Since the Telford Stages due to having to undergo a operation in March I have had to have a few weeks off from my rallying.

I wasn't planning on doing this event just going down and watching giving the fact I didn't think I would be well enough. (But yes after having been at home only a week after my op and feeling fine I found my fingers twitching and looking on the forum at drivers wanting Co.Drivers and again I found myself replying)

Before I know it I have an email off Alun Roberts and yes you guessed it I am competing on the Somerset all my husband said was I knew you would!

Now I remember Alun when I was sat with Liz in the A5 Micra and Alun had a micra kitcar, but he has since sold that car and got a Peugeot 206 supercup car left hand drive.

After a few brief emails and a couple of phonecalls our entry was in and I got my accommodation sorted. I also ended up sorting accommodation out for Nigel Jenkins and his lot and also Brendan Wellman (would have been alright if I was on commission)

The Somerset stages is well know for its social side on the Friday night before the rally and a few of us meeting up for a meal and just a few drinks!

Alun offered me a lift to the event so I decided to take him up on it with us arranging to pick me up from Magor Services on the M4 for 1.30pm (little did I know the time is slightly different between England And Wales eh Alun!) Just a little bit longer and eventually he pulled up with tegid our Service chap so after saying good bye to martin we set off for sunny Minehead. All I want to say about the journey down not a lot apart from the fact Alun can count junctions well! Eventually we arrive at the Trailer Park on the outskirts of Minehead get the car unloaded and make our way to noise.

After noise we headed for Butlins which was HQ for the weekend of the Rally. And we proceeded to the queue for Scruitineering stood by the marquee was the lovely Cornish rogue I had been waiting to see! Mr John Cooper (now I know he reads this) he is actually sulking at present as I quoted him as Yuk in one of my previous reports. But I soon got him to come round after quick tweeze and smacked a big smacker on him .... Mr Cooper you just can't resist it! (God help me on next event he's on) It was our turn for Scruitineering pretty straight forward apart from the cut of pulley coming right out but we soon had that fixed and got the all clear then proceeded to signing on. After checking times etc we headed back to car to get tyres sorted. Now I had earlier on met up with Brendan Wellman who had informed me a table was booked for a load of us at 7.30.

Crickey it was gone 6.30 now not a lot of time for a girl to get ready that was for sure. After checking Alun and Tegid was ok I had a lift back to my B+B. I was the last one to check in but had a load of gentlemen carry my bags thanks Diaon and Walby.
Typical I was on the top floor of 3 flights of stairs and opposite the main man himself Mr Mark Moonie Man. All I can say is if I heard once more look at my room with the 4 poster bed I was gonna throttle him (QC had said to me she was worried for me don't woz mum all locks safety done on my door)!

We headed for the Hairy Dog pub where our table was booked there we met up with James and Helen Alexander and their service crew, Michelle and John with their son Dan, The famous Man himself Mr Tim High heels Rodgers and the lovely Bex, Mark Moonie man, Brendan and Pamela and her partner Nigel. Overall a lovely evening which I did call a night around 11pm to head back to my B+B and left some of the others to carry on.

Saturday Morning
I decided to have a lift down with Walby and gang and watch the 1400's go from the start our start time wasn't till later on that morning. Eventually Alun pulls up in the car and we get ourselves sorted.
Helmets etc fine oh and my booster seat (I was the joke of the day as I couldn't see over the dashboard)!

While we were still waiting to start I had a walk around the service area and bump into Shelly Taunt and Julie Murphy have a quick chat with them before they set off by this time some of the 1400's were coming back into service after completing the first few stages and we were still waiting to go out to start.

At last it was time for us to set off for the seafront and start the rally it had seemed forever I had been up that morning. Now the car seem fine and after getting our start time we set off from Minehead to make our way to first stage.
But we had only just turned from Butlins and the car suddenly cut out and stopped. We pulled over and after a couple of attempts the car started Alun thought perhaps the fuel was low but couldn't understand it so we called our crew to meet us at the refuel point and put some more fuel in. (With Alun still shaking his head thinking I only put fuel in earlier on).

The car started fine and off we set then again after a couple for miles she done it again we managed to get to the stage entrance but decided between us it wasn't worth going on.

So there we have it after a 5-hour journey down for Alun, 3 hours for myself a Good Friday evening and a Saturday I probably want to forget for a very long time I think miserable is an understatement.

I did go on to Do Management for Nigel And Diaon with Martin Walby and Paul Willetts and they did do there best to cheer me up. I must admit we had a good laugh and perhaps Mr Walby should take up Road Rallies.....but perhaps not in a 4 x 4!

Having had a good few weeks off now I have got a busy couple of months coming up sitting in with Andrew Bowen in his Escort G3, Andy Williams in his Subaru and hopefully will be doing a few more with Alun. WATCH THIS SPACE.