Tuesday
After months of preparation we thought we were ready for our first international rally – we were not. The car was given a final clean (whilst it was on the trailer!) and we still hadn’t set the lamp pod lights. We knew we would be taking a lot of kit with us, but with the addition of five jerry cans, a generator and two sets of pedestal flood lights, the van was packed to capacity. A fish and chip supper would sustain us for the two and a half-hour journey to the ferry at Heysham.

Wednesday
We did not know really what to expect of an international rally, but the loading of the van and trailer onto the ferry was to set the scene. A small crowd had gathered to view the convoy of rally cars and associated vehicles as they made their way through Port Security and onto the ferry.

The ferry was not due to depart until 2:30am, and as George and Lawrence (who had drawn the short straws to cross the Irish sea as foot passengers), made their way to the bar, Aron, Andy and Cal were left to a nice 2 hour boarding delay. We finally got under way at around 3:30am. The three and a half hour crossing was not too rough, but George needed all his concentration to avoid seasickness – not helped by the aroma of Arons’ and Andys’ full English breakfast at 5:00am. Cal somehow found the floor extremely comfortable and promptly fell asleep – taking all our efforts to revive him when we docked at Douglas.

After arriving in the port of Douglas at 7:00am, we made our way to the "Grandstand Service Area" where we off-loaded the car from the trailer and secured the latter in the trailer park. We then hunted down our Hotel and stored all our personal kit in our rooms. After a brief rest and a brew, we went back to the Grandstand to prepare the car for the Test Stage.

We opted to have a set of our Colway Formula 2 slicks cut for the forecast damp conditions, and once fitted, made our way in convoy to the designated Test Stage. The Isle of Man is famous for the Manx TT motorcycle race, and evidence of this was all around us as we travelled to the West Side of the island. The road is flanked by low chamfered kerbstones, painted alternate white and black. The route is lined with Isle of Man flags, and hay bales protect each protrudence, whether it is a bollard, brick wall or telephone box.

Cal, Andy and Lawrence took the service van to the end of the test stage, near "that famous hairpin", while George and Aron (after causing a traffic jam for Gwyndaff Evans and Howard Davies) took the Spring Lane Service Station backed Peugeot to the start of the stage. It wasn’t long before they arrived back at the van with huge grins on their faces. We performed a quick spanner check and an inspection of the tyres before letting them have another play.

Due to financial constraints, we were unable to attend the three-day reconnaissance session prior to the event, and without pace notes, the test stage was adrenaline pumping to say the least. This showed when a spin at a hairpin momentary blocked the road for the Mitsubishi Evo 6 of Barbara Armstrong, who had closed up on the Peugeots’ tail!

We had already worked out our fuel and service schedule for the event, so back at the Grandstand we took the opportunity to perform a "normal" (20 minute) practice service. At 4:30pm it was apparent that Wednesdays schooling had finished, as a number of school children with parents were taking the opportunity to get a close look at the cars before the main event that  started on the Thursday afternoon. George and Aron took the time to sign autographs, hand out stickers to the children and make polite small talk with their parents. After a shower and a bite to eat, we retired to the bar to discuss the tactics for the following day.

Thursday
Our scrutineering slot was scheduled for 10:30am. We arrived to a swarm of crowds, eager for a glimpse of their hero’s and associated machinery. First task was Noise Check and was passed with a recording of 100db (right on the limit). Next was the weigh-in with a figure of 1055.5Kg. The spare engine management computer and gearbox were also presented for official marking. The car was then subject to a rigorous safety and technical check,   with a number of scrutineers attending to different tasks as appointed by their expertise. The car passed scrutineering, but not until the homologation papers were checked for its’ eligibility.

The van was returned to the hotel, while George and Lawrence set off with the Peugeot to calibrate the trip computer along the Manx TT course, which is conveniently marked at each mile. It might be interesting to note that the trip computer is equipped with two sensors; one on the speedometer cable fed from the gearbox, the other off a magnetic sensor on one of the rear wheels. The gearbox sensor, although now calibrated, was returning inconsistent readings so we set a priority for the second sensor. After returning to the hotel to park up the car, we all took on the role of tourists for a walk around the town.

The time eventually came for us all to gather our nerves and make our way once again to the grandstand service area for the start of the event. Once there, George was left to guard the car (and sign more autographs) whilst the rest of the crew went up to the start line to soak up the atmosphere. After ten or so cars had started off, Cal, Andy and Lawrence took their leave and made their way to the first service area at St. Johns.

It is a nervous experience to take your car into the parc ferme holding area on your first international rally, but once on the starting ramp the phrase of the moment was "cool". Whilst up on the ramp, the lights in the lamp pod were switched on, which illuminated the entire grandstand area and the thousands of spectators within. The start line added another experience; a digital display count down and a traffic light start. The engine revs build as the numbers count down, George tries to calm himself "must not break drive shaft off start line", the green light illuminates – loads of wheel spin and tyre smoke, second gear, handbrake, hairpin right, "150 left-5 and right-6". The attack of the first junction is a shambles and to prove it wasn’t a fluke, George does the same thing at the next junction – "I think the brakes are too cold".

The crew gather themselves together and begin to settle down into a comfortable pace. The experience of smooth wide tarmac expanses, sticky tyres and efficient brakes are a new concept for George, which he proves to excess with a massive spin at the Castletown monument in front of thousands of spectators. The use of pace notes and a street circuit is another new experience for Aron; as on SS2 (Castletown 1), when the speed of the car, flat in fifth, overtook his place in the notes, they mysteriously came to a dead-end in a school playground. Backtracking, they came upon a friendly marshal who pointed them back on course.

The first three stages were "Mickey Mouse" compared to SS4 (South Barrule), and comprised partly of the test stage that was done a day earlier. This time in the dark, George thought he knew the way. Aron keeps relaying the notes – but can George keep up with the constant stream of information – no. At Brandywood cottage, George miss-hears a call and attempts a left instead of a right. A three-point turn later they’re back on track.

Back at St. Johns, the service crew had their area well set up and floodlit. Thanks to a camping stove, they have the hot water, coffee, sugar and milk but no cups – ingenuity takes the form of a cut-up pop bottle. The radio crackles into life with Aron warning of their impending arrival at the service area. The car’s jacked up and the service crew start about their well-rehearsed tasks. Within a minute or two Lawrence notes oil pouring off the sump guard. Cal and Andy turn their attention to the problem, whilst Lawrence completes the other’s chores. Oil has been dripping out of the right hand side drive shaft/differential housing and accumulating on the sump guard. Time is running short so a full litre of gearbox oil is used to top up the situation. Aron comes back from his mission to discover how international timing is supposed to work, in time for the car set off for SS5 (Tynwald Mills).

At the start of SS5, a marshal has the audacity to comment "do you know you’re leaking oil?" "Yes, we know" came the embarrassed reply from within the car. George and Aron decide that as they have come to the Isle of Man to enjoy themselves, they’ll keep going until they destroy the gearbox and at least "go down trying".

On SS6 (Ballaoates), Aron comments on yet another famous landmark where, in 1995, Mark Lovell pulled over to allow Russell Brookes to overtake under controversial team orders. George and Aron are now throwing caution to the wind  with their intention to enjoy what little of the rally may be left for them. At the end of the 10 kilometre SS6 they were 57^th fastest on the stage, having gone from 66^th to 59^th overall and climbed eight positions to 12^th in class.

Back at the Grandstand, the service crew await the leaking cars arrival. Over the radio, George instructs the crew on his intention to butcher the spare gearbox for a replacement drive-shaft housing and oil seal. A forty-five minute service halt seems a comfortable amount of time, but the boys were going to be hard pushed this time. Again, Cal and Andy set about the oil leak, while Lawrence first attends to the other scheduled chores. At this point we must acknowledge the assistance of Martin Payton (who should have been servicing for one of the Skoda Trophy entrants), who came to the assistance of his colleges from Streetly Motor Club. Once the sump guard had been removed, nuts and bolts of the front struts loosened and the bottom arm rear bolts removed, the drive–shaft was eventually removed from the diff housing. Not much oil was lost in the process and the damage to the gearbox and diff at this point is unknown. After the housing was changed, the drive shaft, although reluctant, was forced back into the diff. All the nuts and bolts were put back as best as possible and another litre of oil poured into the gearbox. The car booked into the overnight parc ferme only two minutes late forfeiting only 20 seconds of penalties.

It was at this point that the driver of car 74 offered, in the true Clubman spirit of rallying, to wake up his brother at 12:45 in the morning and to get him to open the main Peugeot dealership in Douglas, for any parts that we might require. We thanked him for his kind proposal, although it was not parts, but time that was our problem.

George and Aron set about the short walk to the hotel whilst Andy and Lawrence took a lift with Cal in the van. Once dropped off at the hotel bar, Cal returned to pick up George and Aron. On their short journey back, a young lady requiring an autograph had propositioned George, although she had no paper and George had no pen. It made for enlightened conversation in the bar later as we reminisced on the day’s events.

Friday
On the way to parc ferme in the morning, doubts were beginning to rise about whether the car would start due to the lack of oil. The service crew waited, mulling over in their minds as to which nuts and bolts would require tightening up. Joy of all joys - the car started. Leaving a pool of gearbox oil in the over night parking space, the car came once again into what would be this time, a ten-minute service. The car checked out of service with seconds to spare (helped in some way by deciding not to fit the sump guard).

SS7 (Maughold 1) and SS8 (St. Judes) were a bonus, considering it looked last night as if the rally was over. George and Aron made the most of their extended rally and managed not to lose any places on the leader board.

When the service van left the days first service area for its’ journey to Jurby Airfield, an embarrassing situation occurred right out side the grandstand. On the right-hand bend out of the service area, the side door flung open allowing Andys’ toolbox to make a break for freedom, spinning across the main road, being narrowly avoided by a rather large bus. The rampant toolbox was quickly retrieved, put back in the van and the door then being firmly locked. Strangely, as George and Aron approached the service area at Jurby, they had a similar situation when, on a right-hand bend, Aron’s pace notes flew across the dashboard and disappeared through George’s open window. The notes were promptly recovered before entering service.

At Jurby Service, the boys refit the sump guard and induce oily life back into the gearbox. After an all round spanner check, the car sets off for SS9 (Barregarrow 1). On a wide competitive section of main road, flat in fifth, George turns to Aron and screams "this is flipping unbelievable"

The Service Crew pack up camp, and head off for the next service area back at St. Johns. With only forty minutes to complete the journey, they still have to make time to buy more of that precious gear box oil that is keeping the car alive. When they finally arrive at St. Johns, the rally car is waiting for them! A frantic service ensues, with the priority being to get oil in the car. After the mad rush, the car leaves for SS10 (Hope 1).

There is no need to pack up the equipment as the next service is again at St. Johns. The crew take the time to reorganise themselves and find a moment to relax with a burger and a brew. There is plenty going on as the Trophy competitors are now coming in for their scheduled service halts. The radio in the front of the van makes some noise, but as Andy gets to the microphone, all he hears is "…crackle stage crackle ten crackle…" Andy can’t raise any response, so the aerial is raised to twenty feet on its’ pole. Still no response. We debate what the message could have been about; we’re about to start SS10? we’ve finished SS10? we’ve stopped at the end of SS10?. Once again, Martin Payton comes to our rescue and transports Cal, a litre of oil and a 17mm spanner in his chase car to the end off SS10. After half-an-hour, they return having not found them at the end off SS10 or start of SS11. After checking with event officials at Service-In, it is discovered that the Peugeot officially retired on SS10 with a mechanical problem.

The Service crew pack up their kit and make their way to the end of SS10. As soon as they’re on the main road (and higher ground) they make radio contact with the stricken crew, the car apparently having lost drive on stage. Over the radio, an ordinance survey map reference is given to their location and a route is plotted.

The van pulls into the B&Q car park (where a recovery crew had taken them), to a relaxed and jubilant rally car crew. The rally might be over, but they had competed in one of the countries’ most prestigious events. Two bottles of champagne were taken from their hiding place in the van and traditionally sprayed all over the rally car, the release of tension being felt by the entire team. The Friday afternoon shoppers looked on bewildered.

It’s always a sad moment when your rally comes to an abrupt end, especially considering the time, effort and money involved in attempting an event of international status, but we were not despondent. We all had a great time and between us accumulated a great deal of memories, many of which would be recalled in the bar later that evening.

Saturday
After a considerably long walk and an interesting encounter with a barbed-wire fence, we made our way to the end of the final stage for a spot of spectating. The remaining field of cars came through fighting to the finish, some bearing more than a few battle scars.

To take in the full experience of an International event, we all got dressed up to attend the awards presentation. Although we didn’t expect any awards for ourselves, we proudly wore our Team Oranje T-shirts. An audio/visual presentation video stirred the memories of the previous few days before the awards were presented. 1^st overall went to Martin Rowe and Derek Ringer in their Renault Megane Maxi – a hat trick event win, and popular winners of the 1999 Sony Manx International Rally.

Again, we retired to the hotel bar, but this time with company – a wedding reception had come to an end, and a number of the party guests had retired from the function room to the front bar. This included a couple of locals equipped with a guitar and tin whistle. We relaxed to the sound of Gaelic music and alcohol until the early hours.

Sunday
We weren’t due to catch our ferry until the early evening, so we took on a spot of tourist like activities. We soon arrived at Ochran Park and made our way to the go-karts for a blast around the oval. After a spot of lunch and a birthday gift for Cal, the crazy golf was calling. We still don’t know who won – we were all as bad as each other. Then, some bright spark discovered the "bumper boats" (dodge'em cars on water!). It was no holds barred as we let rip in those motorised inner tubes. Our five-minute time limit was extended as the crowds began to accumulate to witness our spectacle. When our time was eventually up, we were all soaked through – great.

In the afternoon we watched some stock car and banger racing, the late summer sunshine drying us out nicely, before it was time to start our journey back home.

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