Darlington and District Motor Club have attracted yet another top quality field for the sixth running of The Jack Frost Stages Rally at Croft circuit tomorrow.

With another capacity 80-car entry, the action is bound to be fast and furious.

Utilising all the tarmac roads around the popular North-East venue, the event, which comprises qualifying rounds of the 2005 North of England Rally Championship and the 2005 ANCC Stage Rally Championship, starts at 9.25.

The organisers are aiming for eight stages, with at least one running in darkness.

Attempting to claim a second successive title is local hero Tony Bardy, who was victorious on last year's event. The Scotch Corner driver again teams up with Richmond co-driver Reg Smith and the Nissan Sunny GTI-R crew will again be hot favourites for top honours over the 36 stage miles.

Previous winners John Bogie (MG Metro 6R4) and Dave Holland (Ford Escort Mk 1) are both absent this year, so Bardy's main rivals will be Tynesiders George Grieve and Stephen Robson in their Ford Escort Cosworth, with whom Bardy enjoyed a classic battle on the recent Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally.

The two-wheel drive contingent will see the resumption of many battles from the Christmas Stages Rally, with the Peugeot 106 of the Lindsey brothers from Carlisle up against the Lancashire-based Harkness brethren in their Vauxhall Corsa in one of the most keenly-fought.

Stockton's Keith Davison and co-driver Ian Jackson from Hartburn will be a major threat in their rapid Darrian T90, as will Gilling West's Terry Searle, this time with Darlington stunt driver Paul Swift on the maps in their unique Rover 25.

Evenwood driver Mark Thompson will also be a major threat in his Peugeot 206, as will Alistair Hutchinson from Egglestone in his LPG-powered Renault Clio. Look out too for the Subaru Imprezas of Durham's Stephen Petch and David Stockton from Middlesbrough, while Northallerton rallycrosser Dave Bellerby is sure to be spectacular in a borrowed Motoscope Ford Escort Mk 2.

Acklam's Kevin Liddle is the latest motorbike racer to switch to four-wheeled sport and he teams up with James Bullock from Ripon in the CS Rallysport Peugeot 106.

Team-mate Darren Grimston from Northallerton is another ex-bike racer and he will be at the wheel of Ian Cartwright's Ford Escort Mark 2, which he took to 61st place on the Christmas Stages.

Top locals to keep an eye on include Stockton's Terry Clarke (Ford Escort), the Darlington pairing of David Jones and David Cox (Ford Escort Cosworth) and Hartlepool brothers Ian and Andrew Legge in their venerable Ford Escort Mark 1, while there are sure to be battles right the way down the field.

Great Langton's Steve Williams and co-driver Anouska Swales will be out in their Rover Metro, along with Teessiders Stephen Alderdice and Dean Grabham (Ford Sierra Cosworth).

Pickhill's Bill Bates takes to the driver's seat in the Tanfield Engineering Peugeot 106 originally driven by daughter Kari, while former Croft circuit manager Brian Morris from Stockton will be in action driving the legendary Datsun 240Z with Darlington sprint racer Mark Leybourne on the maps.

Jim Kirwin from Ingleby Barwick teams up with co-driver Martyn Culkin for the event in their Toyota Corolla, while Hutton Bonville's Martin Peel makes his rallying debut with Nick Hunt from Brompton on Swale as co-driver in the 1600cc Ford Escort.

Admission on the day is £7 per adult with accompanied children admitted free and gates open at 8am.

Top ten entries: 1 Tony Bardy/Reg Smith, Nissan Sunny GTI-R; 2 Andy Bird/Plug Pulleyn, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6; 3 George Grieve/Stephen Robson, Ford Escort Cosworth; 4 Keith Davison/Ian Jackson, Darrian T90; 5 Alan Millard/Mandi Huntington, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4; 6 Peter Hunter/Susan Brown, Subaru Impreza; 7 Dave Bellerby/TBA, Ford Escort Mk2; 8 John Haygarth/Yvonne Coppin, Opel Kadette GTE; 9 Greg Wilkinson/Jonathan Padgett, Ford Escort Cosworth; 10 Andrew Mallinson/Chris Mallinson, Subaru Impreza.

* Northallerton Automobile Club Ltd wish to advise members and friends that the annual dinner dance and awards presentation will be held a month earlier than normal in 2005.

In order to avoid a number of local events traditionally held in February, the new date has been set for next Saturday evening, January 22. The event will again be held in the superb surroundings of Romanby Golf Club.

There will be the usual four-course meal followed by the presentation of trophies for the 2004 season, with the evening being rounded off with the resident disco.

Tickets are still available by contacting Dave Craggs on 01642 783117 or 07786 931742.

l The North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club will hold the first of their fundraising chat shows for 2005 when top British Superbike rider Scott Smart visits Northallerton Town Football Club on Tuesday night.

Having won a number of races last season for the Hawk Kawasaki team, the nephew of the late Barry Sheene has joined British champion John Reynolds in the title-winning Rizla Suzuki team for this season and is one of the tips to land the crown.

Originally from London, Smart now lives near York and will be on hand to chat to fans and relive the memories from his own Grand Prix days. He was a top two-stroke racer in the Nineties and won the MCN Superteen Championship back in 1994.

The NYRRSC will now be meeting just once a month, on the third Tuesday in each month.

Admission is £2 and the chat show gets under way at 8.30.

The annual dinner dance and presentation will once again take place at The Lodge at Leeming Bar Services on Saturday, February 26 and further details on both events are available from Sue Symons on 01904 339647