Simon Malins tells his story of the 2019 Roger Albert Clark Rally in the Wizbang Fabrication prepared Martin Group Vauxhall Firenza.
3.15 AM 21st November the alarm goes off and it’s time to get up. I’m off to Selby to meet up with the Lebeter family who will be looking after me, Mark Casey (my co-driver) and the Firenza on the Roger Albert Clark Rally. Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Last time I was in the forests it was in a Group N Peugeot 205 and that was about 30 years ago! Rear wheel drive and around 200 bhp is a different kettle of fish. Our aim was to complete all the stages and stay within maximum lateness at all the controls. For the record books we finished 64th overall and one of only 38 crews to complete all the stages we could. If it wasn’t for ‘super rally’ we would have finished 35th!
3.15 AM 21st November the alarm goes off and it’s time to get up. I’m off to Selby to meet up with the Lebeter family who will be looking after me, Mark Casey (my co-driver) and the Firenza on the Roger Albert Clark Rally. Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Last time I was in the forests it was in a Group N Peugeot 205 and that was about 30 years ago! Rear wheel drive and around 200 bhp is a different kettle of fish. Our aim was to complete all the stages and stay within maximum lateness at all the controls. For the record books we finished 64th overall and one of only 38 crews to complete all the stages we could. If it wasn’t for ‘super rally’ we would have finished 35th!
 | The real story started about a year ago when I decided it would be a challenge to compete on both the Rally of the Tests and the Roger Albert Clark rallies in the same year. The Firenza was completely rebuilt at Wizbang as reliability was essential to ensure we completed the gruelling 300 stage mile event. Put it another way that is equivalent just about to the entire British Historic Championship in four and a half days! |
A new engine from AMAC Engineering in Northallerton, new Tracksport gearbox and the Salisbury 4HA axle was re-built by Ian Jemison at York. All the suspension was beefed up to cope with the anticipated rough conditions after the passage of over 250 cars on repeated stages. In addition, and what turned out to be the star of the service park was the Bedford CF Service Van that Mick somehow found the time to build resplendent in its matching Martin Group Livery. It must have been the most photographed non competing vehicle on the event.
Having all arrived safely in Leominster late Thursday morning we had pole position in the service area directly in front of the Den Sport mega motorhome close to the entrance of the service park. Scrutineering thank goodness was without any issues especially as Mark is a qualified scrutineer himself. It was then a long wait, actually about 8 hours to leaving the service park at our allocated start time of 7.52 pm. The ceremonial start was in the town centre so we made our way there at our allotted time and sat in the queue ready to take our place on the start ramp.
Having all arrived safely in Leominster late Thursday morning we had pole position in the service area directly in front of the Den Sport mega motorhome close to the entrance of the service park. Scrutineering thank goodness was without any issues especially as Mark is a qualified scrutineer himself. It was then a long wait, actually about 8 hours to leaving the service park at our allocated start time of 7.52 pm. The ceremonial start was in the town centre so we made our way there at our allotted time and sat in the queue ready to take our place on the start ramp.
| Only a few minutes before our due start time news came through that the first run through Radnor had been stopped due to car 10 catching fire. When the second run through at 30 second intervals began it became apparent there was a significant safety issue in the dense fog which caused cancellation of the evening’s activities. At least we hadn’t had a wasted 20 mile round trip so we got a notional start time, short trip back to the service area and an early bed. |  |
The first full day was to be based around a central service area on the Epynt Military Ranges in the Brecon Beacons. The stages were very wet and slippery with patchy fog to catch you out if the road conditions hadn’t already done that. Running at car 110 towards the end of the field meant we saw all the carnage including a Honda Civic parked on top of a very large boulder teetering over a somewhat large drop into the valley below. The DMack tyres were proving to be well suited to the conditions with excellent grip under both braking and acceleration. It was late afternoon and dark by the time we got back to the last service of the day. Having parked up the trailer in a remote car park on the ranges in daylight it was quite a task and took some considerable amount of time for Mick and Ryan to find it and negotiate the traffic back to the service area. With everything loaded it was time to start the 6 hour trek up to Carlisle which was to be the base for the rally for the next 3 days. Mark’s mum and dad were with us for the event so we had a nice comfortable run ‘up north’ with them. Without stages in North Wales or the midlands there are not many alternatives to this ‘transport’ section. Any work on the car would be left to Saturday morning as our start time would be around 10 am. We finally reached our Hotel at one o’clock in the morning for a well-earned sleep.
 | Saturday morning dawned in Carlisle the weather still damp and murky and 100 miles of stages in Keilder in front of us. Mick and Ryan had completed a spanner check of the car but an engine rattle that had developed during Friday couldn’t be resolved. For some reason several tappet clearances had opened up and as they are shimmed no adjustment was possible. We would have to live with it and throw the towel in if it got any worse. A couple of runs at the 17 mile Kershope stage and a single run at Ash Park started the day off. |
One 300 yard section through Kershope was diabolically rough having just had hard core poured onto it. Second time though it was hardly passable. Other than that the roads were holding up well. Our only serious problem of the morning was total electrical failure at the in control to service. After pushing the car to our service barge Mick quickly diagnosed a lose battery earth which was re-tightened and off we went for the 3 afternoon stages. Most of the stages were covered in fog so with visibility down to no more than 20 yards we could only crawl through most of the remaining stages. We were now in survival mode just looking to get through the last couple of stages with still two more days to go.Another 10.00 am start on Sunday morning saw us travel north into the Scottish Borders for some well-known RAC Rally stages such as AE, Twiglees, Castle O’er and Craik. Service for the day would be from a large lorry park in Lockerbie. The morning didn’t start too well getting to the end of Gerskine with a loose rear wheel. After the first run through Ae we developed a knocking sound from the rear suspension which was sorted by Ryan tightening up the rear suspension bolts by the side of the road. After the second run through Ae a more critical problem arose.
| Coming into management service at the side of the road I put the car into reverse and the front nearside wheel locked solid. In no time Ryan had the wheel off and discovered the brake calliper was hanging on by only one bolt! With no spares Ryan had to fashion a shouldered bolt to hold the calliper in position until a more permanent fix could be done. In the end it kept the calliper in place until the end of the event. Our only other major problem on this leg was a |  |
re-appearance of the electrical problem, this time just before the start control for the Craik Stage. I tightened up the earth got back in the car and still no power, panic. What could be wrong this time. I soon realised that Mark had knocked off the master cut-out switch! After repeat runs of Twiglees and Castle O’er it was back to Carlisle for another well-earned sleep, only one day to go but that was a return to the Keilder complex this time with stages around the reservoir.re-appearance of the electrical problem, this time just before the start control for the Craik Stage. I tightened up the earth got back in the car and still no power, panic. What could be wrong this time. I soon realised that Mark had knocked off the master cut-out switch! After repeat runs of Twiglees and Castle O’er it was back to Carlisle for another well-earned sleep, only one day to go but that was a return to the Keilder complex this time with stages around the reservoir.
 | Not sure if I have ever rallied on a Monday before so that was a first. 70 miles over 5 stages including 2 runs on the 17.5 miles of Bewshaugh. Disaster nearly struck on the first run through Bewshaugh when we hit a pot-hole very hard badly bending the front off-side suspension. On inspection in service Mick concluded it would take too long to fix so he re-tracked the steering to something close and we cruised through the last two stages to preserve the car. |
Even on the last stage cars were still flying off the road, I think we counted 6, the last one of which was only two miles from the end so we stopped and pulled him out. He was very grateful at the finish.
The one hour run to the finish back in Carlisle seemed to be never ending but we finally got there and took our place under the finish arch. Job completed we finished the event, completed all the stages and kept within max lateness. Many thanks must go to Mark for keeping me on the road, Mick and Ryan for preparation of the car and keeping it going on the event, Liam for ably assisting Ryan in the management car, Steph (Mick’s wife) who kept us all well fed and watered during the whole event and to Mark’s parents for ferry us to and from various locations.
An absolutely epic endurance event. Many felt it was the closest it has come to re-creating the iconic Lombard RAC Rallies of the 70’s. Will I be back for more in 2021? Never say never!
The one hour run to the finish back in Carlisle seemed to be never ending but we finally got there and took our place under the finish arch. Job completed we finished the event, completed all the stages and kept within max lateness. Many thanks must go to Mark for keeping me on the road, Mick and Ryan for preparation of the car and keeping it going on the event, Liam for ably assisting Ryan in the management car, Steph (Mick’s wife) who kept us all well fed and watered during the whole event and to Mark’s parents for ferry us to and from various locations.
An absolutely epic endurance event. Many felt it was the closest it has come to re-creating the iconic Lombard RAC Rallies of the 70’s. Will I be back for more in 2021? Never say never!
Words:- Simon Malins
Pictures:- Malc Almond and the RAC organising team
Pictures:- Malc Almond and the RAC organising team
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