Driver: Stephen Shephard
Navigator:Anthony Brackner
Opel Manta i240
Start No. 14
After a long lay off since the North Humberside in March, we were ready to test our newly rebuilt engine and 5 speed SC/CR Ford gearbox. We decided the club event at Manby would be a good test, on both gravel and tarmac, so an entry was sent to Eddie.
After the customary beer & BBQ on Friday night we got up to find the Manta covered in beer cans, cheers Rich! The CDMC crews (Ian Jones, Pete Boddy Kelvin Knowles and ourselves) set up together in the service area. The first two stages were to be tarmac only to let the loose dry, so Neil fitted the inter's.
SS1 -I was not at my best, still a little rusty and needing to regain confidence in both myself and the car.
SS2 - A big improvement over the opening stage, 20 seconds faster, 4 behind Kelvin.
SS3 - Onto the loose, with knobblies fitted. The stage went very well until we couldn't get any gears in the last mile. I managed to jam it into 2nd and chug to the finish, but we then had to push it from the stage finish to the service area. We lost around ten seconds, but still set a time on the pace of our class rival John Godbehere. Dad soon sorted out the problem, the clutch release fork had come loose and adjusted itself!
SS4 - A repeat of SS3 and this time we were on the pace. I caught and got alongside a Sierra Cosworth, only to have him pull away on the straight, very frustrating. I need more power! On the second lap at the end of the straight I braked a bit too late, locked up all 4 wheels, realised it wasn't going to stop and released the brakes, then tried again. Still locked up and now only 50 meters before the chicane and about 30 MPH too fast ! I threw it sideways, smacked into the straw bales on my side and stalled. The resultant body damage caused the tyre to rub on the arch and we dropped nearly 25 seconds.
Oh well at least I was exploring the limits with knobblies on tarmac!
SS5 - Can't remember much apart from catching the Cossy again, this time he let me past.
SS6 - I was looking forward to this one, an all loose stage. Everything went very well, and we set 6th fastest time,11 seconds up on John Godbehere's 2.4 16v MKI Escort. Just needed more of the same over the last 4 stages to move us up from 14th O/A 5th in class into the top ten.
SS7 - All went well until we went off on a muddy corner losing 5-10 seconds.
SS8 - Went off again on the same corner, losing another 10 seconds. I was very angry with myself, but after watching the video most other people went off as well.
SS9 - No problems 8th fastest on the stage
SS10 - Again no problems 7th fastest.
We finished 11th overall 3rd in class, only 14 seconds outside the top ten! We were well pleased with ourselves, the new engine and box.
Thanks to Dad and Mum for their support, Neil for spannering, and thanks to all the organising team and marshals for a great event.