Wessex reflect on year to remember :: Wessex Scene Online

Wessex reflect on year to remember

23rd January 2003
Elizabeth Pope

Rate this story

Nov 02 - MOTOR MADNESS
Oct 04 - Summer success for Wessex Motor Club
Nov 03 - Motor club driving forward
May 03 - Motor Club have a Funky Time
Nov 07 - Rifle Club On Target

More by Elizabeth Pope

May 03 - Motor Club have a Funky Time

For Southampton Uni’s Wessex Motor Club, the past year has reaped plentiful rewards and securely established the club a respected and well-deserved place in the world of road rallying.

The Rally 2002 Road Rally Championship is fought out between motor clubs across the south of England, and following the final round in Devon at the beginning of December, the season’s points were totted up, and Wessex Motor Club had a lot to smile about. Recent Southampton graduate, Phil Kendall emerged as the clear winner of the Expert Drivers’ Championship, and another ex-Southampton student, Andy Coshan won the Expert Navigators’ Championship. These accolades are unequivocally deserved, after committed performances throughout the season, culminating in a commanding overall win, their debut victory, in the season’s final event, the Ilfracombe Road Rally.

In the Semi-Expert Drivers’ Championship,ex-Southampton student, Chris Moore came 3rd, and current Southampton student Olly Smith and recent graduate Bob Wisniewski shared 4th place. Similarly, Wessex dominated the Semi-Expert Navigators’ Championship. Tom Jenkins, Paul Lettington, Jonah Nuttgens and Dick Howatt all finished in the top 10, and current Southampton students David Coles and Susan Broughall finished the year 4th and 5th respectively. Other Wessex student crews contested the season, and at many events our crews comprised a significant proportion of the field.

Yet it isn’t just on the road that Wessex are involved. Our members have turned out to marshal many rounds in 2002, notably November’s Nightwatchman Road Rally, where I remember enjoying their encouragement and cheers throughout the night.

Although individual success is rewarding, it is a group effort. This is reflected in the overall position of our club in the championship tables. In 2002, Wessex were the most successful club in road rallying, finishing with more than twice as many points than our nearest rival. Then when this is put in the context of the Rally 2002 Club Challenge, which incorporates other rallying championships, we came a very creditable second. Not bad for a bunch of penniless students.

Wessex Motor Club also runs its own events throughout term time on Hampshire’s country lanes. This is the ideal training ground for motorsport enthusiasts. And it can’t be a bad place to start. Southampton Uni students are amongst the youngest contenders in the road rally championship, and have proved they’re a force to be reckoned with. Wessex is the cheapest route into rallying, run by students, for students, with experienced guidance at every step of the way. We are also one of the very few universities to organise its own road rally. The Funky Elephant Road Rally in April will follow in the wheel-tracks of last year’s widely-acclaimed debut event.

2003 promises to be a fantastic year. If you want to be part of it, and enjoy learning the tricks of the trade from a highly successful, lively, friendly club, then contact us. Our website is www.soton.ac.uk/~motor and further details can be found there.