Well I did it again browsing on the British rally forum and notice a thread with co.driver wanted. It was from a chap called Andy Williams who had a Subaru and was looking for a co.driver to do the Telford Stages with him at Sweet Lamb.

So I replied back to him and before you know it he has got back to me and I am doing this event which was only a week after the Wyedean.

So after sending off the entry. Andy and myself exchange a few texts and PM through the forum but until the day didn't know who he was.
He did send me a picture of the car which is a yellow and white Subaru impreza with a 1998cc engine 4wd not GRP N.

I received the dvd and notes for this event in the week and went through them Andy uses 1-9 notes so again something else to get use to as mostly the notes I use are 1-6 but I had no problems at all with them.
Stages look good and some different parts of Sweet lamb were being used this time, which was nice.

Saturday 16th Feb

So to keep me company and support me Nigel Jenkins and Steve Willetts came as well and considering we left at 5.30 in the morning they must have been mad it was really cold and I did think I must be mad.
But still I was looking forward to the day and adding a Subaru to my collection of cars that I have co.driven in.

We were up there by 7.30 and Andy had arranged to meet me for 8.00.
Time went on and it was 8.30 no sign of them I must admit I was starting to worry a bit that they weren't coming.
I kept watching all the cars coming in and must of walked round the service park 4 times checking I hadn't missed them then the next thing Nigel says here they are and sure enough it was them.
So I met up with Andy and the Team, then Andy and I completed Scrutineering which was being held down in the bowl. We joined the queue and after sitting there for nearly 15 minutes slowly making our way down Andy said I can’t see noise anywhere so I got my diagram out and pointed it showing just before Scruitineering. So we ask someone and they point to a white van on the road we had just come down and I am definitely sure it wasn't there when we come down.
Anyway we whiz up went through noise pushed back in the queue got through Scruitineering and then proceeded to signing on once completed there we went back upto the Service area where I got to meet all the team.

In total there was 8 stages with 1 & 3 repeat, 2 & 4 repeat, 5 & 7 repeat and 6 & 8 repeat.

After putting the stickers on and getting my belts sorted and testing helmets before I knew it we were due to go to the Main control and and onto the 1st stage. Our time for MC1 was 10:27am. 1st stage was 3.8miles long.

From the arrival control for SS1 you could watch the cars in front going down into the bowl over some jumps and into the water splash and then proceed up the hill.

5,4,3,2,1 Go Now obviously I didn't know what to expect as myself and Andy have never teamed up before and I was feeling a little nervous. But once we set off I settled into the notes quite well and before I know it Stage 1 over with no hiccups at all ...
SS2 was 5.6miles, from Finish of 1 to start of 2 we had a 30 minute road section so it was quite nice to have a talk along the way and I was really looking forward to the rest of the day. Well we did have a slight de-tour on the way to SS2 but I had to tell Andy that I had forgot to pack the picnic Ha!
Anyway when we arrive at SS2 we have about 10 minutes till we are due at arrival. So Andy gets out and has a chat with a couple of the crews in front of us.

Unfortunately for Crew of number 17 a Ford RS they didn't have much luck, they had changed a puncture then they booked into arrival and then they couldn't drive off. They seemed to have lost all their gears so they get pushed out the way and that was game over for them.
Now as we are waiting to pull up at the start line I catch this long arm thing sticking out of a truck and yes it was my friends Debbie and Mark from Difflock 8 Recovery. Now normally when he speaks to me I don't end up finishing a rally. But luckily for me they didn't spot me.

5,4,3,2,1 Go off we go again another nice stage and everything going well a few tricky sections and I think the one thing that sticks in my mind was the flying finish! 4L/C/Finish Drop Outside (Drop on the outside too right !) make one slight mistake there and it could end up in disaster as the crew of a Nova apparently found out hanging half on half off ...

After SS2 we had a service now I know we had had a good couple of runs but didn't quite know where we were standing overall anyway we pull up and the lads check the car over and then we make our way for SS3 which was a repeat of 1 ...

SS3 3.8 miles long ...Now as far as I can remember again we had quite a good run through this stage but I think we hit the second water splash a bit hard and the car didn't like it too much steam coming out from all over but anyway we got to the finish. Now I can't remember whether it was SS3 or SS4 but I remember coming down a hill and seeing a penguin hanging over the track (not a real one obviously)! Did make me laugh though and I don't think we hit it.
Apparently was a joke with Geoff Mayes who was competing on the event in a Micra for charity.

The car seems to be having a bit of trouble with the heating the temp gauge kept going up then down and we could not get any heat in the car. I kept thinking to myself it will be ok just get SS4 out the way and then we have service again also I had been given a set of results and we were lying 4th O/A which I was really pleased about. But not to get too excited and take one stage at a time.

SS4 5.6miles long and the car seem to be popping and a bit Smokey (my lingo for car not well) anyway we get ready to do stage 4 and before I know it I had been spotted yes that charming handsome man Mr Difflock 8 came over and said hi ...

5,4,3,2,1 go now the 1st run through this stage had been quite dry but as Andy found out it was quite slick at the beginning this time around still going quite well

Then we had HPR and as we went to go round the car just cut out completely. so there we are stuck in the middle of this HPR and I keep thinking come on come on please start and after about 30seconds she started but didn’t sound very good at all.
We did manage to complete the stage and 2 wheels round a HPL as we got to the Finish line I could guess something was definitely wrong.
The car by this time was smoking really bad and I had been down this road with Andrew Bowens Car on the Cambrian and Wyedean so I knew not a good sign. And yes sadly after SS4 we had to retire in Service due to the Head Gasket Going.

So bad luck again for me not a brilliant start to the year but it can only get better ...

Thanks to Andy for letting me sit in with him we really got on well and he drives very well and I enjoyed the four stages we did complete. Also to the Service Crew who did a wonderful job and made me feel really welcome.
Thank you, Brian Harrison, Joe Harrison, Ricky Marshall, Peter White and Rob Jones.

Andy has asked me to do some more events with them so hopefully we will team up again watch this space.