South Downs Stages 2020
Phil Collings Memorial South Downs Stages 2020
Goodwood Circuit
Report by David Harbey
8 February 2020
It’s about time that PistonClick acknowledged the Ford Escort. From humble beginnings as a new family saloon to replace the Anglia in the late sixties, the Escort has held a central place in British (and Irish) rallying ever since. In both Mark 1 and Mark 2 form, with engines ranging from 1600cc to 2000cc and, more latterly, 2500cc, the Escort has won rallies year after year often against much newer opposition.
I’ve set myself the challenge of completing this event report using only photos of Escorts.
For the 2020 Phil Collings Memorial South Downs Stages held at Goodwood race circuit, Escorts made up over 30% of the 53 entries. PistonClick reported on this event in 2019 (South Downs Stages) when rain during the morning played into the hands of four wheel driven Mitsubishi crew Weaver and Pink.
This year turned into a battle between Escorts of King / Miles (#1) and the Hucklebridges (#3) until the latter retired after Stage 6.
Another early start in the dark was in order to get from Milton Keynes to Goodwood. The M25 behaved itself aside from occasional Lane 3 hoggers oblivious to the lack of traffic to their left (sorry, pet hate) but there was no sunrise to enjoy. It was damp from overnight rain but reasonably mild.
This event early in the year has the advantage that there are none of the usual grandstands for the Members Meeting and Revival and is pretty much access all areas. Having consulted the stage maps at the excellent website www.southdownsstages.co.uk I headed to the inside of the chicane for stage 1.
The usual chicane exit puddle was perfectly placed for reflections, but with the cars entering the chicane from one of the perimeter roads, it meant that it was off the ideal line. However, Mewett and Jordan had other ideas and created a lovely shot. Others just teased us by getting close, but not that close.
The wet track also encouraged some traditional tail out antics among the drivers – intentional or otherwise ! Paul King and Alicia Miles, two times previous winners, held a narrow 2 second lead at the end of stage 1.
In 2019 I had only got as far round as Fordwater (see the Goodwood PistonClick circuit guide) but this year I was determined to get to my favourite corners – No Name and St Mary’s.
For stage 2, I walked round the outside of the track to Madgwick, which for the first four stages was running without a cone and pallet chicane. There’s a shot back to the start which shouts Goodwood and a panning shot in the corner.
With the double apex to Madgwick, there are several shots looking back to the corner. By now I had swapped from the 70-200mm zoom to my 200-500mm zoom.
For the Revival the bank would be packed with spectators, but it was rather quieter. The event is free to attend and over the day there were a reasonable number of people there, either toting cameras of various specifications, or just curious locals.
The head on shot also allows for the driver and co-driver to be seen. Typically, in rallying, there are a fair number of open face helmets allowing us to see how much they are, or are not enjoying their sport. My research seems to suggest that it is a serious business, all in all.
With the Escort having the classic front engine, rear wheel drive configuration, there is also scope for those “daps of oppo” as beloved by motoring journalists.
Halfway between Madgwick and Fordwater was one of the artificial chicanes – at this stage, the drivers were well behaved and didn’t try to cut it so fine that they took the chicane out (the good behaviour wouldn’t last).
Swinging the camera the other way gave a view of the cars heading out of Fordwater towards St Mary’s.
Walking on past Fordwater, I grabbed a shot back to where Neil McMahon’s unusual (for the UK) left hand drive, Swedish registered car is seen in typical Escort pose negotiating the chicane. David Segal’s very nice looking red Mk 2 is seen exiting No Name corner.
For stage 3, I had reached St Mary’s. This is where the TT and St Mary’s Trophy racers go all BTCC and bounce over the kerbs. Perhaps it was the new chicane erected just before the corner, or the fact that the car had to finish the day’s rallying that meant that rather more discretion was exercised, although one or two ran close !
There were one or two slight daps of opposite lock. On the basis that you drive through your backside (you know what I mean), I am sure that was more evident in the car than to the casual spectator.
By now it was late morning with stages 4 and 5 to go before lunch. The sun was out, the sky was increasingly blue and a distinctly dry line was appearing. The Hucklebridges had taken the lead on stage 2 and opened up a gap of a handful of seconds over King and Miles, seen here braking for the chicane added just before St Mary’s.
The run from Fordwater to St Mary’s is a great spot for some slower shutter speed panning. We are back to the 70-200mm zoom; these are all 1/160th second. With no aircraft parked up, the background doesn’t distract.
Chatting to the marshal between stages 4 and 5 – and at this point we should say a heartfelt “Thanks, Marshal” to all who allow us to enjoy our sport – he noted that the cone and pallet chicane had been largely left alone. Mmm, famous last words !
Time for lunch at the Control Tower Café and time to drop off the “big” zoom which I would not need for the rest of the day. Having run normal circuit direction for the morning, the lunch break was used to reverse the direction for the afternoon stages.
For the rally, it is possible to access the terrace on the inside of the track towards Madgwick. With the sun over your right shoulder it’s not ideal lighting, but at least there are some early blooming daffodils ready for the Members Meeting in March.
For Stage 7, I returned to the Chicane, which was being run the “wrong” way. The sun was low in the sky behind the main pit buildings, but there was a hint of “golden hour” and an increasing chill in the air. Looking back towards the Control Tower, there’s a long shot of leaders, King and Miles, following the demise of the Hucklebridges.
Mewett and Jordan were looking good for first in Class in their red 2 litre Escort.
There was no lack of commitment as competitors dived into the chicane before heading out towards Woodcote nicely backlit.
There is a good view across to the Super Shell building and Woodcote with a view of the hills in the background just along from Goodwood racecourse.
However, as in many sports, it’s sometimes a fine line between success and failure. Oliver De Garston and Rob Crook had been looking reasonably quick all day, but this time seemed to be heading to the Chicane with a little too much enthusiasm. Fortunately, both were able to jump out with only car and, perhaps, pride, damaged.
The light was warming up as the final cars were running through the stage.
By the time Stage 8 started, it was after sunset and it was time to rely on the capabilities of the modern camera. These three photos are at ISO 1250 – the first from the top of the pit building - of eventual winners King and Miles.
For this event, it was possible to stand at ground level near the exit of the pit lane from where the remaining photos were taken.
With ISO increased to 2000 and the Control Tower Café windows in the background, there’s been quite a bit of editing on this next set of photos. Look closely and you can see the grain, but given that it was virtually dark I can live with that. I’m really glad I explored this area and discovered the lights as a back drop.
The final set of photos emphasise the light pods and lighted windows behind. The first two are ISO 2500 whilst the final one is ISO 5000, all with a fair bit of editing. I really like the way the profile of the first car is picked out with the fine line of light. In the second photo, the co-driver’s light gives just a hint of illumination in the car.
So that’s my homage to the humble Escort – the rally car that keeps on winning over 50 years after its launch. Of course, there were other cars running – I’ll be adding galleries to my Flickr account over coming days – so, if an ex-Harri Toivonen Unipart Metro 6R4, a TR7 V8, a Ferrari 308, a brace of M3s or a Castrol liveried Toyota are your thing – they will be available soon !
Oh, and joint second overall was the Anthony and Christopher Newton’s orange Nova we featured in our Brands Hatch report – going unfeasibly quickly and setting fastest time on Stage 9. I missed that – grabbing a quick bite to eat before the drive home.
Full results can be found at www.southdownsstages.co.uk
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