This all started for me on the Monday preceding the rally when I got a phonecall from Darren Pinchin asking if I would sit with him for this one as Rob his normal Co.Driver couldn't do this rally due to work commitments. So that was it off I set on Friday to Darren's Garage.
When I arrived at the garage the car was still up on the ramp and I immediately thought the worst "Oh no problems". Luckily it was only the lads doing a final check over, before loading her onto the trailer, having stowed my kit into the truck we were ready to set off.
Silverstone Tyres had awarded this entry to Darren because he was leading the 1400's in the BTRDA Championship after the Somerset Rally.

The event was starting from Nuneaton Centre and consisted of six special stages on the Friday evening, followed by another thirteen special stages on the Saturday with the event finishing back at Nuneaton Town Centre.

It did not seem to take long to get to the trailer park, which was at Hinckley Rugby and Football Club, after a few tight turns around junctions (which was interesting especially with the big trailer on the back) we found the football ground. A friend of Darren's was also competing in a mini so he had arranged to meet up with them there.
On the Friday evening was a stage being held at the Town Hall in Nuneaton only 0.7miles long and there was the chance to walk this one between 4-5pm which wasn't a lot of good for us as we only arrived at 5pm. But thanks to Darren's friends they told us roughly about the stage (surely it wasn't that hard)?

Scrutineering, Noise and Signing-On was all held at the Hyundai garage in Nuneaton which was also next to the Premier Inn we were staying at.
Pulled up towards Noise Check and I went and collected our numbers which for this event Darren was 32. All stickers applied and we continued on to noise, after telling the chap our number he looked puzzled and said "I don’t have a car 32" I replied "well we are car 32 here are the finals I have been sent" we showed the chap and he said I have you down as car 106 running in the BRC. Darren and I looked at each other and said no we are not with the BRC so I decided to go and check with the lady that gave us the numbers for car 32 as she had ticked us off her list, only to discover that we were down as car 32 and 106 in the BRC.
After talking to the Clerk of the Course I found out that BRC had requested that Darren be moved up into the BRC, but no one had thought to let Darren know, what I found strange is that I had only emailed the Entries Secretary on the Thursday using Car 32 as our reference and nothing was said when she replied Friday morning, then to make matters worse not only were we being moved up to run 6th on the road in the BRC we also had a start time of 18:06 instead of nearly 19:00hrs, which would have been our start time if running as car 32, considering it was now 17:45 and we had to Sign-On, get back to Hinckley Football ground get changed etc and be back at the Town Centre for our start time, it was just an impossible task, this is when the lovely Competitor Liaison Officer stepped in and helped us, we had to push in at Signing-On and were told to get back and get to the Town Centre as quickly as we could and to start when we arrived.

So rushed!!! we did, still couldn't believe that no-one had contacted Darren or myself about our change of number, if we had known an earlier arrival would have been arranged.
Now, next was a question I was thinking to myself where was I gonna change? We rushed back had our friends change the numbers on the car and put the bits I needed in, I hate rushing at the best of times, then the big one where was I gonna change I looked at Darren he had changed by the truck well its alright for a bloke to get changed outside, I thought hell I need to put my sports bra on, get rally overalls on etc., so I said to Darren "where am I gonna change" he replied "by the truck" I only had the courteous Mr Pinchin holding up a Jacket to cover my modesty while I got changed, thinking no-one could see me as I glanced to my left a chap was sitting in his Service Barge and smiling I just felt a gush of red enter my cheeks. (All I will say is that it quickly became the joke of the weekend) and hopefully the one and only time I will have to change in a Service Park.

We got to the start and were slotted in, off we set with all the rush Darren had forgotten his gloves and balaclava, we tried to settle ourselves down as we approached the Time Control before SS1 which was Merevale 1 a short stage 1.3miler, we got to the Stage arrival put on helmets etc and waited to start the stage. 5,4,3,2,1 go there were a few slippery places and a couple of nasty speed humps, with it being the first time for us sat together we got off to quite a good start can't have been that bad as I later found out we were about 5th quickest through that stage.

SS2 was Merevale 2 a repeat of SS1 so as we were approaching the end of the stage I called Care Severe Hump!! I think we took off, as Darren didn't lift his foot off the pedal and we landed with a thump, the Finish marshal told us that the front cover off something was hanging off so an extra piece to have to carry in car I won't say where I had to put it.

SS3 was Argents Mead which was the 0.7mile stage at the Town Hall with loads of Spectators watching as we hadn't had chance to walk this one it was upto me to just try and guide Darren round as best as I could off the map diagram we had as there was no notes for this stage. There was lots of people including Darren's Wife Nadine and their 3 Children watching. We watched the few cars in front of us go looked quite easy!! and then it was our turn as we entered the stage (or car park) we set off into a left hairpin down and round some bales back up around a square and then we had to keep right I called keep right and was looking down at my map when Darren says "where now" I looked up saw the Flying Finish Boards and said "there" only to realise at Finish we had missed out a tiny loop round a tree so we were given a maximum on that stage but that wasn't all we had a noise on the car only for Darren to get out and find we had broken the right hand side driveshaft, we decided to carry on with 2 stages left before service as we travelled towards Mallory Park for SS4 & SS5 the noise suddenly went but we still knew the driveshaft was broken, managing to finish both stages not going as competitively as we would of liked but it was great fun with splits in the stage first 2 runs right then 3rd run left only sadly on our first run through there I hadn't looked properly and we did one run right and one run left another oops (I was more annoyed that we hadn't had a chance to go through any paperwork in the pack, it was a case of here's your stuff get in car and start!

We did manage to complete SS5 correctly and then proceeded to Service, our Service crew consisted of Darren on the Friday, as Tim wasn't travelling up until Saturday morning. Darren asked me to ring his wife as I rang all I got was "don't even talk to me" ! I said hello in a quiet voice and with that Nadine was apologising and I started laughing, she had basically been with the kids in the loop we missed out (Sorry Nadine).

Darren got the driveshaft fixed and we set off for our last stage SS6 at the Town Hall again before Parc Ferme. This time we decided we were not going to get it wrong. There was a small delay for this stage and then off we set round the bale, round the square and then all I kept saying was right, right keep right and we completed that stage correctly Hooray and then proceeded to parc ferme for the night, then back and meet up with Darren's family.

Saturday.

As I looked out of my room it was a drizzly start to the day. I had arranged to meet Darren about 7.15am due to us leaving parc ferme at 8:04 and back in proper place amongst the BRC Contenders. I thought ok new day better start than yesterday, all to soon this thought changed we were allowed to enter parc ferme 10mins before we were due out of the time control to proceed to the first stage of Day 2. Now Darren had warned me that the car is not the best of starters in the morning especially when she is cold but that was an understatement after 5 min the car still wouldn’t start so Darren and I had to push the car out of parc ferme squeeze in between the big cars and get her out into the small car park to our Service truck where after 10 minutes Darren managed to get her going, this meant we were again running in amongst the Big cars (whoops) this did cause a bit of confusion for the Marshals as even though we hadn't used any lateness and got to the Arrival Control just in time some of the big boys were already lined up.

Saturday consisted of 13 stages so it was going to be a long day!

1st stage of the day was Merevale 3 SS7 followed by a re-run of SS8 but opposite way to yesterday, being first stage and it was wet we had extra warnings the road was slippery.. as we found out just before Junction 11 it was care! Bales and GATE! Well we took a slight scenery tour over the grass and just managed to stop before we hit the gate (sorry Rob kept that one quiet). Second run through was fine. Next stage was Higham SS9 16.2 miles this track consisted of long straights, hairpins around cones, watersplash (great soaking the photographers) and American style racing up these huge kerbed bends at one point I just remember looking at the floor to my left.

After completing this stage with no problems it was onto SS10 & SS11 which was Bramcote now we knew Rob was up watching us on this one so I gave him a quick call to say we were slightly out of sequence but everything ok, a warning from the Start Marshal that part of the track on a concrete section was just like skating on glass (What an understatement that was! the car seem to go opposite to the way we wanted to go, it was funny though) the stage was basically Hairpin right or left most of the time, and resembled being on the dodgem at a funfair, completed these two stages and onto Service where Tim our faithful service man was waiting. Back at Service we were greeted by the delightful team from Silverstone Tyres who kept us supplied with a constant flow of drinks. This was when the man from Silverstone decided he would take the mickey out of me for my little outburst last night about our mess up with the seeding. (I'll have you know I'm quiet really)

After leaving Service I was really looking forward to the next two stages Mallory 3 & 4 (SS12 & SS13) considering we had a broken driveshaft when we tackled Mallory yesterday we were both looking forward to going flat out around here this time, and telling myself to get the splits right this time.

Little did we realise but we were starting to set some quick times in the afternoon after completing both stages which we really enjoyed, plus Darren was certainly on a mission.. Higham 2 was the next stage 14.2 miles long, not exactly the same route as previously though very similar, really for this stage I didn't need to guide Darren much as he mostly knew it, straights, turn right straights left, again a good clean run and onto Bramcote 3 & 4 for (SS15 & SS16) before last service of the day. This time Bramcote was running the opposite way, when we got our time for the Arrival of this stage we were told there was an hold up so we had a good 15 min at least waiting. As we were in dead time we were able to move up in front of the main field and rejoin in our proper place with the other remaining BRC chaps, so we were actually 2nd on the road now, we seemed to catch the car in front of us after the second run through. The middle part was still like a skating ring I couldn't stop laughing, as it was so funny trying to go the right way.

Back in Service and not much really to do to the car, time for quick drink again supplied by Silverstone Tyre crew. Darren's family were at Service when we got back so I told Nadine if she left now for Mallory Park they would be able to get and see us go round so that is what they did.

Mallory 5 & 6 (SS17 & SS18) the other BRC car in front told us that they had gear problems and if we caught them in the stage they would pull over, about halfway round sure enough we caught up with the little 106 and thanks guys for getting out the way, we both really enjoyed this stage apart from a MG that kept holding us up into the corners, it was also pleasing that Darren's family got here to see us.

Last stage of the day was Higham 3 (SS19) 15.9miles long this stage was starting to get slightly boring by now, the other thing worrying us was the fuel, as the gauge was showing rather low and the petrol station shown on the road book was closed oh no, we didn't know if we would complete the last stage or get to the finish, I just couldn't believe it, Darren decided that he wouldn't go flat out and hopefully we would get to the Finish well I think most of this stage I was watching the fuel gauge (very sad) and kept thinking please don't run out, please! Got to the end of the stage and back to the Town Centre for the Finish we were now 1st Car on the road.

As we arrived back into the town there was a crowd of spectators waiting and marshals waving us through, we booked in our time and I was greeted by the lovely Val T who congratulated us on finishing, I don't think either of us could quite believe we had completed the 2 day rally. Darren was talking to the BRC chap and then said to me "we have won our class and for being the first BRC back" I said "no they must have it wrong" but he hadn't we were called through to the ramp where they gave us Silverstone caps, bottles of champagne so with a load of photographers and a Sky camera team there we pop opened the bottles and all I will say is I lost and got soaked (Cheers Darren).

After having a sip of the champagne we realised that it was over 11% strong so it was only a small taster for me as I was driving, as for Darren well he celebrated by polishing off both bottles and a few more in the bar for the awards where we collected our nice trophies and had our photo taken with the Mayor and Mayoress of Nuneaton & Hinckley.

So that was it 2 days of rallying, to the delight of some getting changed in the service area some very exciting bits throughout the day and all I will say is Rob you could of warned me how much Darren talks I certainly met my match for mickey taking that’s for sure, overall a surprise finish at the end of a good weekend.

Cheers Darren for asking me and I certainly won't say no again if Rob is unable to co-drive, thanks to Tim for looking after us and making sure the car kept going to the finish. To all the Marshals who stood out in the rain and to Mike Sones for all his help as the Competitor Liaison Officer.

Wishing Good Luck to Darren and Rob as they contest the Quinton Stages which is the next round of the BTRDA Championship and keep on trying to win the BTRDA 1400 Championship.

I must also acknowledge Chris Huish for sending these pics, you can see more of his work at www.chrishuishrallyphotos.co.uk