VALENTINE RALLY

The event was held on the Island of Anglesey and started at Mona Showground, an EXCELLENT Start venue with plenty of space for competitors. marshals and spectator parking.

The Ed didn't stay out all night 'cos he got too bloody cold, waiting around for the cars to appear en route. Perhaps one of the competitors could advise as to what went wrong early on in the event, causing an apparent 1/2 hour delay in the arrival of the competitors at the second spectator point????

Sorry about the poor quality of the photos, no excuses, crappy digital camera & VERY cold camera operator!

My complements to ALL the Rhyl entrants on very tidy driving technique, especially Michelle, for correct use of indicators!

Most of the competitors seemed to be abiding by the new rulings re. use of handbrake/wheelspinning, even though the odd one or two still choose to ignore it. In my opinion, this is a very sensible rule that actually makes the event far more pallatable to the public in general (even if not the "spectators") as the entrants appear far more professional in their approach to driving on the public highway. There will always be the odd nutter out there competing, trying to show off to his mates & making a dogs nuts of it & upsetting the locals in the process, but hopefully the DSO's will soon put an end to all that.

Competitors driving technique = 9/10

Spectators (sadly) = about 3/10

Saw some ABYSMAL displays of driving by spectators during the night, even at the showground, with several spectators seeming to have the belief that the "Z" must have dropped off the sign on the entrance gate! The police were to be seen out actively stopping the "oinks" on the public highway, but if I may say, NOT WITHOUT CAUSE!

Competitors reports for the event would be appreciated please.

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Rhyl & District Motor Club members competing on C&A Motor Clubs' novice road event, the "Valentines Rally" on 14-15 February 2004.

Michelle & Llewela

Toni Proffitt/Frank Steele Mortimer

My dad asked if I wanted to do the rally on Valentines Day, I jumped at the chance! It was only my 2nd road rally my first being the JD Romain. Unfortunately Sam, my cousin who usually navigates was away skiing so dad arranged for Frank Steele Mortimer to sit with me. As I am away at university I was communicating with dad on the mobile, and we were discussing the seating arrangement.... me as far forward as possible (I was only gifted with short arms!) and Frank- who is very tall sitting in the back seat (well nearly!)

The night came I had been busy hunting all day so was already tired! We left home all fine but when we got to the showground steam was pouring from our bonnet, Phil and Brian coming to my rescue. I was now on the phone to order a new radiator from home.... luckily dad had not left. We waited and waited for the start.... It finally came, and we had a good few selectives, some passage controls weren't in the right places but we found them ok in the end. We found a passage control in the ditch so Frank had to scramble out, maps everywhere to rescue it. We had some near misses leaning carefully against a stone wall being pushed around by spectator's hope I didn't run any over! We got to mum and dad's control point and were they were pleased to see us! Not long after that we were screaming down a mudded road into a 90 right I kind of kept going and into a bank......! damage wasn't too bad! At least it wasn't through a stone wall like dad!! Any way we carried on. A lovely marshal gave us a wrong time on a control so it made us a second early for the control- Frank was not happy at all! Any way we got to the finish after having a good run, car went well and helped by excellent navigation! We finished 4th in class and 11th overall which I was thrilled over (had we had the RIGHT time on that control we would have been 4th overall) I'm happy because I am still a novice! The car is now been finished after having a new clutch (which I nearly burnt out!) and a new diff (4+1? If that makes sense),ready for next Saturday and the Gogledd. I have Sam back with me and we are against experts on Saturday so we will do our best!

Thanks to Brian, Gwyn and Co for their help at the start and at half way, also thanks to Frank for his good navigation and to my marshals..... mum and dad!

Keith Gush (was it THAT foggy??)

Phill Harrison / Helen Stanyer