MANX TALES NO.4
End of stage 6 - Saturday 10am
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6 Glen Roy
1st (2) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 34.13.4
2nd (1) Melvyn Evans/Marc Jones (Impreza WRC) 34.51.8
3rd (40) Gareth Jones/Ryland James (Impreza) 35.00.5
4th (8) David Mann/Alun Cook (Impreza) 35.07.7
5th (3) Marcus Dodd/Stephen McAuley (Impreza WRC) 35.12.8
6th (14) Tony Davies/Wynn Thomas (6R4) 35.20.8
7th (10) Phil Collins/Howard Davies (Escort) 35.35.4
8th (7) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 35.46.0
9th (5) John Price/Caroline Price (6R4) 35.54.2
10th (28) Robert Watson/Phil Pugh (Nova) 35.57.3
11th (16) Steve Hendy/Aled Davies (Esc.Cos) 36.08.6
12th (19) Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes (Lancer N) 36.11.8
Fastest man over the opening test on this 2nd day of the Roush Manx National
Rally was young Welshman Gareth Jones. Kenny McKinstry may have led the
rally overnight, but it was 22 year old Jones who set this morning's stage
alight. Remarkable as well when he reported his Subaru's anti lag system not
working when he came to a halt at the control outside the Craig-na-Ba pub.
McKinstry said "We kept it nice and neat, but it was a bit greasy under the
trees". Melvyn Evans reported "We hadn't a bad run this morning,
but some problem last night with the throttle jamming at around 2000 revs.
We have changed the throttle shaft and it seems a lot better".
Actual times for the stage were - Gareth Jones 3.56.4. David Mann 3.56.6. Melvyn
Evans 3.58.1. Ken McKinstry 4.00.5. David Mann jumped from an overnight
6th to 4th, the Bungay mushroom farmer a lot happier with his tyres this
morning. He changed to a different type for this rally and it took him a while
to settle in. Tony Davies was a pretty remarkable 4th overnight but he
slipped 2 places this morning. Took it very easy on the first 2 miles of the
stage which were greasy and tricky. Marcus Dodd clipped the front left wheel of
his Impreza WRC and he was calling for the mechanics to have a good check before
he goes into the next stage, West Baldwin.
Phil Collins was pale and shaken when he reached stage finish, his beautiful red
Mk2 Escort unmarked, but Phil reporting a lurid 110 mph slide on a left hander
over the brow of the hill just before the finish, completely sideways and the
grass kissing the red paintwork. Rob Watson, the Isle of Man Road Rally
Champion, and it showed in his times last night. Seemed to be on the wrong front
tyres this morning, but still had a respectable Glen Roy time.
Bob Fowden felt the back of his gpN leading Lancer was moving about a lot.
Former motor bike racer Paul Bird was effing and blinding as he hoked about
under the pedals of his Accent WRC, a Lucozade bottle suddenly turfed out the
door at stage finish, the reason for a poor enough time and all the ******!
Looking back slightly at the retirement list - we mentioned Mark Perrott going
out with a suspected blown engine and Steve Fleck with an accident, and Pete
Doughty ground to a halt with locked wheels on a straight. John Dalton
also went when his Darrian suffered gearbox trouble with the new 6 speed Hewlett
unit on the first stage. While Damian Cole withdrew his Darrian on stage 5 when
a brake pipe got damaged. Steve Perez retired his Lancer on stage 5. We
understood that Paul Alexander also retired his lancer on 5 when he broke 2
driveshafts, but he is still being shown on the overnight results - albeit in
107th place - with 125 cars still going from the original 137.
More news from the Grandstand. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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