Flanders Car Rally History
A brief history of Flanders Car Rally. One the most successful and popular British drivers to compete on the Flanders Car Rally was the late Tony Pond. Tony enjoyed Belgium, and was know for taking time out after the event was over to visit the WW1 airfields on his bicycle. History and especially early aviation was one of his passions.
During the years that the Rover Metro Cup/Challenge was running, Tony Pond was a great inspiration to the young drivers competing for their first time on the Flanders Car Rally and in Belgium.
The Tour of Flanders Car Rally takes you close to the historical site of Passendale, remembered for one of the bloodiest and worse British military blunders of World War One.
If Rallying in Flanders teaches you one thing only, it should teach you to respect for the lives given in World War One for our freedom today. Be sure to take time out and pay your respect and gratitude to the boys who their today for our today and the freedom we enjoy.
The Flanders Car Rally has been won many times by Snijers and Droogmans both these drivers had a close association in their Ford days with Jeff Churchill of JC Hire, a Welsh based hire company who worked closely with Ford's competition department at Boreham and offered the latest technology for hire.
Jeff Churchill himself was a very competent driver, although self funded in his Rallying and backed by father Bill. Jeff always was loyal to Ford and competed in the latest Ford machinery and should have had the honour of being a full works driver.
Jeff is a regular visitor to Belgian rallies and may well be seen around the Flanders Rally stages and service area during the event. Many of his previously owned Escorts will be competing there now in the Historic section.
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