Andy Davies and Owen Rowcliffe slide the Mazda around to a top 5 placing on the Classic Tracks

Saturday the 20th of May saw the third round of the Welsh forestry rally championship, the Plains rally, organised by Knutsford and district motor club. This event gave competitors some 69 kilometres of competition in the forests or North Wales and would see a couple of club members entered. First up was Dafydd Evans who would be navigating for Mike Stuart in a historic specification Ford escort MK1. In the interclub rally, for four wheel drive vehicles Mark Glennerster would be navigating for Matthew Hurst in an R5 specification Ford fiesta, they were first off from the four wheel drive vehicles with number 401. 

The rally would be made up of four stages run twice, giving a total of eight, and they would vary in length from just over 4 kilometres to over 14. The event would sadly not go to plan for Mike and Dafydd. Whilst lying in an impressive fifteenth overall and leading their class they would go on to retire after the sixth stage with engine issues, a great shame as they had been setting an excellent pace. Things would go much better for Matthew and Mark, as after a string of excellent times they would go on to finish the rally in an impressive second overall in their R5 fiesta, a great result for them.

 Sunday the 28th of May the much missed Classic tracks targa rally made a very welcome return to the rallying calendar after a couple of years absence. This popular Llandysul motor club organised event attracted a vast number of entries of competitors to once again sample the farm tracks of the Llandysul area. This year's event featured 22 tests, all of which were run through once, giving competitors an enjoyable action packed day. 

Naturally a handful of Lampeter members were entered, with the first being the driver of car 1, Cadog Davies, who again partnered with Michael Jones for this year's event. They were hoping for another strong performance on the tracks, with Cadog having hired a Toyota corolla due to his regular Proton being currently out of action. At 2 were Andy Davies and Owen Rowcliffe, with four wheel drive vehicles not eligible for overall results Andy left his regular Subaru at home and purchased a Mazda MX5 for a day of slides and laughs instead. Navigating at 13 was Arfon Griffiths, he was in the escort belonging to Mathew Davies. Also navigating was Debbie Evans, she would be sat with Max Jones in a Nissan micra, they were seeded at 38. At 50 were Justin Jones and Stefan Davies in Justin’s Ford escort Mk1. 

The first test was just outside of Llandysul at Pentrellwyn. Here it was Mathew and Arfon that did best among club members, recording a penalty of 32 seconds, two seconds ahead of the Toyota of Cadog and Michael. Andy and Owen followed on 41 seconds, and behind them it was Justin and Stefan with 44 seconds. Max and Debbie stopped the clocks on 47 seconds. Many competitors managed to go through the second test without gaining any penalties, and this included Cadog and Michael, Andy and Owen plus Mathew and Arfon. Test 3 however, would see everyone gather a penalty. Here it was Cadog and MIchael that did best among club entrants, stopping the clocks on 14 seconds. Close behind them were Andy and Owen on 16 seconds, and following them were Mathew and Arfon on 20. Justin and Stefan achieved 29 seconds and Max and Debbie achieved 38. 

The next following tests saw some of the front running competitors pass through without gaining penalties, with the odd few seconds gained here and there among the rest of the runners. At the halfway halt Cadog and Michael held joint third overall with 1 minute and 48 seconds of penalties, Mathew and Arfon were in ninth on 1 minute and 57 seconds. Andy and Owen were thirteenth on 2 minutes and 46 seconds. Justin and Stefan were in thirtieth on 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Max and Debbie currently held forty-fourth overall with their penalty count of 7 minutes and 51 seconds.

It would be a short second half for Michael and Cadog as they had issues with a broken exhaust on their toyota, coupled with a leaking fuel tank they were forced into retirement on the thirteenth test of the rally, a great shame as they were well within podium placings. Mathew and Arfon would also retire in the second half with a damaged cross member on their escort.

For everyone else still running it would be an enjoyable event, although the excellent weather conditions did make the tracks very dusty and hard going on the cars. The first two tests after the halfway halt would see the front runners pass through without gaining any penalties, and Andy and Owen would climb up the leaderboard in the second half with some great times over the tests, gaining only a small handful of penalties on each of the tests. Max and Debbie continued to do well in their micra with some very consistent times. Justin and Stefan would also have an excellent half as they managed to stay out of trouble and climb the leaderboard.

At the end of what was a very enjoyable event it was Andy Davies and Owen Rowcliffe that did best among club members, finishing in a very respectable fourth overall and third in class with a penalty count of 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Justin Jones and Stefan Davies would finish in sixteenth overall and fourth in the semi expert class on a penalty count of 9 minutes and 5 seconds. Max Jones and Debbie Evans would go on to finish in thirty-first overall and eighth in class with 15 minutes and 41 seconds. 

Thanks to Owen Rowcliffe for the image in this report.