Rally Yorkshire 02
Car 425 29/9/02

After a touch and go situation as to whether the car would be ready (read here) we set off early Sunday for the start. On the way the O/S front wheel came loose! I wasn't filled with confidence at the thought of throwing my fresh car through the forests after this but it made the rest of the journey without fault.

We had a drive out to the first stage and both Emma and I were a little nervous but attacked the stage with caution. First problem was the fuel pump relay that was sat on the O/S front inner wing was making and breaking over every pot hole or bump. I couldnt do anything but carry on through the rest of the 11 miler trying to feather the throttle to stop the on off switch that was the rattly relay from kicking in. On one hairpin left it stopped completely. Thanks to Phill Andrews and crew for jumping on the track and pushing. As it was it started on the button and we were off again albeit jerkily. At the end of one we were straight into stage 2 so I couldnt do anything but try to rob a relay off another competitor, thanks Dave, but as it was his spare relays were rivited to his dash board! I was nearly stumped when I thought about the fuse box in my car. There must be a spare or redundant relay in there. The first one I picked worked and didnt seem to stop anything else from working so we used that. It did the trick and we were off smoothly again.

We made it through stage 2 and to service without drama apart from a clicking on the front N/S. At service we found a front wheel balance weight was making the clicking noise from the wheel as it was hitting the front caliper and the rear N/S caliper braided hose was leaking. The hose needed a new olive which we didnt have so we filled the resovoir and carried on for the super special spectator stage.

Staight, 90 right, 90 right 90 left over bump, hairpin left. Hairpin left? where was that then? Oh the finish! 57 seconds! It was over all too quickly and on to stage 4!

Picture courtesy www.marksayer.co.uk

Stage 4 was Staindale and I really enjoyed this as it was twisty. I really got with the flow of this until I saw someone in the crowd of spectators and foolishly let go of the wheel to wave. In my head I remembered the 90 right instruction just in time but had to reverse out of the rut to continue!

Stage 5 and 6 were repeated from the morning and we made them in nearly exactly the same times. I will readily admit to being slow through the forests but need more practice and better tyres as the whole car seems to tank slap at anything over 85 mph. Someone suggested thinner rear tyres on the back to help it grip but I dont know if it is a tyre problem or not yet. I suppose its the easiest thing to try though.

So we finished, in time, with a 26th and 8th in class. I'm happy with that in a fresh, ill handling car and said from the start that I would like to finish at our seeded number which we nearly did. The event ran well from what I saw and the stages were mint. This may have led to the demise of a few who had rolled or ended in a ditch as even I got my foot down on the smooth surfaces only to find a rutted bit on a corner thrown in without warning or some sections of 50 yards covered with slippery loose fresh grading gravel just before some gate posts. Scary, but a peugeot can get through sideways. Somehow. It woke Emma up. Judgement or Luck?