Longcross Stages
Driver: Andy
Navigator: James Greenwood
Vehicle:
Seeded: 16
Finished: 18th (2nd)
After winning the oakington championship, and appearing in panto for this last fortnight, the rally car has been quiet - however last Sunday we ventured out to longcross.
It was bl##dy freezing - and we all know what cold tyres mean - yes, chance for a large accident. we were running early (car 16) - the course was a bit slippy in places but we could see the frozen leaves before we hit them. unfortunately car 15 infront of us didn't and smashed into a concrete and steel rsj between 2 chicanes - resulting in mangled mess on the co drivers side (WHY IS IT ALWAYS OUR SIDE!). We followed past the accident slowly, resumed racing and then met an ambulance head on at the following complex - seconds later and we would have been in hospital. we than stopped, swore, put the world to rights and toured round the circuit to pick up a time. the stage was eventually cancelled. Needless to say the ambulance driver was severely reprimanded!!!!!
Stage 2 was far less dramatic, although I had two late calls and Andy very nearly demolished one gate and one chicane so we dropped 15 seconds - 5th in class and mid 20s overall.
Stages 3 to 8 saw us finding our groove and Andy really picked up the pace from stage 5 onwards - with tyres and brakes performing superbly. We had 2 moments at the infamous jump - a surreal moment when everything stops and you are floating until BANG, THE FRONT HITS FIRST AND YOU HAVE REGAINED CONTROL - BUT BACK WHEELS ARE STILL AIRBORNE!
We also had a few cars to chase in the latter half of the rally which gave us extra seconds. by the end of stage 8 we were 21st overall and 3rd in class (behind a darian and an 03 peugeot - both packing big power engines)
Stages 9 and 10 were in the dark - so like boys with toys we all fitted light pods (Neal on his Subaru went for 6 spots- excluding his headlights) stage 9 was a blast - catching air over blind crests flat in 4th was daunting - especially when the car infront has shot off into the trees and left black marks all over the road!
Stage 10 was our last chance to break into the top 20, and after 23 cars had gone through - the ambulance was back out again - the second placed class be car (the Peugeot infront of us) had stuffed it head on into a tree along the snake section) - stage stopped. After much deliberating, and a protest from several drivers, our times from stage 10 stood and we finished 18 the overall (out of 60+ starters) and second in class.
A great result considering the quality entry, and we still managed to beat 4wd s and turbo'd cars.
James Greenwood
