Tour of Epynt

Tour of Epynt was our first visit to Epynt of 2014 on a dry warm day.

Stage 1 was damp and we had a cautious run but stage 2 was a longer and dryer stage and we pushed on. Stage 3 was a repeat of stage 1 but now dry and we attacked going 20 seconds quicker than the previous. Stage 4 was cancelled due to the accident with Colin/Phil. Stage 5 was 15 and a half miles and we experienced a gear change problem towards the end of the stage dropping us some time.

They changed the direction of the next stage which was 10-15 miles when we were still having some problems with gear change. Stage 7 was a repeat of stage 6 and we had disconnected the flat change system and we pushed on to 10th fastest.
It was a very good result ending up with 11th overall and 1st in class.
A big thank you to Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies and Chris Davies. Also another top job done by Kath.
Thank you to JMS Photography, Rhys Edwards Rally Photography and Wayne Turner for the photographs.

Rali Cwm Gwendraeth 2014

Rali Cwm Gwendraeth was the 1st event of the 2014 campaign. It had been very wet in the week leading up to the event.

Stage 1 started good but was held up on the 2nd loop which dropped us around 10 seconds. Stage 2 was a repeat of stage 1 and a better stage, 15 seconds quicker than the previous taking 2nd fastest stage time. Stage 3 was the 1st run over the beach road and we took it cautiously. Stage 4 was over the beach road again but we pushed on and was happy with the time and took second fastest stage time again.

It started raining heavy before the start of stage 5. We fitted the Michelin full wets and was happy with the preformance. The rain carried on to stage 6 but we were happy to come away with 2nd overall, 1st in class and the mixed crew award.

I would like to say a big thank you to Kath Curzon, Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies, Neil Central Jones, Richard Roberts and Chris Davies. Also thank you to JMS Photography.

2014 Proposed Rally Events

These are the events and dates for the Welsh Championship that we hope to compete in this year.

9th February - Rali Cwm Gwendraeth

9th March - Tour of Epynt

23rd March - Tour of Caerwent

13th April - Bob Shaw Memorial Stages

4th May - Toyota Harlech Stages

25th May - Lawrence Landfill Stages

22nd June - Garth Tyres Mid-summer Caerwent

27th July - SG Printing Harry Flatters 

24th August - Event Signs Mewla

12th October - Peter Lloyd Stages 

1st/2nd November - Glyn Memorial Stages 

We are also hoping to compete in the Patriot Stages at Caerwent 

Pentraeth Kia Glyn Memorial Stages

The Glyn Memorial Stages was round 10 and final round of the Welsh Tarmac Championship. As we were leading the Welsh Championship but now required to drop scores our aim for this rally was to take top points. We had been seeded car two for this event.

After arriving at Anglesea for the first time in atrocious weather conditions we had forgotten the keys to the race shuttle and as co driver Kath could not make the event it was a bad start. We found a local co driver at short notice after previous problems.
We walked the course between showers and decided to go on a soft intermediate tyre for the first stage. We came away with equal fastest time. As worsening rain made the track very wet we dropped down the field over the next few stages. Stage seven was the first dark stage and we decided to push on as we knew we needed to set faster times. Stage eight being the final stage of the day we picked up a slight misfire and a high speed spin which resulted in us losing 27 seconds from the fastest stage time of this stage. Overall for the day we were lying in 5th place, 37 seconds off first overall and 3 seconds from the class lead.

Day two started again wet and we were still trying to improve times setting good times over stage nine and ten moving us up to 3rd overall. On stage twelve as the rain eased off we decided to push on but were caught out after aquaplaning on a open fast left which resulted in us dropping more time. Stage thirteen and fourteen went very well pushing us back up to the top 3 but on stage fifteen our rally came to an end with an electrical problem surrendering the fight and the Welsh Tarmac Championship.

Thank you to Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies and Chris Davies. Also a massive thank you to Peredur Wyn Davies for jumping in at the last minute and doing a good job.
Also thank you to Rocky Photography for the photo's.

Peter Lloyd Stages Pembray

The Peter Lloyd stages were the 9 round of the Welsh Championship. We had a wet start to the day with further rain forecast. We has been seeded at car 6.

After walking part of the first stage we decided to run on a soft slick tyre for the opening stage. We had a good first stage coming away with joint fastest time with Bob Fowden. Stage two we kept the same tyre choice and although this stage included the beech road section we came away with a fastest stage time, taking the lead of the rally. Stage three was a repeat of stage two which gave us another quickest stage time and extended our lead to 15 seconds going into the lunch break.

Before stage four there was heavy rain so we changed to full wet tyres but a spin on the go kart track section dropped us 28 seconds on the stage. A repeat onto stage five still with heavy rain made it difficult to regain any lost time resulting in 1st in class, 2nd overall and 2nd Welsh Tarmac Contender.

Happy with the result considering the wet conditions. Thank you to Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies, Chris Davies and Richard Roberts. Not forgetting another faultless performance from Kath Curzon in the co-drivers seat.
Also thank you to JMS photography and Scott Turner for the photo's.

Mewla Rally

Mewla Rally was the 8th round of the Welsh Tarmac Championship, we had a dry and warm start to the day and were seeded at car 12.

To start the event there was a 4 mile stage which we were happy to come away with 12th for that stage, followed by another good stage ending us in 13th place. The 3rd stage was a longer stage at 11 miles. Upon entering the german village section the rear of the car seemed to lose all grip which I though was a rear puncture. After stopping to check we dropped over a minute which put us down to 28th place.

Returning to service and changing the rear tyres we repeated the 3 stages again with no problems which moved us up into 22nd over all and 1st in class. Stage 7 was a 13 mile stage again with a good run which moved us up into 18th overall staying 1st in class. We then returned to the service area for a lunch break.

Stage 8 was in the opposite direction over the ranges which we were 7th quickest over. Stage 9 was a short stage which again we were 7th quickest over moving us up to 14th overall. Stage 10 was a repeat of stage 8 which this time we were 4th quickest over. Stage 11 was a repeat of stage 9 which we were 3rd quickest over moving us up to 11th overall and staying 1st in class also collecting 3rd Welsh Tarmac contender.

Very happy with the result considering loosing time on stage 3.
Thank you to Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies, Richard Bebb, Neil Jones, Richard Roberts and no to forget another excellent event from Kath Curzon in the co-driver seat.
Also thank you to JMS photography and MJ Photography.

Harry Flatters Rally

Harry Flatters was the 7th round of the Welsh Tarmac Championship. It had been raining heavily overnight so it was a damp start to the day. We had been seeded car 110 on the day.

To start the event there was a loop of three stages and on stage 1 we were cautious due to the damp conditions. Stage 2 was another cautious run but on stage 3 we had a brake binding problem causing the front brakes to overheat. When we returned to service after these three stages we fixed the brake problem and went onto dry tyres as the road had now dried up. We had a good stage on stage 4 pushing hard which continued onto stage 5 although we had a small moment over one of the jumps. On stage 6 we lost first gear exiting a chicane this dropping us a handful of seconds. On returning to service the crew removed the damaged tooth from the gearbox and we decided to carry on without the first gear.

Stage 7 was a wet stage and as we were on slick tyres still missing first gear we dropped further down the field. We decided to use intermediate tyres for the next stage and the roads had dried up which left us loosing more time. Stage 9 we returned back onto slick tyres only to be caught in heavy downpour whilst waiting on the stage start. As we had dropped out of the class positions we decided we had to push for the last stage to try and salvage a result from the day. It was a very good stage and we finished in 11th overall and 2nd in Class 3 and took 3rd as a Welsh Tarmac contender. We were very happy with the result considering the problems on the day.

Thank you to Barrie Jenkins, Neil Jones, Richard Roberts and John Curzon. Not forgetting another excellent event from Kath Curzon in the co-drivers seat.
Also thank you to JMS Photography and Alan Jones for the images.