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) - Steve Entwhistle Bob Hargreaves Austin Seven GJM 795 
so there should be some snaps Steve and we did see some nice ones in the pub before we left (couple of good uns of the the Orange Box). 
Yes, you know what's coming... 
Don't really need to expand anymore but for the last half of the rally (well over an hour) and at regular intervals we screetched to a halt, the passenger door was flung open and ... sorry Dave ! Needless to say I was feeling 'a little distracted' to the point that at one TC we passed the marshal twice cos I discovered I can't count and blow chunks at the same time ! So we dropped a few more minutes, and then we stalled the car when slamming on the brakes at an RC cos the board was facing the hedge (naughty naughty Niall..), the car wouldn't restart off the key, starter was turning very slowly so out I jumped and push started...backward, facing a fast bend ..and oncoming cars ! 
), didn't know what that was all about (the strippers had arrived at the pub ?) then we met a car coming the opposite way on a narrow lane which meant another stop as we couldn't pass (and it was a bloody marshal's car ! ) we then stopped for Dave to pick up an RC board which had 'fallen over' and floored it through the last couple of sections to the end thinking we were probably not going to make the time limit but we did, by a bigger margin than we thought so all things considered for a pair of balloons it was an absolute triumph ! but eventually made it feeling asbsolutely bolloxed but interested to hear what surprise was in store for us. It turned out to be one of the big Cibbies off the front of the car which had jumped ship early in the rally and been picked up by a marshal, albeit a little worse for wear ! Surf 1275 wrote:There were certainly a few 'flashers' along the route
Well my first ever rally started quite well despite me and Dave's cars both being in dry dock we managed to borrow an early (and very quick) GT at the last minute from Jim Brindle at R.A.C.E who's an absolute diamond. We got up to the 'Twice Brewed' in good time on Saturday, checked in, off to scrutineering in Hexham where a loose brake wire connection was the only faff, signed on and then I made my first big mistake...a big greesy slap up late lunch in Tesco's caff (where we signed on). Oh dear.
Spent some time plotting whilst Dave stuck the numbers on and bought a floor mat from the store to combat a slippy footwell and then off to the start at 7.14pm. Sorted my lighting out whilst we waited in line and off we whined (the gearbox not me) (well not yet anyway) into the darkness. By the way Steve your car looked great on the start line fully lit up, inside and out, reminded me of an old cover of Motor..
Anyway off we went picking up all the route check boards through the first few sections, observing the many quiet zones and clocking on a bit to make our times at the controls which we did by and large only dropping a few minutes by about a third distance. We then went through a very twisty section with some big drops toward a ford and that was it....my lunch suddenly decided it was time to park itself all over the byways of Northumberland.
Off we roared, met a roadworks on route on a red light dropping us another two minutes then another stall and push start, then we met a marshal who said he had a nice surprise for us at the end (
The only time we got lost was trying to find the pub at the end
All in all a great event, well organised (thanks to Niall and his team, especially the marshals who all turned up and spent their Saturday night making this happen) and I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't had a go before , perfectly do-able in a virtually standard road car and here's to the next time.
Seriously though it was good to see you and Dave enjoying yourselves. , full results for the 2 events are:-
, the Steel (TC13-14) and the Vallum (TC20-21). In fact, only Cars 12 (McAthey/Bradley) & 17 (Hayes/Hayes) cleaned the former section while only Car 2 (Tyson/Harrison) had a clean sheet for the latter. Other sections that saw time was lost by most were the little loop betwen Catton and Allendale (TC2-3) that had no less than three NAMs on it (sorry guys! ) and Sinderhope (TC5-TC6) where crews had to negotiate a series of tight bends, a ford and a PC . In terms of missed route checks, there was no obvious pattern for the Experts and Newcomers but most of the Novices failed to see an RC between Bearsbridge and Cart Bog (TC11-TC12). I'll have to check the Time Cards but presumbly this was the one in the yellow that loops off the main road near High Staward 
What with Marshalling duties I didn't get much time for pictures.SMOKE GREY wrote:Any pics from saturday night? Surfblue 63?
just after PC10