The Dukeries Rally on Sunday 13th October 2019 will be the 60th consecutive running of the event which is certainly a milestone to be recognised. The event organisers are already planning the 2019 event and one of their key objectives is to provide 60 stage miles on this 60th running of the event.
It would be remiss if we did not reflect on the efforts of the event organisers over the past 60 years, with an event that started as a local navigational rally, developed into a very competitive road rally and within 10 years had changed into a multi venue stage rally which was a round of the BTRDA Rally Championship and eventually the Autosport RAC Rally Championship of Great Britain. (the BRC)
The event organisers continued to adapt to the challenges that the event had to overcome. The Dukeries ran as a night stage event in 1976 and 1977, it was the first rally to run a stage in National Trust property (Clumber Park) first to run a stage in a SSSI (Portland), first stage rally to run in 2001 after the Foot & Mouth epidemic and it survived the biblical floods in June 2007 when the stage at Rainbow Hill was washed away and the Rally HQ and Finish of the event at Southwell Racecourse was completely flooded out. Perhaps the biggest challenge was in 2014 when it became clear that it was no longer possible to run a very competitive stage rally in the Nottinghamshire forests. However, 2015 saw the start of a new era when the Dukeries Rally returned to Donington Park, which it last visited in 1970. A more detailed history of the Dukeries Rally can be found HERE
The most successful drivers on the Dukeries Rally have been Roger Clark (3 wins), Brian Bell (3 wins), Andy Burton (4 wins) and Steve Perez (4 wins). See photos. A full list of all the event winners over the previous 59 years can be found HERE However it is not just the winners who are to be celebrated, but all the many thousands of competitors who have taken part in the Dukeries Rallies over the years. The event website www.dukeries-rally.co.uk has an excellent Archive of Event Results going back over many years. However, there are a still a number missing and if anyone has any of the missing rally results in electronic or paper form (which we can scan), please contact Howard at [email protected]
Finally, we want to recognise and thank all the thousands of Marshals and Officials who have helped Dukeries Motor Club to run the event over the years. Without their commitment and effort, it would simply not be possible for the Dukeries Rally to have continued.
So, what of the 60th event? Well the event regulations will be published shortly, and entries will open on Friday 23rd August. (see event website for details and with more to follow)
We trust that the 60th Dukeries Rally, once again sponsored by RAINWORTH SKODA, will continue the tradition of an event which has been maintained over the previous 59 years.