Having marshalled on the Spotted Dick Stages last year and then earlier this year on the Rally of Kent I decided I would like to have ago at stage rallying. Having talked to my dad about it we decided that the way to go was to start with single stage tarmac events for a couple of years and gain experience of the car and its handling etc before moving on to gravel events. We also decided that rather than buy a cheap purpose built vehicle we would prepare my standard Peugeot 205 1.4 xs for tarmac events and take it step by step. All the car would have done to it would be the mandatory safety equipment - roll cage, extinguisher, electrical cut out etc.
We decided that we would start the first event with the bog standard car on road tyres and see how it went. If I enjoyed it and felt I was limited by the car's handling, we would take it step by step adding bits here and there, with the engine being the last thing touched. My dad impressed on me the importance of getting the handling and braking sorted out before progressing to more power.
I prepared the car myself and arranged to have it log booked by someone who lived locally in West Kingsdown. He commented on how neat the car was and what a good job I had done in preparing it and it sailed through. As I already had my National B Licence all I now had to do was enter my first event. I chose the Brook Motorsport Longcross Stages on 29th May 2002 and sent off my entry, rather late, but explaining that it was my first event and that I would therefore like to run at the back of the field so as not to inconvenience the other competitors. I was very excited when I received my confirmation a couple of weeks before the event and then started checking over the car thoroughly.
In the meantime, I had started helping out at Max Rally Sport at West Kingsdown with car preparation, as I was unemployed at the time. John the owner had just established the business and could not afford to pay me, so we came to an arrangement where I could use his facilities in return for working for him. He also agreed to let me park next to him at the event, (where he was servicing two cars prepared by himself) and give advice and help if needed.
We had already bought a trailer for the car, rather battered and needing a couple of new tyres and jockey wheel, but it would do the job. The other equipment we had was a 5 gallon jerry can of petrol, a socket set and a tyre inflator. Hardly a works team, but we intended to learn by experience!
The night before the rally I was obviously very excited and we checked all the bits on the car before going to bed ready for the early start the next morning. We had arranged to meet John and his team of service personnel at Clacketts Lane services on the M25 at 6.30am. We all eventually found each other by 7.00am and set out for Longcross.
On arrival, I was shown where to sign on and where to get scrutineered and as instructed, we parked next to John and his cars. At scrutineering, I discovered that I needed an MOT and hadn't brought one with me. Immediate panic, but the scrutineers were very helpful and as it was my first rally agreed to let me through. Upon returning to the service area I found that Max Rally Sport had lent my Dad an awning, which had been erected next to our " service vehicle"
My navigator, Vaughan, had disappeared into a nearby van and was being shown the basic timing procedures so that we would not be excluded for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ian Gibson wandered over to have a chat and find out how we were getting on and be generally supportive. By the time the first car fired up its engine I was getting pretty excited, but knew we had a good twenty minutes before I could get in the car and drive to the start.
Everyone had repeatedly told me "Don't try to win the rally on the first lap, go for the finish and get some experience".
As our time approached, I put on my helmet, checked the intercom, tightened my seat belts and with a final wave to my Dad drove out of the service area and down to the start of my first stage event.