This year’s Network Q Rally of GB was unseasonably mild, so predicting the weather conditions for Grizedale was going to be a bit of a lottery. In previous years Grizedale has given us snow and ice, but more traditionally – rain, which tends to make Grizedale very rough and muddy.
Very mild conditions in the lakes meant that (according to the organisers) the stages were not in bad condition, and even better no rain was forecast. So it was unfortunate that we didn’t get to see all the stages. The Astra’s run of bad luck had followed us to the Lake District, to be more precise halfway through SS1. We started SS1 in a confident mood, especially with a new sump guard being fitted (courtesy of Cal and Central Hydraulics) and it didn’t even catch on the exhaust! The organisers were correct with their assessment of the stages, some of the best conditions I had seen in Grizedale, and after the first few miles of SS1 Cal and I seemed to be getting into the swing of things. Then the gremlins struck again and the Astra just stopped dead in the middle of the stage. Luckily, there were a couple of marshals around to help us push the car to the side of the stage.
After frantically trying to work out what the problem could be, we suddenly realised that we had ignition, but the fuel pumps were not working. All the fuses and relays seemed to be OK, so Cal then managed to take a live feed from sidelights and managed to get the pumps working again. After belting back up, we managed to continue down the stage, but then the Astra started “kangarooing” very badly. We decided to pull over, and then lost all power again – this time it wasn’t the fuel pumps. We eventually found that a screw had worked its way loose out of the back of the ignition switch. Unfortunately, we had now gone OTL. We managed to make an emergency repair and drive back to the service area, and make arrangements to start the Trophy Rally.
The Trophy rally ran over the last 2 stages of the main rally in darkness, so the spotlights were fitted. Although now rough in places, as this was the second run through the stages, and we were running at the back of the field, we completed the stages without a hitch, Cal and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and we finished 4th o/a in the Trophy Rally.
At least we could say we finished a rally. My thanks as usual go to all the boys: Andy, George, Lawrence, Mick, Paul, Jamie and Little Stu for their servicing and support duties during the rally and in the night club! Also, congratulations to fellow SMC members Mark Weller and Paul Robinson for getting the Escort to the finish and a 1st in class in the process.
