Round nine: Minilite Historic Somerset StagesDick Slaughter and Geoff Dearing were the stars of the day on the final round of the 2006 HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge, the Minilite Historic Somerset Stages (28 October).While Slaughter/Dearing won convincingly by 38s, class D3 victory in Somerset for Arwel Evans/Paul Wakeley settled second overall in the championship standings for the rapid young Welshman.
Slaughter/Dearing put their Escort Mk2 ahead on the opening stage and that is where they stayed, arriving back at the finish in Minehead after 12 stages with a 38s winning margin. "That's the first time we've ever got 31 points in the championship in one go, so I'm delighted," reckoned Slaughter after a trouble free rally.
The nearest challenge came from Terry Brown/Paul Willetts and Martin Freestone/Joanne Oakey in their Escort Mk2s. Freestone was troubled by a loose bottom joint in the morning that made the steering very vague, but that was fixed at service and they finish just 7s down on Brown/Willetts. A couple of minor offs in the afternoon cost Brown some time. "Porlock was very slippery and we had a lot of wheelspin," admitted Brown after a good run.
Class D3 for the rally and the title was a straight fight between Evans/Wakeley and the RS2000 of Mark Clifford/Brett Clifford. "Porlock was very slippery and there are some nasty bridges, but I did enjoy the hairpins," said Evans. Despite a big effort from Clifford, Evans took the place by 46s. "No problems whatsoever," reckoned Evans. Both crews spun in stage 10, Knowle, but survived unscathed.
Sixth overall and third in D3 fell to Chris Shooter/Bev LeGood on their second rally with their fresh Escort Mk2. A spin in Croydon 1 cost them time when they got stuck, but were grateful to spectators for pushing them back on.
Welsh crew Jason Jones/Alan Jones were seventh in their Escort Mk2, though not registered for points, while Adrian and Daniel Seabridge were next in their Sunbeam Lotus, back for the first time after an engine failure on the Isle of Man.
