Next Event Confirmed

Yesterday (12/4) I confirmed my next event, Owen Developments Stages 2007. It will take place at Down Ampney (Cirencester) on the 5th May. I will be navigating for Charlie Robinson, in his 106, it will make us one of the youngest pairings (both 17).

MY BLOG

I have created this blog to keep people up-to-date with my rallying. Here is how my year has been so far:





End of 2006: Ended the year with some good results (1st O/A, 3rd in class and 1st in class). Also ended with some good news, I had agreed to do the 2007 F1000 forest championship with Paul Martin (Peugeot 205).

Wyedean 2007: This was my first multi venue event and also, my first event on notes, tulips and SNOW. It was also Pauls first EVER event. We got off to a good start, we made it through SS1 (race course) with out a problem. This is where our rally really started, we had agreed to take it easy and make sure we finished and gained the experience. Into SS2 we went, thick with snow it was very difficult to both see where the road was and where the road wasn't. We had a few moments where the car understeered on the snow (sometimes towards signs), but on the whole I think the car and the crew did well to make it through without any problems. Stage 3 was a big test for us, the longest stage on the rally would show our metal. As we entered the stage were given a warning about how slippy the conditions were "oh great". Well we made it out of SS3 (passing 3 stranded cars) and out of SS4. Then the rest of the day passed with out us having any problems and gradually picking up the pace.



Both myself and Paul really enjoyed the event, and would like to pass on our condolences to David Williams family.



HUMBERSIDE 2007: This was our first 'proper' forest rally, which we knew would be both fast and tricky and therefore decided we would go for the finish again. We started Stage 1 steadily, getting use to the speed and surface, this was going well until around a mile from the finish, the car spun into a bank, luckily we only lost the bumper and around 15 seconds.

The rest of the morning past without trouble, UNTIL we were driving back to service and awful squealing came from the front left wheel (or gearbox (undecided)). Our initial thoughts were the thrust bearing on the gear box, as it started initiallty when the clutch was pressed, but this was quashed when it squealed both with and without the pedal pressed. When we got to service, our amazing service crew (Tim), got to work, he had play with the wheels and decided it was muck on the brakes, so after a little clean and fiddle, the problem disappeared (thank god for water).

The rest of the day passed without a problem, which made it 2/2.

Our next event will be Quinton, but im always looking for rides ;)



(Thanks to Kieth Commons)