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.

Mid Summer Caerwent

It was back to Caerwent for round 5 of the Welsh Tarmac Championship. We had been seeded at car 9 and the weather was on our side being dry.

Stage 1 was a good stage coming away with a fastest stage time but we lost the breaks towards the end of the stage. The service crew cleaned the discs and pads before stage 2 and we changed onto a harder rear tyre it was a good stage going 15 seconds quicker. Stage 3 we bent the suspension bracket. after hitting a curb 1/2 way around and dropped around 10 seconds but we were still in 2 place overall. Stage 4 we collected a puncher around 3/4 of the way around the stage and buckled the wheel and that was the rally over for us

I would like to thank Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies, Neil (Central) Jones and John Curzon for the help and support. Also a big thank you to Kath Curzon for an excellent job done in the co-drivers seat.

Big thank you to Forresters Motor Club for a well run event!

On a positive note we still hold a 5 point lead on the Welsh Tarmac Championship!

Dale Stages Rally 2013 In Car

Mini Epynt Stages

We decided to compete in the Mini Epynt stages although it is not a round of the Welsh Tarmac Championship. We were seeded car 1 which brought extra pressure but weather was on our side.

We were happy to be in second place after the first loop of stages 1 and 2. We also had a fastest time on stage 4 we pushed into the lead of the event. Going into the last loop of two stages we were 7 seconds down on Bryan Davies and Alun Lewis. We had two good stages which saw us come away with the overall win being our best result today after a very enjoyable day.

I would like to thank Barrie Jenkins, Neil Jones, Richard Roberts and a massive thank you to Kath Curzon.
Also thank you to Herefordshire Motor Club for a very well run event and JMS Photography and Wayne Turner for the pictures.

Dale Stages

Dale stages was the 5th event of the 2013 Welsh Tarmac Championship. As we had never been to this venue before we did not know what to expect. We were seeded car 5 and on the day it was warm and dry.

The first stage went well resulting in an early lead. We also picked up fastest stage time on stage 2. Stage 3 saw a change in the route which caught us out which dropped us to second behind Bob Fowden/Paul Wakely.

We dropped another couple of seconds to Bob on stage 4 holding us at second. Everything went well up to stage 6 where we decided to push for the win but we spun then came across a chicane that was blocked after the tyres has been hit dropping us down to 3rd place. Stage 7 was a better stage followed by a fastest stage time on stage 8 resulting in us getting up to second overall and first in class.

A big thank you to Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies, Neil Jones and John Curzon. Another top job done by Kath Curzon. 

Also thank you to JMS photography and Red Dragon Images for the photos.

Bob Shaw Memorial Stages - Talbenny

Talbenny was our 4th event of the season in the Welsh Tarmac Championship and we were happy to be seeded Car 3. Kath Curzon was back in the co-driver seat after missing the last event. On the day we were very nervous as the weather was atrocious with a lot of standing water on the stages.

Stage 1 was a cautious start as I have never been on the Michelin full wet tyres before and a 720 degree spin on the long and fast straight dropped us down to 11th place after this stage. Stage 2 was a lot better as the confidence grew in the tyres, we collected a puncture 100 meters from the finish but still took the fastest stage time which moved us up to third overall. Stage 3 was another good stage where we set the fastest stage time again moving us up to 1st over all. Stage 4 was another fastest stage time extending our lead. We started stage 5 after a midday break we were undecided on what tyres to use as the rain has stopped and the roads were starting to clean but still held a lot of water in places. We went back out on the wets and struggled with under steer on the softer tyres resulting in a overshoot and therefore a drop in time. Stage 6 we made the mistake of staying on the same tyres ending up with two overshoots and more dropped time resulting in our lead being shortened to 17 seconds. Stage 7 we changed to Dunlop intermediates and put in a fastest stage time. On stage 8 we set another fastest stage time resulting in the win by 29 seconds overall. We also collected top Welsh Championship points extending the lead.

We were very happy with the result in the wet conditions.

A big thank you to Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies, Chris Davies and John Curzon. Another top job done by Kath. We would also like to thank JMS Photography and John Curzon for the photographs.
I would also like to thank Pembrokeshire Motor Club for an excellent event despite the conditions.

Tour of Caerwent 2013

The first Caerwent rally of 2013 with new standing co driver Tom Wood due to Kath being away. The weather seemed to be on side for the event dry but still bitterly cold. We had been seeded car 7 for the event and both agreed from the off that a finish would be an achievement in its own and any result after that would be a plus.

Stage 1 was damp in places with standing water. At the end of this stage we were lying 4th Overall 2 seconds off 3rd place and 3 seconds off joint 1st place. I was happy with all the calls and comfortable being pushed on in certain points and being given more confidence to brake later. On Stage 2 we had no problems reported just extremely slippy in places with lots of water and pot holes to catch us out. Stage 3 we jumped up to 3rd Place behind O’Leary despite earlier worries in the earlier parts of the stage that the rear tyres were going off. On stage 4 we took time out of O’Leary closing in to just 10 seconds behind him and currently holding 3rd place overall. Stage 5 saw a new set of rear tyres and adding confidence as well as grip . We set the fastest overall stage time and taking 5 seconds out of O’Leary. The final stage of the day saw a tough decision for the crew to either push for 2nd and collecting all important full welsh championship points or settle for 3rd and not risk breaking the car or pushing too hard.On stage 6 we decided to push on which resulted in fastest overall stage time by us and due to gearbox problems for O’Leary we took 2nd place overall and the Class win.

I would like to thank Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies, Chris Davies and Ben Merriman for the help and support. Also a big thank you to Tom Wood for an excellent job done in the co-drivers seat and settling in to the team so well.
Big thank you to Forresters Motor Club for a well run event!

Tour of Epynt 2013

Tour of Epynt was our first venture to Epynt in the 2013 season. It was a very cold and damp throughout the day.

On the first stage we found it very slippery and struggled to get heat into the tyres. On the second stage we had slightly more success with it being a longer stage generating more heat. At service we changed over to intermediate tyres hoping this would cure our problem. On stage 3 we decided to push quite hard off the start ending with a big moment in front of Neil Central Jones. We stiffened the car up for stage 5 and found it to be a lot better. Stage 6 was our final stage after changing back to slick tyres and pushing quite hard only for the diff to let go after the jump on the entrance to Bamfords causing the retirement of the rally.

A massive thank you to Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies, Chris Davies and John Curzon for sticking out in the cold conditions. Also another top job done by Kath, sorry about the result!
Thank you to JMS Photography and Geoff Bengough for the images.

Rali Cwm Gwendraeth 2013

Rali Cwn Gwendraeth was the first event of our season which started with constant rain and slippery conditions.

 It was a slow start with the windscreen misting up on the first stage but we resolved this problem before stage two but for the next three stages we had no problems. On stage five we spun dropping around 20 seconds and then finished off with a good sixth and final stage being happy to come away with 4th overall, 2nd in class and top Welsh Championship score.

I would like to say a big thank you to Kath Curzon, Barrie Jenkins, Karl Davies, Neil Central Jones and Ben Merriman.
Also thank you to JMS Photography and John Curzon for the pictures.

2013 Proposed Rally Events

In 2013 we plan to defend the Welsh Tarmac Championship title and these are the events we are planning to enter are following:

10th February - Rali Cwn Gwendraeth

11th March - Tour of Epynt

24th March - Tour of Caerwent

14th April - Talbenny Stages

19th May - Lawrence Landfill Stages

23rd June - Mid Summer Caerwent

28th July - Harry Flatters Rally 

25th August - Mewla Rally

13th October - Peter Lloyd Stages

2&3rd of November - Glyn Memorial Stages

The other events we are planning to compete in are following:

2nd June - Mini Epynt Stages

September 29th - Patriot Stages Caerwent