WYDEAN STAGES
12th FEBRUARY 2005
Finally the day of
the cars first event has arrived. After spending a year preparing the little
“Corsa” it was now time to see what it was made of.
“Wydean” was made
up of 191 entries, which also included my daughter, Amy (driver) and her partner
Roger (navigator) in the up to 1400cc class (B9) and seeded at No 237. Myself
and Derek Mines (Nav) were running in the up to 2000cc class (B11) and seeded at
No 128.
This was to be a
very steep learning curve, as this was the first time Derek and I had ever
competed together, plus we were in a completely new car with no stage miles
under it’s belt what so ever.
The service crew
comprised of two support vehicles manned by Chris Hamblett; John Witt; Paul
Freeth; John Gould and Steve Bayley. With Carolyn Hamblett and Marie Burton.
After all the final checks, tyres chosen and fitted it was time to start the
event.
First Stage – was
only .9-mile blast around Chepstow racecourse, this taught me that braking could
be left much later on future stages as the car was quite forgiving. Then it was
off to the first of the gravel stages where the rally was really going to begin.
Some of the stages were getting “cut up” bearing in mind 176 cars had been
through every stage before we arrived. Near the end of Stage 3 (Sallow Valleys)
we buckled the front nearside wheel rim but managed to limp to the finish. We
changed the wheel before stage 4 (Trelleck Common). By this time Derek and I
were settling in and the car was performing well. We were enjoying the stages
and times were also improving.
Into service back
at the racecourse, no major problems just basic checks until that is we were
ready to leave, when another buckled wheel rim was noticed. This was changed
with 2 minutes to spare and off we go again.
Stages were really
getting rough but we were enjoying ourselves and looking forward to the longest
stage of the day Speech House (10 miles+). Only to be told this stage was
cancelled owing to a spectator being injured. Later we learned he had placed
himself in a dangerous position after being repeatedly told by friends and
Marshals to move. This was very disappointing.
The only stage
remaining was the quick blast around the racecourse once again. Derek and I
thought this now should be fun (braking now sorted etc). OOPs! Last sweeping
right hand bend into the finish (nearly collecting the finish boards). Not
flat in third for a 2-litre car is it Derek??
Into finish
control, great feeling to finish my first real special stages event since April
1990. Derek then commented that it was the most fun he had ever had on a stage
event. (Perhaps he may give his views in a future
article?)
We seemed to be a
very well balanced crew and worked very well together. After the results were
made final it was great to see we had finished 94th O/A and
14th in class.
Our most grateful
thanks must also go to all our service crew, whom without them it would be
impossible to contemplate these types of events.
Nick
Burton
http://www.olde-fartz-rallying.co.uk/