Oakington Loose and Tarmac Stages 2005Oakington Airfield – Sunday 25th September 2005Report by Peter Wood, Photographs by Simon Clarke (www.sc-photography.co.uk) There were 34 starters for this the final round of Oakington Challenge 2005, with 16 in class C. Andy Corner had been seeded at car 1, with Escort Cossy, Subaru, Tilbrook, Cameron (2 litre Nova), and Cossy, Subaru. Stages 1-4 used the usual peri track and buildings, but Stages 5-8 used the broken roads near the site entrance, a track and field, and the huge grass field between the stub runway and the service area. This would prove challenging when it poured with rain 3 times.
Andy and James. Set =fastest on SS1, shared with Escort and Cameron. SS2 and 20s quicker. Car 12 executed a 360 in front of the video crew, spun onto grass another 360 and a 180 when back on tarmac – dropped 20 s. SS3 (started after 11:30!) and “flat chat” dropped 4s to car 14, but pulling away in 2nd overall. After SS4 were -10s on 1st but +20s on 3rd overall. SS5+6 First out onto the grass section and near disaster on second lap when they tried going a bit wider and hit a hidden concrete boulder that launched them into the air. Back in Service to find the hit was so big that the alternator pulley was jammed into the inner wing, belt gone, bent radiator, rear sump guard brackets bent into oblivion! Service crew of Nathan and Dan leapt into action and they were out with minutes to spare for SS6, but ran the rest of the event without guard. Only 27 cars running after SS5 SS7+8 Holding position at -35s on the leader, but +27s on 3rd and a full +2.24s on 4Th No dramas on the last 2 stages and took 2nd overall and won the Oakington Challenge outright for the 4th year running – well done Andy and James!
Simon and Ian. SS1 and given a time of 24th fastest. Much quicker on SS2+3 setting 7th fastest overall. Passed car 22 on SS3. We queried the time on SS1 and when the organisers checked we got a full minute back to find they were 8th fastest on SS1 and now 7th overall! SS4 and got out of the way of car 14 (leader) had a ˝ spin on the first corner – oops! SS5 started at 13:45 (very slow changes on stage – far too much down time). Grass dried in the breeze, but a heavy downpour had Simon cock up a handbrake turn in front of the Service area, but still gave the crew a thumbs-up. SS7 caught a Peugeot at the split and passed, only to overshoot at the next corner and follow him home. Holding 5th O/all Flat out on SS8 and caught 4th overall, then saw Cameron stop on stage to take an excellent 3rd overall, easily Simon’s best result to date. Organisers were very slow all day. Start was supposed to be 09:00, but car 1 away at 09:50, and it took ‘til 16:45 to finish 8 stages with only 23 finishers and no accidents. Also a word on the toilets, the same 2 from the Bomb-along 2 weeks earlier and never cleaned – they were filthy at the start – this is not good enough!! |
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