GravelGirls

On Saturday 19th May 2007 Julie, Becky, Amanda Macczak, Nicola Parker and myself made our way to Swansea Air Base where we handed over a cheque for £9,254.00 The money was raised after Nicola had had a serious accident whilst competing on the Cambrian Rally back in 2005. She wanted to say thank you to the Welsh Air Ambulance for saving her life, and by doing this came up with the idea of the Gravelgirls calander. In a short space of time and many calanders sold (Thank You to everyone who purchased one) the much needed money was handed over.

Before we had arrived the Helicopter crew had been called out to a road traffic accident and whilst we were waiting for them to return, we had the chance to meet the organising Team, the fundraisers, the people behind the scenes. A lot of hard work has to go towards the keeping of these Helicopters and it was great to know that we had been able to contribute towards this good cause that saves so many lives.

Robert Reid (Richard Burne's Co-Driver)was also there to hand over a cheque from the Richard Burnes Foundation.

After an hour the Helicopter had arrived, and in style, with an impressive flyover...(show off's). It was great to meet the people that do such a fantastic job and this has to be said for all rescue crews from all over the country that makes our sport a safer place..

Local rally driver Shelly Taunt & co-driver Julie Murphy from Highworth are normally known for competing in the BTRDA & BRC RallyMasters Championships. Up to now their major claim to fame has been BRC, F1400, MSA National Gravel and BTRDA Championship title holders. Now, in support of a good cause, the Silverstone Rally School, GlobalExpense, ASF Sign Factory, X-cite motorsport (Silkolene), Minilite & Guest & Fiore Bricklayers supported pair is taking part in a project which will reveal them to the world in a whole new light!

In the tough, dangerous sport of rallying it can be hard to tell the few female competitors from the men. Once they are kitted out in race suits, crash helmets and two layers of fireproof underwear there is little scope for femininity. Now the new 'Gravel Girls' calendar will leave no doubt that Shelly, Julie and their fellow competitors are female. These fearless motorsport competitors have been persuaded to face a new challenge by revealing all for a project that’s sure to get male hearts racing all over the country. But the Highworth Mums and other 'Gravel Girls' from all over the UK would not have agreed to strip off unless there was a very good reason.

Nicola Parker, an up-and-coming young rally competitor, suffered a severe head injury in a horrific rally accident last November. The powerful Subaru Impreza she was driving crashed off a gravel forest track and became stuck 30ft down a steep ravine. The crash could easily have proved fatal, but Nicola and her co-driver were rescued from the wrecked rally car by the Wales Air Ambulance. A reconstruction of the dramatic events has been made for a television documentary.

Nicola, 28, is now fighting fit again and well on the way to a full recovery. The 'Gravel Girls' calendar was her brainchild, to raise funds for the Air Ambulance charity that literally saved her life. Nicola has received outstanding support from fellow competitors nationwide. Along with Shelly a former British Rally Champion, the calendar will feature four other previous title holders including rally driver and television presenter Penny Mallory. Many other female competitors from all levels of the sport have joined them during two days of intensive photo shoots.

Shelly, Julie and the other 'Gravel Girls' have rallied round because many rally teams from all over the UK compete in Wales on a regular basis. All motorsport can be dangerous and rally driving especially so. Far away from the relative safety of a race track with its gravel traps and crash barriers, rallying takes place on narrow forest tracks in remote locations. Rally competitors know that the gravel “rally stages” of Wales present a particularly hazardous challenge. With slippery surfaces and steep hillsides, a small mistake or mechanical problem could easily put any competitor in difficulties.

Knowing the risks of their sport only too well, Taunt, Murphy and their fellow 'Gravel Girls' are grateful for the important role played by the local Air Ambulance charity. The Wales Air Ambulance provides a life saving service without any government help or funding. About 40% of all incidents attended are Road Traffic Accidents. In the last 5 years they have responded to 5000 missions, and the air ambulance only works an 8 hour shift! This year they have been exceptionally busy and rescue missions have been double that of any other summer. Speed of rescue is paramount to the recovery of any casualty

Shelly & Julie said “at first when we was asked by Nicola to take part, we were both horrified, but soon realised that it was for a good cause”. Nicola has been extremely lucky and also very brave as she is continuing to take part in the sport that she loves”. “Without these rescue crews our sport would be difficult to compete in, they rely on charities and fund raising events to keep them doing the fantastic job that they do”.

The 'Gravel Girls' project has already received financial sponsorship from major motorsport companies including Pirelli, Kumho, Speedline, Proflex, Geoff Jones Motorsport, VK, Prodrive and Demon Tweeks as well as the Sun newspaper. With such great backing, the girls are confident that their calendar will be a huge phenomenon. The combination of fast cars and the female form has become so popular that it’s almost a cliché, but Shelly, Julie and the other “Gravel Girls” are offering something truly unique. They are not airbrushed models, but real women who actually compete in the tough sport of rallying, and the high-performance cars they will be appearing in, on and under are their own.

The 'Gravel Girls' calendar aims to emulate both the fundraising success of the famous WI 'Calendar Girls', and also their fun style of presentation. Expertly-lit monochrome photos will give the calendar the same cheeky yet artistic look. The major difference is that Shelly, Julie and friends will have their modesty tantalisingly preserved by car parts, wheels, tyres maps and other rally paraphernalia instead of cakes, knitting and jam.

For an interview, please contact Shelly on 07812 890371 or e-mail shelly.taunt@lineone.net For further information about 'Gravel Girls' or to obtain publicity photographs please contact Nicola Parker on 07970971664, or email nicola.parker@virgin.net

British Ladies Rally Champions

Left - Lorna Smith.
Top - Kate Heath.
Right - Shelly Taunt.
Bottom - Barbara Armstrong