Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 10 July 2008

THE TWENTIETH running of the Cumbria Classic Caper proved to be a huge success with several of the leading crews describing it as the best rally they have ever taken part in.

The Caper, ably run by Wigton Motor Club and sponsored by Lake District Hotels, was won by Archie and Richard Simmonds in an MG Midget after a day-long battle with Stuart and Linda Cariss in their Escort RS2000.

The Caper took in no less than 22 special tests on private roads in the Penrith area and was run in two loops, each based at the Penrith Truckstop which provided excellent facilities for the event as well as three test venues.

Most of the tests were in private roads, parklands and in the local forests which provided an entertaining mix of surfaces and roads.

Despite the sometimes blustery weather the event ran in good conditions with some of the tests being quite slippery which just added to the fun.

The club had attracted plenty of marshals due to the work of chief marshal Dave Agnew and they were rewarded with clipboard and pens and a two course dinner at the finish.

The Index of Performance was won by Ross and Allison Butterworth in their class C Sunbeam Lotus.

The enthusiastically driven Alvis of Hamish and Andrew White won class F while Gary and Claire Riff won H1 in their Mini Cooper from the similar cars of Adrian Stewart/Tom Hynd and Ian Cowan and Bob Hargreaves.

Peter and Richard Humphreys won H2 in their Healey 3000 from the Cortina GT of Dave Marsden/Mike Garstang and the Healey of Keith Graham and Sue Hoffmann

Richard and Edwin Cook ran out winners of P1 after an eventful day in the Mini Cooper beating Brian Hodgson/Neil Rudd in their Imp and David Shaw/Les Sharkley in another Mini.

The larger post historics (P2) was won by the Escort of Andy Beaumont/Sam Wainwright from the Avenger of Kevin Clark/Allan Shaw and the BMW 2002 of Mike Smailes/Ali Proctor.

The Classic Canter for classic cars fell to the Escort of John Bertram/William Thompson from the similar cars of Ian Dixon/Andrew Fish and Mike Ibbotson/Richard Gilbert.

Ed Glaister competed in the GP supporting historic saloon car race at Silverstone on Sunday.

He really enjoyed the experienced although being passed on Hangar Straight by some the Falcons and Mustangs going some 50 mph faster was a bit un-nerving!

The race was run in very heavy rain but the whole experienced was one to be savoured as it is unlikely to be repeated.

This weekend sees more local drivers taking part in top level international events when Eddie Farrell and Robert Gate take Eddie’s E type Jaguar to the Le Mans Classic races this weekend when they will take part in one of four endurance two driver races.

Nearer home, West Cumbria MSC have the first running of their single venue stage rally in Greystoke Forest on Sunday and I am sure that we wish them luck with this venture.

Other local rally drivers will be heading for the Kames Rally Sprint on Sunday, including John Willis with his MG Metro.