Muddy fun

This time last year I started my blog with the line “Blue skies and sunshine in November ?” I could have used the same line again for this year. Thanks to the arrival of Lily early mornings seem to be much easier now so at just after 8am I was up and out the house heading for Rushmoor Arena for the 2010 Tempest Rally.

Getting up earlier meant arriving earlier and nabbing a space near the path that leads through the woods to the stage and service park. The 2WD cars were just being fired up ready to get out on the road so I had a flick through the entry list to see what retro gems were going to get muddy. The usual array of MK2 Escorts were out as well as a couple of interesting motors in the shape of a Peugeot 205 Maxi and a Mazda RX7.









The first cars were due back into service in half an hour so I stomped my feet to keep them warm and wandered round the service area to check out were the interesting cars and teams would be for later. Not long after the course car arrived signalling a quick fettle session and the arena stage.

















As the last of the 2WD cars finished the 4WDs arrived in service amongst the usual Imprezas and Evos were a couple of Focus WRC and a very noisy Vauxhall Corsa 4x4. The teams worked quickly cleaning the cars up and sorting out any issues the drivers had had over the last few stages.









Soon the drivers and co-drivers were belting up and on the start line for the stage, unlike the more basic cars, the early runners were top notch WRC spec running anit-lag systems that popped and banged like rifles as the cars surged across the gravel and mud.















With the last cars through the stage it was almost time to head home, I’d planned on being back for 3pm so we could go out in the evening but had a handy 90 minutes to spare so pulling into a country lane adjacent to one of the other stages I trekked through some trees and along a track following the noise of the cars until I was rewarded with an extreme close up of the action.









With the time getting on I retraced my route and made quick my escape, next year I’ll be back there again to see all the cars through there again!

Theres loads more photos to look at here. That’s it for my 2010 motorsport spectating, I’ve been to seven different tracks this year and seen everything from vintage trials to drag racing, next year I need to add another track to my collection as well I think!

Steve.

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