Abingdon Stages 2006

Abingdon Airfield, 11th June 2006

Report by James Walters, Photographs by Alan Terry

The entry list looked strong as usual for our closest to home event, with the club fielding an 8 car entry these being:

Car 2 Peter Lloyd / Graham Handley Subaru Impreza
Car 7 Simon Mauger / Brian Cammack Mitsubishi Evo V
Car 17 Dick Mauger / Jason Giggs Ford Escort WRC
Car 18 Richard Upton / Paul Bareham Ford Sierra Cosworth
Car 38 Kevin Pead / James Walters Ford Escort Mk II
Car 39 Paul Diamond / Steve Cox Ford Escort MkII
Car 72 Nick Mauger / Daniel Cammack Vauxhall Corsa Sri
Car 88 Brian Farminer / Amanda Terry Ford Fiesta 1600

The weekend started with beautiful hot weather, but with signs of foreboding that it was going to be a difficult event for the club. Kevin’s new escort and Peter Lloyd’s Subaru both failed to make the start line due to fueling and electrical problems...

Looking at the other drivers in turn.

Car 7 Simon Mauger / Brian Cammack Mitsubishi Evo V
Simon had initially planned to do the event in his Dad’s WRC escort. However, with Dick’s purchase of the Mitsubishi just the day before the event, a switch was made and so it was a case of hurried preparation of the car. Sadly Simon lost the cooling fan on SS1, and although the car completed SS2, damage to the turbo had resulted, and hence game over. Cooling was a problem that was going to affect several of the entries throughout the day.

Car 17 Dick Mauger / Jason Giggs Ford Escort WRC
Dick had had a last minute hunt around for a co-driver after Steve McNulty was otherwise engaged. With the pre event switch of Simon into the Evo, Dick was back out in the trusty white Escort. However, the car had been set up for Simon to drive, and hence Dick was struggling with the car on SS1. He lost the brakes going into one chicane, and was not very happy in service. Things did not improve on SS2, and the car was out by the start of SS3, with a reported knocking engine. Hence called it a day.

Car 18 Richard Upton / Paul Bareham Ford Sierra Cosworth
I had met up with Richard the night before, and all was talk of tactics and tyre strategies. Paul was looking baffled. Took my leave when offered a viewing of his triumphal precession at Oakington a few weeks ago.

Sadly the next day showed that it was not going to be another repeat performance. On SS1 the car lost its alternator, and still managed to shred the one set of dry tyres. SS2 and the car was still not running right. A change of spark plugs for SS3 saw no improvement with the car not willing to rev cleanly above 3,500 rpm. After a puncture on SS4 they decided to call it a day and took an early bath.

Car 39 Paul Diamond / Steve Cox Ford Escort MkII
The club’s sole survivors at the end of the day! The Dayglow orange MkII really did look smart, and its new engine was equally immaculate. Paul was looking very laid back and cool with his shades on (He needs them with that colour! – Ed) the team were held up by an Astra on SS1, and had a couple of spins on SS2. However, they were really on it for SS3 and 4. Over lunch they were talking of low oil pressure worries However, they had risen up to 10th OA, a position they held to the end of the day, finishing 3rd in class.

Car 72 Nick Mauger / Daniel Cammack Vauxhall Corsa Sri
Nicks new Corsa looked really tidy. He was telling us that it has been built up from an Endurance rally car shell. It still has a standard engine, although it has a quaife gearbox and big brakes. We watched him round SS1 and he was looking good. However clipped a kerb and took out the bottom ball joint, and hence game over. The car was recovered back to service, repaired, and able to do another few stages. However, engine then went bang on SS6.

Car 88 Brian Farminer / Amanda Terry Ford Fiesta 1600
Brian and Amanda were looking really good, getting noticeably quicker throughout the morning. Amanda was looking like a true professional with her very own personal umbrella attendant (See Picture). They were up to 52nd OA after SS2, and rose to 43rd after SS4. End of SS5 saw the car coming in all hot and bothered (unlike the co-driver, under her umbrella!) and the cooling fan had packed up. Noble assistance from Gamage Engineering had the car back out again, and the car went on to complete another two stages, before calling it a day.

All in all, a very disappointing day for the club. However, it was still a good day out for everyone. You can’t help but smile watching Guy Wigley’s 306 Maxi, and Lyndon Barton’s Subaru at full chat through the complex. Winners crown went to Will Nicholls in another Subaru, followed by Lyndon Barton, and Guy Wigley in the Maxi in 3rd. Congratulations to Paul Diamond and Steve Cox on their well deserved 3rd in class.

The club made a good turnout on a spectator and Service crew level, with Alan Terry, Duncan & Nathan Gamage + families, Dave Keen, and Rob S* and Liz.

Let’s hope next year we have a better survival rate.