RALLY legend Paddy Hopkirk will be the guest of honour at the 2300 Club of Blackburn’s Andy Mort Tour.
Hopkirk, who was one of the best-known rally drivers of the 1960’s and enjoyed numerous wins behind the wheel of works Minis, has kindly agreed to join club members and entrants at the event, which takes place on Saturday, October 19.
“We are absolutely delighted to have Paddy with us, it promises to make it a day to remember,” said club chairman Neil Molyneux.
“Paddy will also be giving a talk at the finish on his long and illustrious career in rallying , and there will be a question-and-answer session chaired by former international co-driver Ian Grindrod.
“We will also be opening up the forum to enthusiasts who haven’t taken part in the Tour, but would like to join us at West Bradford Village Hall.
“The 2300 Club would also like to thank Mini Sport of Padiham, and their managing director Chris Harper, for making it all happen.”
The Padiham-based Mini specialists enjoy close personal and business links with Hopkirk, and have been entrusted to look after his famous works Cooper S replica 6 EMO, in which he won the 1990 Pirelli Classic Marathon.
“We were very pleased to assist the 2300 Club in securing Paddy as their guest of honour, and as a friend and ambassador of Mini Sport, it will be good to have him back in Lancashire again,” said Chris.
And Hopkirk himself is looking forward to joining everyone in October.
He said: “I know a lot about the 2300 Club of Blackburn and the Tour of Mull Rally which they organised, and I know many of their members, so it promises to be a great day out with friends old and new.”
Now in its fourth year, the Andy Mort Tour is a non-competitive ‘Touring Assembly’ starting and finishing at West Bradford Village Hall, near Clitheroe.
It is run in honour of club member Andy Mort who was competition liaison officer on the Tour of Mull Rally for many years, and a top National-level navigator in his own right. He sadly lost his life in an accident on the 2015 event.
Open to any ‘vehicles of interest’, the Tour will see crews embarking on a scenic route of at least 100 miles using simple navigation of tulip diagrams or map references, with codeboards and marshalled checkpoints.
Run strictly to speed limits on non-damaging roads, entrants can use everyday road cars with no need for special safety equipment such as sumpguards or roll cages.
With a limit of 50 cars allowed, the organisers expect the entry list to fill very quickly, and entries will open next month. The entry fee is £50 per car, which includes a rally-style plate and a meal at the finish.

More information on the 2300 Club of Blackburn’s website: www.2300club.org