Well this event is well known for being a good rally and as it is the last of the BTRDA Season the social side is always good after rally celebrations and with a added touch as my birthday is on the Sunday.
But first things first I had to find a seat for this one....

Having done the Woodpecker with Andrew and unfortunately we didn't finish this one I was secretly hoping that he would do the Cambrian. And what do you know my mobile goes off and there is a text on it saying "Get entry in Happy Birthday" well I didn't have much of a grin when I read it !! So I got entry in and that was that....

As it was my birthday I decided to ask Angela Davies along with me who is a good friend and supports my rallying. So it was leave the kids and Martin my husband at home mind you he is off on Wales GB at the end of the month for 5 days and I was just escaping for 2 days.

Accommodation all booked thanks to Quick Chick which is Michelle, and also we had the company of Helen and James Alexander, Brendan Wellman who were also competing and a few others so our B + B was full. Oh and I forgot Mark the moonie man how could I forget him!! Lucky enough Mr Bowen and Gang managed to get into the B+B next door good enough no riff raff in ours Ha Ha ....

It was all arranged that we meet up at the truck cafe just on the outskirts of Leominster (a favourite of Mr B's I think) for lunch before the journey upto Llandudno and all travel up together. After everyone had filled their tummies it was time to set off Llandudno here we come.

We arrive up at Llandudno with me even managing a little snooze on the way luckily Ang was following John (Michelle's Hubby). The Trailer Park and Noise Test was at the Bus Depot not a lot of room but we managed.
Andrew gets the car off the trailer and fires her up. As the early nights are starting to creep in Andrew checks all the lights but we didn't seem to have many working.
Andrew check's the fuses and wiring then turns to me and says jump in the Drivers Seat and keep the car ticking over just till she warms up. Then we get one lot of lights working then there is no brake lights or one of the indicators working. Well for about the next half hour and the rest you hear me saying on/off on/off ..... I was well relieved when he finally got them all working god knows what people must have been thinking Ha Ha!!

Angela went with Carol (Andrews's Partner) and off we set to Scrutineering where I'm sure waiting for me with his big Cornish hug and kiss Mr John Cooper mind you I always try and hide from him but it doesn't work.

We join the queue for the Scrutineering which is being held in Llandudno at a Tyre Place our time comes and Andrew drives into one of the bays and I get the overalls and helmets out to be checked and what a surprise Mr Cooper is there and also another familiar face which I am getting to see is Another scrutiniser Dave Newton (Mind you I think Mr Cooper is teaching him bad habits as he was being just as cheeky as Mr C). Scrutineering was fine all ok even Mr Bowens Shiny new overalls smooth and silky.
Next was signing on which was being held at the Venue (Theatre) swiftly got that done and just in time to get check in to our B+B and then out for a meal.

Well everyone got together and had a meal and we had a lovely Friday evening now I don't normally drink before a rally but I did have just a few. I decided to leave the others to it and me and Ang headed back to our B+B for me to prepare for the rally.

SATURDAY

I never sleep that well before a rally and was wide awake by 7am Ang was off watching with Michelle and John and a few others so they were going early but our start time wasn't until 10.17 So I joined everyone for breakfast then headed back upto my room to get ready.

Our Service and Management Team was Tiny, Martin and Carol who as always look after us. The Start was in the Centre of Llandudno from there it was off to the 1st stage Penmachno South. There were a good lot of drivers in our Class so it was going to be a good battle all day. But all I wanted right from the start was to finish.

5,4,3,2,1 GO!! The first stage was 7.75miles also wet and slippy yuk. We had been warned at the start that there were a couple of cars off in the stage from the 1400's so I had noted down where they were. We get to the end and I was glad boy that stage was slippy didn't really enjoy that one much next was SS2 Penmachno North 6.74 miles.

5,4,3,2,1 Go!! Again similar stages wet, slippy and some very fast straights which we were absolutely flying down, towards the end of this stage was our little gang of supporters but soz guys I didn’t see you mind you I never see anyone. Next up was Service then onto SS3 Alwen 6.14miles, then SS4 Clocaenog East and SS5 Clocaenog Main.

SS4 was good no real problems but in we seem to have lost 2nd gear after 4 so struggled through 5 without 2nd gear and into Service. Now I won't embarrass myself too much but fair play our boys were quick in this service 10mins and we were all done but still minus 2nd gear.

Onto Stage 6 Penmachno South 2 7.48miles almost a repeat of the 1st stage almost which I wasn't looking forward too as it was damn rough 1st time round let again 2nd time. I just kept thinking come on car you can do it one more stage and finish please please …..

5,4,3,2,1 GO!! Off we went by this time what with some hold ups earlier on in the day it was starting to get slightly dark and the miserable rain wasn't helping. As we had struggled with the windows steaming up (Andrews side only typical) now I had not read notes in this situation before and as I found out it was hard (might of help if I had put the light on doh!!) What with the camera flashes on nearly every bend it was hard and I was glad to get to the finish of this stage mind you the car by now was starting to smoke just a little front and back with Andrew deciding to tell me we had no back brakes or handbrake but we made it out and off we set for the finish I was smiling as a finish was all I wanted. We rolled over the finish line by this time the car was well and truly smoking.
And that was it another rally over part of me sad as this was to be my last one for this season now, but another part of me happy as we finished 19th o/v and 3rd in class which was good considering our problems throughout the day.

FINAL SUM UP

Well what can I say another very enjoyable day sat alongside Mr Bowen and apart from the last stage I really enjoyed all the others. What with Mr Bowen and his waterworks problem and yawning some parts of the day (Must be the fact he is another year older). With the steaming up of the windows through the later part of the day and something which I won't mention but Mr B knows what it is Tut! Tut! It was a really good day maybe we weren't right on the pace but All Andrew and I was looking for was a finish, which is what we got.

So to end the evening the Awards are at a Night-club and that's where we partied the evening away celebrating my birthday and James Alexander's who was the Big 30 the following weekend, and at one point was actually handcuff to him (Thanks QC) I'll get you back, and no it isn't mine on his head QC's maybe ha! ha!

A big thank you to everyone who supported us on the Cambrian Tiny, Martin and Carol who as always do a fantastic job looking after us well someone got to. Ang and everyone else who stood out in the miserable weather just to cheer us on thanks guys.

And finally my sponsors who have supported me all season without them I wouldn't of been able to do it they are Chris Gibson of Gibson's the Forest Trading Post, Graham & Jackie Clements Express Windows of Coleford and Ian & Siobhan of Cartork (Ireland).

Also my family and friends, hopefully there will be some in car footage soon from the Woodpecker and Cambrian.

2008 SEASON.

I am sitting next to Andrew next season so hopefully we will be able to push a lot harder and have another good season of results.

Many thanks to my good friends Gary Simpson, Julian Jones, Russ Otway and Stuart Woodier for the use of their Photographs.