The South Downs Stages 2008

Goodwood Motor Circuit, Saturday 2nd February 2008

Report by Peter Wood

Zenya and I decided to go along and support the 5 Thame entries on this annual event, not a round of any championship. I picked Zenya up at 07:00 and we had gone about 2 minutes when Simon Mauger calls and suggests she brings her Race suit and Licence. We turn round to collect the goodies, and Zenya realises she hasn’t renewed her licence yet!

The entry is limited to 40 cars as there is a circuit Maximum on number of cars running but this event always attracts a strong and varied entry:

6R4, Darrian, Focus WRC, Celica GT4, 306 MAXI, Impreza, EVO 9, couple of Escort Cosworth, TR8.

Thame had 5 crews out:

Car 2 Simon Mauger / Chris Butcher Ford Escort Mk2/Vauxhall
Car 5 Paul Diamond / Steve Cox Ford Escort Mk2/Vauxhall
Car 7 Dick Mauger / Steve McNulty Ford Focus WRC 02
Car17 Brian Farminer / Amanda Terry Ford Fiesta 1800
Car 29 Dave Keen / Matt Bateman Vauxhall Astra 1.6

Car 1 is Hayden Morgan in a 1.6 Nova, but the useful spectator guide says is over 220 BHP!

The day is bright and sunny, if a little cold. The stages here are very limited in the changes possible, and the circuit consists of some 6 right hand bends! The start is in a neighboring car park and is a short straight, full hairpin, short straight, full hairpin and then merge onto circuit. Stage 1 is a 2 lapper, taking just over 4 minutes, and the winners time for 8 stages was under 32 minutes. The man-made chicanes were tight ("Bloody tight", said Dave West).

Simon Mauger set off manfully on SS1 setting fastest by 6s, and ran in a perfect set of 8 fastest times to win by 40s. He said afterwards that he found the stages undemanding, but a good shakedown for the car, which was faultless.

Paul Diamond now targets two events a year, being here and Abingdon. He was 6^th overall and 2^nd in class (to Simon who was 4^th overall) on the 2007 Oxfordshire event.

Dave West had made much in the British Rally website on how he was going to show the boys how fast his 306 MAXI was, and from seeding at 3 chased Paul all day. Paul led by 14s after SS4, with Dave threatening to leave as the chicanes were too tight, but then Dave was second quickest on SS6-8, but Paul held on to 2^nd overall by a narrow 8s.

This was Dick’s first foray in anger in the Focus, after son Simon had taken outright on a recent event. Dick said it took a little time to get used to, but the launch control and sequential box was a treat, and it certainly looked very fast!

He set 5^th fastest on SS1+2, but then eased past Hayden Morgan setting 4^th fastest on SS3-5, before Hayden came storming back to beat Dick on SS6-8. Dick was 6s ahead after SS4, but held on for 4^th overall, 1^st in class by a single second.

Brian and Amanda always do Goodwood, and as Brian instructs here it should be pretty familiar!!

Off to a fairly slow start on SS1, but pulled 10s back on SS2. They soon settled into a steady rhythm. I am not sure what Amanda fed Brian at lunchtime, but they were noticeably quicker in the afternoon, setting a stream of 8^th fastest times and finished 14^th overall and 5^th in class.

Dave Keen shares his time between Historic and current Stage rallying these days.

They had a good morning, leading Brian and Amanda by 9s after SS4, but by the close the 1800 Fiesta had reversed the order and lead by 8s.

Dave and Matt finished an excellent 15^th overall and 4^th in class.

Another good event here – they do make the best of a limited venue, and the atmosphere is very historic – I said it is like walking onto a 1930’s scalextric model!

This must be the Clubs best ever results, I think. All five entries finished in the top 15, First, Second, Forth overall! In statistics we had 12% of the entry but finished with 75% of the top 4, 33% of the top 15 – well done to all for a great result!

Peter Wood