Wyedean Stages 2003  

Forest of Dean - 8^th February 2003

Report by Peter Wood, Photographs by Simon Clarke (www.sc-photography.co.uk)

This was the 29th running of the Wyedean, based at Chepstow racecourse and using the Stages in the Forest of Dean. The event was soon full with 180 entries spread across the Silkolene 1400 Championship, the Dunlop Gold Star Championship, the Welsh National Championship, and BTRDA.

Dave Nutt / Shelley Nutt

Thame had three entries, all in Escort Cosworths:

	Dave Nutt / Shelley Nutt - car 44.
	Martin Snell / Steve Greenhill – car 63.
	Richard Crossland / Lynette Applegate – car 108.

They were all running in class B13. This had 44 starters including 6 WRC’s, 9 EVO’s, 6 Subaru, and 16 Escort Cosworths.

Dave Nutt had some dramas on the run-up to Friday night Scrutineering, when Teresa tried to renew the tax on the Cossy. It was still registered as some tiny-engined run-around, so a visit to DVLC in Oxford to sort out by 16:00 left little time to get to Chepstow.

Martin Snell / Steve Greenhill

The car then failed noise badly, requiring some additional mufflers, and then the turbo internal diameter caused more problems, until Martin Snell was induced to lend Dave his spare!

They all stayed overnight in the Travel Lodge, and back to the start for a 9:20 departure.

Dave and Shelley’s day went very well, setting 24th Fastest on SS1, and improving to set 14th and 13th quickest on SS6 and SS8. He lost 1st gear on the final stage, SS10, but still set 17th fastest and finished an excellent 15th overall.

Richard Crossland and Lynette Applegate had a fairly uneventful day as well, troubled only by a gearbox oil-leak that was soon fixed by Henry. Rich was setting times in the mid-50’s, with SS9 the pick of the bunch at 36th fastest. He finished a very creditable 41st overall.

Richard Crossland / Lynette Applegate

This was Martin Snell’s first real venture into the forests, and the car had needed significant rebuilding after the huge rear-end collision pickup up at Abingdon last year. He and Steve Greenhill took it steadily and pickup up a set of consistent times in the low 100’s, improving after SS6 into the 80’s, and finishing with a 72 on SS10.

They brought the car home in one piece in 85th Overall.

The event finished by 18:00 and all were home in 90 minutes.

“A great event, and worth every penny.”

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