RAC Rally
Early on the morning of Friday 17th November 1961 the first competitor arrived at the start of the Speech House Walk special stage, much to the surprise of the forestry workers. When contacted by Barton Vennor, Center Beat Warden, the managers at Whitmead Park advised that they had not considered the event worthy of prior notification.
During the next twenty five years the RAC Rally visited The Forest of Dean on twelve further occasions, and provided the opportunity for spectators to see the leading international rally drivers compete on the local stages.
1961
Tuesday 14th November - Friday 17th November 24 Forestry Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Friday 17th
SS23 Speech House Walk 3.4 miles (4 mins) Fastest: Erik Carlsson Saab P8680
SS24 Staunton 7.5 miles (10 mins) Fastest: Pat Moss Austi Healey 3000 XJB 877
1965
Sunday 21 November - Thursday 25th "Uncle Jack's Mystery Tour"
Forest of Dean: Monday 22nd
SS8 Speech House 9.2 miles Fastest: Vic Elford/David Stone Ford Lotus Cortina KPU 395C 11:12 mins
SS9 Tidenham Chase (Long N>S) in at Whitewalls out at Boatwood 4.1 miles
Fastest: Timo Makinen/Paul Easter Autin Healey 3000 EJB 806C 4:40 mins
1966
Saturday 19th November - Friday 25th 55 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Sunday 20th
SS10 Tidenham Chase (Long S>N)in at Boatwood out at Whitewalls
Fastest: Timo Makinen/Paul Easter Mini Cooper S GRX 5D 5:09 mins (Target 4:48 mins)
1968
"European Club Rally, for Gp5/6 cars, running ahead of RAC Rally." (K.Lay)
Saturday 16th November - Wednesday 20th 87 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Saturday 16th
SS10 Russells 2.25 miles in at 155/61350850 (Remploy) out at 155/62800940 (Barracks)
Fastest: Timo Makinen/Paul Easter Ford Escort TC AHK 938F 3:10 mins (Target 2:50 mins)
SS11 Speech House 10.85 Miles in at 155/65400890 (Blackpool Bridge) out at 142/62401030 (Trafalgar Avenue)
Fastest: Hannu Mikkola/J.Ahava Lancia Fulvia A65744TO 12:12 mins (Target 12:00 mins)
SS12 Serridge 7.00 miles in at 142/61801210 (Speech House Hill) out at 142/63801570 (Northern) Fastest: Timo Makinen/Paul Easter 10:16 Mins (Target 10:00 mins)
SS13 Reddings 4.15 miles in at 142/56351195 (Nr Sawmill) out at 142/54851270 (Reddings Lane) Fastest: Harry Kallstrom/Gunnar Haggbom Lancia Fulvia TO97 0370 5:23 mins (Target 5:00 mins)
1969
Saturday 15th November 1969 – Wednesday 19th 73 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Wednesday 19th
SS65 Reddings in at 142/548127 (Reddings Lane) out at 142/556124 (A4136 Staunton Road)
Fastest: Harry Kallstrom/Gunnar Haggbom Lancia Fulvia HF TO87 9056 & Bjorn Waldgard/Lars
Helmer Porsche 911 BB3020 5:35 mins (Target 5:00)
Helmer Porsche 911 BB3020 5:35 mins (Target 5:00)
SS66 Serridge in at 142/639157 (Northern) out at 142/615119 (Beechenhurst)
Fastest: Hakan Lindberg/Bo Reinicke Saab V4 9:38 mins (Target 9:00)
SS67 Speech House in at 142/624103 (Trafalgar Avenue) out at 155/655089
Fastest: Hakan Lindberg/Bo Reinicke 11:50 mins (Target 11:00 mins)
SS68 Russells in at 155/628094 (Barracks) out at 142/614086 (Remploy)
Stage cancelled during event.
1970
Saturday 14th November – Wednesday 18th 82 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Wednesday 18th
SS73 Reddings/Monow in at 142/548128 (Reddings Lane) out at 142/556124 (A4136 Staunton Road)
Fastest: Gerard Larrousse/Mike Wood Porsche 911 S-R2970 5:35 mins (Target 4:00)
SS74 Serridge/Wye3 in at 142/638153 (Northern) out at 142/615119 (Beechenhurst)
Fastest: Gerard Larrousse/Mike Wood Porsche 911 S-R2970 9:48 mins (Target 9:00)
SS75 Speech House/Wye4 in at 142/624103 (Trafalgar Avenue) out at 155/635089 (Blackpool Bridge)
Fastest: Gerard Larrousse/Mike Wood Porsche 911 S-R2970 10:50 mins (Target 10:00)
1971
Saturday 20th November – Wednesday 24th 77 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Wednesday 20th
SS68 Reddings in at 142/535130 (A4136 Above Fidler’s Elbow) out at 142/557124 (A4136 Staunton
Road). Event preview states 9:00 min target, but recorded stage times indicate stage shortened.
Road). Event preview states 9:00 min target, but recorded stage times indicate stage shortened.
Fastest: Dave Palmby/Bryan Harris Ford Escort RS 3:19 mins (Target 3:00)
SS69 Serridge/Uniroyal 3 in at 142/639154 (Northern) out at 142/612132 (Sheep Pens)
Fastest: Timo Makinen/Henry Liddon Ford Escort RS PVX 398K 7:10 mins (Target 6:00)
SS70 Speech House in at 142/624103 (Trafalgar Avenue) out at 155/654089 (Blackpool Bridge)
Fastest: Hannu Mikkola/Gunnar Palm Ford Escort RS PVX 399K 11:55 mins (Target 10:00)
1972
Saturday 2nd December - Tuesday 5th 72 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Sunday 3rd
SS23 Reddings/Unipart Speedo Cables
Fastest: Stig Blomqvist/Arne Hertz 3:27 mins (Target 3:00)
SS24 Serridge in at 142/638155 (Northern) out at 142/612131 Sheep Pens (Motoring News Preview) or 142/614121 Beechenhurst (Autosport Preview)
Fastest: Stig Blomqvist/Arne Hertz Saab V4 6:16 mins (Target 5:00)
SS25 Speech House/Unipart Shock Absorbers in at 142/624103 (Trafalgar Avenue) out at 155/654089 (Blackpool Bridge)
Fastest: Stig Blomqvist/Arne Hertz 11:16 mins (Target 9:00)
1974
Saturday 16th November - Wednesday 20th 84 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Sunday 17th
SS27 Reddings in at 162/542125 (Broadstones) out at 162/556124 (A4136 Staunton Road)
Fastest: Wolfgang Hauck/Hermann Weidmann Porsche Carrera 8:02 mins
SS28 Sallow Vallets in at 162/597134 Edge End out at 162/608118 (Cannop Cottages)
Fastest: Ingvar Carlsson/Bo Reinicke Fiat 124 Abarth
SS29 Speech House in at 162/632124 (Horse Lawn) out at 162/624103 (Trafalgar Avenue)
Fastest: Chris Sclater/Martin Holmes Datsun Violet 3:03 mins
SS30 Russells in at 162/622109 (Boysgrave) out at 162/62804 (Barracks)
Fastest: Nigel Rockey/Ron Channon Ford Escort Rs1600 YEV 208L 4:37 mins
1975
Saturday 22nd November - Wednesday 26th 72 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Monday 24th
SS28 Speech House in at 162/654088 (Blackpool Bridge) out at 162/629093 (Barracks)
Fastest: Bjorn Waldgard/Hans Thorzelius Lancia Stratos M26363 TO 7:41 mins
SS29 Russells in at 162/628094 (Barracks) out at 162/612117 (Beechenhurst)
Fastest: Bjorn Waldegard/Hans Thorzelius Lancia Stratos M26363 TO 3:31 mins
SS30 Serridge in at 162/628126 (Kensley Lodge) out at 162/622151 (Brierley)
Fastest: Bjorn Waldegard/Hans Thorzelius Lancia Stratos M26363 TO 5:54 mins
SS31 Sallow Vallets in at 162/611145 (Mireystock) out at 162/596134 (Edge End)
Fastest: Bjorn Waldegard/Hans Thorzelius Lancia Stratos M26363 TO 3:49 mins
1976
Saturday 27th November - Tuesday 30th 76 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Saturday 27th
SS2 Speech House in at 162/638089 (Mallards Pike) out at 162/632124 (Cinderford Bridge)
Fastest: Stage cancelled due to accident. Stage Plan
SS3 Serridge in at 162/626127 (Kensley Lodge) out at 162/638157 (Northern)
Fastest: Ari Vatanen/Peter Bryant Ford Escort RS1800 POO 489R 4:06 mins Stage Plan
SS4 Sallow Vallets in at 162/609125 (Highways Yard) out at 162/596134 (Edge End)
Fastest: Ari Vatanen/Peter Bryant Ford escort RS1800 POO 489R 4:12 mins Stage Plan
SS5 Mailscot in at 162/568143 (Rock Inn) out at 162/566118 (A4136 Nr Sawmills)
Fastest: Harry Kallstron/Geraint Phillips Datsun Violet 6:13 mins Stage Plan
Sunday 28th
SS39 Queens Wood in at 162/668267 (Golf Course) Out at 162/686279 (Brandhill)
Fastest: Fulvio Bacchelli/Francessco Rossetti Fiat Abarth 131 Rally 3:13 mins
1980
Sunday 16th November - Wednesday 19th 70 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Wednesday 19th
SS67 Sallow Vallets (3.3 Miles) in at 162/596134 (Edge End) out at 162/609125 (Highways Yard)
Fastest: Anders Kullang/Bruno Berglund Opel Ascona 400 GG-CH 224 4:11 mins
SS68 Serridge (7.4 miles) in at 162/622151 (Brierley) out at 162/615119 (Bechenhurst)
Fastest: Graham Elsmore/Frank Main Vauxhall Chevette HS AVE 345V 7:16 mins
SS69 Russells in at 162/612117 (Beechenhurst) out at 162/628094 (Barracks)
Fastest: Anders Kulland/Bruno Berglund Opel Ascona 400 GG-CH 224 4:02 mins
SS70 Speech House in at 162/629093 (Barracks) out at 162/654088 (Blackpool Bridge)
Fastest: Mikael Sunstrom/Martin Coleman Ford Escort RS2000 AHO 649 11:29 mins
1982
Sunday 21st November - Thursday 25th 69 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Sunday 21st
SS6 Speech House (8.93 miles) in at 162/653088 (Blackpool Bridge) out at 162/631123 (Horse Lawn)
Fastest: Markku Alen/Ilkka Kivimaki Lancia 037 Y09062 TO 9:23 Mins (8:00 mins)
SS7 Serridge in at 162/628126 (Kensley Lodge) out at 162/612132 (Sheep Pens)
Fastest: Markku Alen/Ilkka Kivimaki Lancia 037 Y09062 TO 5:20 mins (4:50)
SS8 Sallow Vallets in at 162/607125 (Highways Yard) out at 162/596134 (Edge End)
Fastest: Markku Alen/Ilkka Kivimaki Lancia 037 Y09062 TO 4:11 mins (2:55)
SS9 Mailscot in at 162/567142 (Mailscot Lodge) out at 162/537153 (Hadnock)
Fastest: John Buffum/Neil Wilson Audi Quattro 9:19 mins (7:30 mins)
1984
Sunday 25th November - Thursday 29th
Forest of Dean: Wednesday 28th
SS34 Mailscot
Fastest: Jimmy McRae/Mike Nicholson Opel Manta 400 WIA 5958 15:08 mins (12:00)
SS35 Duckhams Serridge
Fastest: Ari Vatanen/Terry Harryman Peugeot 205 T16 128 FBL 75 8:40 mins (8:00)
SS36 Speech House
Fastest: Ari Vatanen/Terry Harryman Peugeot 205 T16 128 FBL 75 10:57mins (10:08)
1985
Sunday 24th November - Thursday 28th 65 Special Stages
Forest of Dean: Sunday 24th
SS8 Speech House (10 miles) in at Blackpool Bridge out at Horse Lawn
Fastest: Timo Salonen/Seppo Harjanne Peugeot 205 T16 704 EXC 75 10:07 mins
SS9 Serridge (8 miles) in at Kensley Lodge out at Forest Vale
Fastest: Tony Pond/Rob Arthur MG Metro 6R4 C869 EUD 7:46 mins
SS10 Sallow Vallets (3.5 miles) in at Highways Yard out at Edge End
Fastest: Timo Salonen/Seppo Harjanne Peugeot 205 T16 704 EXC 75 3:59 mins
SS11 Mailscot (10 miles) in at Mailscot Lodge (tbc) out at Broadstones (tbc)
Fastest: Tony Pond/Rob Arthur MG Metro 6R4 C869 EUD 11:21 mins