Abingdon Stages

Abingdon Airfield – 8^th June 2003

A Competitor's View by Rob S*.

Well, drama's before we even get there - Saturday afternoon set off for Scrutineering, just pulled on to A40 to Oxford when trailer tyre lets go, and don’t have a spare!!! Taking it steady we got there (Sigh of Relief). No problems with Noise Test or the very brief checks at Scrutineering.

Sunday morning and a damp start meant we went out on new tyres (Yokies 048's medium compound) which seemed to work well and set 31st fastest time, even after I had tried climbing one of the grass banks between the buildings. We caught cars 71 & 72.

Weather now clearing and getting warmer for SS2. We are 40s quicker, setting 37th quickest time, passed car 71 and in the boot of car 72.

SS3 and a change of Stage layout now taking us over small bit of grass which was very entertaining if not a little worrying as I have yet to fit a sump guard (Gulp! - Ed), we caught and passed a Sunbeam and a 205 and set 38th fastest time.

SS4 15s quicker and giving a Cosworth a bit of grief through the tower section. By this stage we were 33rd O/A 2 seconds behind TMC Henry Whitfield in 2.0 Astra.

SS5 saw a change of direction and whilst on Stage it starts to rain, with a few near misses and with the wipers not working fast enough, we make it round unscathed.

SS6 Cancelled due to a large amount of cars broken down or embedded into things.

SS7 a few standing puddles left as it starts to dry out, caught and passed several cars as they tip toed around.

SS8 last stage, now pretty much dry, merged behind pug 205, who was very slow in the corners, but initially pulled away on the straights, no matter how long we left the horn on. Eventually a do or die move in to the hairpin sorted that out, but must have lost 10 odd seconds, now on a mission, and catching the Nova No 68, caught up into the building section, no way of passing here, unfortunately in my eagerness I made a mistake and went up the bank of the air-raid shelter, and then stalled, got going again. Finished 29th O/A and 5th in Class (of 32 starters). A superb day’s sport with the car running faultlessly, we were well chuffed with this average performance!!

TIMES:- SS1 14:03 SS2 13:23 SS3 14:16 SS4 14:01 SS5 15:27 SS7 14:05 SS8 13:28

Abingdon Stages

Abingdon Airfield – 8th June 2003

Abingdon Airfield – 8^th June 2003