Last weekend’s Jaspers Bakeries Agbo Historic Stages was held entirely within the confines of the beautiful Weston Park, near Telford. The fast undulating roads played host to the opening rounds of both HRCR Stage Masters and Mini Cup and a near maximum entry of 50 cars gathered for 10 stages offering some 30 miles of action.

The event threw up a fascinating father and son and father and daughter battle with both families being good friends. 

But the drive of the day came from young Matthew Davis driving a new self built Mini Cooper S for the first time. The Drybrook youngster, together with new co-driver Abie Haycock, didn’t get off to the best of starts, finding his feet in the new car and struggling with the slippery roads, an off on stage 4 cost him 30 seconds and dropped him back to 18th at half way. He was held up on stages 5 and 6, catching and passing slower cars, but a big push over the last five stages set a string of top 10 times, which saw the duo finish joint 10th overall but dropped to 11th after a tie break and 4th Mini Cup contender, again on the tie break. 

“I am really pleased with the result, my first time out in my new car, I was a bit frustrated catching cars on two stages and losing valuable time, but the car never missed a beat, I would really like to thank Steve Loveridge for all his help and support, Dennis Motorsport and Loveridges of Cinderford, and finally Abie for a great job in the other seat, it’s been a massive learning curve today I’ve made mistakes but quickly learnt from them.” said Matt. 

Matthew was in fact locked in a terrific battle over the last few stages with Ryan Taylor and Hollie Churchill, the Cinderford duo battling for 10th place in their Mini Cooper S, with them finishing on equal time with Davis but Taylor finishing 10th overall, third in the Mini Cup on count back, as a result of being two seconds faster on the opening stage; Taylor had been holding ninth overall after stage 2, and consistent times all day kept him in and around 10th place.

In 15th overall were veterans Eric Davis & Russell Joseph in the Dennis Motorsport backed Mini, Davis Snr admitted to some off road excursions in the morning in the damp conditions, but thoroughly enjoyed the event.

“I must apologise to the groundsman at Weston Park for cultivating some of his lovely landscape, I am getting old now so need more room to throw my Mini around.” chuckled Eric

“It was a good event, very well run by Owen Motor Club, we all really enjoyed it, thanks to Russ for guiding me around the Park.” 

Father and daughter team Paul and Jemma Taylor finished 22nd overall and 12th in class in another Mini Cooper S. 

The overall event was won by Chris and Leigh Armstrong in their RS1800. 

The HRCR Stage Masters and Mini Cup series moves on to the Dixies Challenge on the Epynt ranges in early May, the event is run jointly by Forest of Dean Motor Club and Foresters Car Club.