WEE MANX TALES NO.4       End of stage 4 - Saturday 10 am

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 4
1st (1) Ken McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza) 20.24
2nd (2) Marcus Dodd/John Bennie (Impreza) 21.05
3rd (8) Melvyn Evans/Martin Henry (Escort WRC) 21.06
4th (12) Glenn Leece/John Tarrant (Metro 6R4) 21.21
5th (5) Chris Griffiths/Aled Davies (Impreza) 21.22
6th (11) Mark Perrott/Garry Mansell (Lancer N) 21.27
7th (4) Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Impreza) 21.29
8th (10) David Mann/Alun Cook (Lancer N)  21.37
9th (3) John & Caroline Price (Metro 6R4) 21.46
10th (114) Tony Davies/Brian Hardie (Metro 6R4) 21.48

Kenny McKinstry was fastest over the Mount Rule test this morning with a time of 5.39, Tony Davies was 2nd fastest, 5.47, Rob Watson was a stunning 3rd fastest in his F2 Escort with 5.48, and Melvyn Evans recorded 5.49. Fastest group N driver was David Mann with 5.51, Mark Perrott did 6.00. Richie Holfeld 6.06.

Conditions were once again bone dry for the leading cars on this day 2 of the Steyr-Puch Manx National Rally.  McKinstry was in subdued form at stage finish, reporting no problems, although he did remark to top Pirelli technician Dick Cormack that he did feel a very slight understeer.  Probably down to suspension set up.  Melvyn Evans commented "It was a bit hairy in there, missed a few gears, down to me I think".  Marcus Dodd 3rd overnight and 3rd on the road, said "Steady away" (sounds a bit like powerboat parlance!).

Mark Perrott slipped from 4th to 6th with his time of 6.00.  Mark didn't remark on any particular problem, although the tyre guys on the scene reckoned the front pressures were much too hard.  Gary Leece reported all well with his Metro this morning. While Chris Griffiths in the Subaru, lying 2nd in the Safety Devices Championship to John Price, reported a 6th gear problem.  Not a good sign.  Vince Wetton lost a few seconds when he clipped a left rear wheel into a ditch. Steve Petch felt his car was going a lot better following last night's misfiring problem. Steve borrowed a throttle sensor from another competitor.  His time of 6.02 was slightly off the pace of the leaders.  Guy Woodcock in the F2 Escort had a big moment over a jump in that Mount Rule stage.  Andy Blair & Steve Harris were on the list to re-start at 14th this morning.  However, following the dramas of stage 3 last night, were Dave Turnbull hit a bank in his Escort and then the suspension collapsed, blocking the Cornaa stage. Andy Blair came screaming to a halt behind the stricken Escort, and his world rally Ford burst into flames.  The problem was a leaking oil pipe.  The wiring was then damaged.  This was fixed and Andy made it back to the Grandstand service.  Subsequent to that, it was discovered that a radiator hose had burnt through releasing all the coolant, and the head gasket was damaged. Shaun Fox continues to lead his class in his Nova. Shaun having altered the gearing and remapped the engine electronics overnight. More news to follow...BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON