Who is Ron Channon Rally Driver?

Answer 1

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Ron Channon started rallying at club level having joined Tavern Motor Club in Bristol.UK in 1963, He was a founder member in it's start up year.

His first Rally was an all night event in a Hillman Minx, with his brother Ken on the maps. They checked in early at TC2, believing it was TC1, then completed the entire route via every subsequent TC, they got lost so many times and were running so late on the road all the marshalls had gone home!. The pair arrived at the finish at The Black & White cafe on the Stroud road at 0800hrs, only to be told all competitors left at 0600hrs. No one had explained what OTL meant!

Ron sacked his brother, and sold the car, progressing to a Sunbeam Rapier, a car that was still active at International level in the hands of the Bristol based Rootes works driver, Tiny Lewis.

Moderate success in club events followed and in 1964 RC purchaced a new Red Cortina GT, receiving some significant sponsorship in the form of a major tweek in the engine and suspension department from a UK based company West Manning Motors. Things were getting serious! The car enjoyed varied levels of success in National and International rallies and was eventually sold in 1969 to assist in the funding of an entry in The 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally. A free Mk 2 Cortina car was provided by The Bristol main Ford dealers, with sponsorship from Bristol City Football Club.With partner Rod Cooper they finished the 16000 mile rally which took in 27 different countries across Europe and South America, arriving in Mexico 14th overall and best private entry. Throughout the 70s and 80s Ron Channon competed as a co-driver in many International Rallies along side Bristol driver Nigel Rocky, in several variations of the Ford Escort. Then came the quiet years of building his company, Golfplan Insurance into the UKs largested specialist golf insurer.

In September 2011 Ron Channon was contacted by Callum Barney (also an ex trial biker and rally driver) and told his original 1964 Cortina GT (345 EHR) had been found in a barn where it had remained untouched for 40 years!. Callum had bought the car for £10k and prepared it for the 2012 Historic Rally Championship, he invited Ron to Co-drive in The Colin McCrae Forest stages in October 2011 when they finished the event, winning there class. The first rally of the 2012 season takes place in Mid Wales on March 4th... Watch this space!!

Note: For action pictures of the car, just Google Callum Barney/Ron Channon.

Press quote of the year: When asked by a press reporter what was it like returning to rallying, Ron replied 'Expensive, I paid £645 fot the car new, and just paid £725 for my crash helmet to do this event!

Ron Channon