The Elgin Marvels

What a weekend for WMC!

This is a copy of a press release issued by the club after the Hills Ford Rally weekend of September 19th and 20th.

We sent it to local press and media, thinking that a local connection to such a well received event would be of interest to the Shropshire Star, Whitchurch Herald, even BBC Shropshire.

So far only Radio Shropshire have come back to us, and we are talking to them about it Wednesday 30th september.

——————

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

SHROPSHIRE MOTORISTS REJECT ‘CONTROVERSY’ LABEL AS COUNTY RALLY PROVES A RESOUNDING SUCCESS 

SHROPSHIRE, UK

Members of  Whitchurch Motor Club have robustly rejected pre-event labels of “controversy” surrounding this weekend’s Hills Ford Stages Rally, hailing the spectacular return of a major event to the county as a triumph of community harmony and a brilliant showcase for organised motorsport. 

Founded in the 1950s and affiliated with Motorsport UK, the North Shropshire-based club has deep roots across the county. While early headlines about the rally focused on political friction, club members—many of whom run businesses serving Shropshire’s rural areas—took part in the weekend’s event as both competitors and spectators, and witnessed a completely different reality on the ground: an overwhelmingly positive, vibrant atmosphere that proved rallying can happen successfully, safely, and seamlessly alongside rural communities. 

The weekend proved that stage rallying remains as incredibly popular a spectator sport as ever, drawing massive, enthusiastic crowds to Shrewsbury, Weston Park and South Shropshire. For the club, being involved in motorsport of this calibre on their home ground was an immensely proud and exciting milestone. Whitchurch Motor Club was joined on the entry list by a strong contingent of motor clubs across Shropshire and  bordering counties, including Wolverhampton & South Staffs, Welsh Border, Newtown & District, Ludlow Castle, Telford Auto Club, and Knighton Motor Club, all showcasing the strength of local enthusiasm for the sport. 

The club fielded seven crews in the competitive line-up, showcasing a true cross-section of club level sport with competitors ranging from their 20s to their 60s, and vehicles showcasing an immense range of eras and budgets. Demonstrating the grit required for closed-road rallying, four crews successfully crossed the finish line while three were unfortunately forced to retire. 

Leading the charge for the club was the pairing of Richy Williams & Chris Whittall, who powered their BMW E36 to a magnificent 14th overall and 2nd in class. 

The club’s other successful finishers included: 

• Pete Taylor & Megan Wyn Williams (Mazda MX5) – 52nd overall, 14th in class 
• Martin Williams & Andrew Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) – 58th overall, 17th in class 
• Richard Poole & Kevin Ikin (BMW M3) – 66th overall, 10th in class 

While the demanding Shropshire stages unfortunately forced the retirements of  Pete Morgan & David Price (Vauxhall Chevette) and Billy Grew & Marc Morgan (Vauxhall Nova) , the club was incredibly proud of Mark Kelly & Will Atkins. Powering their Skoda Fabia RS, the pair held the overall lead at the end of Saturday’s action at Weston Park, before being forced to retire early on Sunday.

Off the track, the club and its supporters joined with thousands of other spectators to help ensure the weekend delivered a tangible local economic and charitable boost. Club members spectating across the stages actively supported the rural economy, while the club also hosted a visiting service crew who stayed in local accommodation.  The event’s success directly mirrors the charitable values of the Whitchurch club, which regularly raises funds for the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund,  Blood Bikes, Midlands Air Ambulance, and others.

Lisa Machin, Spokesperson for Whitchurch Motor Club, said:

“The pre-event doom-mongering simply did not match the reality on the ground. What we saw on Sunday was pure excitement. The return of rallying to Shropshire proved that the appetite for this sport is as massive and passionate as ever, and it was thrilling to be a part of it. 

“As local residents and business owners, our neighbours are incredibly important to us. This weekend proved definitively that major motorsport events can run hand-in-hand with rural communities, bringing economic benefits to local businesses and vital funds to county charities with minimal, well-managed disruption. As a club that has championed clubman motorsport since the 1950s, we are incredibly proud of our seven crews and hope this fantastic event becomes a permanent fixture on the Shropshire calendar.” 

— ENDS —