Lookout Stage Rally.
Car 32 G.Steggles/E.Bain
Saturday scrutineering. At least it isn't an early start cos we're sleeping
in the van again. We were driven to an evening meal with security and what a
meal that was. Phil Andrews had his infamous boots and socks on which at one
stage seemed to be placed on table 16 for some reason. The food was adequate
and swilled with beer.
Back at base we were invited for a night cap in security HQ and afterwards we
walked off to the van passing a generator for the lights in security. Well,
it was positioned just so that a finger could get to the choke mechanism through
the fence and I'm sure that someone could have a right laugh with the lighting
if they could slow the gennie by choking it for a second or two and then letting
it back up to speed. Only thing is the power output was on a breaker so suddenly
the lights went out and wouldn't come back on! Ooops! Don't know who could have
done that and it's a good job we had a torch for a hasty getaway. The night
was very cold and not much sleep was had for fear of reprisal.
6.00 a.m. and I found Phil out and about inspecting the service area and he
informed me that he couldn't find any matches last night or we may have been
sleeping in a van that was listing to one side as the air from the tyres had
escaped, if I knew what he meant!
Russ, Tina, Michelle and Jim turned up next to us and we prepared to do battle.
Russ and Michelle were in the Pug and Jim servicing with Steve Lancaster.
The stages were rough and dusty, very rough. My fuse box fell out, the starter
wire became detached and I clouted a couple of bales. Worse than this though
on the second stage the gear linkage shook off and I lost about a minute through
stopping to put it on. Suitably tie wrapped I thought I had it until the last
stage where it did it again. Another minute lost! Russ had his battery jump
from the mount and knock his air flow meter from its hose which gave them a
maximum.
We both finished the event which is more than can be said for a great many crews
and those that did had generous damage showing on their vehicles. = 17th O/A,
7th in class and Best mixed crew award made it worthwhile but if only I hadn't
lost a couple of minutes? I just can't run to group A bits with my dwindling
budget. Anyone want to buy 4 very used forest tyres?? Didn't think so.