Tomsport - International Rally Team

After spending the previous day packing our transit with all that we could possibly need for 3 days fast tarmac rallying on the Isle of Man, the crew retired to have a few 'pops' and watch a horror movie (mistake number 1)!

Rising early to set off to catch our ferry at Hesham, George complained of little sleep due to having had nightmares! The team were in good spirits, but it was not to last; 5 miles from home the front left hand wheel of the transit started to lock under braking. Aron and Lawrence pulled into a side road with George and Andy in the 406 estate behind. It became rapidly apparent that there was something wrong with the brakes. The crew jacked up the front wheels which were sticking on and overheating. With time ticking by and knowing the ferry waits for 'no man' or 'no rally car', the team had to make a rapid decision on what to do. A limited amount of spares were squeezed into the back of the 406 estate while another 406 saloon was borrowed to tow the rally car to the ferry terminal. The team rushed off to Hesham, but with only two spaces (for the transit and trailer with rally car on it) booked on the already packed ferry, the team had to drive the rally car onto the ferry accompanied by the 406 estate leaving the 406 saloon and trailor in the ferry car park.

The day dawned with sunshine and optimism after the previous days trials. After a hearty breakfast, the Team head down to the service area at the grandstand to prepare for the event.

The first task was to sort out the equipment in the back of the 406 estate (remember it was hastily packed yesterday morning following the abandonment of the Transit van). Once sorted, we took the opportunity to perform a "standard" 20 minute practice service - all went well with both the crew and support team feeling more confident of what tasks could be accomplished in the time allowed. We arranged for one of the many tyre suppliers in attendance to cut one of our dry tyres to a wet pattern.

Due to space constraints in the 406, we approached YS Rally Team (Streetly Motor Club members) with a view to them carrying around two of our spare tyres in their Transit van. They obliged. The other complication was that due to only being able to rescue two Jerry cans from the transit the refuelling schedule was going to be tight.

It was then time for Noise and scrutineering. No problems, with a noise reading of 96db. Shortly after, we returned to the hotel for a brew and to prepare for the rally later that day.

At the allotted time, Andy and Lawrence took the 406 to the grandstand service area, whilst George and Aron took the Peugeot 309 to the start in Ramsey. Curiously, the route was not defined in the road book, so Aron had to draw upon all his map skills to get the crew to the start on time.

Special Stages 1 and 2 were super spectator stages around the harbour at Ramsey. The Colway Formula 2 tyres were working excellently, although the steering was not as sharp as it could have been. SS3 was the first "proper" stage and started on the mountainside. At the start line, George could just make out a large drop to the right in darkening conditions. The stage went well, until 5 miles into the stage they came upon a flock of approximately 25 sheep. Stuck between two wire fences, the sheep had nowhere to go but forwards, slowly. Despite the crews shouting and horn blasting, the sheep casually ambled forwards at 5mph. When the crew eventually reached the stage finish, there were another two cars in the woolly convoy.Official complaints would be lodged overnight.

The crew made there way back to a 20 minute service at Douglas. The boys were well set up with their generator powering the flood lights (and a hot kettle of water). Once the front of the car was up on the jacks, with the wheels off, the generator cut out ! The boys carried on with head and hand torches until a fellow "competitor" brought over an extension lead connected to his generator - many thanks. The car was given the once over with the spanners and was good to go.

SS4 was a smooth and straight bash along some main mountain roads. Aron began to feel a little ill and nearly had to ask George to stop the car so as to deposit some of his illness at the road side. But his will power got the better of the situation and got safely to the end of the stage. On the way to SS5, Aron was a little concerned that they might no be on the correct route. Within a minute the only other 309 on the event stopped by to see if their kindred was ok. After a brief discussion about the route, both cars set off to the next stage in convoy.

SS5 was set on narrow country lanes. The crew experienced few problems, although the car would not turn in as quick as it has done in the past.

Once back at Service B (45 minutes) there was a lot to do. The generator had been forfeited for some caravan power outlets (free electricity). The front brake pads were changed for a softer compound and half a tun was taken off both steering arms (to induce a bit more toe-out for the tight corners. The tyres were fine and so left as they were. Once the lamp pod was safely stowed in the 406 the 309 made its way to Parc Ferme. When we got back to the hotel, the bar was closed (2:00am) which was not a bad thing as Aron was still feeling ill.

To give Aron a chance at a little more beauty sleep, Lawrence went down to Rally HQ at 8:30am to get the start time and note any amendments, returning to join the others for breakfast. Spirits were high (except for Aron) as the previous day had finished better that it had on last years event.

The weather was light drizzle with standing water. At first service out of parc ferme, the boys fit four wet weather tyres in under 10 minutes.

SS8 and 9 were again tight and twisty. The steering was now much improved with more toe-out. Back at the next Service area in St Johns, the Boys are ready with a set of dry tyres, as the drizzle has lifted and the roads are drying out. George and Aron come into service praising the Colway F2 tyres, especially as the "turning in" problem has been resolved. George and Aron were saddened to see the only other 309 on the event embedded into a brick wall. The crew were ok, but their rally was over. George and Aron continued with a little more caution.

On the way to SS10, the defined route is blocked by a road traffic accident. Whilst the clock is ticking away, a local resident offers to show the crew an alternative route, so they duly follow the Astra Estate to the start line without loosing any time. Once on stage, they pass the stricken Tapio Laukanen. SS11 is cancelled due to sheep !

Over the mobile phone (the radio is fixed in the van we left behind) George advises the service crew that the battery warning light is on. Once into service at Douglas, it is discovered that the alternator bracket had broken. This was probably due to a heavy landing after a jump and evidence of this was scored into the aluminium sump guard. The bracket had snapped and one of the two bolts had come out. Another bolt was found to refit the bracket, albeit temporally. Another alternator belt was also fitted.

SS12 was a short and twisty route to south of Ramsey, whilst SS13 took the crew through the northern countryside to Jurby.

The service at Jurby discovered a small oil leak coming from the sump drain plug - The impact from the jumps had pushed the sump guard up onto the sump pan which had deformed resulting in the oil drain plug not seating correctly. The amount of oil loss was not much to worry about at the moment, so it was left as is. The engine was topped up with oil, "just in case". The lamp pod was also fitted, as dusk was approaching.

SS14 and 15 were long and fast with some really tight corners, around the south part of the island. At service in St Johns it was discovered that the alternator belt had been missing for the last stage. Another belt was hastily fitted.

The last three stages of the day were based around the south of the island, including two circuits of the infamous Castletown Stages. All went well, but there was concern about the alternator. The day's final service was back at the grandstand in Douglas. In the 45 minutes allowed, the alternator bracket was changed and another alternator belt was fitted (where was George getting all these belts from?). The sump guard was lowered to inspect the sump plug - it was bearing up to the strain and was left alone. The oil pressure switch was re-wired - some heat protection had broken free and had sliced through the wiring. It was a hectic service but the car booked in to the overnight parc ferme on time.

The lamp pod was removed and stowed safely in the 406. Andy took Aron back to the hotel and George and Lawrence made their way back on foot. Back at the hotel, the bar was still open - we relaxed for an hour with a pint (or two). To encourage the crew, Andy and Lawrence proposed a bet - if George and Aron got to the finish ramp, Andy and Lawrence would by the beer on the Saturday night, if they did not finish, George and Aron would be buying the beer.

Saturday morning over breakfast, Aron was feeling much better following a good nights sleep. At the mornings first (10 minute) service, the 309 was given the once over with the spanners and a flailing tank guard flap was stitched into place with a tie-strap.

The first three stages of the day took on an anticlockwise circuit around the island to a service at Jurby, covering some of the roads that had been attempted the day before. Things were going well, and with Aron seemingly over his illness, the crew were confident that the previous nights bet would be won.

The service at Jurby was routine, and Andy and Lawrence tried to welch on the previous nights wager - the crew would not let them. SS23 introduced a new caution in the Road Book - "Caution Ducks"! Previous cars had obviously not heeded that advice! Fortunately, neither George or Aron are allergic to feathers!

At service in St Johns it is discovered that one of the rear brake pads had failed - the friction material had come away from the backing plate. The back set of pads were swapped for another set that had already been bedded in.

SS24 and 25 formed a southern loop back to the service at St Johns. George was apparently getting over confident on a fast down hill section to the flying finish of SS24. So confident in fact, that the car was approaching a square right with far too much speed. The corner had to be aborted for the promise of an open gate which took the crew into a timber yard. Aron turned to George and said something along the lines of "slow down, only one more stage to go" - George agreed.

At the service at St Johns, the boys gave the car the final once over, which included another alternator belt. When it was time to go, the car would not start. With a good push, George managed to jump-start the 309. Almost immediately, smoke started to pour from the front radiator grill - another alternator belt was shredding itself somehow. There was nothing to do but continue the rally, hoping that engine would continue on battery power alone.

SS26 was some distance away and the stage itself was mountainous. Somehow, George managed to get the car back to the final service at Douglas without stalling. Once at the service area, all George and Aron had to do was to get the car through the final time control and up onto the finish ramp.

The 309's battery was dead. Andy's Peugeot 406 kindly donated it's battery to the 309. The 309 was bump started (saving the battery for a "just in case" situation) and made its way to the final time control.

George and Aron proudly drove the Pegeot 309 GTi 16v up onto the finish ramp at Douglas - despite their experiences last year, and the trouble of the last few days, they had successfully completed the Manx 2000 Trophy Rally. Emotions were high as they were interviewed.

Andy and Lawrence visited the cashpoint machines before hitting the town - they would be buying the beer all night.

There are a number of people Tomsport would like to thank, who assisted us on what has been an eventful few days:

Dave at Daycol Garage	- for getting the Transit van through it's MOT
Mr Tyre, Sutton Coldfield	- last minute tyre fitting
Skip Brown / Tim Morris	- Last minute delivery of parts
Yodasport Rally Team	- for carting around our spare tyres
Carl - Service Crew to a Fiat Uno	- for an extra pair of hands
Simon - Service Crew to Team Spirit	- for the WD40 trick
Michelle	- for regular weather reports
Cadbury Schweppes plc	- for the loan of a modem lead
Anonymous Jurby resident	- for directions
Not forgetting the the organisers/officials/marshals of a fantastic event

We hope you enjoyed our web site updates, email updates and SMS messages we sent "live from the Manx", and we thank those of you who sent back messages of support and congratulations.

The official Sony Manx International Rally web site can be found at http://www.mir.co.im/