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2003 Silkolene Championship Final Positions
A.N.W.C.C. Forest Championship-7th in Overall Drivers
A.N.W.C.C. Forest Championship-1st in Drivers Class A
B.T.R.D.A. Championship 1400's-5th in Overall Drivers
Holpack Team Challenge-5th Overall
Wyedean Rally Report |
1st Rally, (Wyedean Rally)
Well, When we set off on Friday to the Forest of Dean I never expected that life would be as cruel as the events unfolded, we had worked tirelessly on the car to get to the event. John Hardman in getting the engine and gearbox to fit and Ian at Victoria Garage in making all the other things work, it would have been only fair that we should have a good rally and so we travelled down the M6 and M5 to Chepstow with a certain degree of optimism. We arrived at scrutineering and sailed through with the quietest noise check ever at 96 db’s and the only issue with all the car was that the helmet’s needed re stickering at £1.00 each. There was to be only one major service and that was after 5 stages so the dilemma was would the tyres last? We only had 4 new ones and the old ones were not looking too healthy so I bit the bullet and bought 2 extra to be safe. Then it was off to the pub with my friends the Orchards Keith my ex business partner, His brother Rob and the family who we were staying with. But it was early to bed for me, an early start next day.
Stage 1
We had a sluggish start (we were late ) and so we went straight into the holding area for the first stage at Chepstow racecourse and it was 5,4,3,2,1, Go and we were off, the engine felt good and although we had no rev counter the new shift light was coming on far to fast for my liking (means the car was now faster I think!!!) over a crest and slow for the chicane and then hairpin right onto the loose, tail right out we had started how I felt we should, then into another chicane with the tail out first one way then the other (very nice!) then round a 90` right and through the flying finish. That it I said to Dave?? Just 1.1 miles, as we pulled up at the stop line the time was already there to see after 11 cars we were 3rd fastest well not bad I thought, although we were later beaten by car 212 there was to be no others faster in our little rally, we were 4th out of 45 after 1 stage ok I was happy with that and it was off to start the rally proper in the forest.
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Stage 2
The organiser’s were using a posh new light system to start us, which I thought worked very well, although it would have been nice to be briefed on it’s operation more than 1 minute before we started the rally! Anyway, off we went again, I was in real trouble with the gears and the power, we had moved from a 4 to 5 speed box and from 85bhp to 110 and I had not driven the car in anger, so I did make a mess of a few of the bends although that was no excuse for our first real “moment” we entered a 90 left to early, as we were already sideways it was a little late to change direction and we hit a bump in the undergrowth flicking us up in the air, fortunately we had enough room to steer in and came back down onto the wheels so we got away with it but we were very close to going over. Tidy it up came the voice in my ear, no not a divine voice, it was Dave through the intercom. About 5 or 6 miles into this 10 mile stage the car petered out just like when I forget to switch the fuel pump on!!?!?!? so I pulled over and shot out of the car and under the bonnet checked everything I could think of but it all looked fine. Then it hit me the pump is in the boot (Dickhead!) so round to the boot and there it was, a bloody spade connector adrift so I found the other end which was wrapped round one of the disconnected dry sump pipes and re connected it and the pump roared into life! Back into the car and away trying to connect the intercom and seat belt at the same time. So then we settled down again only for the drive shaft to snap 1 mile from the end, we limped along but once we hit a hill it wouldn’t go, so we decided that we were not quitters and pushed the car the last ½ mile to the finish and then tried to fix it, but to no avail, by the time we got the old shaft out we were out of time and so OTL and out of the rally, after only 2 stages and 10 miles what a bummer but that’s rallying. I have to say that had we had the money we would have changed the diff and the shafts, it was always the plan to do so after the Malcolm Wilson rally but thanks to Tolerant Systems generous sponsorship we now have the funds to do it this month.
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Thanks to all the crew who put in so much hard work to make the event happen for us sorry that it was short. We should be able to do a test day before the Malcolm Wilson on the 8th March so we may be better in tune, lets hope so see you then.
Regards
Malc and Dave
Malcolm Wilson Rally Report |
2nd Rally, (Malcolm Wilson Rally)
We start this story on Thursday 6th March when I tried to retrieve the car from Hardman engineering, John was under great pressure from other customers to get ready other cars for the M.W. rally on Saturday and was really struggling to fit my rolling road tune in, but in true style John came through and I picked the car up at 1500 hrs giving me 24hrs to do all my checks and try and sort a heater as my new heated screen was no more!! (It never actually worked!) So 200 quid down the drain, and with everybody was blaming everybody else so I was never going to win! So we put the car on the trailer and set off at 1300hrs on Friday to Cockermouth. The venue for Scrutineering was the very impressive M-Sport complex the home of the Ford works rally team at Dovenby Hall. We went to noise and saw my old mate the noise man (couldn't tell you his name!) he used to send me away to get the car quieter!!! But not this time, the new technology made the car almost whisper compared to the old Ford engine!!! So off to scrutineering! Well! When they saw my oil leaking on the perfect floor they got me out pretty quick. So all was ok I waited on the verge outside Dovenby Hall for the boys to get back and it was off to the hotel for a well deserved meal but I suppose I have to tell of "The Incident" I got stuck on the verge and hit a traffic sign trying to get off and there is a photo somewhere of the damage, and then the Police came and it was all very embarrassing!!!! But not life threatening so What's the problem? (Stop Sniggering!). Sorry about the extra work boys! So Saturday dawned and we were in the town centre on the start ramp in no time and telling my story to the Commentator until Dave gave me a dig "Come on! Time to go give him the microphone back!!"
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Stage 1
Was such a shock to me as the Plate diff was totally different to what I was used to and the car was being too pushy into the bends so it was gently does it and see what happens the stage itself was smooth and flowing, but those fresh air drops oooooh! Anyway we were out and with only a 4 minute road section we were into SS2 and off again this was a longer stage although I have to say I wasn't sure of the dif and the gearing was different so instead of using the gears to steer the car into the bend I was relying more on the brakes about 2/3rds in we approached a left hand hairpin and the car went straight on! It was only due to the fact that we were not going flat out that we didn't go off and executed a 3-point turn and off again. That was the only real incident and SS3 didn't fare much different so successfully through the first 3 stages and into service. The run back to service was fairly quiet although Rick had picked up a set of times and to our complete surprise we were 6th 1400 and 4th in class. So maybe we weren't doing it that badly. So new Silverstone tyres and off to Grizedale for SS4 and SS5.
The news of our position made the 70-minute road section a lot more animated and we decided that the handbrake was being under used, so into Grizedale and we were more aggressive and things were feeling a lot better, we were at one (Nearly!) with the car, so for the 2 Grizedale stages we felt it was coming together,
Photographer: Grant Ritchie, BritishRally.co.uk
Thanks to everybody including:
Mark from M-Sport Paul Wilson
Rick Hague Mark Davies
And of course Steve (Webmaster) Hague
Marc Hague & the lovely Joanne
See you all on the Humberside stages on the 29th March.
Dave & Malc
North Humberside Forest Rally Report |
3rd Rally, (North Humberside Forest Rally)
This event was an unknown quantity as I had never been in the north Yorks forests before although everyone had told me what to expect, (Lots of long fast straits 5th gear, rev limiter) so off we went on Friday as usual with a somewhat depleted team, Paul Wilson in the service Van got there first with the rally car and put it through noise, we then took over and went through scrutineering, all there was ok so off back to the Hotel. We had been troubled with a misfire on the previous event and although we thought we had cured it, this was still the case, so we had a play with the wiring and it appeared that the ignition switch was the cause so we changed it and then took it for a blast round the lanes, the misfire was not there but a horrible oil leak had appeared I thought we had blown the motor but again thankfully, I was wrong it was the oil dripping onto the exhaust manifold, so with all our problems behind us we were ready! Saturday had threatened Fog but it was a beautiful morning and I was looking forward to the challenge although the 50-mile road section was a little boring!!! SS1 was Oliver’s mount racing circuit, a quick 4 mile blast on tarmac to get the blood flowing and we had a good run and an OK time starting us at 4th 1400 3rd in class. Knobblies on and off to the woods. SS2 Langdale Was a 12 mile stage the longest on the event and proved to be our worst as we pulled into the forest the misfire returned and every time we hit any kind of bump the engine cut fir ½ a second or so causing massive time loss especially on the long straits, then about 6 miles in we had brake failure on the rear which took out also the handbrake so then I had real problems on the chicane’s and tight hairpins spinning everywhere, then with around 4 miles to go we caught a Ka and with the dust we could not see to get close enough to pass so had to sit back and wait, I guess that stopped us from going off because I was not driving to the condition of the car and in danger of ending up in the trees!!! So we got to the end and into emergency service. The brake problem was that the N/S rear calliper had been struck by something and smashed it off also smashing the shocker, this meant taking it of and clamping the pipe with mole grips with no time to do anything with the misfire we did SS3, Staindale, with very little brakes and a misfire so gently through there with no more problems we had a 35 minute service to try and salvage something from the day. We found the misfire was due to a faulty Master switch (Autolec!), the brakes could only be made safe as the brackets holding the calliper on were all twisted and we didn’t have any spare or time to make them so we would compete the rest of the rally with no n/s rear brake and no handbrake. Now 8th in class and 93rd in the rally.
SS4 Dalby. This turned out to be the first forest stage with no drama’s, we managed 2nd in class and thought that just maybe there were some points to be had here, so a quick look from the management car to check us over and off to the next one 83rd O/A 6th in class
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Photographer: Simon Clarke, www.sc-photography.co.uk
SS5 Gale Rigg The lack off handbrake was starting to take its toll and we had a couple of spins on this stage I just couldn’t get the car to turn in but at least we made it to the end and we were making steady progress up the field, although we would run out of stages before we could make any charge up the field count, the other problem was that we were catching the car in front (Rover ZR) and the dust was starting to affect us again but 1 more stage and we were through it! 77 O/A 5th Class. SS6 Cropton. We missed the management car before this so didn’t have the luxury of a final check over, so went in and took it fairly steady (Not really!!) this was a 7 miler and about 5 miles in everything was fine, we approached a 90 right I braked a little early and the pedal went to the floor, OH Shit! 3rd gear maybe 60 mph and no brakes again! No way was I going to make the bend but luckily there was a run off and so I scattered all the marshals and the tape and managed to pump a little stopping power into the front brakes and down through the gears, then reversed back to the bend we lost about 30 seconds and with another spin losing about another 20, we were well and truly out of it. But we made it to the end and we at least got some points from it although we would hope that that will be one of the dropped results at the end of the year.
We take 8 weeks off now whilst we re build the car the next event will be the Red Dragon rally in south Wales see www.btrda.com forest rally championship, for details. With a new engine and maybe 30 bhp more, a rebuild on the gearbox and the same with the dif, new suspension and brakes! We should be ready for a push for a Pot!! At the end!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this article, see you in south Wales in May!!
Regards
Dave and Malc
Red Dragon Stages Rally Report |
4th Rally, (Red Dragon Stages Rally)
This rally was the rally that almost never happened!
The car has been transformed over the last 8 weeks with new suspension and brakes and a complete build on the engine giving us the 150 horse that we should have had at the start of the season, so missing the Somerset stages should have given us the time to complete all the changes, but no! As happens with rallying it almost didn’t happen but a big thank you to John Hardman for pulling it together. We left the Queens ferry workshop of Hardman engineering at 12.15 on Friday and went straight to Victoria garage to change the struts (don’t ask!) and left for Port Talbot at 2.50 giving us 6 hours to get there before scrutineering closed! We just made it by the skin of our teeth and some nice grovelling by Mr Read who guided us in through the valleys. Through scrutineering and back to the hotel to finish the work on the car although we were on the last minute the car was well prepared so I was good with that I just hadn’t driven it! Saturday dawned and thanks to the staff at the Travel Inn we had some breakfast. On the start ramp I asked where the dolly birds were and was politely told that the mayor should have been there but hadn’t turned up yet!!! Cheers! The run out to the first stage was about 15 miles and mood in the car was optimistic! The car now has so much more power and the rev limiter set at 9000 rpm it is a totally different car than the one that finished the Cambrian last November.
Stage 1 Rhondda 1
We left the start line and I was amazed at the difference the power and the extra rev’s made, plus the handling seemed different, I missed a few gear changes and was a little ragged but we were safely through and no problems, not quite the time we expected but respectable so wait and see.
37th O/A - 5th 1400 - 4th Class B9
Stage 2, Tower 1
This was a nice flowing stage although I have to say I backed off on one section due to the sheer drop on my side I didn’t have the guts to go for 4th although we had no speedo it’s a long way down so caution was the order as there were a few “not as map” sections on this stage caution was the best approach. During this stage I was becoming conscious that the gears weren’t where they should be and it was in service that Dave asked why I was fumbling around the gear lever and it was only after some discussion that I realised that I was not in the gear that I thought, I was consequently going for say 3rd but was only in 2nd so I guess due to the extra power and 2000 rev’s I was having to learn to drive the car all over again. So, safely through and through service on to the next stage.
30th O/A - 5th 1400 – 4th class B9
Stage 3, Rheola 1
Although the gearbox was giving me a few problems I was starting to enjoy the event and the rest of the car seemed very strong, as we were running 7th on the road six of the cars ahead of us were beating us so when we passed Ian Evans at the side of the stage going nowhere and then young James Wozencroft buried well off we were starting to think that we were on for a pot so a careful run through and look at the situation for a charge after Lunch. With a leisurely service (80 mins) and only the brakes causing us problems we thought we could start pushing on to win the class.
24th O/A – 3rd 1400 – 2nd class B9
Stage 4, Tower 2
We were starting to suffer now with spongy brakes and having to pump them to get any response and later in the stage we had brake fade so we had to be reasonably cautious but we had no moments and keeping my hand on the gearlever helped with the changes and I felt it was coming together and we were driving a little more in tune with the car, but did we have the time to pull 15 seconds back in 3 stages????
25th O/A – 3rd 1400 – 2nd class B9
Stage 5 Rheola 2
We gave it a go and pushed the car a little more although the brakes were now giving cause for concern and caution was required on the high speed sections but all in all we went quicker and with no “moments” although we had 3rd gear very stiff to go in, we finished the stage, so with one more stage to go and no more new tyres we went into the last stage pumped up and ready to have a go with the tyres cutting up we could risk puncture’s and lose it all, but we felt we should go for it!!!
25th O/A – 3rd 1400 – 2nd class B9
Stage 6 Rhondda 2
We were now catching both the cars in front of us and with 10 seconds off first in class and 20 seconds off the lead in the 1400s we were ready for it! Then devastation. The stage was cancelled due to the last mile being too dangerous to run 100 odd cars through so that was it! Dave was unhappy especially when we drive through and saw the “Hole” but that was the organiser’s decision and final so we have to be happy that we have the best finish ever on any B.T.R.D.A. event and we are full of optimism for the future. Just Watch us on the Dukeries!!!
Final result: 25th Overall. 3rd 1400 . 2nd Class B9
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Photographer: Simon Clarke, www.sc-photography.co.uk
Thanks to all my crew for a good professional job and especially Ian Clayton for moving house on Wednesday and Thursday so he could come with us for the weekend (I hope Debbie is still speaking to you) and then driving me home so I could sleep!!!
Regards
Dave and Malc
Dukeries Rally Report |
Report From Car 204
Malcolm Hague & Dave Read
We had a somewhat depleted team for this event with Mark Davies and Paul Wilson doing “Family” stuff and Babin off doing other things!?!?!*&** The Webmaster, my big Bro Steve, stepped in to fill the void and off we went, oh! and the car was ok too! We had made some changes after the Enville stages with bigger brakes on the front and different set up on the rear’s we were happy that our braking problems were over (Ha! ) the engine was now fully bedded in and felt crisp and responsive and my fathers day prezzy was in place (A new Suede steering wheel !! Thanks Rick!) We arrived at the Hotel in good time and as things unfolded the hotel was besieged with 1400 crews! We had a good night and felt in good shape for the event we had failed so cruelly on 2 years previous oh! And “the Bear” went quietly to bed after the abuse (Private 1400 joke eh Howard??) Enough of that and on to the rally.
Stage 1 Harlow Wood
We started with this short stage to get the adrenalin going and everything felt good the surface was sandy and the grip was at a premium but we felt that we were fairly quick but nothing spectacular. That was not the case as we tied with the Puma and lay equal 2nd
42nd O/A – equal 2nd 1400 – 2nd Class B9
Stage 2 R & K Blidworth
This was a quick stage and we felt we used the power well but the weight was going to play a part and we had to be clean and as tight as we could round the 90’s to have a chance of making it count on the long straights. We went well and were now tied for the lead with James Wozencroft but would it last
47th O/A – 1st equal 1400 – 1st equal class B9
Stage 3 Portland 1
This was where things started to go wrong, there was a pull on the brakes causing the car to dive right under heavy braking although it was not too serious at this point we tried to stay off the brakes and just got through the stage safely. The fault proved to be a split front brake pipe but we had no spare and 2 more stages to do so we decided to push as hard as we could to keep the pressure on the others until we either lost front brakes or made it into service to change it!
40th O/A – 4th 1400 – 3rd class B9
Stage 4 Icon Pines 1
We started this stage well and things were going to plan until about half way through when we took a 90 right and something happened which I still can’t quite equate to in my mind, and we spun and stalled but I can’t tell you if it was a mistake by me or the brakes but I started the engine and we sped off on a long straight the call came from Dave that it was flat and so through the box to 4th and up to around 97 mph the call came Hairpin right and I pushed the middle pedal to the floor! No Front! No Rear! No Handbrake! So pumping for our lives and going down the box I managed to get a little on the front brakes and scrambled to a stop on the bend so we now had to do the rest of the stage with no brakes and the next with no service in between.
51st O/A – 8th 1400 – 6th class B9
Stage 5 Clipstone South 1
We stopped in between the stages and found that the problem was not the front, but the pipe that goes from the axle to the body although armoured it had been hit by something as it was a big hole luckily we were carrying a pair of mole grips and some fluid and we blanked off all the rear brakes and completed a very hairy stage 5 with front brakes only and prayed the front leaky pipe held. I think we spun 4 times in that stage and ended our chances of a pot.
55th O/A – 8th 1400 – 6th class B9
As we came out of the forest we saw Neil Weaver parked up at the side of the road with a broken axle and after the last 2 stages were suddenly lifted at the thought of maybe just maybe we had had all of our bad luck at least we were still there and fighting. Poor Neil was on his way home!
Stage 6 Rainbow Hill Right we were going to go for a pot! Finishing was important but we felt we should give it a go. Dave calculated that 3rd class was possible so we gave it our all, this was a good stage and my confidence was such that I was now starting to brake later, the car was now working well except for some bad crunching from 2nd gear (surely not!) The extra power was proving too much for the box, (2 events since last build!) so gently into 2nd for the rest of the event and hope it stays together!! We were 2nd equal quickest on this one tied with James and beaten by the puma by 2 seconds so back on the pace bring on the next stage!!!!!
46th O/A 6th 1400 4th Class B9 Stage 7 Portland 2 The sms results service was working very well and kept us in touch with our position we knew that if we kept this pace up we could get our 3rd and valuable points for the championship. We were again driving quick and safe and there were no moments in this stage although you may tell me otherwise if you were watching as we used the ruts from the morning run and the gravel banks on the outside of the bends to good effect!!
It was like going tenpin bowling with the bumper cushions on!!!
Again our time was good James beat us by 2 and Shaun by 4 but we had not only caught Stuart Ellis but Gary Standen making it 2nd in class could we hold on??
42nd O/A 4th 1400 2nd Class B Stage 8 Icon Pines 2 The last 2 stages we had to do with no service so they went to spectate at the chicane on stage 8 we felt we went well again taking no risks but trying to keep the pace going, this was me now enjoying myself and throwing the Escort round the way it should be driven!! (Well???) Still James was quicker by 3 sec’s and Shaun by 1.
38th O/A 4th 1400 2nd class B9 Stage 9 Clipstone S 2 With 7 seconds on Gary, we needed to keep it tidy and quick but as we started I was trying to hard and the second bend we went very wide and almost spun, the next bend was worse, the comment from the next seat was to pull it together and my retort was I Know I know I am bl**dy trying, anyway we got better as the stage progressed and managed to beat Gary by 1 second on the final stage so all we had to do was get to the final control in Mansfield and we had done it!
Final Result 37th O/A 4th 1400 2nd Class B9
This was a fantastic event we had a real good time both before and during the event who knows what might have been if we hadn’t lost the brakes??? Thanks to Howard Allan for the Brake pipe. James Neil, Gary Howard and Jamie for the crack. Ian Clayton (Victoria Garage) as ever a superb performance in the Management car with Steve (The Webmaster) Rick and Wes for the service Back up See you all on the Quinton Regards Malc and Dave First Install Rally Team Quinton Horiba Rally Report F.I.R.T. Rally Report From Car 205 Malcolm Hague & Dave Read This event started as ever with us being on the last minute. We were still working on the brakes until 13.00 hrs on Friday, when we should have been on our way at 12.00
But we made it to scrutineering at the Builth Wells showground in good time with our shiny new mechanical handbrake (ahem!) and went through with flying colours.
So it was off to the hotel and an early night.
At the start there was talk of Shaun Woffenden's Puma having clutch problems! We were not sure if it was hype but sure enough on the run out to the first stage there he was at the side of the road bonnet up going nowhere, Commiseration's to Shaun and Howard that must have been very frustrating
SS1 Monument 1 We started with an air of confidence with the car being on the pace on the Dukeries and the brakes now fixed I guess I was one of the early brakers on that stage just getting used to the fact that the brakes actually worked. Then around 2/3rds through we caught James Wozencroft and passed him obviously with a problem but one of our main rivals had dropped a minute, that would be hard to get back!! So no moments on that stage safely through and after dedicating the stage to my friendRoger Freeman we were off to stage 2. Position 46th O/A 3rd 1400 3rd class B9 SS2 Crychan 1 Still feeling for the brakes we were smooth and tidy through here, we felt good and with Ian Evans spinning we needed to keep it tight, our biggest problem was the misting up of the windscreen, it was like driving in fog and trying to clean the screen when you can't reach coz the belts are holding you so tight is a pain! so nothing spectacular and get to first service and fill the screen with anti mist spray!!! Position 36th O/A 2nd 1400 2nd Class B9 SS3Route-60 1 We approached this stage and could see the first mile from the hillside it looked awesomely quick, so we thought we should be up there with the fastest 1400's.
I felt we didn't do ourselves justice and actually slowed before the flying finish board costing a second or so but had to be content with 4th 1400 by 4 seconds we had no "moments" but we were disappointed still we had not lost any places and were still in there fighting James Wozy had lost a load more time due to a misfire and was really out of the equation.
Position 38 O/A 2nd 1400 2nd Class B9 SS4 Halfway This was a good stage for us and we felt more confident with the car as each mile went by, and the brakes stopped the car every time I pressed them, especially when we came round a bend and there were a bunch of sheep out for a stroll, although they did scatter quite quickly they cost us 3 or 4 seconds, No other problems and second fastest to Neil Weaver again we would have to try harder if we were to win the 1400 class 33rd 0/A. 2nd 1400. 2nd Class B9 SS5 Caeo Time to push on but although this was a cracking stage full of flowing bends it was quite tight and more suited to the smaller more nimble cars like the Nova's. But we had to give it our best shot and did, I felt we were flying, cutting the hairpins and tight 90's to the point where we couldn't see for branches sweeping across the screen but we went well and still that pesky Neil Weaver beat us! Only by one lousy second but there it was! So 9 seconds behind and only 3 stages left we had to put pressure on somehow! Another casualty on this stage was Ian Evans blowing the Suzuki's engine. Position 29th O/A 2nd 1400 2nd Class B9 SS6 Crychan 2 This was the second time in crychan and we were now starting to get on the pace, we had the bit between our teeth and the chance of a win in our sights if we could catch young Neil. We drove the doors off the car and with only one semi spin at a notorious 90 left we put what I thought was a good time. 19th fastest overall and yes we had taken 2 off Neil but it wasn't the fastest 1400! Gary Standen and Shelley took 1 second off us, but we were pleased with the time. What did I have to do to set a fastest time???? Position 25th O/A 2nd 1400 2nd Class B9 SS7 Route-60 2 We decided it was now or never and stripped everything we could out of the car including Dave's bag, any surplus weight, it was gone! I was not allowed any fuel we were as light as possible and revved up ready.
We started the stage well and into the first bend with plenty of passion then through the dip and sod the holes up the hill to the first hairpin and all of a sudden my brain fell out!! We slid so wide on the hairpin I could have leaned out of the window and chatted to the speccies! No spin just lost loads of time then into a right hander and rubbish through there also, then it came! A tirade of abuse from the other side of the car, Dave had had enough and let me know in no uncertain terms that I had to improve and Quick! And it seemed to work, I can't explain what happened or why but I just seemed to lose concentration and could have blown the whole event. We then proceeded to fly through the rest of the stage beating our morning time by 9 seconds and fastest 1400 by 2 seconds so the telling off had worked we were now only 7 seconds off the lead! Could we do it!
Position 24th O/A 2nd 1400 2nd Class B9 SS8 Monument 2 This is where it all changed. Andrew Sankey, (Neil Weaver's co driver leading the 1400 event) decided he was going on the minute following his arrival time due to the fact that they had battery charging problems and were concerned about waiting for the three min gap between arrival and start, but in his haste he allowed the wrong time to be put on the time card by one minute thus booking in a minute early and received a 1 minute penalty on the results thus promoting us to 1st and although they protested the penalty stood.
We were a little disappointed with the protest as it was not in the spirit of the championship.
They beat us on the final stage by 1 second and although we got the points the victory was a hollow victory
It was not the way I would have wished to win a round but if that had happened on the first stage it would have been a different story so we will take the win and go and try and do it all again on the woodpecker in 5 weeks time in Mr Weavers back yard.
Position 22nd O/A 1st 1400 1st Class B9 Final Result Position 22nd O/A 1st 1400 1st Class B9 Thanks to all my service crew. Bob Tate. Danny Dunbabin. Paul Wilson. Rick Hague. Thanks also to Ian Clayton and John Hardman for the preparation Special thanks to Jerry Freeman and Silverstone Tyres they were brilliant all weekend!!! Regards Malc and Dave First Install Rally Team Woodpecker Rally Report 31st September 2003 car 204 First install Rally team Ford Escort 1399 cc (Verified!) Malcolm Hague & Dave Read There was an air of nervousness in the FIRT camp on Saturday morning. The event had arrived, we knew that a good result here would put us top of the table in the 1400 championship, and a bad one could see us out of contention for a trophy at the end of the season. So with the infamous ski slope in Ceri and 13 miles in Radnor stages concentration had to be at the highest level!
There was a quiet serenity as the hot air balloons floated above us as we left the travelodge, and headed for the start
SS1 Hopton A good start with no moments and although Mr Evans got off to a flier his times were not registered on the results. Neil Weaver also went off and punctured, so we start with second place behind James Wozy he will now be the one to beat although with his local knowledge of these first 3 stages we would be lucky to stay in touch let alone keep up. Position 43rd O/A jnt 2nd 1400 jnt 2nd B9 SS2 Wigmore We were again happy with the pace, taking 3 out of Gary Standen and second on our own. With no moments to speak of and tyre wear ok it was off for the first of 2 visits to Have Park Position 44th O/A 2nd 1400 2nd B9 SS3 Have Park 1 This was where things didn’t go quite as planned. We had 2 spins and the tyres didn’t seem to be holding on quite as they had been and although we didn’t have any dangerous moments we knew we would have dropped time, and we did, Gary took 6 out of us and it was down to third. We knew we could do something about it and set out for the next stage Position 67th O/A 3rd 1400 3rd B9 SS4 Bringewood This went a lot more smoothly and we had a good clean run taking 3 back out of Gary, as we went into service Gary and us again were tying for 2nd Place how close is
that??? Unfortunately this stage was cancelled due to an accident at the front off the big boys so no O/A time but with all the 1400 's getting through we were still 2nd fastest through the stage
Service I don’t normally mention this but there was a moment of panic worth talking about!!
We checked all that we could and put new rubber all round, had a coffee and waited for our due time, even had time for an interview with the Sky people. Dave was rushing my interview and we jumped into the car then as I tried to move it with 2 minutes to go. Disaster! The car would not move like the brakes were stuck on, everyone was scurrying around the car trying to figure out what it was, the reason turned out to be the wheels! Yes It had been 2 years since they were last on and we had new bigger brakes fitted and the wheels wouldn’t fit so we put the old tyres back on and made M.C.2. by 5 seconds Phew thanks to James wozencroft’s crew for helping uz to make it!!!!!
SS5 Ceri This was the big one, not the longest but it had the ski slope that everyone was dreading!
We were ready! And started the stage well (no holding back!) When we got to the ski slope we were going far too slow, well, “the hype” made us do it but James, Gary and us were all within 1 second of each other on the times so it wasn’t that slow, but I felt afterwards that if we had upped the pace down the ski slope we would have been ok, but hindsight is a wonderful thing and I guess the other guys felt the same. Still third but only by 1 second and two stages to go there where still a few twists and turns left in this rally.
Position 33rd O/A 3rd 1400 and 3rd B9 SS6 Radnor This was the longest stage of the rally at over 13 miles and a smooth flowing stage, I was looking forward to it, again we started well and I was relaxed and enjoying it until about half way through when the throttle went slack, we were pulling about half to two thirds speed, I could only think that the throttle cables were on their last legs and was not sure whether to push on or back off, still half way to go 6 miles on half throttle??? No I couldn't stand it so push as hard as we could and hope it held out, worst affected were the hairpins and uphills where we struggled to pull away, it was like going to Sainsbury’s on a Sunday afternoon and on the long sections we had to keep the foot in, so it was a little hairy in part but we made it to the finish and on to management service where Ian and Mark made the remaining cable pull "full throttle" and fitted a hand cable if the worst happened.
All in all we dropped 23 seconds to Gary Standen and our hopes of 2nd place were all but over, still we would give it a go.
Position 99O/A 3rd 1400 3rd B9 SS7 Have Park 2 It is becoming something of the norm for us to be fighting right up to the last stage, trying to catch someone after something going wrong or breaking, so this was no different we didn't think we could catch Gary, and James was 40 odd seconds in the distance but we Never give up, so the last stage was going well, I was enjoying myself but I can honestly say that when I saw James Wozencroft off the road and stuck my heart went out to him! We are all trying to win the championship and Dave and I are no different to anyone when it comes to winning but James had all but won it, he had driven really well all day and didn't deserve to have the victory taken away from him in that way, but, as they say "that's rallying" but that said it promoted us to 2nd 1400 and one point closer to the overall trophy.
So on to Welshpool for the Plains and the penultimate round of the championship.
Final Result Position 40th O/A 2nd 1400 2nd Class B9 Thanks to all my service crew. Thanks also to Ian Clayton and John Hardman for the preparation Regards Malc and Dave First Install Rally Team Plains Rally Report 20th September 2003 car 203 First install Rally team Ford Escort 1399 cc (Verified!) Malcolm Hague & Dave Read The Plains started like any other event this season sailed through Noise and into scrutineering and back to the hotel for a pleasant evening with some of the other competitors unfortunately that was the high point of the weekend.
We started at the cattle market in Welshpool at 09.03 and arrived at the arrival of SS1 early and so had a laugh with some of the others and you could tell that the tension was mounting everyone was a little more keyed up than previous events at the front of the field Shaun needs to finish both of the last two events well, Gary also. We needed to finish in the top 2 and Neil also, so we were all “up for it”
SS1 We started cautiously and made sure there were no errors as it was only a 4-mile stage. Then as we came out of the last bend (A hairpin) crack and the half shaft had snapped we rolled through the flying finish and stopped nowhere to go, we watched as all our rivals came past asking what was the problem? We are out said I. That was an awful feeling. Our championship is over as far as winning is concerned All we can aim for is 2nd Place. That’s Rallying (With Malc anyway!) Still there’s always next year eh!!! If I can get sponsors???? Thanks to all my service crew. Thanks also to Ian Clayton and John Hardman for the preparation Regards Malc and Dave First Install Rally Team Cambrian Rally Report 1st November 2003 car 203 First install Rally team Ford Escort 1399 cc (Verified!) Malcolm Hague & Dave Read We should have been consolidating our position at the top of the 1400 leader board, but with things going bad for us on the Plains we were under pressure to have a good result on the Cambrian this year. I was confident I could be on the pace and had fitted new half shafts and had the whole car checked, plus I had also been testing just to be sure I could still drive it! So with scrutineering sorted we were on our way. SS1 Penmachno North We started well, I felt good and then we had our first moment, I pointed the car for us to turn on a particularly slippy section and it would not turn in, we almost went off! Less than a mile into the 1st stage although it was not me as the car was turning in perfectly well on the previous corners, so it took me a little by surprise so we gave it a little more respect and pushed as best we could.
Then about 2 1/2 to 3 miles into this 8 1/2 mile stage I could feel the car going sloppy at the back end, this could be put down also to the road surface sometimes, but not in this case as the smell of rubber and the banging on the wheel arch told me that we had a puncture. Bum! That was a great start, then the decision was, do we stop or do we carry on, with between 5 and 6 miles to go the thinking would usually be to stop and change the wheel, but I felt that we were not losing that much time and certainly not the 4 or 5 minutes that it would take to change the wheel! So we carried on and finished the stage as fast as we could and stuff the bodywork!
This proved to be the case and although we were in 8th place we were only 35 seconds off the lead, the Silverstone tyres had been brilliant keeping us straight and safe even whilst running flat and so we changed the wheel and off to ss2.
SS2 Penmachno South We only had a short distance to go to the next stage and the opportunity was there to regain our start position of 2nd on the road so we drove up the side of the track to get our place and disaster! We slipped off the side of the track and into the ditch sitting the car on the floor pan and sump guard with the wheels in the air (What a plonker!) so we had to get assistance and be dragged out and back onto the road, fortunately we did not lose any time but it woke us both up!!! So on to the stage.
We went well through here and although I wasn’t relaxed as the incidents took their toll I felt good and was ready to go and the confidence was coming back, more to the point we were clear of the Penmachno complex!!!!!
We were back to 5th 1400 and climbing!!! SS3 Legends Park 1 I was ready for this one even though we hadn’t been through this forest before, I felt like I needed to put the hammer down, our hopes for 2nd place in the championship lay with someone else (Shaun) making a mistake and that could only happen if we put the pressure on! So off we went and I think that the stage really suited the car and we felt good with no moment’s other than going wide after waving to the F.I.R.T. supporters club on a hairpin, but we had now caught all but Shaun and wanted to give him a run for his money (so to speak!) 2nd 1400 and fastest by 6 seconds SS4 Legends Park 2 This stage was not quite so smooth as the previous one, we started well but about 1 mile in, people were slowing us down, we could not see why and then as we rounded a double right hander there was Gary Standon with his car facing the wrong way and Gary and Shelley on the top of the bank Gary had hit a bump on the outside of the bend with his rear wheel and rolled breaking the steering in the process, then BANG we hit the same bump and took off! All I could see was sky through the screen fortunately we came down on our wheels and carried on Gary said afterwards that we were a couple of feet in the air and where lucky to stay “shiny side up”!!!!!
So we finished that stage and it was then into Service with a little bodywork to sort and some new tyres, I was really looking forward to my favourite stages in Clocaenog
Still 2nd 1400 SS5 Clocaenog East This is where our story ends!
We left the start line of this stage with our usual gusto spraying everyone with stones! Changed to second and BANG no drive.
There is nothing more to say other than we should have put an atlas axle in rather than spending money on the English one because that is what lost us our final chance of glory. In saying that we are happy to be going to the championship awards ceremony and be collecting a trophy all be it 2nd B9
We have had a fantastic year and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and patience and help
See you all next time ! Thanks to all my service crew. Thanks also to Ian Clayton and John Hardman for the preparation Regards Malc and Dave First Install Rally Team Photo by Marco Toni The only way I can keep my bottom lip off the ground
