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The
rally started from the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells, and it was
during the run out to the first stage that their problems started. Andrew
noticed that the engine was very hot and soon discovered that the cooling
fan was not working. With time limited on the road section and no obvious
reason for the problem they decided to run the first two stages without
the fan and fix it at the first service.
Time
spent trying to find the problem meant they arrived four minutes late for
stage one, but they hoped to put these problems behind them and put in a
steady run over the first two stages. Around 4 miles into the Field Fare
stage the car would roll to a halt after hitting a bump on the way out of
a chicane. A loose electrical connection was quickly identified as the
cause and once rectified they completed the first stage losing
approximately 1 minute 30 seconds in the process.
The
very next stage would see retirement for Andrew and Rob in the Mark
Higgins Rallying Ka, Andrew’s luck very much reflecting that of his
cousin this year! On what was proving to be a good run, as they exited a
hairpin the car lost all drive and left them stranded with no way of
carrying on. The cause of the retirement was later found to be a broken
drive shaft.
It
was a bitterly disappointing outcome for both members who have had their
fair share of problems throughout this season. Although they did not walk
away from the event empty handed.
Stages 7 and 8 were to make up the Mewla Trophy Rally for crews who
had retired during the first 4 stages.
Despite them not competing on either of the stages due to
cancellations they would win the event as the only entrant, collecting the
trophies after kind words from the clerk of the course.
The
final round of the championship takes place on the 20th
September, the Plains Rally, returning to the forests of Mid-Wales, where
Andrew and Rob will hope to end the championship with a good result.
On
a brighter note Andrew’s cousin David Higgins had a successful weekend
when he won the seventh round of the SCCA ProRally Championship in
Minnesota, USA. This victory has secured the driver’s title for David
for the second year running, with two rounds still remaining.
Thanks
for continued support goes to :- Mark Higgins Rallying, Forest Experience
Rally School, Pirelli, Manx Motorsport Youth Trust, Ken & Ev Leece, N
A Fargher Newsagents, Motivation Engineering, Manx Sports Aid Foundation,
Tower Insurance, Manx Telecom, 1st Choice Windows, Star
Services, Edwin Dennis Signs, Integrated Capabilities, Manx.net, Richard
Skinner Motorsport and www.rallycodriver.co.uk
A special thanks goes to Innes Clark and his team for the loan of a
driveshaft and his team for fitting it.
Co-ordinator
RF
Motorsport
26/08/2003
A special thanks goes to Innes Clark and his team for the loan of a
driveshaft and for fitting it.
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