Driver: Kelvin Knowles Co-driver: Mick Hollis Car: The "Pink Panther" Escort RS2000
The start of this year's rally was at Southwell Racecourse, and we passed through noise control and scrutineering without problems. We were looking forward to our fourth multi-venue, the first in the wet and Kelvin was hoping he'd got sufficient tyres for the wet conditions.
In the service area we were welcomed to "Clown's Corner" by Stuart Teather, as the car next to us was painted in Wallace and Gromit livery. (Cracking Car, Eh Gromit? - IJ)
We set off at 11.08 looking forward to an exicting days rallying, but we had only reached Python Hill on the way to stage one, when Kelvin asked if I could hear "that knocking noise." I could and it didn't sound too healthy. I hoped that it wasn't anything serious.
SS1 Blidworth: Trying to ignore the knocking noise, we had a steady although very slippery run through the stage. Ashley and Paul were waiting in a lay-by in the chase car after the stage and had a quick look under the bonnet, they diagnosed a knocking cam. We thought that this was the end, but decided to carry on and hope for the best.
SS2 Clipstone South 1: Kelvin was now getting used to the forest tracks, and we trundled round using the power (or rather the lack of it) available, the engine still protesting.
SS3 Clipstone South 2: Plenty of sideways action, the knocking now even louder. Would we make it to service?
SS4 Blooms Gorse 1: Nursing the Pink Panther round the stage, we still managed to get stuck in the mud.
SS5 Harlow Wood: We had a steady run through this short stage, and with the car still holding its own we clatterd up the 8 mile road section and onto stage six.
SS6 Watchwood: This was one of our best stage times we have ever done (1.48) and with a knocking cam. We now had a 12½ mile run back to service, where hopefully the service crew would be able to work a miracle on the engine. Wayne had a welcome cup of tea waiting for us on our arrival (the first time he has ever made one!) The crew soon had the bonnet and rocker cover off, and discovered one lobe on the camshaft was badly worn and a spring follower had fallen off. After readjusting the cam follower and fixing the spring back on, Paul noticed a stud on the inlet manifold had worked loose.
With the cam knocking even louder we drove the 15 miles back to Blidworth.
SS7: A quick thrash round Blidworth, still excited over the massive power loss, but we still managed to run off onto the rough and achieve a respectable stage time.
SS8: Was a re-run of SS7 and we got through unscathed.
SS9 Thieves Wood: A steady chug round in the fading Panther.
SS10 Clipstone South 3: It was now dark and Kelvin was able to use the spotlights for the first time. The start was delayed by 15 minutes to let the train pass through. We were now getting slower by the mile, the Panther was slowly dying, and I started praying that we would make it to the finish.
SS11 Blooms Gorse 2: The last stage, 6 miles long and a re-run of the morning stage. It took us 60 seconds to make it up the steep hill, and the lights were starting to dim. One mile from the finish Kelvin pulled over to let car 69 pass us, and we limped on to the finish.
We drove the 19 mile road section back to service at approximately 25mph with the chase car escorting us, as the main headlight beams were stuck in the on position. We made it back to the racecorse, the rally finally over.
We'd finished 49th overall, and 14th in class, and at the halfway stage we were 37th overall.
The Pink Panther finally expired as it was hauled back onto the trailer. Sob Sob.
BUT WATCH THIS SPACE FOR THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER!
With thanks to the service crew, Ashley, Paul, Wayne and Paul.
Mick and Kelvin.
PS. No floral tribute required. (Just send cash!)