An amateur film made by Michael John Keane recording a motor rally taking place in Middlesbrough. The film is believed to begin in a car park at Stockton-on-Tees with rally cars preparing to begin the race and spectators taking the opportunity to look over the cars prior to the start. Cleveland County Council logos are attached to each car above their respective number. On rough or derelict ground in the Newport area of Middlesbrough near to the Newport Bridge, rally cars race around a...

An amateur film made by Michael John Keane recording a motor rally taking place in Middlesbrough. The film is believed to begin in a car park at Stockton-on-Tees with rally cars preparing to begin the race and spectators taking the opportunity to look over the cars prior to the start. Cleveland County Council logos are attached to each car above their respective number. On rough or derelict ground in the Newport area of Middlesbrough near to the Newport Bridge, rally cars race around a circuit watched by spectators. The film changes abruptly to a field and a light aircraft taxiing along watched by spectators. The rally then appears to continue in open countryside. General views of the cars watched by spectators are followed by the cars racing through a wooded area. The film cuts back to the derelict land at Newport and the cars driving around the circuit there as the film ends. The film opens showing driver and passenger in a Ford Escort Mark 2, one of the cars which is competing in the rally. The film goes on to shows a view through the passenger door window showing the instrument panel on the car’s dashboard. The car numbered 13 also displays advertising for Elf petrol and B.O.C. a company which supplies industrial gases. Crowds mingle amongst the high-performance cars parked on open land in Stockton town centre. The old street layouts allow access for the cars. Several well-known makes of car head off from the start of the rally, all of them carry a driver and navigator. The first group to head off from the old streets include a Ford Escort Mark 1, number 20 a Hillman Imp, number 27 a Jago jeep built from a kit and a Mini. The film moves to the main race where the cars negotiate a rough track on derelict land not far from the Newport bridge in Middlesbrough. Several old buildings, isolated and abandoned, form part the general scene along the route. A sloping footway heading up to the footpath that runs across Newport bridge provides a good viewpoint for some keen photographers to watch the rally. A number of drivers can be identified as their names appear on their car, they include Linda Hudspeth, Margaret Cook driving number 1 a Vauxhall Chevette, and John Howe driving a Ford Escort. The film continues by showing individual cars passing by the camera and heading off towards Newport bridge which can be clearly seen in the background. Occasional views also occur of other landmarks; the A19 flyover and the incinerator plant nearby. Other viewpoints along the trackside show the progress of the rally. The Ford Escort Marks 1 and 2 seem to dominate the field, but other models make up the rest of the cars entered, including number 53 a Datsun, number 73 a Morris 1000, number 81 a Vauxhall Viva. number 49 a Vauxhall Chevette a Magenta which is a kit car, a Hillman Avenger, a Ford Capri, number 50 an Opel, number 38 a Honda and a Ford Cortina Mark 1. Advertising on the cars often includes local businesses including the Mayfair service station in Sunderland, K C Motors of Hartlepool, Meadowfield Garage in Sunderland An abrupt change of scene shows a light aircraft registered as G-SHAW taxiing past spectators. The film goes back to the cars in the rally now racing over open countryside, this may be part of the Croft Autodrome circuit near Darlington. The conditions are very dry with dust clouding some views as the cars negotiate the track. Number 20 a Hillman Imp breaks down; marshals and spectators give assistance. The next section of the film shows cars racing along a tree lined track and the film ends as it cuts back to a brief section of the race on the rough track in Middlesbrough.