Riponian Stage Rally - 11 February 2024

Report and Images by David Gowshall

The 2022 Riponian Stage Rally took place in heavy snow, the 2023 event in exceptionally mild conditions and the 2024 event in heavy rain and temperatures of around 5C, which warranted a Yellow Weather Warning, but nothing puts me off what has become my traditional season starter.

An early alarm call woke me from my slumbers to hear the rain lashing against the bedroom window, but I loaded up my car regardless and set off in the darkness heading north to the Yorkshire Forests in which the event is held.

On my way I had to negotiate endless surface water and deep puddles on the side of the road, including the village of Bainton, in which a boat would probably have been the best form of transport to use.

Six special stages held in Wass Moor, Cropton and Gale Rigg forests made up 44 miles of very slippery gravel for the crews taking part in the annual event organised so professionally by the Ripon Motor Club.

After visiting Wass Moor for the last two years I decided on Cropton Forest as the location for what was to be a full day’s action.

After making my way to the Car Park, which resembled a river, with water flowing down it in torrents, and finding a spot on some “solid” land, ensuring I would not get bogged down on the sodden grass verge that ran along the single-track forest road, I had a relatively short walk, having donned my walking boots and waterproofs, to the morning run through the stage.

The rain was simply too heavy to take my camera which I regretted, not because I couldn’t take any pictures of the rally action, but because I could’nt record the outfits of some of my fellow spectators, many of whom seemed to think a t-shirt, shorts and white trainers were the right things to wear. I must be getting old !! 

Despite the weather, the crews attacked the stage with vigour, taking a variety of lines through the downhill right-hand bend I located myself at.  The slippery approach to the bend on a short length of polished tarmac and mud led to a number of spins, but nothing that slowed them down.

After returning to my car and enjoying a packed lunch and a drink, the weather relented, as forecast.



Consequently, I set off, this time with camera in hand, on a longer walk to another location in the stage, which I was familiar with, having visited Cropton Forest numerous times over many years.

Hearing cars being driven through a forest still causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up, especially Ford Escorts, with their distinctive exhaust note, and with the event being the first round of the FUCHS British Historic Rally Championship, there were plenty of  Mk1 and Mk2 examples to enjoy.

These remarkable cars, despite being more than forty years old, can hold their own against far more powerful and complex machines, and due to the simplicity and robustness of their design, remain firm favourites with both competitors and spectators alike.

The second run through the stages had caused the road surface to cut up very badly.  Nonetheless the driver and their co-drivers showed no obvious signs of slowing down.

With limited opportunities to take shots during the day due to the inclement weather and heavy cloud cover throughout, this report is slightly shorter than I would have liked it to be.

:DEEGEE: Motorsport Photography is hoping to give some greater emphasis to rallying this year, with planned visits to two further rounds of the Historic British Rally Championship and a round of the Scottish Rally Championship pencilled in the diary so check back soon.

You can see more of :DEEGEE: Motorsport Photography here.