Local motorsport heroes aim for more success

Howard Lake | 27 July 2006 | Newswire

Issued on behalf of and with the approval of Patterson Ford
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CONTACT: JEZ DAVISON on 01325 363436

Photo caption: “Ken Forster and John Stanger-Leathes in action”
Local motorsport heroes aim for more success
17/7/06
Following on from their success in winning their class in the Welsh International Rally and now leading their class in the 2006 British Historic Rally Championship (BHRC), two of the North East’s top drivers are aiming for victory in the Roger Albert Clark Rally.
Ken Forster and team mate, John Stanger-Leathes are set to compete in the Roger Albert Clark Rally in November, driving a classic 1972, Post Historic” Ford Escort Mexico Mk1. Patterson Ford, the Newcastle-based motor retailer, is providing the team with the fuel required to run the vehicle and its accompanying tow van.
The rally, which is named after the late Roger Clark, one of Britain’s greatest rally drivers and the first Briton to win the RAC Rally in the early 70’s, is fast becoming one of the highlights of the British rallying calendar. The event has been specifically organised to replicate the RAC rally of days gone by and it is quite coincidental that Roger Clark’s initials are the same.
To add to the nostalgia, in 2006 the three-day event returns to the traditional start venue of Harrogate in North Yorkshire on November 18 and will comprise special stages in North Yorkshire, Croft circuit, south-west Scotland and the notorious Kielder Forest.
Ken remembers the 1972 and 1973 RAC rallies very well since he took part in both of them as co-driver, shortly after he retired from driving owing to a lack of funds. The RAC rally was always the ultimate event in this country” he says, the old RAC was a test of endurance and reliability and had a fantastic spirit about it amongst the competitors, fans and marshals alike. This rally will emulate those qualities and it is a dream come true for me to be in a position to actually drive an Mk1 Ford Escort in the event.”
Ken acquired the Escort Mexico in 1998 and, after a few road rallies with his daughter Sally (when they won the Historic Class of the North East Road Rally Championship), has since teamed up with John Stanger-Leathes. John has been instrumental in providing sponsorship support to the team during the last six years, during which he and Ken have completed more than 50 special-stage rallies together in the same vehicle.
Constant development of the car and determination to succeed culminated with them winning their 1600cc class and the Post-Historic Trophy in last year’s British Historic Rally Championship. They also finished a creditable third overall in the post-historic championship.
Ashley Winter, managing director of Patterson Ford, said: Ken and John are a skilled team and have enjoyed great success in this sport. We are proud to back two local heroes who have successfully completed a half-century of high-profile rallies together in this brilliantly robust vehicle.”
Ken added: Without the continued support of our sponsors it would not be possible for John and I to be enjoying such success. We are looking forward to flying the flag for the north east in the Roger Albert Clark Rally and remembering the great man himself by tackling the very stages that Roger drove so well all those years ago.”
ENDS

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.