Rally Rattlings

Firstly may I offer my apologies to Tom and Chris Powis for not recognizing their splendid Class win and 26th overall on the Bexley Anniversary Stages last month – well done.
The Spotted Dick and Custard Stages at Longcross is approaching and regs will be out by the time you read this. If you want to compete then you’ll have put your entry in as soon as possible because these events are filling rapidly. There has been a lot of debate recently on the issuing of regs for events on the internet – some clubs have proposed that this will be the only way they will be available. This is unfair to those of you who are not on line and also contravenes the Blue Book if entries are accepted the same way. I’m all in favour of regs being available on line but only after the traditional printed version has landed on everyone’s doormat. With the rapid filling of entries for both Single Venue (sorry!) Multi Use Stage Rallies and Speed events, especially championship rounds, this is a problem, which needs properly to be resolved – I wish it were a problem for road events!
Please now put the date for the S D & C Stages in your diaries – its 2nd September 2001. You’ll be needed to make this the best event run at Longcross – and it’s good practice for your marshalling skills on the Rally of Kent in October, which will certainly need ALL of us.
The Autotest series is finally under way and the winter series of 12-car Rallies and Scatter Rallies are being planned – as is next years Kent Rally. As this is the only event to run in our local championships so far this year it is impossible to compare but I think most competitors enjoyed it and we have had no comebacks from the police or other locals. As mentioned last month the Rally School is on it’s holidays but will be back in September.
Now, with no road events since February the competition car should be completely overhauled, polished, tuned, etc. just like my Mantas – Oh Yeah? Well, the blue one was back on the road after the Pheasant Plucker incident but has decided to crack it’s cylinder head (as they do!) so is in the garage having a replacement head fitted and, while it’s off, a new set of rings and big ends – yes I’m paying someone to do it. So the white one is all ready – dream on! It’s not too bad but is running very roughly via (I hope) a leaky manifold and exhaust system, which is about to be replaced – then comes the MOT! It may pass depending on the eyesight of the tester – fingers crossed. Watch this space for the progress reports.

Chin

The Acorn : August Edition