MANX TALES NO.6
TT Grandstand - Saturday 1.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 10 PARVILLE
1st (2) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 1.22.37.8
2nd (8) David Mann/Alun Cook (Impreza) 1.23.09.6
3rd (1) Melvyn Evans/Marc Jones (Impreza WRC) 1.23.29.4
4th (14) Tony Davies/Wynn Thomas (6R4) 1.24.24.1
5th (16) Steve Hendy/Aled Davies (Esc.Cos) 1.25.30.2
6th (7) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 1.25.49.8
7th (5) John Price/Caroline Price (6R4) 1.25.52.9
8th (10) Phil Collins/Howard Davies (Escort) 1.26.17.6
9th (28) Robert Watson/Phil Pugh (Nova) 1.26.23.3
10th(23) Martyn Harrison/Stewart Merry (6R4) 1.26.57.4
11th (19) Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes (Lancer N) 1.27.24.1
12th (20) Cathal Arthurs/Llinos J-Edwards (Celica) 1.27.37.6
Rally leader Kenny McKinstry was fastest through stages 7 and 8, but then
through stages 9 and 10 the Banbridge man's attack faltered along with his
Subaru Impreza WRC's gear change. Kenny reported "She stuck in 2nd
gear 4 miles from the end of stage 9, the long one, and I couldn't pull up any
more gears. I thought we were out of the rally. At the end of the stage we
adjusted the clutch and messed about, and then it seemed to come good, but then
it went wrong again in stage 10. The electronics bit showing on the dash
seems right, it's the mechanical bit that's worrying, and there is only 20
minutes service".
Fastest man through stages 9 and 10 was David Mann who is on a real charge.
Melvyn Evans recounted a big overshoot in one stage, and then a spin at the
bales on the next. Mann said "Getting my confidence in the tyres".
It shows - David has moved into 2nd place. Tony Davies is doing remarkably
well in his Metro 6R4 to hold on to 4th. His co driver said about the big fast
Lhergy Cripperty stage "I've never been so scared in all my life. Tony does
things in this car I never thought were possible, good fun though".
Milton Keynes surveyor Tony laughed and said "There's no anti roll bars on
the car, its washing out on the fast stuff, you have got to anticipate what its
going to do next".
A major change to the leaderboard is that young Gareth Jones has dropped right
out of contention, a puncture in stage 9 and a smashed wheel in stage 10
accounting for over 8 minutes. Gareth and co driver Ryland James changed the
offending wheel on each stage. When they got going after the smashed wheel
incident their Subaru filled up with smoke. The bodywork was hitting the tyre.
It was so bad that they thought the engine had blown! Fellow Metro 6R4 man John
Price didn't set such good times through stages 9 and 10, John telling us that
he changed from 16 to 17 inch wheels to give himself more top speed. The car was
tram lining and bouncing, too much of a handful.
A rather subdued Phil Collins stepped out of his Mk2 Escort and reported
"Not handling as well as last year, I've had the engine done up, I'm
spinning the wheels and overheating the tyres". A further retirement
is that Monster Mob Ducati man Paul Bird is out, his Accent WRC's differential
gone.
Rob Watson continues to lead his class in his Nova but is struggling for top
speed on the faster stages. Steve Petch is finding his Accent WRC's front
diff locking since he went on to harder compound tyres. Steve Petch Junior
retired his Ka with a blown engine last night. Cathal Arthurs in the Celica lost
time behind Gareth Jones, he was stuck behind the struggling Subaru for 7
miles, the Celica is well stone chipped. Ollie O'Donovan has retired his Subaru
following centre differential trouble. Glenn Leece has no 5th gear in his
Impreza and is driving on the rev limiter.
Steven Quine, with Richard Skinner co driving, continues to lead his class,
slowed slightly through stages 9 and 10 following an alteration to the front
camber angles. They did not get time to do the tracking so the car was jumping
about a bit, also the gearbox oil seal gone. Guy Woodcock is in a similar
Escort Maxi to Quine, Guy slowed last night when the belt to the
alternator/water pump broke, and he had to drive easy for one and a half stages
to keep the temperature down. In Group N Bob Fowden continues to lead, Geoff
Lennox is 2nd despite some clutch problems. Brendan Crealey is 3rd, all in
Lancers, More news later. BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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