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The BTRDA Asphalt Series 2007 - Part 1 Paul Kendrick / Anton Bird Well the 34 year old Sunbeam Talbot is still going strong, its had four pretty good battering`s this year up to the end of June, all four events we have contested have been pretty tough. This tarmac championship has, so far been fast and furious, a much harder challenge than the HOE championship that we have contested in previous years. Round one in March was on one of our favourite territories. Epynt mid Wales, we both enjoy this venue and over the past few years have pulled some very respectable results over the ranges. Notes here are very important, in fact you would be absolutely no where without them. (After reading the “EPYNT” book, a good read to start with but tapers off mid way, but full of fantastic pictures, even one of Brian Cope in an Imp) I discovered that one particular driver had committed the roads to memory, scary, and can drive all of the stages either way flat out on side lights in the dark, not with me in the car thank you. Note – he had a very big accident – one of Epynts biggest – in the day light !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first round in early March was “ The John Price Rallying Tour of Epynt” and was a very wet one, started to rain on the way up to the ranges at 7.45 in the morning and was still raining when I got home at 10 that night – what a day. 17 stages some 80 odd stage miles completed, the last 15 miler was cancelled due to the marshals being drowned and suffering hypothermia. If it rains on Epynt its side ways, violent, and freezing. Soft Dunlop wets, well cut did the job nicely all day, passing four cars on the last 12 miler. 8th in class / 37 oall. A good solid start, considering we don’t have a shed load of horse power which has a mega advantage at specific places at this venue. (New Road)             Next up came “ The Tour of Cornwall” an event I have always wanted to do – this year being my first time. To sum this up, the only word I can use is disappointing, but not from the result we brought back (17th oall / 4th in class). Friday night – 8 stage miles in the dark on 4 stages in total – 2 being round a caravan park !!. Saturday, 2 short stages round the country estate from the night before, 2 through one of the narrowest most dangerous places I think I have ever seen (Carclew) only 1.5 miles but has one of the longest steepest down hill bits in Cornwall – and at the bottom of this mountain you cross a stream and go 80 left at the same time !!!. The rest of Saturday was spent thrashing round two airfields, one on the north coast (Port Reath) and one on the Lizard (Predannack) all I might add, just flat out motoring, a huge power trip again. I would not go back through choice, only if necessary. Good points – the weather was fantastic, sun all week end, and the finding of a superb B&B just outside St. Austell. (No it’s a secret) Round three another new venue to us – but one I have been to in the Cortina, so knew the basics, like cooking the brakes, Millbrook, Vauxhalls test track near Bedford. What a brilliant venue, for a single venue this has to be one of the best in the UK. The very testing “Hill Route” is used in various formats, 10 stages with splits and reverse directions, all stages are 7-8 milers. Again, a very wet day – all day. On the cut wets again – which worked like a dream, as the surface here is very abrasive, loads of grip for the brave in the wet. Again another power venue, but some great driving from Mr.K brought us home 17th o/all and first in class. Paul was also awarded “ The John Price Rallying Salver” for star driver of the day. A great result considering the power we were up against. A very cheeky stage arrival control run here by Owen Marshals, I want another wine gum ( long storey )       Round 4 last week end – The rally of the Midlands. Almost identical to last year in format. Starts of on Friday night with the 400 yd spectator special around Hinkley Town Hall, yes that’s 400 yds. Some love it, I hate it, 7 hours messing around – time off work etc for a 38 second stage.  If they are going to do this why not do a deal with Mallory (one of the Saturday Stages anyway) – put four stages on Friday night, free entry, lay food and other entertainment on etc. Suprisingly we had a dry day, or most of it on Staurday, Mira (52 miles on 3 stages) was flat out all the way, just could not go any faster, Mallory 4 stages, one costing us dearly. Mallory 3, first lap into three, a rear puncture, we just had to stop and change it at the track side. This ultimately cost us a class win and about 8 places o/all. On the same stage and on the second lap another fracarse cost a few moments and damaged the car. Going for the tyre chicane on the main straight, the other Sunbeam in the event braked too late ( we were pushing to over take ), he had to throw the car sideways, stopping in the entrance to the chicane sideways, as we were trying to get passed anyway we were on his tail. A 90 mph T bone we did not fancy, so took to the grass, this threw us side ways and we just missed a big shunt with the other Sunbeam, the front of our car having a brief encounter with the armco. How we missed him I will never no. (This incident can be seen on U Tube if you have the net.) A damaged n/s wing, front bumper, lights etc resulted, but some swift work by service – many thanks – sorted it all out. The Sunday stages were all wet, Merevale – 4 stages here, two in each direction, all wet and slippy. I do not like this stage down hill, in fact I think it has a very dangerous finish, down hill very fast, narrow with speed bumps. Now if you have a moment and get onto the grass here, there would be no way of missing the assembly of marshals, safety and finish crew`s vehicles parked at the bottom, let alone the enormous trees passed on the way. Bramcoate Barracks, 4 stages, 2 in each direction. Wet and very slippy where mud had been pulled onto the road by previous cars, but great fun this one. Nearly 3 miles with a split, apparently our speed impressed our service crew who spectated at this venue. They thought we were two old blokes in wheel chairs, NOW they know, were not playing at this thing, in the position that we find ourselves in at this point in the championship, its flat out.      The other venue, Arbury Hall – 2.5 miles through a country estate, 4 stages two in each direction, due to problems here this stage only ran competitively once all day, an accident (Clare was at the scene – bit of a pantomime I believe), and a broken cattle grid being the reasons.     Using the correct tyres on Sunday paid off for us, pulling up to  2nd in class and 18th o/all. A respectable result after Saturdays problems, and more valuable BTRDA tarmac points in the bag. Great to see Owen Marshals out on most stages on both days, marshals were a bit thin on the ground on all stages, so I guess the organisers were grateful for their help. In fact one stage commander at a stage start asked me (as we always carry Owen stickers) to pass on his thanks to the Owen marshals for making the effort, apparently many others promisers had not– Its always good to see friends & family from Owen when we are out on an event.  On the BTRDA front – we have just qualified for awards with 4 finishes, with two rounds to go, we lead the 1600 cc class in the tarmac series and I believe can not be caught. O/all in the championship – I`m not sure until championship scores are published, but we could still just have the lead. Steve Barker in the Focus / Subaru yep that’s correct, the Focus is a full blown Scoobie under the bodywork, is catching fast (He won the Midland) – wish we had 400 BHP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Next up – Mewla – 27th August, followed by Otterburn in October, has any one got any notes for Otterburn. Report presented by Anton Bird - Pictures by Rally Action Photography