Volvos competing in the winter cold

5/12/2017

So the (one and only) Preston Rally has been and gone...
  • I was navigating in Owen Turner's London2CapeTown MGZR, lying 2nd  then dropped to 4th when we bogged down in the penultimate section costing us 6'.
    • I made a stupid mistake early in the rally, thankfully costing us no penalties but a bit stressful until we made up time at the second halt: I called "north on the A11", when in fact I wanted "north on the A1065"
  • Amy was out with Harvey Steele in his Volvo 144
    • 31st overall is an excellent first attempt at the Preston
    • Harvey then headed home in the 140 to Peterborough - illustrating just how good the car is: there were only a handful of competitors who were confident enough to do without a trailer.
    • Looking back at the previous events with classic Volvos, I see I managed 32nd and 31st in 2004/2005 respectively, in my 142 which was very similar road spec to Harveys - rather than the lightweight pure rally car it is today.
  • It was a very pleasant gathering of old and new faces, first car departing at 2151, and I think we finished sometime around 0600 Sunday. A wet event, although no rain on the night, pleasingly for the marshals.
    • There were a few London2CapeTown faces besides me and Owen: I chatted to Andy Elcomb (who won the event), and also spotted Ed (one of the organisers), and Mr Scott also.
  • Peter W has now landed in the UK, and is on his way to pick up the 244 before heading to the start of the LandsEnd to John'o'Groats event later in the week. He's meeting Amy (his navigator) in Exeter on Thursday, and should be finished up at the top of the UK on Tuesday morning. We shall be following the results closely, as there's a host of friends on the event, including Owen Turner once again, out in the Mini.

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