Page 19 - EASCR22

T h e D r iv ers cont inued
The Drivers continued
additional tweaking from Roger Clark Motorsport.
When pushed on why a Mk2, Steve points out that, at
6ft 3” he is the shorter of the two (Russell towers over
him at 6.5!) and so there was no room for both of
them in a Mk1 Escort!
Steve intends to share the driving with Russell as they
have done on their last two Top Fry Classic Rallies –
each one will drive alternate days. With two events
together each has learnt their strengths and
weaknesses. Russell is a faster driver but Steve is a bit
more sympathetic on the car. With a motor sport
background born from motor cross and track racing
Steve also admits that he is used to a “flat out”
approach and will have to temper that back a bit.
A Fun fact - Steve used to be the personal pilot
for Niki Lauda, the F1 World Champion, who told him
that if you’re not at full throttle you should be
hard on the brakes - nothing in between!
The pair are targeting a Top 10 but they will also be
keeping an eye on Quentin Mitchell – who is dating
Steves' daughter… there could be a bit of marital
family rivalry (or chivalry?!) involved here!
Lynda and Tony Hughes
Way back in 1981 there was the story of a young lady
rally driver whose car, a Datsun 160J, had been
washed off a bridge and rescued in a swollen river,
19
dragged out and promptly
fired up to carry on with
the rally. The driver was
none other than Lynda
Morgan-Hughes and she
th
finished 20 overall at her
first attempt at the rally.
A few years later, Lynda had been signed up by Nissan
to campaign its March Turbo, winning its class in 1989.
Two years later Lynda took another class podium on
the “Worlds Toughest Motor Rally” before retiring
from active rallying to focus on her family in 1992.
Husband Tony is a veteran of two of the same
“original” Safari Rallies but didn't make it to the finish
of either. However as a pairing Lynda and Tony have
come close to victory and each knows the others
strengths and weaknesses well which should hold
them in good stead!
Family affaires
For the past three decades the Hughes family have
remained heavily involved in the sport, assisting with
running teams, organization and supporting their two
sons, Mikey and Russell, who are both very talented
competitors!
Their car for their debut on the Classic is a Peugeot
504 V6 and has been part of the family since 1981!
Lynda was asked to co-drive for a family friends'
daughter on the Cyprus Rally. Although they failed to
finish the pair returned to Cyprus a year later with the
same car. After many years of sitting in the UK, Lyndas
friend Ruth then offered her the car and since then it
has undergone a full rebuild and now boasts an ex-
works V6 engine and very shiny Reiger suspension!