BTRDA Rally Series Photography

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History

The BTRDA began life in 1938 as the British Trial Drivers Association but as motorsport developed there were many competitors who wished to do longer, more arduous events. To meet this demand the BTRDA Rallies Committee was formed in 1953 and it began the Gold Star and Silver Star Rally Championships. The original events included the RAC Rally, Circuit of Ireland, Morecambe Rally, Scarborough Rally, Scottish Rally and Rally of the Dams as these were the most challenging rallies in the UK at the time and were mostly long distance, endurance road events.

However as the championship developed so the events changed to include many of the most competitive night-time road rallies in the UK including the Express & Star, Mini Miglia and the London Rally.

In the mid 1960's some events began to incorporate timed 'Special Stages' in addition to a competitive night road rally. A typical example was the Dukeries Rally of 1968, which started with 6 special stages using private roads on the Saturday evening. A brief supper halt was followed by a full 200 mile Derbyshire / Staffordshire road rally with selectives timed to the second. At dawn the event changed yet again to a stage event and ran 6 stages in Sherwood Forest before a lunchtime finish.

By 1970 competitors and cars were beginning to specialise and 1972 was the last Gold Star Championship to use both stage and road events. From 1973 the Gold Star Championship was contested exclusively on stage rallies whilst the Silver Star Championship continued for road rally competitors.

Both these championships were very popular throughout the 1970's and 1980's with good events and huge entries including some of the best competitors from around the UK.

Because of a rising demand from club competitors the BTRDA introduced an additional Clubmans Stage Championship in 1987 that placed more emphasis on lower cost forest rallies. That year also saw Ron Beecroft / Brian Kidd crowned as the final champions of the very competitive Silver Star and Motoring News National Road Rally championship; the demise of which is still much lamented.

More info here: http://www.btrdarally.com/history.asp