First visit of the year to the Isle of Man for the Manx National Rally last weekend. After picking up my Manx radio set at a wet TT Grandstand on Thursday evening it was an early night ready for a long day on the Friday.
Friday: I was assigned Start Radio for the Shakedown Stage on Begoade Road just outside Onchan. After the usual variety of set up and official cars had passed I was informed that the “convoy” would follow 00 into stage. Convoy, what convoy? I asked. Apparently, the Porsche GB Club were on the island for their “Tour de Manx” and had arranged to drive through the Shakedown Stage before we opened it to MNR competitors. Lead by a Porsche Macán Turbo, a convoy of 911s of various vintages went off at 10 second intervals for a leisurely, well they set off leisurely, drive through to the Creg ny Baa.
After that we set the 0 car off and then waited for competitors… and waited… there was a distinct possibility we’d breach the 20 minute rule and have to send for 0 again, but eventually 2 cars turned up in time and we started the stage, by the time those two came back for their second run a few more crews had hauled themselves out of bed and we had a good field, indeed we had to go to 30 second starts for 10 minutes to clear the queue. Mix of rain and sun continued throughout the afternoon.
Back home for a quick tea then it was down the other side of the island to Bishopscourt to take up position as Finish Radio for Stages 2 & 6. We had more or less constant rain for SS2, although my sister (Manx 14) reported it was bone dry up on the Druidale stage. No dramas, apart from a few cars arriving at the finish with bits of Manx scenery attached to wheel arches, and a few missing body parts (car not human). We lost 1 car on SS2, 109 in, 108 out.
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| #104, Toyota GT86 of David Huxley and James Proudfoot, before their nose cone adjustment |
We hadn’t long dealt with the last car before Spec Safety was back in the now SS6, and in the fading light we had our second run underway with a reduced field of 91 cars. The beautifully prepared Toyota GT86 of David Huxley and James Proudfoot had its front bumper dislodged in stage, so scraped its way across the finish line and then spent the rest of the weekend with a plain black nose. Again we lost 1 car in stage so 90 crossed the finish line before we closed the stage at just before midnight.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, and after breakfast it was a drive to the south of the island, avoiding the extensive roadworks on Douglas Promenade – it’ll be fun there for the TT invasion in a couple of weeks! – I was teamed up with the Buccaneer Crew, with Karen Spencer Stage Commander, as Start Radio for the St Mark’s Stages SS11/SS15.
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| Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke in Car #1 prepare to lead the field into SS11 St Marks |
The attrition rate started to take hold early and the 90 cars out of service had reduced to 87 by the time they got to us, and SS11 claimed another 4.
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| another beautiful Toyota GT86, #88 of Nigel Greensall and Edward Stone |
An hours break relaxing in the sunshine eating our lunch bags kindly provided by Manx Auto Sport before we kicked SS15 off. Alas we soon had the first of 2 stage stops after just 13 cars had been sent in. After a 14 minute break we restarted the stage, but we only managed to put another 16 cars in before a second stoppage. A 17 minute break this time which was uncomfortably close to the maximum gap permitted. However we managed to get cars rolling back in in time and able to complete the stage without further incident. Both stoppages were thankfully not serious, with superficial damage to both cars and crew OK. We put 73 cars into this penultimate stage of the rally. And 70 made it across the finish line.
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| #11 Ford Fiesta R5 of David Hardie and John McCulloch after being recovered by Corsair Recovery after their roll on SS15 |
Congratulations to Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke on their victory
Another beautiful sunny day on Sunday and it was lunch on the promenade at Laxey before getting the afternoon ferry back to Liverpool. A flat calm crossing too, could have been in the Med!
Seán Robertson – Gemini 38
