Entries are coming in fast and strong for the 2013 Chris Kelly Memorial Rally which is being held on the 15th & 16th of February, with over 20 entries already received from UK competitors, with entries closing on the 1st of February at 8pm so if you have not got your entry in please do so before 8pm on the 1st so a seeded entry list can be compiled as soon as possible.
This years Chris Kelly Memorial Rally is again sponsored by Mann Construction Ltd, so many thanks to Timmy Collins for all his help and continued support.
The action will start on the evening of Friday the 15th with the first stage being a grueling 13.86 miles, starting at Newtown and finishing at Ballanank, a very tough opening stage, (roads will close from 18.45 to 23.15). This years rally will again be made up of some of the best rally stages the Island has to offer, with old favorites’ Druidale & Little London, St Marks which is a 13.86 mile stage, Staarvey, St Judes, Ramsey Harbour and the infamous Marine Drive which Mark Ellison (Chairman), Mark Quayle (Vice Chairman) and the team have added a twist to this year in true unpredictable Manx Auto Sport style with the stage running in the opposite direction, starting at the Black Boards and finishing south of Douglas Head, making this stage even more difficult and demanding on crews than before.
There are 3 stages run twice on the Friday night which after the opening St Marks (stages 1 & 4 roads close 18.45 to 23.15) will be followed by Balladoole (stages 2 & 5 roads close 19.15 to 23.45 ) and Marine Drive (stages 3 & 6 roads close 19.30 to 23.59) which will give tons of spectator action and offers all competitors a spectacular and grueling nights rallying.
Saturday 16th will see another full day with the first stage St Judes (stages 7 & 10 roads closed from 9.50 to 14.20 ) the second longest stage at 13.08 miles this will give all cars and competitors a good warm up for what’s to come. This stage includes a loop with cars merging back in for a second lap at Ballabeg, this should make life interesting to all crews involved with roads closing at 09.50 finishing at the pond road.
It's off from St Judes to the famous Druidale (stages 8 & 11 roads close 10.55 to 14.55) starting up the hill from Ravensdale this 7.10 mile stage takes in the narrow twisting and very fast roads of Druidale then off down hill to the Sartfield hairpin and down through Little London and finishing towards the Cronk-y-Voddy cross roads.
The cars are then off to one of my favorite stages Starvey which is 8. 72 miles long with very fast road sections, and twisty farm lanes, roads close at 10.40 to 15.10 starting from Barregarrow and finishing at Stockfield cross roads.
The last stage. Well, Quayle, Ellison and the team have really got a winner here, this is a great one, the return of the Ramsey harbour stage a true spectator stage, starting by the Ramsey Lifeboat house along East Quay to Market Square along West Quay, over the swing bridge and along the Ramsey promenade through lots of modified junctions and finishing by the Mooragh Park, this stage will be run twice, a stage where the rally could be won or lost.
So for a great couple of days rallying you couldn’t find a better event than the Chris Kelly, travel concessions still available and entries are still open, Manx Auto Sport at the Heart of Manx Rallying.
If you would like to be involved with the event, we always require Volunteers & Marshals, please contact hilarym@manx.net, signing on will be on Wednesday 13th from 6pm at the conference centre at the T.T.Grandstand, if you are able to help please come along. Thank you.
