FOLLOWING a successful De Lacy victory on home ground a month previously, Scorton motor dealer Steve Petch made it two wins in succession when he crossed the Pennines to take an easy victory on the Hargreaves Garages Grizedale Stages Rally last weekend.

Co-driven as usual by Romanby's John Richardson, the former national champion was never headed all day in his SGP Motorsport Hyundai Accent WRC.

The crew ended up comfortable winners, well over a minute ahead of locals Paul Benn and Richard Cooke in their Ford Escort Cosworth.

With unseasonably mild and dry weather gracing the capacity 120-car event as they left the Coniston start, Petch immediately threw down the gauntlet by posting fastest time despite a puncture on Grizedale South to emerge from the 11-miler some 24 seconds ahead of the Mitsubishi of Appleby driver Dougie Hall.

The pair continued to charge at the front and upped their advantage by another eight seconds on the nine miles of Grizedale North before the two short Dunnerdale tests saw Petch fastest again through the tricky 2.5-milers.

At second service, Petch and Richardson held the lead by 47 seconds ahead of Benn and the pair scorched through the final two stages in Grizedale to increase their lead by another 23 seconds.

Benn clinched second place, seven seconds ahead of Welshman Richard Gough, who was four seconds ahead of Irishman Brendan Crealey, who took Group N honours in his Mitsubishi, prepared by Mark Robson's MSR concern at Thirsk.

Contesting his fifth rally in seven weeks, Ingleton's Tony Thompson enlisted the services of champion co-driver Ian Windress, from Northallerton.

He was only notified that his entry had been accepted a few days beforehand and was scheduled to be seeded last of the 120 runners.

Luckily, common sense prevailed and the pair were moved up the order before clinching second in the Group N class in their Tidybike Mitsubishi Lancer.

They also claimed sixth place overall in their MSR-prepared car despite tying on time with Vodka Kick boss Steve Perez in a similar car.

With a faster time on the opening stage, Thompson and Windress - the latter heading straight off to Birmingham for the Ford Awards presentation - were awarded the placing to round off a good day for them.

Exelby driver Chris Lewis overcame a spin on the opening stage in his DSM-prepared Food Weighouse Mitsubishi Lancer to record a fine top 20 finish.

Co-driven by Tow Law's Michael Wilkinson, he finished 19th overall and sixth in class after the 45-stage mile event.

Top ten. - 1 S Petch/J Richardson, Hyundai Accent WRC, 50.19; 2 P Benn/R Cooke, Ford Escort Cosworth, 51.29; 3 R Gough/P Walsh, Mitsubishi Lancer, 51.36; 4 B Crealey/S Harris, Mitsubishi Lancer, 51.40; 5 G Robinson/A Marchbank, Mitsubishi Lancer, 51.42; 6 T Thompson/I Windress, Mitsubishi Lancer, 53.13; 7 S Perez/J Bolsover, Mitsubishi Lancer, 53.13; 8 R Wright/I Allsop, Ford Escort Cosworth, 53.17; 9 M Glendinning/D Thompson, Subaru Impreza, 53.25; 10 P Bird/L Carter, Subaru Impreza, 53.51.

* As expected, demand has been high for entries on the forthcoming Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally scheduled for Croft circuit on December 29.

About 60 entries have so far been received and, with still a few days to go until Monday's closing date, the organisers are looking at the possibility of running an extra five cars to cater for the demand rather than turning people away.

Already a number of top crews will be among the 75 starters, including the MG Metro 6R4 of top Scottish driver John Bogie, who led last year's event until the last stage.

Former BTRDA champion Ian Joel returns to the sport after a serious accident last year and will be at the wheel of his Escort Cosworth, while event sponsor David Stockton will be at the controls of his Subaru Impreza.

Middleham brothers Stuart and John Adamson will be making their long-awaited debut in their MG Metro 6R4, while former winner Charlie Taylor, from Northallerton, is also entered in his Ford Escort.

Other motor sport disciplines will be represented, with rallycrosser Dave Bellerby (Yafforth) converting his Vauxhall Nova specifically to contest the event.

Darlington autotester Paul Swift will be joined by his stunt driver father Russ in his Vauxhall Nova.

* The North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club is planning a "Friends Reunited" evening on Tuesday when fans and former competitors alike can meet up and discuss the old times.

Held at Northallerton Football Club, the aim is to invite former members who have lost touch with either the club or the sport and a host of former racers are expected to attend the social evening, which gets underway about 8.30.

Former chairman and TT racer Geoff Nutland will be assembling some troops, as will counterpart Andy McGladdery, and anyone who wishes to attend the evening of nostalgia would be most welcome.

Admittance is free and a buffet will be provided. For more details contact Sue Symons on 01904 339647.

l Croft circuit will host the opening round of the recently announced 2003 MSA British Rallycross Championship when competitors from across the country converge on North Yorkshire for the event on March 9.

The new championship, and the concurrent BRDA Championship, will run over ten rounds in 2003.

As well as featuring the return to Brands Hatch for the first time since 1996, it will also include the first championship event at Knockhill in Scotland for 13 years and the return, after two years' absence, to Nutts Corner in Northern Ireland