Who's going to Abingdon on the 11/12 June?

[Allen Mead]

As the title really, I'll be servicing for Martin Page and Bertmk2 off here. We run a mk2 escort with a 2ltr zetec on weber 45's.

[BertMk2]

Rather obviously I'll be there

We'll have to try not to set fire to the car this time out.

[BertMk2]

We had a great day, but as seems to be our way we couldn't get through a whole day without some sort of drama.

We knocked a tyre of the rim on stage 2 and had to jump out and swap it over, we carried on only to get pulled over by an official who then told us that they'd sent the course closing car round already! So we trundled round to the next lot of officials who then told us to stick our foot down again and carry on at full blast to the end of the stage - annoying really, we probably lost as much time there as we did actually swapping the wheel over.

The other drama was entirely my fault my helmet strap was digging into my neck - so I was in the process of sorting that out when Martin stomped on the brakes - exit pace notes! They landed behind the footrest so there was no way I could reach them! Fortunately we'd run the majority of the stage already that morning so I knew what to call anyway.

Add in a couple of spins and some cone bashing and that was us for the day! We brought the car home 53rd overall so we were quite happy with that. The car will need some TLC before the next event - something at the back end was making a horrible noise by the end of the day

Just like to add a quick thanks to Allen for servicing and to all the organisers and marshals - especially the one who wandered over when we were changing the wheel.

[Allen Mead]

Yep, it was a good day all round.

[Circuitmarshal]

Bert,
The marshal that stopped you done it off his own back he was not told to do that.
But at least he had his bits bitten off for doing it.
The one that said carry on was told to do that.
Just like to say I was close to that but not my post.
In the morning I was the radio car just inside the gate at D, afternoon chicane at O.
Yet again a very good weekend.
See you next year.

[BertMk2]

I guess the fact that we were running near the back didn't help either, by the time we'd changed the wheel over the cars behind us in the start order had gone through so we were dead last on the road and out of sequence (and probably a couple of minutes behind anyone else).

The main problem apart from the lost time was the uncertainy of knowing exactly what was going to be in the road - after encountering 2 off roaders in the middle of the stage we were slightly nervous of what was round each corner - especially as the stage layout was due to be changed - for all we knew there could be marshals on the stage. The whole thing with the wheel change and then the pull cost us about 5 minutes in total, so something like 9 or 10 places in the final standings - oops.

Still, we can't complain too much, we had a great day and after all without marshals there would be no rallying so thanks Pete and everyone else for helping to make it possible We're planning on being back next year for another crack at it

[BertMk2]

This is us at Abingdon:

http://www.rallygallery.com/whole_ev...mg_6834_ms.jpg