Bomb-Along Stages - MCACOakington Airfield – 8th September 2002Report by Peter Wood, Photographs by Simon Clarke (www.sc-photography.co.uk) Another excellent showing by TMC, with 8 crews in a total field of 75, with a further 6 members participating in Service and even Start control! Thame Motorsport Club entries were: -
The entry list for this one was particularly strong, 75 starters with 12 in the 1400cc class, 16 in up to 1600cc, 20 in the up to 2 ltr, and 27 in the 4wd/turbo/huge engine class. The day was dry and bright, but a little cool. The event offered 8 stages and 75 stage miles on this ex-Spitfire airfield with a good combination of fast perry tracks and tight and tricky round the buildings stuff to keep your attention.
After SS1 they were 4th overall, and steadily improved to be 3rd overall at half way. Dick made some adjustments to the rear dampers and recoil, which further improved the handling and squeezed into 2nd spot on SS5, but still some 24s down on the lead Cossy. Problems on SS6 as car lost all go out of chicanes, traced to fuel pressure regulator, which lost them over 30s and dropped them to 4th. This was fixed by the high tech use of a pair of molegrips on the fuel return pipe and normal service was resumed. Stormed round SS7 and 8 to finish an excellent 3rd Overall – Well Done!
Set 13th fastest on SS1 and in class lead. SS3 saw an oil leak from cam shaft oil seal making things a little smoky, and Andy pulled off the intercom lead in SS4 so Erik was left talking to himself! By SS4 was lying 18th Overall, and leading his class by a comfortable 53s from his archrival. SS5 passed an Imprezza and beat him into the chicane (just!) – Erik looking worried! SS6 Andy stopped on stage when drive shaft sheared in hub – they pushed the car to finish and stop, taking a stage max (8 minutes!).
Richard Crossland/Martin Snell: Only 3rd single venue for Richard (usually in the forests). Car running well and up to 10th O/all at SS3. Holding place after SS4. SS5 and temperature rising/oil pressure dropping. Decided to retire after SS6 to save the engine (big ends starting to rattle).
SS4 now 26th Overall, leading class by 37s. SS5 21st overall, passed Peugeot 205 1.6 on stage. SS6 8s quicker, but alternator belt off, sheared the mounting bolt. Sourced a new belt in Service area and bodged the mounting bracket. Finished an excellent 14th Overall and won the class by 67s. Well Done!
SS1 a spin on cold tyres, soon recovered and 24th Overall. By SS4 up to 18th Overall, 19s quicker than SS3, but intermittent cut-out problem sorted in service. SS5 and up to 15th Overall. Retired on SS6 when main shaft in gearbox went. Geoff Clifton/Rob Slingerland: 3rd event for car, first rally for Rob.
Settled down for the rest of the event, and finished an excellent 25th overall and Third in class. Well done Geoff, you showed that the more modest power cars in your class can still win an award.
Things got worse on SS2 when they got a front puncture on last ¼ of the stage. SS3, fast and controlled, but disaster on SS4 when Matt called the split wrongly, costing a maximum (8 minute penalty). SS5, 45th overall, surprised to pass car 45 (Fiesta 1600) on its roof at hairpin in front of Service area. By SS8 had used all spare tyres (7 in total) and went out with the rears looking very bald, going for a finish. Ended 43rd overall. Simon Clarke/Alan West: First event for car and driver, frantic work for the last fortnight to get the car ready – finally MSA logbooked at 6pm on the preceding Friday, with work still to be done! Had only two spare tyres, but at least had a very experienced Co-driver in the shape of Erik’s dad to keep him ‘on track’. Simon looked very hyped up before the start, as if he had drunk 8 Red Bulls.
The organisers had a pretty good day, except the provisional results had to be reposted twice due to "computer error", and the speeches went on too long (he was filling as they couldn’t find the right trophies!). A great day for the club, with 6 finishers from 8 starters, and taking 3 awards (3rd overall, 1st and 3rd in class). Well done all.
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Dick
Mauger/Andy Cadle: This is becoming an annual event for this team, as this was their third pairing at Oakington. Their
results to date have been 7th and 4th overall.
Andy
Corner/Eric West: This pairing are leading the class in the Oakington Challenge, and are also leading overall, so were
hoping for a class win here so that they wouldn’t need to enter the final round in October, as it is only 1 week after the
Jersey event. Drama the week before when the bottom end let go, requiring a full engine rebuild, and a 4am finish to get the
engine back in. There were only 30 miles on the new engine at the start of the event.
Flat
out for rest of the event to finish 36th O/all, 7th in class. Will now do both Jersey and Oakington in
October.
Duncan
Gamage/James Walters: SS2 passed Legacy and Mk2 Escort, car running like a dream. Switched to softs from supersofts on
rear and softened the front suspension. SS3 Baulked by a Lotus Cortina for ¼ of stage – too fast to pass on the straits,
too big to go round in the tight bits and wouldn’t move over!
Henry
Whitfield/Shelley Nutt: Only second event for Henry (following our outing in the 306 at Abingdon) and first time in
Competition in 4WD (Dave Nutt’s car).
SS1
43rd overall, SS2 big spin onto grass, but still 24s quicker! SS3 misfire on the line, but soon cleared.
Understeering like a pig, but great fun! SS4 up to 36th, and 32nd after SS5. The red mist descended
and 2 ½ spins later both appeared back in Service with silly grins on the face.
Ivan
Thompsett/Matt Miller: First outing for 10 months, car looking really good. Matt’s first time at a rally – he had
been to Drive + Survive for a full day Rally and one-to-one. Matt lost on maps on SS1, they were 54th Overall.
SS1
and safely round in 62nd overall – you could feel the tension had changed to a grin! A few early offs, but
steadily improving to 52nd overall after 4 stages. Arrived in service after SS5 in a cloud of oil smoke, but only
the breather chucking onto the exhaust. Simon settled down to get the finish at 38th Overall and Alan said that
he had really enjoyed the day, and it was a pleasure to co-drive with someone who listened! Simon was overjoyed and can’t
wait for the next event.