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2005 Rockingham Stages Due to a number of important commitments over the last 18 months, such as getting married, multiple changes of jobs and career directions and numerous other things that always get in the way of motorsport, Tomsport have not actually managed to go rallying for a while. I have been working on the Tomsport Saxo VTS over the months since we used it as course car on 2004 Streetly Motor Club's Rally of the Midlands, updating the specification to return it to the proper Grp N specification I intend to use in the future but it was still on forest suspension, not really a wise move for a high speed tarmac venue. Stu and I looked for end of year, single venue, not far to travel, use up some of the tarmac tyres that came with the car when I purchased it, shakedown to test and settled on the Rockingham Stages 10/11th December, spread over 2 days at Rockingham Raceway outside Corby in Northamptonshire that offered 90 miles of smooth tarmac, good hard standing service area, spectator viewing and stages in the dark - so a chance to try the Saxo's lamp pod in anger was a bonus! At noise test Saxo Noise was 99.5db !!!!!!!!!!!!!! (limit 100db) from a Grp N car! Scrutineering ok. As Stu and I put our overalls on and made our way to the start, we found that stage 1 was cancelled due to a coming together of a Mini and a 6R4 in the chicane by the grandstand, resulting in stage being stopped. Stage 2, actually managed to start driving, but on the second lap at a poorly marked junction, wrong slotted at the split, went round two rather than three laps and therefore received a stage maximum! As it was now getting dark stage 3 and 4 were completed with lights. At the start of the stage the Saxo spun going into tunnel, it was very slippy in places and even the course car was caught out crashing into a curb at the side of the road Sunday, following a hearty breakfast, the rally started with two minutes silence in memory of Richard Burns and then 4 more stages and yet more spins. Andy Corner (Streetly Motor Club) unfortunately retired with broken cam/fan belts on Sunday so Stu and I were left to uphold SMC honours. After two days of exhilarating competition, we finished 52nd overall and 7in class - not a fantastic result but it was a finish, which a lot of the field failed to do. Thanks to Stu for again conquering his fear of travel sickness, Lawrence, Paul, and Aron for keeping the car going for two days and Bridgette for the photos ! The Saxo is now back at Tomsport headquarters having Grp N tarmac rear beam and front tarmac Bilstein suspension fitted and again having the gearbox taken out due to the terrible noises it makes.....shoot the gearbox builder.....? Next year plans are already being made; with Stu and I planning to do ...... well you will have to just watch this space. George |
