Images courtesy of PoseRallying, Ian Hardy, Welsh Rally photos, Simon Clarke
Eric Weaver
October 1971 - Eric joined Ludlow Castle Motor Club, along with his 1967 Ford Anglia Super 1500 GT, and together they entered autotests, PCT's and 12 Cars, as well as organising them.
November 1980 - Eric entered his first Road Rally, Birmingham University's
November Rally. This saw the beginning of two new partnerships, one with
Andrew Sankey as navigator and the other with his new rally car, a 1700cc,
160 bhp Ford Anglia. They started car 124 and finished 13th 0/A, but were
unfortunately excluded for not stopping at a 'Give Way' in Canon Pyon,
Herefordshire. However, they later went on to win this rally twice, once
in 1982 in the above Anglia, and then again in 1985 in a 2100cc, 170 bhp
Mk 2 Escort!
In 1986-1988 Eric was C of C for his own club's Peak Revs Road Rally which
last ran as a Motoring News event in 1976.
Eric then took time out of competing.
In 1992 he bought back his old Anglia, which had been completely overhauled for hill climbing, intending to prepare it for Tarmac Rallying, with a 200 bhp cross flow engine.
1995 saw Eric also re-purchase his old Escort, and in 1996 entered The Heart of England Single Venue Championship, this time co-driven by Tony Mantle. They finished 8th overall and 3rd in class.
1998 and 1999 finishing 8th overall again on both occasions, but improving class positions to 2nd and 1st respectively.
November 1999 saw Eric purchase the ex-Jan Churchill Darrian T9. He entered The Heart of England & Cotswold Championships, winning both outright in 2000 with one round left in each to go. The award for the winning the former was an entry to the May 2001 Monteberg Rally Sprint in Belgium. Once again, co-driven by Tony Mantle, they finished 18th overall.
2004 saw Eric return to Belgium, this time partnered by Shane Bowen.
Unfortunately they non-finished owing to a 120 mph spin, bending the front
suspension!!
Eric has not competed much in the last 2-3 years as he has been running
management and service vehicles for his son Neil, in the BTRDA championship,
whilst also being Equipment Officer for his motor club and also for the
Mutiny Rally, plus still preparing the Anglia in the odd spare moment!
Neil Weaver
Neil started his pursuit of Motorsport at the tender age of 12, taking part in club autotests in his mum's Micra, and showing up many of the regulars by winning awards.
1995 saw him showing what he could do in his dad's 160 bhp Escort on those same autotests.
1997 - and at the age of 17 - he started Single Venue Stage Rallying in his own 1380cc, 130 bhp Anglia at the Bewdley Safari Park Practice Day with dad bravely taking the passenger seat! They did not finish as a coming together with a grass bank broke a rear driveshaft and diff. However, Neil, co-driven by James Bailey, went on to compete in the Quinton and the Woodpecker rallies, finishing 4th overall in the 1400cc class on both events. Over the next couple of years they did various tarmac events with very good results and Neil started to get noticed, as an example on the Welsh Rally over the Epynt ranges, finishing 12th overall and 1st in class.
Then in 2002 they achieved 2nd overall in the Cotswold Single Venue Championship
and all this in a 1966 Ford Anglia!!
2003 Neil acquired his 1400cc, 8 valve Nova and entered the BTRDA 1400
Championship, beginning his partnership with his dad's old navigator,
Andrew 'Maps' Sankey where Neil showed he could also drive a front-wheel-drive
quickly, finishing 3rd overall in the Championship.
He then did the same in 2004 this time partnered by Shelley Rogerson for the first part of the season, and then from the Plains Rally with Nick Thornton, his current co-driver!
At the 2004 BTRDA Presentation Evening, Neil, together with fellow competitor
James Wozencroft, was awarded the special BTRDA Annual award, the Ritchie
Holfeld MAXIMUM ATTACK Trophy, as these two drivers were noted for taking
fastest 2WD on various stages throughout the year.
2004 also saw Neil win the M Sport annual 12 Car in a Peugeot 205 1.9
GTi beating both Malcolm Wilson, and son Matthew.
