From "Nineteen to the Dozen" by Eddie Green

Round Thirteen - CASTROL EXPRESS & STAR

Over the years the Express and Star, as everyone knows it, has built up a tremendous reputation under the direction of Richard Harper and Norman Salt, but this year the pair stepped down from the organising team and the Wolverhampton and South Staffs C.C. imported Colin Francis and David Stephenson to take over the reins.

The pattern of previous years had to be altered when it became known that forest stages would be unavailable, and so from a night and day event the rally finally took the form of a normal Saturday night thrash.

This perhaps dulled the glitter of the Express and Star and what the organisers produced was just an above average event well up to the standard of championship qualifiers without ever reaching the heights of quality which won the Ecurie Cod Fillet top rally award for 1968.
The organisers took the unprecedented step, in Motoring News Championship events at least, of forwarding almost complete route details to crews before the rally and so when the almost full entry arrived at the start at the cattle market, Shrewsbury, there was little to be done apart from the usual formalities.

The appearance of Ford competition manager Stuart Turner with his newest team driver, the Spurs and England soccer player Jimmy Greaves, who as everyone knows will be driving in the World Cup Rally next year, created a good deal of interest amongst the many spectators. Greaves was having his first taste of the rally world and was also commissioned to start the cars and present the awards at the finish.
Going through the entry list it was obvious that the regulars were out in force and as is usual on the "named" events several of the not so regulars turned out to do battle.
First car away should have been the Jolly Club Lancia of Colin Malkin, but this car is now being prepared for the Tap Rally, so late entry from the Cooper brothers gave them number one spot in their Super Sport Escort Twin-Cam followed by similar cars for John Bloxham/Richard Harper and Jim Bullough/Don Barrow. Bob Bean was due to start next but the preparation of his new Escort Twin-Cam is not yet complete so he took his trusty Cortina GT on a Northern event instead. Taking over his spot was fellow Yorkshireman Phil Cooper whose appearances on Motoring News events are few and far between but John Brown had persuaded him to do this one in his ex-works Cooper S. They were followed by the Midget of John Sprinzel and Gerry Ryan and again, just as on the Bolton, the car was on racing tyres although the lighting had been improved by the addition of two spot lamps.

John Bloxham soon slipped back to his winning ways on the 'Castrol Express and Star', taking the honours by almost seven minutes from the Cooper brothers.
This event, which in 1968 was awarded the 'Ecurie Cod Fillet' top rally award, has always attracted a high quality field, and 1969 was no exception.

Rod and Ian Cooper were at number one, fresh from their win on the previous weekend's AGBO. Right behind was John Bloxham and Richard Harper obviously out for revenge. Jim Bullough and Don Barrow came next, making up the leading trio of Escort twin-cams. Phil Cooper and John Brown were the first of the Mini brigade, followed by John Sprinzel and Gerry Ryan in the M.G. Midget. George Hill and Keith Wood brought their refreshed Cooper 'S' along, with Frank Pierson and Martin Holmes behind them. Frank's usual navigator, Colin Francis, was on the organising team for the rally, so sportingly refused the ride. Will Sparrow and Nigel Raeburn brought the trusty Cooper 'S', followed by Nigel Rockey and Clive Plummer in the Escort. Jock Russell and Peter Valentine, who had been putting in some good performances in the Porsche over the last few events made up the top ten.
Interesting aside was the presence of Ford's competition manager, Stuart Turner, who was showing Jimmy Greaves, the footballer, some of the procedures encountered on a British club rally. It is surprising that the opportunity was not used to enter Greaves in the event, thereby giving him his first taste of M.N. rallying. Greaves is due to drive a Ford in the 'World Cup Rally' and any practice would surely have served him well.
The rally soon got under way at 21.00 hrs in the form of a spectacular special stage on the disused airfield at Forton, near Shrewsbury. This consisted of five laps on the concrete runways and service roads, and proved to be classical 'dice' between all and sundry. It was not many minutes before cars were rushing and sliding about in all directions, and anybody who thinks racing is becoming processional should witness Star', it was fantastic. All credit must go to Lou Jamieson, the timekeeper, how he managed to keep it all under control remains a mystery. It was obvious to spectators that Bloxham was out for a win, he visibly caught the Cooper brothers after three laps and went on to record the fastest time for the stage. Will Sparrow apparently enjoyed himself, his antics sent spectators diving for cover on every lap. Mention must be made of the unknown hero who 'hand-held' a demolished arrow at the hair-pin, each time he dived for cover a rally car would follow him and his arrow into the undergrowth, not surprisingly he soon placed the arrow in a more permanent position.

The rally soon settled into a more conventional mood, consisting of road sections and selectives. The route moved slowly westwards into the heart of Welsh rally country, and the first of the seven selectives. It would be sufficient to say that John Bloxham and Richard Harper set up the fastest times on all the selectives, such was their determination to rectify the previous weekend's error. This performance obviously pulled them further and further away from the opposition. Rod and Ian Cooper were in second spot, but were being pressed by Sparrow and Russell. The pressure continued throughout the night, and it claimed several victims. Will Sparrow clouted a gate and dropped out of the leader battle, and Phil Cooper and John Brown retired the Cooper 'S' with engine trouble. Shortly after, the immaculate Triumph 2.5 P.l. of Geoff Shepherd and Stuart Gray went missing, ending a steady and rapid run.

As the rally drew to a close Bloxham consolidated his lead, and with Sparrow out. Cooper was secure in second spot. Jock Russell was again on good form and set in third place. Drama still continued when Nigel Rockey ditched the Escort, and soon after, Toney Cox and Norman Salt did the same with their similar car. Frank Pierson put in another consistent drive, aided by the efficient Martin Holmes, and they were rewarded with a worthy fourth place.
John Bloxham moved into an almost unassailable position in the Championship, this win put him 19 points ahead of George Hill. A closer battle was developing in the navigators table, 5 points covered the first four places. Richard Harper looked determined to join his driver at the top of the table, for he was only one point behind Keith Wood. A fight was certainly developing.