Having eventually found the venue, (arrows after the junctions!) the course looked very interesting and different. The main points being a banked outer track and a water splash enclosed between two concrete walls! Exciting on slicks.
First stage, first corner and Warren Philiskirk hit the barrier hard in his 6R4 damaging the rear body work, ripping off his tailgate, bending the roof down and losing a corner from the rear suspension. A small halt to proceedings was at hand whilst they cleared the track. This was to be the only waiting we had during the whole event. Excellent organisation meant we actually had the allotted service times with negligible queuing in the stage start.
I had never been to Leyland test track before but as a single venue its great. Foot planted around the banked curving with loads of grip. Got my remoulds extremely warm any way. The standard brakes have started working albeit with loads of pedal pressure, so much so that I bent the foot plate on the brake pedal! Bent back and fitted with an alloy plate over the top has sorted it out.
With the first 30 cars all finishing 5th or higher in previous events the quality of vehicles there was top notch. A little off putting for the likes of us but I was determined to finish this event. I set a target of 22nd O/A and drove the tyres off the Pug. Literally! Luckily a tyre van was there so I invested in some proper tyres, but being from Yorkshire managed to finish on the worn remoulds.

After no mistakes apart from a broken Navigators door mirror on a chicane everything looked good and the stages passed quickly. It didn't rain as forecast and the only time we were wet was negotiating the water splash. Hairy or what? Going in on slicks, by the time I realised that we were floating towards high concrete walls we were out onto the track again, but kept the old ticker going. A nice tight infield meant the Pug could be played with on the throttle and some interesting hill sections were included.
A great day and a finish of 21st O/A 7th in class made me feel like the Pug is now coming together as a package. (only 2 years later)
Thanks to Jim & Michelle for servicing and Simon Taylor for the lone of a tow vehicle. Now all we had to do was get to Leconfield for Saturday night Scrutineering!

G.Steggles.