WEE MANX TALES NO.8     Grandstand..Saturday

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 15 (last stage)
1st (1) Ken McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza) 1.40.42
2nd (4) Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield (Impreza)1.41.58
3rd (2) Marcus Dodd/John Bennie (Impreza) 1.42.11
4th (8) Melvyn Evans/Martin Henry (Escort WRC) 1.43.34
5th (3) John & Caroline Price (Metro 6R4) 1.43.40
6th (114) Tony Davies/Brian Hardie (Metro 6R4) 1.44.54
7th (10) David Mann/Alun Cook (Lancer N)  1.45.14
8th (12) Glenn Leece/John Tarrant (Metro 6R4) 1.45.28
9th (28) Rob Watson/Phil Pugh (Escort F2) 1.45.53
10th (23) Phil Collins/Sue Mee (Escort) 1.45.54

Last minute dramas on this Steyr-Puch Manx Rally included Marcus Dodd getting a puncture to the front right wheel of his Subaru on the final stage, Kella, to slip from 2nd to 3rd.  No such problems for Kenny McKinstry who wins the event for the 2nd year in a row.  Kenny now moves into the lead of the ANCRO Championship, and told us "very enjoyable, very good rally. We had no real problems with the car, although for the last 3 stages the power dropped when the water spray pump to the intercooler failed, and the temperatures went up."  Current champion, McKinstry, went on to say "It's in the melting pot as to whether we continue the series. The next round, the Kerridge, which also brings bonus points, clashes with Donegal and I really should be there, as I have 4 cars out".  Second placed Roger Duckworth said at the finish "We kept the pressure on and Marcus was unlucky to get the puncture".  Interestingly, Roger is not registered for the championship, so Dodd gets 2nd placed points. Roger, the Mintex champion 2 years ago, is picking and choosing rallies which he thinks he will enjoy this year. For example he is just back from Portugal where he competed on the WRC event. Marcus Dodd told us that he wasn't conscious of clipping the front left tyre that went down on the last stage, just one of those things. John Price battled hard to catch Melvyn Evans, but John had to settle for 5th place, his consolation, extending his lead in the Safety Devices championship.

David Mann had a conclusive group N win, with Richie Holfeld 2nd but back in 13th place.  Young Robert Watson had a very noteworthy F2 victory with Guy Woodcock surviving a last stage fright to take 2nd in the category. John Ashton won the B10 category with Shaun Fox battling back to 2nd after his 3 min. delay.

Its been a superb event, this 20th Manx National. John Skinner has been the Clerk of the Course since the rally's inception. This has been the first time he hasn't, sadly, had his wife Liz, so much a part of the event over the years, at his side. The Manx National is run by a team, but somehow it has always come down in the last resort to John & Liz. Many of us, who have been involved over the years, felt that Liz's presence wasn't far away. We remember a very brave, very hard working rally lady with great respect.    BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Ronnie McCausland)