Mike Reed and Scott Cleverdon competed on their first rally for 2 months this weekend on the Plains Rally in Welshpool.  This was due to the long lay off in the BTRDA calendar and not being able to contest the Woodpecker Rally due to the engine still being rebuilt.

The rally didn't start too well, and the time set in the first stage was a bit off the pace.  This wasn't helped by Mike having to check the digital readouts every so often to check on the new engine.  All was fine with the engine, just a small problem which will be fixed before the next rally.

Another stage and the crew were getting into it a bit more.  There was a long delay before the start of stage 3 which meant tyres and brakes got cold etc, and on the first sharp corner of the stage the car drifted wide, narrowly missing a log pile, and just slid into a ditch.  The car was stuck fast with the wheels spinning.  We managed to get the car out and finish the stage, but withdrew from the rally at the next service after stage 4.  This was in part due to the ditch excursion, but Mike wants to get a bit more work done to the engine and felt it better to get that done before doing too many more miles.

We will be out on the next round, the Cambrian Rally based in Llandudno on 5th November.