International Rally Championship - the 1970s!

[Airframes]

I've found and scanned a few old 35mm slides from Rallies in 1976. These were taken with an old Praktika SLR before I got the Olympus outfit and, like those posted in the Aircraft Pictures threads, the scanner is focusing on the glass mounts, so not as sharp as they should be.
The first batches are from the 1976 'Mintex Rally', forerunner of what became the 'Network Q', and are shot on various stages in North Yorkshire, UK, during a misty three days in February of that year.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Very cool but it looks like you were a little to close to the action for my taste. Great shots to!

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Aaron. I was a Stage Marshall, and on some stages, Starter or Timekeeper. Funny you should mention being close to the action - these next few will show just how close!
PIC 1. This is the DTV Magnum of Jimmy McCrae, father of the late Rally Champion, Jimmy McCrae, at the start of the stage at Rufforth airfield.
PICS 2 and 3. And this is it the following gay, in Dalby Forest! The car actually landed and perched in the tree to its left, and the crew had to climb down. Soon after, the vehicle fell out of the tree. It came off the track about twenty feet from where I was standing.
PICS 4 to 6. Blow me if the late, great Roger Clark didn't come off in virtually the same place, after losing a right rear wheel and drive shaft! The 'Cossack' Ford Escort RS broke it's back, and Roger and co-driver were lucky to escape without injury. That's Roger in the red jacket, walking off the stage.
EDIT:- Oops! Just realised, the first Vauxhall was the private-entry DTV Firenza, and not Jimmy's car, as first stated! Sorry!

 

[Njaco]

Great pics Terry! Brings back memories here.

As you know my dad owned a hobby store and painted on the side (by him) was a large Ferrari. The local Road Rally club used to use his store with the painting as a check point for ther racers and one rally they had to get the signature of my father on their sheet to prove they were here! loved watching those cars.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

That's just to cool Terry, to cool.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Chris and Aaron. Here's the last few of the 'Mintex' rally, and you can see how misty and damp it was.
Thanks for your interest and the next lot, soon, will be from the 1975 'Lombard RAC Rally', what used to be a five day event back then, and a real 'biggy' in the International Rally calendar.
.

 

[rochie]

oh man Dogsbody just love that RS2000 one of my fave cars ever, thanks to the Professionals !!!!

 

[Airframes]

Cheers mate!

 

[Gnomey]

Good stuff Terry!

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Hugh.

 

[T Bolt]

Great pics Terry! I hope you had a big rock nearby to duck behind!

 

[Geedee]

That is a great set of shots !. And I have to say that the scanner has added a sort of 'period' feel to the shots.... very atmospheric.

I still have my old Practika...its an MTL 5...with all the lenses from the close up bellows to the 600 telephoto and rifle mount to hold it all together. I wore out my first MTL5 on airshow pics from the good old days of 'The fighter Meet' and 'The Great Warbirds Air Display'.

Right sir...lets have some piccie please !!!

 

[Airframes]

Thanks guys. More pics later tonight Gary.

 

[Airframes]

As promised, a few more. These are from the November 1975 'Lombard RAC Rally', and the night shots aren't brilliant. It was pitch black in the forest, and the only way to focus and frame the shot was on the cars' spot lamps as they approached, and hope that the focus and framing was still 'on' as the flash went off! Notice these are 'side on', with weak flash, so as not to blind the drivers.
Locations are Ingleby Forest, North Yorkshire, and Croft Autodrome, a former RAF Bomber Command airfield in WW2.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Again Terry, great shots. It is neat to be able to see the vintage race from your perspective at track side. And I agree with Gary about the effect. AND speaking of Gary, YOU SIR HAVE BEEN HOLDING OUT!!!!!!! Let us see these most bodatious fighter meet shots Gary!!!!!!!!!!!!! Post haste sir! If you please.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Aaron. I'll post some more when I've sorted them.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

See if you can scare Gary into posting some of his to.

 

[Njaco]

Now thats what I'm talking about!! A Mini Cooper in the dirt!!!

And Gary has fleas again.

 

[Wayne Little]

Cool shots Terry!

 

[T Bolt]

......And Gary has fleas again.

Maybe we should all chip in and buy him a flea collar.