WEE MANX TALES NO.6     Grandstand..Saturday 1.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9
1st (1) Ken McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza) 57.36
2nd (2) Marcus Dodd/John Bennie (Impreza) 58.30
3rd (4) Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Impreza) 58.54
4th (8) Melvyn Evans/Martin Henry (Escort WRC) 59.46
5th (114) Tony Davies/Brian Hardie (Metro 6R4) 59.47
6th (3) John & Caroline Price (Metro 6R4) 59.48
7th (10) David Mann/Alun Cook (Lancer N)  1.00.29
8th (12) Glenn Leece/John Tarrant (Metro 6R4) 1.00.32
9th (116) Steve Petch/Peter Croft (Escort WRC) 1.00.34
10th (23) Phil Collins/Sue Mee (Escort) 1.00.56

Marcus Dodd was fastest through stage 7 with Roger Duckworth joint 2nd quickest with John Price.  Through stage 8, Glascoe, McKinstry was fastest from Marcus Dodd and through stage 9, McKinstry was again fastest, this time from Roger Duckworth.  Roads remains dry and speeds are high.  McKinstry commented here at the mid day regroup/service - "No problems, if anything we have eased off ever so slightly as the pressure decreases, we've almost a minute in hand at the minute.  One of our guys flew in this morning with different anti roll bar brackets, so we're trying a slightly different setup".  Marcus Dodd also reports no major problems, and it is noticeable that Marcus is, compartively speaking, faster on the wider stages where he has a bit of room, than the little narrow, nadgery ones. Obviously all part of getting used to the new car.

Third placed Roger Duckworth continues to put up a brilliant performance and reports no dramas with the car.  Melvyn Evans in 4th still has no top gear and is not going to change the box, going to try and soldier through the way it is.  Tony Davies in 5th was forced to back off in stage 9, Kella, as clutch fluid leaked from the master cylinder on to the pedals, and made driving very difficult.  John Price has speeded up considerably, and with only 3 seconds separating 4th, 5th and 6th, we can expect Price tomake a big charge this afternoon.  He was hampered slightly with a non charging alternator through stage 9. 

David Mann continues to lead gpN from Richie Holfeld.  The latter now is in 12th place.  Robert Watson leads F2 and is in 11th overall.  Looking back a few stages, Warren Philliskirk crashed in stage 6, no injuries, but the car blocked the stage, first on the scene Phil Collins not a happy man, at getting blocked for the second time on the event.  The blockage caused quite a gap in the running order, which hopefully will be closed up here at regroup.  The reason for Mark Perrott's retirement was down to turbo trouble, but also there was a spark plug electrode damaged, which does not sound like good news for the engine's internals.  Robin Bradbury went out with a broken gearbox. Still going, but struggling with suspension which is set far too high, is Graham Middleton. He is lying 3rd or 4th in F2.  Guy Woodcock is provisionally 2nd in F2, don't know exactly where, as we are waiting for times for Neil Collins. Shaun Fox in the Nova still leads his  class 10. More to follow.BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON