Competitor Profiles
Name: Malcolm (Malc) Hamer
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired Engineer
Hear goes the saga…….
1958 – 1959
I Joined High Moor Motor Club of Oldham in 1958, my first event was the H.M.M.C Road Safety Rally, in which I finished near last. 1959 saw my second event, the Saddleworth Road Safety Rally, in which I claimed first over all and held my 1st Trophy.
The reason behind entering Road Safety Rallies was due to having 13 accidents in my 1st year of driving! I hit a lot of things that moved and a lot that didn’t.
After joining High Moor, I realised I was not a born driver, so therefore there was only one thing to do, navigate.
1959 – 1964
I started marshalling and navigating for any driver for the 1st year, then went on to club events, and then restricted. I claimed a few good results as a novice, then a semi-expert, then an expert.
1964 – Present
In 1964 I met Mike Howells, and thus started our partnership which is now 45 yrs old. Any restricted events we could afford to our knowledge, we entered. We once did 12 Saturday nights on the trot.
Then Internationals Welsh Scottish Circuit of Ireland Gulf London (toughest of all) and R.A.C's
In 1967 we entered R.A.C, which was cancelled on Friday tea time, pocket full petrol money, best night out ever!
We did 1968 R.A.C, and finished 11th O/A and 1st in Class (see results table to the side), Automatic Rover 3500. There where many stories about us and lots of press cuttings
We also finished the last two Gulf London’s that were run by the Clerk of the Course, David Seagal-Morris, who thought that it was not tough enough if there were more than 10 finishers
In the 1972 R.A.C we used a Cooper S. After the rally Mike sold it complete with stickers. We where looking for car for the 1973 R .A.C, and ended up buying it back at a much reduced rate. The boy racer who bought it, thrashed the engine, and thus blew up the gear box. He thought rally suspension was meant for street racing, and he was unable to fix it, so whilst not bent, it was very poorly, so thus the reduced rate.
1988 RAC - Metro Turbo on day 2 we rolled it smashing the windscreen, so we had no windscreen for last 2 days, but still finished.
1989-Skoda Champs
The reason we entered and won the Skoda Champs was accidental, David’s son Mike thought ‘you and Malc look like your having a good time rallying, now its my time to have a go’, and continued talking of cars for Nationals and Internationals and lots of money.
Mike, as usual, said rubbish, me and Malc will show you how to do it in a car that doesn’t cost thousands of pounds. So the challenge was set (red rag to a bull). Mike bought a Lada Reva and we re-built its sump guard, and tyres for under one thousand pounds!
1st Mintex National 2nd Scottish International Finland both.
Mike then gave car to David, on one condition, for the first few rallies you have to take Malc. It did not take us long to get his international licence, so David and I did the Welsh, after this he was on his way.
He started in the Larda Challenge, so rather than act as chase car on road mike bought a Skoda to chase him on the stage. Being started at rear of field most organisers had no problem with request to run 5 to 10 cars behind him. In those days the manufacturers classes were very competitive. This allowed us to win Skoda champ with David 2nd in Lada challenge
As you can see where mike and I are involved nothing is simple..
1989-RAC in Skoda did not finish Blown Head Gasket
From 1993 we slowed down having to service for Mike’s son David (he is still rallying).
So last year the partnership started again, now Mike is 65, but don't mention this to him. We did The Rally of the Tests, not our best decision. One of my friends who lives 300yds from me (Nigel Bramhall, who won the event last year) talked us into it, he said it would suit two older competitors, I will get him for that!
With 57 selectives, Rally Evolution is getting near to the good old days
Just checked old road books in 1968 Gulf London 79 stages and R A C 87 stages.
See you soon!
Best Bits: Winning
Worst Bits: Not Winning
Any near misses: Every event we have ever done in last 45yrs! Crash, Rolls, hit trees, bridges, head on crash on Circuit and on closed road and many more. . .
Argue with driver: Never, waste of time I get in car no pedals my side Mike gets in car no maps his side.
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