The Loco Stages 2004Longmoor Camp - 28th December 2004 - Sutton & Cheam Motor ClubReport by Peter Wood. I had heard from Andy Corner and Rob S* that this was a must-do event so thought I would go and take a look. From the outside it doesn’t look very exciting, with 8 stages giving only 35 miles, but the combination of the tight twisty building complex, the Service area surrounded by the stage itself, and the loose, wet, bits mixing with the cold weather made it very interesting indeed! The entry list only includes 2wd vehicles, so the full list of 60 had attracted some much modified cars: Car 1 was a 2 litre Mini, Car 2 a RWD 2 Litre Corsa, Car 6 a 2.4 litre RWD 205, and car 7 was the 205 Abusa bike engined screamer! The classes saw 9 in “A”, 11in “B”, a huge 29 in “C”, and 11 in “D”. Thame had three entries here:
Andy and James: Off fast but cautious of the surfaces, and right to be so when we side swiped a pallet, not causing damage. Delighted to find we were fastest overall by 5 seconds! SS2 was cancelled after a bad accident for the RWD Corsa (front well pushed back) – best wishes to the crew, as 1 had to go to hospital. SS3 and passed Escort (car 8) Peugeot (car 22). Took 15s out of RS2000 seeded one ahead of us. Set fastest time again and now 20s clear of 205 Abusa, but stage drying out. SS4 caught and passed car 15 (in under 4 miles!), but lost clutch at end lap 2, so full lap on timing gear changes cost time. Still managed to match 205 running second! SS5 and James said flat out – no more to give. Pulled a further 1 second on the lead. Top five now: All this over only 17 stage miles! 49 cars still in the event. SS6 and drying fast. No problems on stage but changes bottom wishbone bush in Service. Set 3rd fastest on stage, so lead cut back to 17s against the Abusa and 34s to the 205 Maxi; should be enough but getting tighter. SS7 and again set 3rd fastest. Came into chicane to find it had been considerably tightened – was flat in 2nd and now definitely 1st gear! Sent a couple of cones flying and lost some time. Has a discussion with CofC at the finish to register protest. Competitors were supposed to have been told at start (most had) but no signed notice, as had been used 3 times already during the event. Still, no penalty, which was the main thing! So into the last stage with a 10s lead…. SS8 and a controlled run saw them drop only 1s to win the event outright by 9 seconds – Well done Andy and James!! Dave and Holly: This was Dave’s first visit to the Loco, and Holly was a late entrant for the combo. Holly was last seen at Rockingham doing a mid-event co-driving entry after a sick navigator had to withdraw. This had lasted only half a lap, and then the long walk back to Service. Unfortunately SS1 was a repeat when the driveshaft gave up after ˝ a lap. The car was rescued as stage two was cancelled, and allowed to carry on for the rest of the event, but not counted in the results. Bad luck, Dave, see you out again soon. Rob and Liz: This has been a hard season for this team – in the first year’s events the car was kept standard and finished every event. Since it has started to be more modified, it has regularly broken shafts and other items. SS1 and off to a flier – “Brilliant” said Liz, and they passed a 1600 Sunbeam through the buildings complex and set a fantastic 4= fastest, and lead class by 8s!! SS3 and slippy, passed a 2ltr Escort (37) and set 8th fastest time, now only leading the class by 1s. 52 of the 60 starters still going. SS4 and passed car 25, 2s quicker than SS3 and flying. Have dropped back to 10th overall and 2nd in class to Civic by 4s. SS5 and nearly hit the cameraman on the hairpin (should be a good photo!)- Rest was fast but getting very slippery in places. SS6 and a bit of a “moment” in front of the crowd at the chicane – caught and passed a car, but on the wrong side for entry into chicane! Made it – just! Nissan 240RS is catching fast. SS7&8 gave way to Andy on both stages, costing a couple of seconds, but otherwise no problems. Finished an excellent 12th overall and second in class. Home | News / Info | Calendar | Event Reports | Photo Gallery | Rally Teams | Contacts | Links - Updated Saturday, 10 April, 2010 |
