I met up with Tim through the British Rally Forum and that is how I ended up doing the Quinton stages 7th July 2007.

It was Friday morning and rung Tim to see how far he was just on M5 by Birmingham stop at services for a quick coffee should get to Llandovery by midday.

I was catching a lift down with Nigel as he was also competing so off we set (but as usual I am never ready) eventually we get going and arrive at Llandovery which was the start & finish for the event as well as Rally HQ. We find Tim and I have a look at the rally car astra sport 2.0ltr Class N3 very nice looking as it has just had a complete rebuild and makeover. We decide it is time for a spot of lunch and head for the Castle Hotel. Scruitineering starts at 3pm so get sponsor stickers put on car and head to the queue for going through. Once at Scruitineering the man himself is there that round person with not a lot of hair Cooper man from Cornwall as usual get attacked by him with the lovely cuddle and kiss yuk!!!! Then he moves on to Claire Rix with the Ford KA and she is subjected to the lovely Cornwall cuddle.......

Anyway all fine through Scruitineering and we park back up and set off for Signing On as we enter the room there are signs up for 201 - etc, 1 - 40 , 41 - 80 so as we are Car 59 we stand in our row only to be told that we are stood in wrong place ?? Apparently the signs were in wrong place (still do not understand that one now) anyway as we were one of the 1st to sign on we eventually got through and went and had a drink and await our service crew who were travelling down after they had finished work.

Tim had book the accommodation for the Friday at the Drovers Market Place Llandovery so we walk all of 2 mins if that from the Castle Hotel and found our B & B, well it was lovely we found our rooms got settled in As Tim had been up since at least 4 or 5 that morning he decided to have a afternoon nap so I went back to the Castle and went through my notes and waited for Dad to arrive who was doing Spectator Safety Course Car with Alan Corns (Worcester) they joined me in the bar for a bit then I went back to the B & B and got ready to go out for a meal. In the meantime Nigel had met up with his Co-Driver Tudor Jenkins and we all met up for dinner. It was about 9ish and Chris, Gordon and Shaun arrived (our service crew) tired and hungry so Tim got there food arranged and everyone was happy.

Saturday

It's the morning of the rally and I am wide awake after talking to the crew I decide to go down the start and see some others competing in the process I bump into Craig Drew, Nigel & Tudor, Steve and mark I check our start time and head back to B & B for breakfast (toast) while the others all feast up on Big Fry up Breakfast (yuk!!). Our start time is 10.02 so we had quite a bit of time in the morning which was hard for me to adjust to as usually I am competing in the 1400's and we are up and away by 8.00 am so I see Nigel & Tudor off, Steve & Mark and also get chance to see some of the Top Runners in the Open Section at last we make our way over to the Start and while the lads go on and take the service barge up to The Ranges we await to get going which by now the 1400's would of done at least 2 stages and we were just about to start.

I didn't know what to expect really as It was my 1st time teaming up with Tim and also in a bigger car but was all set and ready to go we make our way up to Halfway SS1 by now I am getting quite excited as we actually have started the rally we approach the Arrival Helmets on Belts tight we check in and then its down to the Start line 5,4,3,2,1 Go!! Not too bad a stage with just one HPR which was quite boggy but Tim got us through and we clicked really well so both happy with that one next was SS2 Route 60 now the only thing with this stage is the large rocks on the inside and outside of the bends and especially toward the flying finish just before the crossroads which has many of times caught people out (example me and Liz last year nearly!!)

Again 5,4,3,2,1 Go!! Well it wasn't the rocks I needed to caution but when you come off the tarmac back onto gravel there it was right in front of us with me letting out a squeal of laughter and Tim nearly not making the HPR was this man who I now know is called Mark and he is doing a moonie at us.. When we got to the end we just both look at each other and laughed and I did say that wasn’t in our notes. Anyway we head to Service 1 both pleased with how the last 2 stages have gone, check in and there is Gordon waiting to show us where we are in Service we have got 30 mins Max so I give the lads our due time back out and they set about checking the car over the only minor thing that the lads had to sort was the inner CV boots on the drive shafts once sorted we were on our way out for the Regroup (with a set of results handed us we were 39th Overall and 1st in class but still a long way to go yet and it goes without saying to finish 1st, first you must finish) and then onto SS3 Crychan gave a little wave to Arnie from Stoke Rescue who was on the start and again 5,4,3,2,1 Go!!

Good stage apart from when our little mark the moonie man appeared on a 6L and yes you guessed it we didn't take that corner very neat, but we got to finished again quite happy with how it was all going. Next was the long road mileage section to SS4 Caeo the weather was lovely and hot so by the time we got to the arrival there was a delay of about 20mins so time to get out and stretch the legs as I was new to the open section it didn’t take long to make friends and especially with the two lads in car 58 Darren and Robert in a Proton Satria who I found out were from Gloucester (small little world) Eventually it was our turn to go 5,4,3,2,1 this stage was just a little rough in places (boob juggler stage and at one point I had a job to hold the notes ) also Tim says that the gears are playing up and we also seemed to clip some trees on my side and gone was the wing mirror (whoops)!! We get to the end and it wasn't my favourite stage I must say. We get hold of the Chase crew so that they are ready to try and fix the problem being the gearbox mount, time is ticking on a bit and I keep looking at my watch and biting my nails thinking are we retiring or not, eventually bonnet down and off we set with a 24.47 road section we were on a tight bit to reach SS5 which was halfway 2 (We did make it with 8 mins to spare and no Tim didn’t speed Much anyway!) remembering the HPR with the boggy corner we definitely didn't want to get caught again with it 5,4,3,2,1 Go!! Not far into the stage Tim says that the mounts have gone again and as I am calling notes all I keep thinking is come on just get us to the end then it was service and boy was I relieved to see the flying finish boards yes I thought to myself we are out on we went to service ringing the boys again to let them know so that they were ready and prepared. Service was a max of 30mins so not a lot of time when you have problems so again I let the lads know what time we are due out and off they get working on the gearbox mounts and also Tim wanted the tyres changed round from front to back so it was a case of all get stuck in with just a couple minutes to spare we got to the re-group control on time and awaited to proceed to SS6 Crychan 2

Again 5,4,3,2,1 Go!! Down for 200 3R/Dip turn HPL and whooooh that was close going into the HPL we went out of the sun and before I knew it I was looking at a long drop myside but again Tim managed to drive luckily away and before I knew it we were at the end Yes just one more stage to go SS7 Route 60 '2' but I wasn't looking forward to it for some reason I don't know why?? Last management so we pull in lads quickly check tyres and also say that they had manage to watch us on the last one and that we were going well so we should we had managed to move up to 36th overall and still 1st in class and all I kept thinking is come on just one more stage to go they were running Route 60 opposite to the morning run and in total the stage was only 4.96 miles long as we got helmets and belted up I sat there looking at my notes, you could also see part of the stage or should I say you could follow the dust clouds....While we were sat there waiting I saw Tim's hand slowly slide under my clipboard and I thought whats his game when he grabbed my knee and said just one more to go now ..... I looked at him and laughed and just reminded him about the x-roads in this stage again as we had survived it once ..

Now it was our time 5,4,3,2,1 Go!! and as I called 3L> into jump/x-rds into 6R> rocks inside!! I thought whooooh here we go and all I see is greenery and a very large rock my side again and I don't know how but we managed to stop before we hit the damn rock I just looked at Tim who said went into that a bit fast.. I'm sure he was just posing to the speccies so after our nice 3 point turn around the rock we got going again approaching some HPR and HPL with rocks on the inside and outside not thinking we could have anything else happen what's this we are off sideways again .. And Tim had got notes marked to repeat this bit but after eventually tidy ourselves up and getting going again there they are again it's the moonie man to make it a hat trick luckily I miss that one !!

Nearly at the end not far to go when for a split second I lose my place on my notes having said this to Tim I get back no worries just find your place (but funny he ain't slowing up a bit) and just as I call my notes we come over a crest and its was going to the right but oh **** we weren't and all I remember is one minute the car is one way then another and I just thought oh my god we are going to roll it but someone must have been watching from above and I just looked at Tim and said just get us to the end and that is what he did so after crossing the flying finish we both let out a big cheer and made our way back to the finish..

On entering the finish there was Nigel, dad, Alan corns and the one and only Nicky Grist who was talking to Dad. I gave them a wave and that was it my day had finished 34th Overall 1st in class N3 with a boob juggler stage a few whooooh moments, my driver Mr Tim "High Heels" Rodgers who was absolutely brill all day and a pleasure to team up with, the service boys who were spot on all day and I would just like to thank mine and Tim's sponsors for supporting us. Gibson's of Coalway, Cartork (Ireland), Express Windows of Coleford and Peart Auto Services whom Tim hired the car from if anyone is interested in hiring the car they can contact Chris on 01964 - 671503.
Oh and I forgot High Heels Rally Team..

TIM GOT YA!!!

Next event for me is Swansea Bay Rally with Andrew Bowen in a Escort G3 watch this space..

For more pictures visit Gary's site at www.songasport.co.uk