 01625 869720 or email training@brmc.org.uk