Paul Ohren-Bird
| Paul Ohren-Bird | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 March 1963 Northampton, England |
| 🏳️ Nationality |  British |
| 💼 Occupation | |
Paul Ohren-Bird (born 07 March 1963) is a British rally racing co-driver born in Northampton. In his capacity as a semi-professional rally co-driver, Ohren-Bird has been very successful throughout his rallying career winning rallies in his class and being successful in various championships held in the UK.
Career
Early Years 1986–1994
Ohren-Bird started his career as a successful footballer at Nene Valley Football Club, [1) and then joined his father’s family Shopfitting business as a Shopfitter after successfully gaining his apprenticeship. This gave him the opportunity to enter into the relatively inexpensive motorsport of road rallying in 1986. Ohren-Bird joined a Northampton Motor Club, Blackbird Auto Club [2) as a driver in a Ford Escort,1600cc.
- 1986 Ohren-Bird’s first rally was in the Ford Escort competing on the 12-Car Road Rally Championship with Blackbird Auto Club with Nigel Penn as navigator.
- 1987–1988 Competed with Nigel Penn in the Ford Escort, winning various events.
- 1989 Competed in the John Roan Photography Road Rally NCP Championship with Nigel Penn and won the overall championship.
- 1990–1993 Competed with Nigel Penn on Blackbird Auto Club and Mid Northants Road Rally Championships winning various rounds.
- 1994 Competed on the Mid Northants Road Rally Championship with Nigel Penn in a Vauxhall Astra and won the overall championship.
Between 1986 & 1994, Ohren-Bird organised and marshalled on various road rally events giving him a solid understanding of rally navigation and event management.
Later Years 1995–2017
In 1995 Ohren-Bird decided to swap seats and went down the route of co-driving on special stage events, a decision that proved to be a massive turning point in his rallying career. With various finishes in 1995 and 1996, Ohren-Bird met the criteria and was granted his International Competition Licence in July 1996.
Ohren-Bird has earnt the respect from many drivers and co-drivers in the rallying world as he has competed in and won several national championships in the role as co-driver. With 31 years of competing, he has been competing nationally and internationally with outstanding results and wins in many championships and rallies. Ohren-Bird has competed in many high-profile rallies and he has been a feature on many World, European and UK Championships while captured on Motors TV, Eurosport and Sky Sports TV.
Highlights
- 1996 Ohren-Bird joined East Midlands Rally Team in August and competed on the famous Network Q RAC Rally [3) with Bill Douglas
- 1997 Competed on first overseas event entering the Rallye Le Touquet
- Pas-de-Calais [4) round of the European Rally Championship
- 1998 Competed on his first Rally Championship - BTRDA Rally Series and finished 3rd in the championship, while winning and runner-up on various rounds
- 1999 Won the Heart of England Rally Championship in an Escort with Bill Douglas
- 2004 Competed on Rally Barbados [5) and Vierhouten Pallets Nederland Rally [6) in Holland competing in a Peugeot 106 S16 Cup Car
- 2008 Left East Midlands Rally Team to set up OB Rallying and Motorsport [7) as director and team co-driver
- 2009 Competed on the REIS MSA British National Championship in a Peugeot with Tim Daltry runner-up in class and 3rd Overall in the Championship. Also won his Class in the Epynt Challenge
- 2016 Competed on the Cotswold Motor Sport Group Stage Rally Championship [8), won the class and 4th Overall
- 2017 Competed his 100th Stage Rally with Jack Didcock in a Peugeot on the Get It Sideways Stages [9), Down Ampney
Latest Ventures
2008–Today
OB Rallying & Motorsport
In 2008, Ohren-Bird set up OB Rallying & Motorsport after leaving East Midlands Rally Team to concentrate on new ventures, that included training and being an author. Apart from the responsibility for co-driving with OB Rallying & Motorsport, Ohren-Bird undertakes the off and on-event management of the team and liaises with sponsors, national and local media. Furthermore, Ohren-Bird attends local road rallies where he acts as a marshal.
OB Rallying & Motorsport has a site on Facebook that currently has over 5,000 plus likes and has a large following on other social media platforms.
During Ohren-Bird's rallying career he has always felt that he wanted to put something back into rallying and the sport, therefore he has written two books to assist new navigators and co-drivers: -
- Rally Navigation & Co-Driving in Motorsport
- Advanced Rally Co-Driving in Motorsport
2018–Today
Navigator & Co-Driver Training Academy
Ohren-Bird, who is Director of Motorsport at Personal Track Safety Ltd (company delivering nationwide Training & Apprenticeships) has started a navigator and co-driver's academy for youngsters to develop their skills and become experienced and skilled navigators & co-drivers.
Ohren-Bird has designed, developed and implementing formal qualifications through the AoFAQ Awarding Body as there are no formal qualifications available for any new co-driver or navigator. He has designed all the training material, tests and the full qualification specification and structure that covers:
- Level 1 for Road Rallying Navigators
- Level 2 for Co-Drivers who compete on Stage Rallies
- Level 3 for Rally Co-Ordinator's and Rally Team Managers
Results[edit]
| Championship | Season | Rally Driver | Car | Position Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTRDA Forest Rally Series | 1998 | Bill Douglas | Ford Escort | 3rd |
| Heart of England
Championship |
1999 | Bill Douglas | Ford Escort | 1st |
| Rally Asphalt 2002 | 2002 | Angela Morris | Peugeot GTI | 2nd |
| Get Connected | 2003 | Angela Morris | Peugeot 106 | 2nd |
| GPR National | 2004 | Angela Ohren-Bird | ExamplePeugeot 106 | 2nd |
| Heart of England
Championship |
2006 | Bill Douglas | Dahatsui 4x4 | 3rd |
| REIS BTRDA MSA National | 2009 | Tim Daltry | Peugeot GTI | 2nd |
| Two Wheel Drive Challenge | 2009 | Tim Daltry | Peugeot GTI | 2nd |
| Legend Fires Egypt Challenge | 2009 | Tim Daltry | Peugeot GTI | 1st |
| MSA National Asphalt Rally | 2010 | Tim Daltry | Peugeot GTI | 1st |
| Legend Fires Egypt Challenge | 2010 | Tim Daltry | Peugeot GTI | 3rd |
| BTRDA Challenge
Heart of England Championship |
2010 | Tim Daltry | Peugeot GTI | 1st |
| Heart of England Championship | 2015 | Jack Didcock | Peugeot GTI | 1st |
| MSN National Rally Championship | 2015/16 | Stuart Mead | Ford Escort | 4th |
| Cotswold Motor Sport Group Stage Rally | 2016 | Matt Langford | Ford Fiesta ST | 1st |
Notes[edit]
- Nene Valley Football Club - https://www.clubwebsite.com/nvr - Retrieved 25 April 2018
- Blackbird Auto Club - https://en-gb.facebook.com/Blackbird-Auto-Club-166829269994768/ - Retrieved 25 April 2018
- Network Q RAC Rally - www.at-speed.co.uk/rcenta.htm - -Retrieved 25 April 2018
- Rallye Le Touquet - https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/8601-rallye-le-touquet-pas-de-calais-1997/ - Retrieved 25 April 2018
- Rally Barbados - https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/13554-rally-barbados-2004/ - Retrieved 25 April 2018 6. Vierhouten Pallets Nederland Rally - https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/31876-vierhouten-pallets-nederland-rally-2004/ - Retrieved 25
- OB Rallying and Motorsport - www.obrallying.com/
- Cotswold Motor Sport Group Stage Rally Championship - www.cmsg.co.uk/ - Retrieved 25
- Get It Sideways Stages https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/39128-get-it-sideways-stages-2017/ - Retrieved 25
References[edit]
- Ohren-Bird, Paul (Author). - Rally Navigation & Co-Driving in Motorsport - https://www.amazon.co.uk/-
- Ohren-Bird, Paul (Author). - Advanced Rally Co-Driving in Motorsport * Paul Ohren-Bird (eWRC–Results) https://www.ewrc-results.com/coprofile.php?p=8592 * Daventry Express Newspaper Report - https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/sport/rally-duo-look-to-volvo-again-1-1313547 - Retrieved 25 April 2018
- 1998 Final Championship Tables BTRDA - archive.djames.org.uk/1998/btrda.html Retrieved 25 April 2018
- 1999 Woodpecker Result - archive.djames.org.uk/1999/woodpecker/index.html – Retrieved 25 April 2018 * Chronicle & Echo Newspaper Report - https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/racing-to-matrimony-1-903889 - Retrieved 25 April 2018 * Daventry Express Newspaper Report - https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/sport/angela-in-driving-seat-1-1310099 - Retrieved 25 April 2018 * Paul Ohren-Bird YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIWGGI4aXGgIrIpTgHh17Jg Retrieved 25 April 2018 * Rally Photo - https://www.flickr.com/photos/97502789@N08/30488235181 Retrieved 25 April 2018 Retrieved 25 April 2018
- West Cork Rally 2003 (Sky Sports Rally Fever TV Programme) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0_uNdB9zSg - Retrieved 25 April 2018 * Daventry Express Newspaper Report - https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/sport/rally-team-shine-1-1313549 Retrieved 25 April 2018 * OB Rallying - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzN9UCoV934 Retrieved 25 April 2018 * Paul Ohren-Bird - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIWGGI4aXGgIrIpTgHh17Jg Retrieved 25 April 2018
External links[edit]
- Nene Valley Football Club - nvr - Retrieved 25 April 2018
- Blackbird Auto Club - Retrieved 25 April 2018
- Network Q RAC Rally - Retrieved 25 April 2018
- Rallye Le Touquet - Retrieved 25 April 2018
- Rally Barbados - Retrieved 25 April 2018
- Vierhouten Pallets Nederland Rally - Retrieved 25
- OB Rallying and Motorsport
- Cotswold Motor Sport Group Stage Rally Championship- Retrieved 25
- Get It Sideways Stages - Retrieved 25
- Rally Navigation & Co-Driving in Motorsport: Volume 1
- Advanced Rally Co-Driving in Motorsport Vol 2
This article "Paul Ohren-Bird" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Paul Ohren-Bird. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
