The weekend was a busy time for Manx Motorsport Youth Trust backed Rob Fagg contesting both the Grizedale Stages and Galloway Hills rallies in the same weekend.

First up was Grizedale on the Saturday alongside fellow Manxman Richard Curphey using a 1300 Nova Sport.   Rob received a late call for the event after Richard's regular co-driver was unable to compete due to work commitments,

The event would be a first in the UK for Richard and so it was always going to be a learning experience for him and another opportunity for Rob to wok on his map reading skills.   With this in mind the pairing agreed to start the event slowly and build the momentum through the day.

Two steady runs over the 16 miles which made up first stages saw them in 75th position from the 120 crews that started the event.   Richard reporting at service that the car was going well and he was enjoying his first taste of UK rallying.

From service the crews headed for two runs of the 2.5 mile Broughton Moor stage.   This enabled Richard to run through the stage again almost immediately after the first run while it was fresh in his mind.   Pushing hard in the stage he ran wide on a rounded left hairpin and lost seconds but still managed to produce a better second run.  

Leaving second service they were holding onto 65th position and second in class.   Stage 5 though would see them lose valuable time and there good position when they left the road and found themselves stuck in one of Grizedale's ditches.   After what seemed like an eternity they were pulled out of the ditch by shear determination of the spectators.   

They carried on through the stage steadily ensuring there were no problems with the car and then proceeded to the end of the event with caution to ensure a finish in the event.

Thanks for continued support goes to: Manx Motorsport Youth Trust, Integrated Capabilities, Aon (IOM) Ltd, Sign and Design, Manx.net, Manx Telecom, and www.rallycodriver.co.uk

Co-ordinator
RF Motorsport
10/12/03
 

Second finish in one weekend

After completing the Grizedale Stages Rob headed straight for Castle Douglas to meet up with Ka driver Callum Bendall.   The pair had met during the 2003 Ford Rallye Sport Ka Championship and become good friends, so the chance to compete together on the Galloway Hills Rally was one that both were looking forward to.

Callum had also competed at Grizedale and finished in 56^th place, although during the event the Ka suffered a broken exhaust manifold and engine mounting with had to be fixed prior to Sundays rally.   Thanks go to rival Ka driver Stephen Petch who kindly lent his spare engine mounting to Callum.   With the car all checked over and washed ready for the event the crew headed to bed.  

Morning would arrive and with it the frost which led to a cautions approach to the early stages.   Although there first event together there were no problems within the car and they seemed to gel from the moment they left the line on stage one.  

Throughout the day they would compare times with the other Ka drivers while continuing to be cautions with the lying frost providing a slippery surface.   Enjoying all the five stages Callum and Rob finished 49^th overall (from the massive 150 starters) and recording 3^rd in class.   They would finish 42 seconds behind leading Ka of Petch that would equate to around a second a mile.   This being a improvement from the pace that he had been on in the first half of the Ka season showing improvement throughout the year.

Thanks for continued support goes to: Manx Motorsport Youth Trust, Integrated Capabilities, Aon (IOM) Ltd, Sign and Design, Manx.net, Manx Telecom, and www.rallycodriver.co.uk

Co-ordinator
RF Motorsport
10/12/03