RALLY NEWS NO.2       Bangor ..Easter Monday 09.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 (Bangor Castle)
1st (2) Robin Philips/Mike Gibson (Celica) 1.02
2nd (3) Wesley Patterson/Bob Kelly (Sierra Cos) 1.04
3rd (4) Trevor Moore/Richard Curry (Escort Cos) 1.06
    (16) George Robinson/Francis Regan (Escort Cos) 1.06
5th (6) Gary White/Barry Taggart (Escort Cos) 1.07
    (7) George Tracey/Alan Tracey (Metro 6R4) 1.07
    (18) Sean Cassidy/Martina Doyle (Escort Cos) 1.07
    (25) Philip Shaw/Nigel Frazer (Escort) 1.07
9th (9) Richard Hall/Alan Graham (Escort Cos) 1.08
    (12) Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Escort Cos) 1.08
    (15) Fintan McGrady/Tim Hopkins (Escort Cos) 1.08
    (19) Glenn Allen/Eugene Donnelly (Escort) 1.08
    (30) Raymond Johnston/Ivan Fisher (Lancer N) 1.08

In theory this Bangor Castle stage should be a gentle pipe opener for the drivers.  In reality it has turned into a nightmare test for several. The dramas started when Woodland Furniture NI Rally Champion, Denis Biggerstaff, slammed his Metro off the road into a wall.  A while later Dan McCartan's Lancer came slithering past the stage finish on 3 wheels. While Donegal man Andrew Stewart parked his Mitsubishi on top of a kerb with a smashed wheel. 

Conditions in the park are wet and slippery, catching many of the drivers out.  Biggerstaff commented "She just wouldn't slow down under braking".  As more and more of the top drivers arrived at the finish of the stage, that was the continuing story - very very wet, very slippy.

Trevor Moore found his Escort Cosworth misfiring slightly off the start line. Keith White had a spin at the hairpin but lost little time. Dubliner George Tracey found his Metro 6R4 in gear selection difficulties.  George was doing yesterday's Midland MC Single Stage Rally, and was forced to a halt when his Metro's crankshaft sensor came adrift.  That event was won, by the way, by Tommy Graham from Tim McNulty with David Armstrong 3rd.  Back in here Bangor park and Richard Hall was shaken but not stirred when he got to the finish of the stage, reporting his Escort Cosworth just skimming a wall.  Woodland Furniture man Kieran Shaw was livid with anger when he came to the stop line, most un-Kieran like, he's usually very cool, but a jammed wide open throttle nearly caused a major disaster.  Fintan McGrady went very well, with no problems.  The always laid back George Robinson was completely unfazed to have no intercoms in the stage, the former multiple NI Rally Champion still 3rd equal fastest. Donegal man Brendan Kelly stalled at the chicane and lost approx. 14s. Jim Crozier had a big moment on to the grass. Davy Crockett was a non-starter. More news from service at Granville. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON