Just 12 penalties separated the top three on a sundrenched Three Castles Welsh Classic Trial from 2-4 June.
Based in Llandudno, the entry of 130 cars covered 500 miles over the course of the event, visiting many of the most attractive locations in North Wales on great rally roads.
Competition covered ten road regularity sections and eighteen driving tests on private land, many of them at country houses and over spectacular closed roads.
Yet again, the glamour of the Three Castles attracted a superb field, including Terry Bramall’s 18 TVX, one of two very rare Aston Martin DB4GTs supplied to Essex Racing when new in 1960 and raced by Moss and Salvadori.
Matching that for Coventry’s finest, local resident Peter Neumark brought his ex-Ecurie Ecosse C-type Jaguar, while John Abel’s Lagonda and Paul Carter’s Bentley did battle with Jayne Wignall’s Sunbeam among the pre-war cars.
Not to be outdone, Tony Goodwin entered a glorious Facel Vega, whilst Bryn Williams brought his 1952 Targa Florio Frazer Nash.
Steve and Alex Chick (1959 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I) emerged as worthy winners after a consistent run at or near the front.
They triumphed by just seven penalty points from John Abel and Tony Davies in their 1936 Lagonda LG45. Only five points behind a tie for third overall was resolved in favour of double previous winners, Mark and Sue Godfrey, whose 1951 MG TD edged out the 1969 Jaguar E Type of returning crew Steve Farmer and Adam Spiers in a tie-break decided on regularity penalties.
