YORK Motor Club will be well reprersented in a special commemorative event which has been organised by Malton MC on Sunday.

The Stivie Rally is in memory of Goodmanham rally driver and farmer Mike Stephenson, known as Stivie, who died unexpectedly a year ago.

His widow Julie, plus relation Phil Pickard, devised the idea of organising a relaxed rally in his memory on Stephenson’s farm-land.

Sunday’s event will be laid out on farm tracks, stubble fields and even a section of old railway line as a stage.

Among the drivers will be Driffield’s Steve Bannister who will be co-driven by Stephenson’s widow in a Mk 2 Escort Historic spec car, and former international driver Yuk Hodgson who will be in harness with Sue Lamb. They have not rallied together for 26 years and will be in an Escort Mk 2 with a Millington engine.

Other York MC competitiors include Jonathan Pulleyn, from West Lilling, near Sheriff Hutton, as co-driver to Driffield’s Peter Smith in an Historic spec Opel Kadett – the first time Pulleyn will have co-driven on a rally for 30 years – Bishopthorpe’s Ian Jemison in his Porsche Boxter with Fred Roberts of Huntington in York; and Pete Slights with daughter Emma from Elvington, York in a Mk 2 Escort.

During the break when the stages are altered, there will be a tug of war involving teams from drivers, navigators and service crew.

Entries for the rally are full, but anyone is welcome to attend to watch free of charge, and can bring interesting cars along to display. Food will be available on site at Goodmanham in East Yorkshire. The map reference 106/892433 and the first stage will start at 10am.

Any donations made will go to All Hallows Church and the South Yorkshire Rescue Springer Spaniels charity.