PLAINS RALLY
WELSHPOOL
Saturday 23rd September 2006
A Navigators Perspective
Staring ( not necessarily in order of appearance )
Driver – Nick look at those B…….. T… !! Burton
Navigator – Rob there’s a B……. Forest around here somewhere…Hick
Mechanic - Roger anything to get away from the Misses and Kid’s Fletcher
Mechanic – Steve born again lover Hall
Mechanic – Craig its much more fun in a Mini Rodford
Mechanic – Grant this towing is easy just don’t ask me to go backwards Riddick
It didn’t seem that long since the dust had settled from the
Seven Valley National when it was time once again to empty 3 or 4 tons
of assorted plumbing equipment from Nick’s van and turn it into a
high tech service barge – well something similar anyway ! We had
decided on the Plains rally for our next event and some more classic
Welsh forests, this time starting in Welshpool.
The distance to the start meant we would have to travel the day before.
As it seemed every B&B within 100 miles of Welshpool was booked, it
was a case of on to the internet to see what could be found. Let me
see…….hut, tent pig sty ( well Nick does like being in
the S..T !! ) So in the end I settled for a Chateaux !! After what
seemed like 3 weeks on the M5 we finally arrived at Scrutineering. The
car was unloaded in the ultra large trailer park ( 150 trailers on a
postage stamp ! ) before proceeding to the sausage machine of
scrutineering and with the addition of the purchase of some new tyres
along the way.
We eventually arrived at our overnight accommodation just before eight
– bloody hell I’m knackered and we haven’t even
started yet ! but what a place, you could be mistaken for thinking we
were in the Bavarian Alps not deepest darkest Wales. After being
offered the choice of about six different bedrooms we enjoyed roast
beef with all the trimmings followed by apple pie and ice cream –
am I really on a rally or have I just won the lottery ? Wake up –
that’s what you have to do to pay for all this B….
rallying !! After a brief team talk everything was set for the
following day’s action.
After a quick tyre change and team photo outside our grand
accommodation it was back to Welshpool for a start time just before 11.
Stage 1 called the Woodyard was to be a quick blast around farm tracks
at the back of the previous day’s scrutineering venue. After a
delay of around 30 minutes we finally got underway…well for
about 90 seconds !! down hill into hairpin left – stop ? !! O no
the gremlins have struck already. After some head scratching the fault
was finally traced to the rotor arm which had broken loose and was
doing its own thing inside the distributor cap. Eventually with the
help of some tank tape the engine was brought back to life and with the
course closing car in hot pursuit we just got out of the stage in time.
With plenty of uncertainty and a long road section to the first forest
stage, it wasn’t much fun for the next hour. At stage 2 arrival
out came the superglue and on a wing and a prayer off we set into the
forest. Well at the end of nearly 9 miles in Penllyn we emerged at the
stage finish !! Apart from a couple of moments when I thought the
engine was going to die again we flew round and really started to enjoy
it. We didn’t know it at the time but our stage time had been
very respectable putting us well up the field. After a gentle drive
around stage 3 Llangower which had been cancelled it was a relief to
arrive into first service in Dolgellau and let the service crew have a
good look over the car.
On the road again and with renewed confidence we really started to get
into the event. Stage 4 Dyfi West and 5 Pant Perthog were safely
completed without drama although I seem to remember there were plenty
of Welsh – O my god fresh air drops !! By stage 6 Taliesin
although we were not entirely convinced the distributor problem was
cured the car was going well. As stage 7 Cyneiniog was relatively short
at only 2.5 miles, I think Nick thought he would make it a bit longer
by driving sideways for a bit !! 5R into
O…………..!! I think we finally managed to get
it straight after another 4 corners !!
So everything in the car was nice and relaxed by the next road section
Nick – “I’m really enjoying this, wish we could do it
every day “
Rob – “ have you planned the perfect bank robbery to pay
for it then ? !!
Second service in Machynlleth was carried out very efficiently under
the supervision of Roger, before we headed off for the final and
longest forest stage in Gartheiniog.
So near is so far as the saying goes – 1.5 miles in to the stage,
a very tight hairpin right and bang goes the nearside driveshaft
….again !
As we had been running right at the back of the field for most of the
day the course closing car finally won the day and got past us,
although this meant it wasn’t long before help arrived in the
form of landrover and dolly. Although not quite the same as doing the
stage at competitive speeds it was really quite enjoyable just
trundling along behind the tow truck right up on top of a mountain
surrounded by miles of Forests. All I needed was a hamlet cigar ! It
did however start to worry Nick a little when our intrepid tow truck
driver decided to go somewhat quicker down the other side of the
mountain ! Finally emerging onto the road again in the pitch black by
now, there was Roger and Craig ready and waiting to change the dead
driveshaft, all of which was completed in 15 minutes with the aid of
the management vehicle headlights.
After nearly an hours drive back to Welshpool, loading the rally car
onto the trailer, a near desperate ( night out in the van ! ) search
for fuel we finally made it home about 02.30.
As always this type of event would not be possible without the ready
and willing help of our service crew. So a big thank you to Roger,
Steve, Craig and Grant.
Needless to say it was a very long day with many miles covered. It was
disappointing to get close to the finish before the car decided it had
had enough but I don’t think either of us thought we would get
that far when stopped on stage 1 that morning. The lure of the forests
remains as strong as ever so lets hope we can see the cars true
potential in 2007. I said 6R fresh air outside bend
……….!!!!! O this car can
fly…………