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         | Here you will find all the very latest news and information on the rally teams forthcoming activities Last Updated: 11th August 2008
On Saturday the 9th August we took part in the first running of the Lion Stages in its new format of upto 1400cc cars only. There were only 29 starters in the rally as I think some people thought the concept wouldn't get off the ground but in all honesty I think this could really catch on. Our pre-rally prep didn't get off to the best of starts when the Noise test official decided we couldn't start because the fog light on our car didn't function (the bulb had blown). In the 8 years i've been competing I can honestly say I've never met such a jumped up, rule following pedantic man EVER! Certainly the sort of bloke who could put people off rallying and it took the shine off things, although the grin soon returned when we emerged from the first stage lying 8th, that's right eighth overall, that was until the same official decided we couldn't restart because our back bumper had come adrift and dropped off in one of the water splashes. Said bumper was swiftly returned by one of the marshals who made a special trip to get it back to us (many thanks sorry I dont know who you are tho). Quickly sorted out by the service boys and off we went back into SS2, a good run through here saw us taking even more time off our nearest rival and as the rate of attrition increased we climbed even further up the leaderboard. A lunch halt followed whilst the stage was reversed meaning the water splashes were now at the beginning and a VERY long climb now up the hill to the top of the stage which the old 1.3 SR struggled with, Me and Dave even had time for a chat about the weather on the way up that one! Some good stage times followed as we had a proper battle on with Gavin Spencer in the similar (but much more expensive!!!) Nova but with no real drama's apart from the alternator light coming on about 2 miles from the end of the last stage after the pulley had come adrift and the belt had dropped off. Eventually finished the rally in 3rd place overall and first in the class for 8 valve cars. I know we always say thanks to the organisers and marshals but I really do think on this occasion that the Peter Grant and the rest of his team have gone out on an enormous limb to try a new concept which could potentially make stage rallying's spiraling costs a little easier to bear. I know the event did make a loss however the idea is a very good one and hopefully future events will grow and grow. It really did remind you what the spirit that club level rallying is all about with such a friendly atmosphere and everyone helping each other out. Just dont book that bloody B. Surtees scrutineer again, if he wants to be like that hit him in his pocket by not using him!!!
A very hot and sunny day greeted the team as they awoke on Sunday morning (11th May) for the John Overend Rally based at Melbourne airfield near York. The rally got off to the perfect start and saw the team 2nd in their class and going well after the first pair of stages, however the good run very nearly came to an abrupt end on stage 3 when the gearlever in the Nova snapped off almost at the base leaving only a 1 inch stub with which to change gear, to add to our woes the throttle return spring snapped at almost the exact same time and left the car with the throttle jammed wide open...an interesting few miles to say the least not to mention a 40 second time loss which saw us plummet down the results! As always the service team worked hard to fix the damage during the next 30 minute service period and welded the gearstick back together, massive thanks to Paul Drinkall who was servicing next to us for the use of his welder, the rally would almost certainly of been over for us without this assistance. We had a relatively trouble free run over the following 4 stages pulling back time and improving our stage times dramatically, however with the earlier time loss we were still only 5th in our class and with only 6 seconds covering three drivers all wanting a trophy position stage 8 was always going to be interesting!!! We headed for the stage on an all out attack throwing the little nova through the stage right on the edge, a little too close to the edge at one point as we slid wide towards the end of the stage and hit an "object" in the grass which threw Graham far enough out of his seat and to bang his his head on the roof! We came to the stage end to find that not only did Graham have a rather large headache but that we had done just enough to beat the other two drivers to finish 2nd in the 1400cc class and 31st overall. It was a very close competition though which made it really good fun, we tied after 1hr 2 mins and 7 seconds of rallying with the 3rd in class driver and were only 1 second ahead of the 4th placed driver, now this is how rallying should be!!! |
