PEDLEY RALLYING

Yesterday saw us competing on the SRM Racing Hall Trophy Stages at Weeton Barracks near Blackpool. It was definitely a day of two halves. The first half consisting of the first stage which saw the car misfiring off the line and halfway round the first stage a drive-shaft popped out dropping all the gear oil out. After locating the problem and relocating the shaft we had to drove slowly out the stage, taking a stage maximum in the process. Back in service we cured the misfire by replacing all the plug leads, refitted the shaft and replaced the gearbox oil and we were ready for stage two.

Stage two was the beginning of the second half of our day, the car was running sweet and Chris was in fine form, the power steering conversion was proving a revelation and the stage times began to reflect it. After our problems on stage one we were in last position, climbing to 36th overall at the end, securing third in class and another pot in our pocket, but more importantly, valuable points for our championship efforts. A good effort from Bob and Dave in service and an excellent drive by Chris contributed to a good day all round.

Photo courtesy of MAD Video Productions

Not as good news for our friends out on the event. John Deegan and Chris Smith in the Honda Civic Type R. The gearbox broke on the very first stage, dropping all the oil and plunging them into a series of spins and immediate retirement. Ian Savage and Gary Heslop failed to get away from the line on stage one, something breaking as they attempted to get away. Gary and Matthew Jakeman snapped a driveshaft in two places at the same time, but the cruelest retirement of all was Martin Fox and Linda Whitmore breaking the Impreza gearbox on stage 10 after holding second or third position all day, and even leading the event after the first stage.

Next event will be the Keith Wood Stages at the Three Sisters Circuit at Ashton-in-Makerfield, near Wigan on 9th October followed by our trip to the Tour of Mull the following weekend. That event has now been seeded, showing us at number 157.

Photo courtesy of Craig Pedley