Gee whizz! Gary to race with rallying legends

4:27pm Thursday 13th March 2008

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EAST Lancashire business-man Gary Gee has been invited to appear alongside some of the greatest names in rallying at this weekend's Race Retro.

Gee, who lives in Oswaldtwistle, will join Markku Alen, Bjorn Waldegaard and Russell Brookes in a series of demonstration runs during the event at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire.

He will be driving his famous ex-Guy Frequelin Opel Manta 400 as part of the live classic rally stage, which features cars and drivers from rallying's glorious past.

The stage has been organised by the Slowly Sideways Group - drivers who own ex-works group B' cars from the 70s and 80s and drive them - non-competitively - alongside major European rallies.

"I was delighted to be invited and it will be a fantastic occasion for any enthusiast who remembers the cars and their drivers from what is considered to be the golden era of rallying," explained Gee, who is a member of Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club.

"All three are former champions and may be long retired, but they are still very quick and very competitive. Although they are billed as demonstration runs, everyone is determined to put on a good show for the spectators!"

Gee bought the Manta from a Norwegian enthusiast who had used it for ice racing.

Although in good condition, the car had lost many of the factory parts and required stripping down to a bare shell and rebuilding by RVL in Accrington.

Gee then spent the following 12 months sourcing the correct parts.

This weekend's Race Retro, Europe's biggest historic motorshow, marks Gee's second appearance of the year with the Rothmans-liveried vehicle.

For he drove it on the Malcolm Wilson Rally with veteran co-driver Ian Grindrod, until a driveshaft problem forced them to retire on stage six.

Gee, who runs GJ Pipework Contractors, is also set to appear on the TAC Rally in Belgium and the Killarney Rally of the Lakes in Ireland.

The car will appear, too, at the Chatsworth Rally Show with former British champion and Manta driver Jimmy McRae at the wheel.

Gary Gee who like to thank sponsors Triple A at Clayton Le Moors, and Tim Foster at RVL for the car preparation.

For more information visit www.race retro.co.uk.