The Cumberland Sporting Car Club, organisers of the Pirelli International Rally, have had a major shake-up to their organising team with the long-standing Chairman, Brian Kinghorn, standing down, along with the club’s Treasurer Chris Walker and committee members David Love and Brian Davidson while Jonathon Lord also departs after 20 years exemplary service. Together, they have given well over 150 years of loyal support to the club’s major event with Brian, in particular, a key element in the rallies long-standing relationship with Pirelli.
Paying tribute to the retiring committee members valuable input over many years, the committee’s longest-serving member, Ed Graham, said “This is a really sad day for the Cumberland Sporting Car Club as all those departing have become not only valued colleagues but also close friends and we will miss their expertise and vast experience greatly. We hope that we can still call upon them, in particular, Brian for advice and guidance as they have a wealth of knowledge concerning the running of the event which we will continue to rely on when necessary”.
The Cumberland Sporting Car Club are well underway with preparations for the 2020 event which has a projected date of April 25th and will see the rally based mainly in the North Tyne Valley with the intention to keep road mileage to an absolute minimum and run a short, sharp event utilising the classic roads in the vast Kielder Forest complex.
The organising team have had to make the difficult decision to not run as an International event next year but will still be a round of the FUCHS Lubricant Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship. However, our projected date of 25th April 2020 clashes with the new addition to the British Rally Championship – the Corbeau Seats Rally Tendering & Clacton Rally so we will not be a round of the BRC next year.
The rally will have a new team with Andrew Smith retaining the role of Safety Officer, ably assisted by Graham Parker and Steve Waggett, well known for their roles on the Grizedale Stages event, the hard-working Barry Lindsay will continue as Chief Marshal assisted by Dave Brodie who will also take on the role of Equipment Officer. Entries Secretary will again be the super-efficient Lynne Cooke while husband Richard will retain his role as Headquarters Liaison Officer and the indispensable Heather Grisedale will retain her role as Service Area Co-ordinator. The organising team will be putting together another high quality, fast-paced rally that you have come to expect. So, keep an eye on our website and social media as we keep you updated with the preparations for next year’s event.