The Mason & Gerald Martin Autosolo organised by Hartlepool Motor Club attracted 24 entries on Sunday March 29th. The tests were run in glorious spring conditions on the funfair car park and treated each competitor to three runs of two tests with the best four times counting.

The surface was coated in a thin film of sand in places which assisted with hanbrake turns (when required) but the tests were generally open and quite quick, making the event ideal for beginners. Stockton & District Motor Club provided six entries with a broad cross section of cars. Robert McKenzie (Citroen Xsara), Brother Stuart (MG ZR), Geoff Dale (Sylva Fury) and Sally Peacock (Vauxhall VX220) all competing in their first Autosolo.

Robert McKenzie made a dream debut, taking his Citroen to a class win in his very first event. McKenzie clinched the class B honours in a time of 286.7 seconds. Overall honours went to Tom Hall (Mini) in 250.6 secs, six seconds ahead of Tony Crisp (Astra) who also collected the class A honours.

Martin Peacock (Peugeot 106) was third in 267.3 seconds and Martins brother Colin (Triumph GT6) won class C in 274.7 secs while Mike Stead (Buckler Mark 6) won class D in 282.8 secs.

“If it was on Saturday rather than Sunday, we wouldn’t have been able to run,” said Hartlepool DMC’s Chris Langan. “It was so windy, the bollards were being blown all over the place. “But it was completely different on Sunday - it was like two different months, let alone two different days!”