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Brod in 'Sijui', his well-known rallying Imp.
(Photo MOD)
RALLY DRIVER, NAVIGATOR, ORGANIZER, MANAGER
Early days:
Brod started rallying in Malta in 1969 in a self-prepared FIAT 125 with support from the FIAT importers. He ended his first season of rallying as 5th driver in the Malta Rally Championship. On his return to UK, Brod remained with his FIAT, now with sponsorship from St George’s Garage, Stamford, and competed in the 1973/1974 RAFMSA Road Rally Championship where he was lying in 2nd place overall before being posted to Hong Kong.
1973 New Cedos. FIAT 125 Brod Purdy and
Dave Adams
In Hong Kong, he was contracted to drive the Simca importer’s Simca Rallye II in both the 1974 Macao Grand Prix and the 1975 Rothman’s Rally Hong Kong. (The first was a non-starter as the car could not be made ready in time and on the second, the car expired in a cloud of steam having set the fastest time on the televised stage.) Brod then started to rally his Lancia Fulvia Coupé, leading the Championship until an offer to act as lead co-driver for the No 1 driver for the semi-official Honda Team saw a change of seats. A 3rd place in the 1975/1976 Rothman’s National Hong Kong Rally Championship was followed by an outright win in the following year, still with the Honda team. (This win was followed by the offer of a works drive in an ex-works FIAT 131 Abarth to be run by the FIAT (Far East) importers in SE Asian rallies. Unfortunately, Brod was unable to take up this offer as he had returned to UK to fly Vulcans!)
1979 Mintex International. RAF
Regiment Land Rover: Sgt Mel Bonfield and Flt Lt Brod Purdy
Once back in Britain, Brod concentrated on flying the Vulcan, but was appointed Team Leader for the RAFMSA entry on the 1979 Mintex International on which he and his driver won the IRDC Newcomer's Award and the Musgrave Trophy. This event is worthy of note as it was the first time that the RAF had entered a team of RAF
Land Rovers in an International event. The drivers were RAF Regiment personnel, with RAFMSA co-drivers. Brod was also the Publicity member for the RAFMSA and worked closely with Yorkshire TV and local and national press to ensure good coverage of the Team for the RAF. Brod was also seen sitting in the navigator’s seat on a variety of cars: a Honda S800, a
number of Ford Escorts and a Dutton Phaeton kit car.
Retirement:
Retirement from the RAF to join the British Defence Industry caused a hiatus in his rallying programme. However in 1987 Brod co-drove a Lada 1200 in the Mintex National Lada Championship and in 1990 he acted as co-driver /guru for a new driver who wished to start stage rallying and needed tuition. By their 2nd event together, they had broken into the top 20.
1990 Hella Stages. Ford Escort:
James Potter and Brod Purdy
A spell out of work and at University as a mature student caused yet another period of retirement - and a short spell back in Hong Kong as the General Manager of a Chinese electronics factory where his knowledge of Chinese proved to be of great use, both linguistically and culturally! But, however hard he tried, he just could not get anyone interested in starting to rally in Hong Kong again!
Historic Rallying:
On his return to UK, Brod decided to return to his rallying roots and bought a 1969 Hillman Super Imp that he slowly turned into a reliable rally car. With his wife, Carolyn, he competed on the Historic Rally Car Register organized Road Rally Championship in 1999 and 2000. In October 2000 they raised £1500 for the British Epilepsy Association by completing the 1500 mile 12th Classic Car Marathon in the Imp.
2000 12th Classic Marathon. Hillman
Super Imp. Brod and Carolyn Purdy (Photo: P Fougier)
For the 2001 season, Brod teamed up with one of the RAF’s better rally navigators, Ric Hands; unfortunately the Foot and Mouth crisis intervened and this pairing managed only one event. Due to Ric’s frequent overseas work, Ric and Brod only managed one event together in 2002…but they did achieve a 7th overall and 1st in class. The Imp beat them, it won two concours awards during the year.
2003 was a very barren year. Brod teamed up with a fellow RAF Reservist who managed to injure his back, thus all early rallies were cancelled. However, Brod and Jon managed to compete on the inaugural Ypres Retro Rally in May 2003, helping the RAFMSA Team win the Best Team Award. Unfortunately the engine was damaged during the event and a long rebuild became necessary.
In 2004 Brod teamed up with a fellow ex-Hong Kong rally navigator, Mike Leaming, to contest the 2004 'Ypres Retro - The Poppy Rally' and the HRCR Road Rally Championship, which also doubled as the RAFMSA Road Rally Championship; Brod managed 2nd Driver in the RAFMSA Championship (missing out by 2 points!) and 1st Road Rally Driver in the same Championship.
Brod has now purchased a
'Historic' 1966 Porsche 912 in order to continue rallying with the HRCR in its 'Clubman's Championship'. The Imp was sold in October 2005 to a driver who had already accepted an entry on the Holland based 'Winter Trial'. For interest, the Imp was the smallest engined car on the event and the crew picked up the 'Spirit of the Rally' award. Subsequent comments to Brod by the organizer of the event were highly complimentary regarding the preparation of the Imp. Nice to know.
Rallying for
Macmillan: After being
diagnosed with cancer in late 2006, Brod took the opportunity to enter the
Fourth Grand Tour, Cape to Cape with Carolyn, his wife, to promote awareness of
Macmillan Cancer Support and also to raise funds for this supportive
organization. (Details can be read by clicking on 2007 Cape to Cape) The Porsche was carefully
prepared, navigational equipment installed, entry fee paid...and the fund
raising activities started. In 2007, Brod and Carolyn had raised £1700
for Macmillan. Flushed with success, they decided to join the 2008 Tour
(details at: 2008 Tour) and set about raising
donations...and even spent two days standing in Tesco's at Cleethorpes holding
collection boxes. In 2008, they raised the magnificent sum of £4500 for
Macmillan Cancer Support. And
there is to be a Sixth Tour in 2009...
Brod (Navigator) and Carolyn
(Driver) before the Fourth Cape to Cape Tour in 2007.
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Pastiche by Brod 
