Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Riviera Guy]

This event was held on the 19th and 20th October and celebrated the classic Lombard RAC Rally from the 70’s and 80’s – Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship.

After traditionally being based in Yorkshire for a number of years, organisers wanted to base it in different locations around the UK. For 1976, Bath was chosen as the rally HQ, and it returned to Bath on three other occasions after that.

This event took the form of a “tour” – there were no competitive stages – but a glorious opportunity for rally fans to see some iconic cars spanning a number of years, and a few of the great drivers including Stig Blomqvist – Group B Audi Quattro; David Llewellin – Group A Audi 200 Quattro; Jimmy MacRae – Manta 400; Louise Aitken-Walker – Lotus Sunbeam.

In total, 120 cars entered – not surprisingly, there were a number of Ford Escort’s in various guises, and Mini’s. There were also some more unusual cars on display including 2 glorious Lancia Stratos, TR7 V8’s, 2 Ferrari 250 SWB replica’s, ex-works Group N Lancia Delta Integrale, Vauxhall Chevette HSR.

The route took the cars across the West Country and included some classic stages used in the 70’s including Longleat, Wiscombe Park, Porlock, and Cheddar Gorge.

For a selection of my pics from Wiscombe Park, please visit my Flickr album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/riviera_guy/albums/72157702918558505

[consul 57]

i saw the tarnock, (a38 in somerset) time control, just before cheddar,
some nice cars passed by.

[ukdave2002]

I remember as a schoolboy watching the end of the 1979 Lombard RAC rally in Chester. Immediately after the rally finished, the cars all congregated in the local Ford dealerships "Quicks of Chester" service department, now Quicks of Chester's service department was on the 1st floor , there was in "in" ramp and an "out" ramp, there were some burly security guards manning the "in" ramp, but no one on the "out" ramp, so me and my mate wandered up the out ramp unchallenged, we got to Hannu Mikkola's Escort, daring to poke our heads in, when a voice asked us who we were, it was Mr Mikkola....we ended up explaining how we got it, he laughed and got us a couple of official passes, he also peeled a couple of stickers off the inside of the windows for us

2 years later I remember watching the Audi Quattro's thunder in to Chester for the start, didn't get close at the finish that year.

Dave

[MikeEdwards]

A mate's Dad took us to Chester to see the start of the Lombard RAC rally, which I think was my first experience of it. Later than that a few of us used to hire cars and follow it around the country, sleeping in the car and trying to find ways into forest stages without passing the man taking money. It was good, but it got to a point where the actual stage was a bit of an anti-climax, and we all moved on to other things.

Spotted this on the way in to Chester, always wondered if the Fiesta driver was thinking of having a go.

2010-12-07_4 by Mike Edwards, on Flickr

[Peter_L]

For several years in the late 1970's and into the 80's I would take days vacation to follow the Lombard. Planning started as soon as the route was published, it was possible to leap frog stages and see the cars through. In little villages, the corner stores and petrol stations would be open in the middle of the night. Laybys full of support vehicles, press, and spectator cars, munching away on fries and whatever else the hotdog van had on offer.

It was fun, stories exchanged, routes compared and very free and easy. Deep in the dark forests there would be friendly banter between the unseen and if a car went off, scores of willing hands would appear from the darkness and then vanish again. There was something about the damp musty smell of pine trees in November, the thunderous crashing of sump guards on unforgiving gravel, exhausts banging and popping engines at high revs, the flicker of light as the cars came closer and the hi pitch whistle from the marshals. Cameras would flash and the crew would be identified by a simple cry of, That's Colin, or that's Russell and of course all the guys favourite Michele Mouton.

Then Mr Elf and his partner Safetie joined the party and it was never the same. I did go to a few of the expensive, "Mickey Mouse", stand half a mile away stages, but not many. It was a chapter, and happy to have done it.

[Penman]

Hi

[Peter_L]

I know. But then it is much the same for cycle races in some countries.