MANX TALES NO.7
TT Grandstand - Saturday 4.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 13 KELLA 2
1st (8) David Mann/Alun Cook (Impreza) 1.45.37.7
2nd (1) Melvyn Evans/Marc Jones (Impreza WRC) 1.46.04.3
3rd (14) Tony Davies/Wynn Thomas (6R4) 1.47.54.8
4th (16) Steve Hendy/Aled Davies (Esc.Cos) 1.48.12.0
5th (5) John Price/Caroline Price (6R4) 1.49.03.9
6th (7) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 1.49.11.6
7th (28) Robert Watson/Phil Pugh (Nova) 1.49.43.1
8th (10) Phil Collins/Howard Davies (Escort) 1.49.53.7
9th (23) Martyn Harrison/Stewart Merry (6R4) 1.50.06.2
10th (20) Cathal Arthurs/Llinos J-Edwards (Celica) 1.50.53.6
11th (19) Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes (Lancer N) 1.51.16.9
12th (35) Brendan Crealey/Steve Harris (Lancer N) 1.52.32.1
David Mann and Alun Cook were the worthy winners of this Roush Manx Rally, their
performance over the afternoon stages shatteringly quick, with Melvyn Evans
having little to offer in reply and Kenny McKinstry having retired on the
penultimate stage. For most of today it looked like McKinstry was going to win,
but then through stages 10 and 11 his Subaru started to give gearbox trouble.
Kenny's mechanics tipped the Subaru on to its side with the help of fellow
competitor Ollie O'Donovan, a selector plate was removed and a magnet dropped
into the box, which located an errant tooth. Amazingly, the car was back
on the road within the allocated 20 minutes, and Kenny was away to set 3rd
fastest time in stage 11, Barroose. It all went wrong in stage 12, St
Lukes, on a hairpin left Kenny's Impreza WRC cocked the left front wheel high in
the air, it came down with a bang and sheared the bolts on the drive shaft.
The shaft then thrashed about, and smashed the power steering pipes.
There were just too many problems for Kenny to overcome and he struggled to the
end of the stage almost 2 minutes down on David Mann and decided to retire.
David Knew he had the rally in the bag despite Melvyn Evans going really hard
behind him. He kept it all together and arrived in here to the Grandstand
the winner by just over 26s. It is a well hackneyed phrase "so often the
bridesmaid"….but David has been 2nd on these ANCRO National rallies 9
times…and never won. There was a suspicion of a tear in his eye when he
eventually drove his Subaru into the control and told us "Its great, I've
always wanted to win a round of the championship, and I've always wanted to win
this Manx National. We struggled in the wet last night but went well today,
pretty much flat out. We had a nice feeling with the car and tyres".
Second placed Melvyn Evans said "We gave it a good go but it wasn't to be.
The car is very hard, skips about, we need to soften the suspension, but we
can't complain, 2nd is alright and maximum Get Connection points".
David Mann moves into 2nd place in the Kumho Championship with Andy Burton still
leading finishing back in 23rd place today after various problems. In the
National Tarmacadam Championship David Kynaston in the Audi still leads, David
finished 22nd today. By dint of his superb drive into 4th place Steve Hendy
moves into 2nd position in the National Tarmacadam.
Tony Davies drove like a hero today to finish 3rd in his Metro 6R4 while other
outstanding drives came from Rob Watson who finished best 2 wheel drive, just
pipping Phil Collins at the end. Steven Quine with Clerk of the Course John
Skinner's son Richard co driving won Formula 2 in his Escort Kit Car. Bob Fowden
won gpN with Brendan Crealey 2nd in the category and scoring max. points in the
Mitsubishi Evo Challenge. Geoff Lennox was 3rd in gpN, 2nd in the Evo points.
Husband and wife team Nigel and Michaela Cannell won cl.6 in their Corsa. No
more space left. Well done to John & Jill Skinner & Karen for all their
hard work along with all the other members of the Manx Autosport Club. Many
thanks to all who helped us..and to Roush Technologies for backing the rally.
BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
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