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Dates: |
August 7th - 10th 2008 |
Cost: |
£575 per car |
Entry to Little Devils Tests (Competitive): + £35*
Entry to Little Devils Tests and Night Rally: +£50*
(The normal UK booking form can be used, simply add entry to Little Devils Tests and/or Devils Own night rally in the 'Special Requirements' box.)
* These prices only apply to entrants in the High Roads Tour
| Extra Accommodation on Sunday Night |
|
|---|---|
| Heaves Hotel | £60 B&B |
| Crooklands | £75 B&B |
| Pheasant Inn | £90 B&B |
| Wednesday Night Accommodation prior to Event | |
|---|---|
| Quality Hotel, Ashbourne | from £65 subject to availability |
Description
The High Roads/Devils Own Classic is a four day tour of some of the highest roads in England which includes the option of taking part in the DEVILS OWN CLASSIC RALLY. The emphasis is on interesting driving combined with some light hearted competition. No competition licence is needed* and any car non-turbocharged and/or not four wheel drive** will be accepted, although older and more interesting vehicles will be given preference.
(* No competition licence is needed for the daytime sections of the rally but anyone wishing to compete on the night time navigational rally will require the minimum of a clubman licence. All competitors in the rally will need to be members of Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club, but this will be included in the entry fee.
** exceptions may be made for older or genuine classics.)
After a visit to the Donnington Grand Prix Collection we set off into some intriguing little 'back roads' through the Staffordshire Dales, with fords and tunnels to add to the interest. The route then meanders through the picturesque Derbyshire lanes on the way to the overnight stop at Buxton.
120 miles approx.
Today's route heads north through the Derbyshire Peak District and on over the Lancashire Moors via 'The Cat and Fiddle Pass', Saddleworth Moor and Pendle Hill, to Kirkby Lonsdale for the weekend.
150 miles approx.
Today there is a choice. You can either take part in the Devils Own Classic Rally's 'Little Devils Tests' or take the more leisurely touring route which follows the rally. The tests consist of 15-20 'autotests' on a variety of surfaces in farmyards, quarries and factory sites – simple manouvers around traffic cones, timed to the second.
The touring route will follow the rally route around the picturesque Cumbrian countryside visiting some of these test sites where there will be the opportunity to watch your fellow entrants and the main body of the Devils Own rally perform around these obstacles. The tour and tests part of the rally will finish with Dinner at a hotel in the Cumbrian Fells. The hardy amongst you then may wish to continue with the Devils Own Night Navigation Rally of approximately 80 miles through more Cumbrian lanes, or if this is not your thing, you may like to simply spectate at designated view points (or even volunteer to marshal). Alternatively there is an easy route back to Kirkby Lonsdale where you can relax at the hotel or sample some of the bars and bistros in Kirkby Lonsdale.
A run through some spectacular scenery in the south of the Yorkshire Dales. We start with the little known and secluded Kingsdale with its stunning view of Deepdale before we descend into Dentdale. We then return southward via the famous Ribblehead viaduct on our way to the market town of Settle to visit Watershed Mill.
After this break we head off into more relatively un-known dales via the tranquil Malham tarn and the breathtaking Yew Cogar Scar and the drop into Littondale. From here we head through more popular territory around Grassington and a stop for lunch in Buckden. Then we traverse remote Coverdale to Wensleydale and the picturesque and tranquil Semer Water. Tea will be at the home of Wensleydale cheese, the Hawes creamery. The return route to our base hotel takes us via the infamous 'Coal Road ' and the cobbled streets of Dent village. The final leg brings us back through Barbondale to Kirkby Lonsdale and our farewell dinner and presentation.
Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club was formed in 1955 at the Royal Hotel in Kirkby Lonsdale Square . The square is still the location for the formal start of the Devils Own Rally although the Royal Hotel is currently closed for development. The club originally ran events for both cars and motorbikes but the two wheel enthusiasts soon went their own way and by the early sixties the club was concentrating on more serious car events.
The first major car rally was the Devils Own in 1961 which took its name from the nearby Devils Bridge . That first event was won by Miss P.Reddy navigated by a certain A.C.(Tony) Mason who was later to come to fame navigating Roger Clark to his first RAC Rally win in 1972.
The 'Devils' went from strength to strength and at its peak was a 200 mile flat out road rally taking in the Cumbrian lanes around the Lune Valley and the demanding fell roads of the nearby Dales and Pennines. Such was its reputation as a tough event that it became part of the national Motoring News Championship attracting the cream of the country's club drivers and navigators. In 1973 the rally also became part of Ford's Escort Mexico Challenge and attracted drivers such as Tony Pond and Russell Brookes, as well as HRH Prince Michael of Kent!
Unfortunately it became politically in-correct to run such events in the early 80's and the Devil was put to rest. That is until 1995 when a new team of organisers resurrected the name for a rally run to the increasingly popular Historic/Classic format, ironically attracting entries from the type of cars that took part in the original Devils Own. The event has evolved over the years and taken several formats with both day and night sections.
The 2008 event takes a new format with all the action condensed into little more than 15 hours. However in that time competitors will tackle between 15 and 20 tests and some 80 miles of night navigational rally. Whatever the format, the 'Devils' still provides a challenge for both crew members and is one of the most popular events in the calendar.
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