Roger Lane writes:
Well, this year’s Abingdon’s Carnival Rally has taken place successfully for, would you believe, the 30th time and again enjoyed by all right down to the later runners. And mentioning later runners, here’s a summary of the stories of their day from crews who proudly entered under the FDMC flag.
Car 44 – Tom Eckett and Olly Wilkinson, BMW 318Ti
Tom spent the event regretting a lack of power for which he tried to compensate by super late braking and frequent use of the handbrake. Unfortunately, the handbrake cried enough on stage four resulting in the classic use of the Scandinavian flick! There was no doubting the crew’s push as Tom is quoted as insisting that he could have improved his final 37th place overall if only the driver in the Alfa Romeo in front of them ‘ hadn’t been in the way ‘!
Car 51 – Chris Penny and Jude Penny, Citroen C2VTR
Chris insisted that his junction error on Stage 3 was a result of his co-driver calling right when, in fact , it was left. But that’s a driver’s classic and it was only Jude’s second event. Car suffered a mystery misfire on the last two stages leaving them finally 55th overall.
Car 56 – Dave Hockaday and Steve Frost, VW Golf GTi
This was Dave’s 10th Abingdon about which he was complimentary saying that, unlike many other venues, the tarmac surface was really good. Not that that helped on the first stage where they got a stage maximum as a result of a fuel feed problem ( he had hoped that their failing to complete a second lap would go unnoticed as the slow time suggested a correct stage ! . Otherwise had a drama-free run to finish 43rd.
Car 70 – Kevin Ambrose and Daryl Ambrose, Vauxhall Chevette HSR
Disaster – the car was leaking oil where it shouldn’t have done so retired to the imaginary bar early on before further damage was done. Car 82 – Jon Hunt and James Prowting, Honda Civic
Jon’s face couldn’t have beamed any wider as the rebuilt gearbox with different gears changed the driveability of the Honda ! No longer able to blame the car, he then criticized himself saying that his stage five was scruffy but lessening the fault as cold tyres were to blame! It was James second stage rally and now he just wants to do it himself! Finished with a smile 45th overall.Car 83 – John Rutter and Lorraine Nixon ( blonde bombshell it said on the side of the car ! ), Opel Manta V6
With a rebuilt engine enjoying it’s maiden outing, John’s fingers were crossed. He started the day bright and breezy following a sleep in a tent overnight! The gods weren’t smiling as, after a steady run and on just the last stage, the head gasket blew! Not a happy man. They did nevertheless record a finish with 64th overall.
Car 98 ( so seeded as those were the numbers already attached to the doors ! ) – Dave Benjamin and Harriet Bennett, Escort RS2000
This was Harriet’s first rally and a test to see if her relationship with her boyfriend survived ! Well Dave gave it everything on his first event since last year including a spin on stage one and mega-late braking! However fate took a hand again and on the very last stage, the engine said enough. Such a shame as it would have crowned their almost 4 weeks off work including having just returned from the TT on the Isle of Man!
So this summarises infectious Club motorsport with its ups and downs but always a story to tell. And there will be yet more stories in the future to recount….
Posted by Geoff Wade, FDMC Media