How fitting that someone who has supported the National table top events over the years, winning many rounds along the way, now wins the final amalgamation of Eastern Counties MC with Langer Park Services’ LANGER PARK 1998 NATIONAL TABLE TOP RALLY. Congratulations to MARTIN REA, taking only his second outright victory on this event in it’s fourteen year history.

Whilst the route return percentage was down on 1997 – 75.9% (63 from an entry of 83), from comments received the majority felt that the standard of difficulty was set at the right level to keep all competitors interested. Only a couple of minor errors slipped through but these did not detract from the event judging by the consistent words of praise that spilled from your anecdotes.

The following pages contain the usual detailed analyses of routecards, solutions and penalties along with the traditional ‘quotes from the notes….’ As has become the norm, the awards have been extended to more people than set out in the Regs and the post-event service, thought to be second-to-none, is maintained to the bitter end – in deference to Section 7’s trip round the Suffolk pubs!

Just to give you a look behind the scenes of the organising team over virtually the entire life of the LANGER PARK – it all started whilst I (Geoff White) was co-driving for Frank Richer from 1984 to 1988 on a variety of road and stage rallies around the UK from club co-pro’s up to National level. Frank owns Langer Park Services (in the early days it was a service station but is now only a workshop). I expressed an interest in putting on a National table top rally having entered the Pathfinder and Nelly in the early eighties. So, with Frank’s vocal and financial support I got on and did it! The lot!! This was all fronted by our local motor club – Eastern Counties, simply to give it credibility – being the new kid on the block! Having the cheek to ask CSMA for a copy of their mailing list in 1985, our first outting boasted 69 entries – one of whom was Maurice Pinner who won the Best ECMC award.

In 1986 Rally Navigation Services were approached to assist supporting the event, to which Dave Otridge agreed. Frank and Dave have continued their backing until this day for which I having nothing but the highest praise and admiration. Needing another ‘head’ to make sure the routecards were workable, I asked Maurice to sort out the errors in my ideas(!) whilst being postman and Entries Secretary. That’s the way we’ve always worked since.

Things progressed to the National Championship thanks to the co-operation of CSMA NE London, Cheltenham, West Essex, CSMA Ipswich Group and Tavern (now deceased). All have figured at some time or another since 1987.

Having supplied the relevant map to all entrants for some years the event’s real tour de force was to introduce the roadbook in 1993. This brought a new and exiting breath of fresh air to table top rallies and praise rang from a great many of our clientele throughout the UK (as it still does) – although we appreciated this was not to everybody’s liking the full map option was, and is still, offered. It wasn’t all euphoric as I recall a certain ‘What a waste of a map’ comment from an entrant that has continued to support our event since that time and has used….. a roadbook!!

I cannot conclude without a final word of thanks on behalf of Eastern Counties Motor Club to Frank Richer and Dave Otridge; not forgetting my personal thanks also to Maurice Pinner. It’s been a great and successful partnership. You, the competitors, have also played your part in the partnership – so, thank you to you too! Many have almost become pen-friends, albeit once a year. So, with many kind words that you have written along the way, I’m off on another of life’s highways. I’m sure our paths will cross again.

Award Winners