1981 Lombard RAC Rally - 'In at the deep end' documentary 

Machynlleth two hour rest halt: me and my 'oppo were stood near the nearside front of the car, watching the mechanics working. Car up on axle stands. Amazing scene. Departure time coming up and the crew was summoned. Came to the car, Mr Searle biting into an apple. Offered Roger a bite - shook his head. Mechanics got them into the car. Finishing up jobs. Jacked the car down. Mechanic indicated start up. Roger turned the key, and there was a loud click, and nothing. Pandemonium broke out. Mechanics rushing to pick up tools and rush to the car. Said mechanic acted liked he'd been electric shocked. Recovered, and grabbed a club hammer, forced himself under the car and started hammering the starter motor. Had to jack the car up again as I recall, and fiddle with the starter. After a minute got it to work. Scenes of urgent desperation since Rogers time to leave had passed. Eased his way out, then roared of up Bank Lane at competive speed, to the time control. Picked up the penalty for two minutes late. Will be in my memory till I die.

Chris Searle was a hero when I was a boy. He did everything I wanted to do when I grew up.

That was brilliant. I remember watching it when it aired for the first time and I've often thought about it since. Great to watch it again!

What a great watch. I remember watching it on the tv when it was first on so it's been a while since. Nice to see it again

Been looking for this for years, many thanks.

Haha, they keep dubbing quattro over the top of the escort sometimes :D

What a treat to see this. Thanks for uploading it for us.

Many thanks for showing this. Pure history.Loved it.

What a nice man Roger was. 😊 great memories too.👏👏👏👏👏👍🏼👍🏼

Brilliant , thanks for showing all of in at the deep end I have been waiting a long time for the final part it to be uploaded ! Cheers !

Couldn't have chosen a better car to learn in!!

Epic I remember watching this back in the day, it seems very dated now but still great to see again 👍🏁

God. Seems a long time ago. I was out spectating on the whole of the rally. Good to see it again, brings back good memories of how the RAC used to be when it was a long event, and no pace notes! I wonder how Chris would have coped with them. I remember the service at llandudno, chris got out of the car and looked totally knackered. 👍

Watched this after seeing another Roger Clark compilation. Clark did incredibly well to finish so high in the field with a total novice. You don't get the feeling he didn't relish the attention of a constant camera crew or Searle's company but the footage did not mark him as a prima donna as others seem to have indicated on the other video.

Great to finally see the end! I'm glad Roger cheered up a bit when it was over...

Absolutely fantastic 80s incidental music. I wish music was still like this rather than the overbearing scores you get these days. 😉

I wish I could get the whole series. I remember the bookie edition particularly.

What fantastic video, I watched it years ago as I have on VHS ****

Such a great series, back in the day. Do a revival version for stock

250 bhp is routine for larger diesel powered family cars these days. How things have changed.

Great to see the Orme at the end.

Thanks for that, like the previous post, was hoping someone would have the end of the programme. Brilliant. Would hate to be tutored by John Taylor!!

This was excellent thank you. FYI I was a rally enthusiast and young Police Traffic driver when this occurred. The Police Inspector comes across rather dry and not entirely convincing from a speed / pursuit point of view. I would suggest that this was controlled by the PR officer as the inspector shows little of the vehicle capability or Police driver training. Our Police response Rover 3500 V8 Vitesses were built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing with early Lucas fuel injection. They were lowered with upgraded suspension and wheels / tyres, a full aerodynamic kit and in the region of 260 BHP through the rear wheels. First gear 45 mph, second gear 79 mph on a motorway slip road and on to 155 + nothing much could compete with them. There was an extension to the advanced driver course for the fire arms teams not shown here including diplomat protection informed by the SAS (yes, retired sneaky beaky officers) - this included defensive driving, hand brake turns, reverse U- turns at speed and a slalom course that had to be completed in a set time to pass. The course was 3 months driving at pace on all surfaces, weathers and country lanes. I would have put an experienced Traffic ARV driver in my force against anyone in a 'real world' urban setting. The Inspector got one thing right at the end - more than not the target vehicle either gave up or ran out of road - rare to lose a pursuit. In the years that followed the ARVs became even more discreet including de-badged Sierra Cosworths, Mitsubishi Evos and Subaru Impreza Pro Drive WRX vehicles. The training also kept improving with annual refreshers. It was exciting stuff for a 23 year old. PIC: www.flickr.com/photos/s11aun/17210619716/sizes/h/ Thanks for the video.

I thought this would be silly and slightly campy in that local TV news kind of way, but it was a terrific show! It took the rallying and driving very seriously, as it should. Good show👍😉. I do have a bit of criticism; Roger Clark apparently agreed to do this, going in with the full knowledge that his co-driver would be a novice, and not previously an enthusiast of the sport, yet he was a bit of a dick to the guy. Seems to me, what this reporter did in a short time was remarkable, if he did indeed work as hard to try and prepare and learn as was implied. Not an easy thing to do.

WOW, what a fascinating journey!! Thanks for sharing all this detail.. OMGosh, 8 hours sleep in 4 nights? That's cruelty to innocent humans, there should be a law against it.. still can't believe a rally champion like Roger Clarke takes a rookie Navigator, how did that happen? Absolutely no criticism of the rookie Navigator, I would have been 💩'ing my pants were I in his shoes!!.. WELL DONE Chris, for your first rally, that was epic☀🚀

Chester at the very beginning before the titles. I remember watching this as a youth but a much better tv episode now.

Brilliant!

A great watch.

Got the impression Rog wasn’t impressed with Chris’s driving at donington. The subject got quickly changed when he asked how his driving was!. And bleeding hell what was up with John Taylor!!

"Would you like a bite of my apple?" FFS

Blimey I couldn't imagine this happening today! I remember having a shot at navigating myself but couldn't handle it.......physically! I was badly sick after about an hours drive. I'd never suffered with car sickness since I was a child but the guy I went with told me it happens to a few navigators.....something to do with moving the head up and down.

Fast Ford!

You've uploaded a fantastic set of videos! Unfortunately, it doesn't seem there is a way to contact you directly so apologies for going this way but would you be interested in trading some rally events? I have many events (from the 1950s onwards, all original tv broadcasts) you might be interested in.

inspector plod shuffling his steering wheel.

Oh my god , thats like having Mr Bean as your co-driver - WHY WOULD ROGER CLARK DO THIS

Jeremy clarkson modelled himself on this clown!

I’m sorry but I would have punched the instructor. Far too eager for his 15 minutes.

DRIVER AND CO-DRIVER - ALMOST LIKE BEING MARRIED - YEAH HE WASNT TALKING TO HIS WIFE