Caerwent

[PaulAlex]

Just wanted to say a big well done to Cossiematt and Fossie - 9th overall and 3rd in class at Caerwent today Better still when you consider they had a crappy seeding and were overtaking cars on every stage

Better still, he also scooped a pot for Best Prepared Car

Pace notes next Matt!!

[GavinR]

Just reading the results myself

Cracking result for Matt's second rally

You'll get a better seeding now

[Retromotorsport]

He sounded a proud fella on the phone ... and rightly so.

[Paul C]

Yep well done to you both.

You must have had a busy day overtaking all the cars in front. Your making this rallying look easy Matt!

Best prepared car as well. That must mean alot to everyone whose's helped from the Retro Camp on the engine, box and rebuild work.

[lee 1]

Well done Matt cracking result

[hutchspeed]

Excellent result well done lads

[FOSSIE]

Pace notes next Matt!!

He was on pacenotes today - I was making them up from the maps as we went along! lol

It all felt pretty good from where I was sitting - very close to being a fault free run. Its one of those venues when neat and tidy driving is the way forward, and Matt is supremely good at that, not to mention being farking quick too The roads are lined with curbs - big ones too - and you should have seen the number of cars missing wheels and things!

We nearly had a small issue though! I've never, EVER been car sick - it just doesn't effect me - not even on a rollercoaster venue, reading pacenotes - but on stage 1 today (i have to add - there was some serious nerves going on prior to the start) i was feeling worse and worse, and had to throw the door open as we crossed the finish line.... We didn't actually get to see last night's curry, but it was close i tell thee.

Yeah we did lose some time passing other cars - it was to be expected - and on the whole people were good at getting out the way. It was starting to get tedious though - catching 2 and sometimes 3 cars a stage.... But nevermind, 9th Overall should mean a higher seeding for the next event!

On the whole though, an awesome day - weather was great, car ran perfect, and things just seemed to "click" on the stages - oh and that place is like nothing else I have experienced - you just can't compare it with anywhere else. Everything from VERY tight, narrow, nadgery lanes to full-on flat-out 6th gear bits, oh and some very slippy moss-covered areas

Well done to Matt for a hoofing bit of driving, and old man Fossie, Glen and the girls for the support!

I'm off to bed, I'm fooked.

[exboyracer]

Well done to all concerned

[mark87]

Well done to both of you! Sounds like a cracking rally.

[cossie matt]

Thank you Paul and everyone for your posts. Huge thanks must go to Tom who did a superb job on the notes today, absolutley wicked mate I can't wait for our next one

Massive thanks too to my service crew of my Wife Laura, Bruv Glen, Old Man Fossie(John), and Ama.

As Tom says I sat on the Start of SS1 absolutely shi**ing myself, all everyone had said was "watch out for the kerbs" "watchout for this and that" Well it didn't disappoint, where was lots and lots of stuff to hit, I think I counted at least 5 or 6 cars on SS1 with wheels missing or limping round with bits hanging off, we had a really careful run and came in to find we hadn't done too bad at all.

We did have trouble with passing cars all day, with only one result I could only expect to get seeded as we did. Fair play to Shirley from Forrester CC as she said we could ask to be moved up if we thought it was a problem but I really didn't want the extra pressure to perform anyway. Had I known what I know now I probably should have done but hindsight is a wonderful thing

We got faster all day, even braving the jumps more as the day went on, a couple of loose sections too to mix it up which is very interesting with hot slicks and 300BHP.

The buzz from driving what seemed like all day flat out is superb, I couldn't wait to get out there by the end of the day.

I did laugh when Glen came up to us when we were going out for stage 5 and told us we were top 10 and 3rd in class, Tom then sat in the queue and said "We should got a pot if we keep 3rd in class!!!" to which I replied "shut up mate I don't need that pressure!!!"......He just laughed

We made one mistake on the last stage sliding wide on some moss on the quarry section going in too hot and having to back out of a bush but no damage.

Got to say I'm chuffed to bits with the result against most of the regular big players on the British Tarmac rally scene.

Big thanks too to Steve at SB developments for such a storming engine design and for his programming genius, my engine and flatshift worked beautifully all day

And to Gary at Retro Motorsport for his help and guidance getting the car the way it is now, I know he says he hates rallying but he's got a few out there now doing quite well

I hope there is a few pics to come from the official photographers as it's an MOD base we weren't allowed them.

Cheers all

Matt

[4parajon]

Good write up fella's and great result for you both

[FOSSIE]

We did have trouble with passing cars all day, with only one result I could only expect to get seeded as we did. Fair play to Shirley from Forrester CC as she said we could ask to be moved up if we thought it was a problem but I really didn't want the extra pressure to perform anyway. Had I known what I know now I probably should have done but hindsight is a wonderful thing



Matt

Interesting point, this, and I was thinking about it last night (as you do - it's hard not to go through the "what if's" in your head once the dust has settled...)

For it to make any real difference to us - we would have had to have been re-seeded a good 30-40 cars up the field, and (as far as I can tell) the only way they could do this for us, would be to cut our service time - which was typically 30 mins (ish - more like 20 towards the end of the day). So we'd literally end up with no service, OR, re-seed us a few cars at a time on each service - but that'd be a right kerfuffle not to mention a waste of time, as we'd easily still be catching the cars 10 or 20 ahead... So in hindsight, I think we did the right thing... Thankfully, it won't happen again now!

[Joe-Tait]

Well done lads

[Toymex]

Well done Matt and Tom,having sat beside Matt for a few hot laps trying to catch an rs200 round Brands i am not surprised at all that he is doing so well because he sure can peddle that car.
Well done Matt

[gas14]

well done boys great result !cracking event that is !
WELL DONE !!!!

[cossie matt]

Interesting point, this, and I was thinking about it last night (as you do - it's hard not to go through the "what if's" in your head once the dust has settled...)

For it to make any real difference to us - we would have had to have been re-seeded a good 30-40 cars up the field, and (as far as I can tell) the only way they could do this for us, would be to cut our service time - which was typically 30 mins (ish - more like 20 towards the end of the day). So we'd literally end up with no service, OR, re-seed us a few cars at a time on each service - but that'd be a right kerfuffle not to mention a waste of time, as we'd easily still be catching the cars 10 or 20 ahead... So in hindsight, I think we did the right thing... Thankfully, it won't happen again now!

I have a theory too that with us having to pass cars that were a good bit slower even though I'd have rather not passed any at all, it was better to pass the slower ones like they were stuck in 1st gear than to fight past ones that were just a bit slower and like Tom said on the start of stage 7 I think it was as we sat behind another Mk2, "Gonna be fun passing him in a few mins!!!"

Thanks again for everyones kind words.

Matt

[Moggy]

I know a lot of the crews out on this event.

You both did exceptionally well on a first visit to a challenging venue against some serious opposition......................some of the cars arround you had similar power to weight and have done many events there before...........Yes you have a great car...............but it still takes a good pairing and support crew to get the best from it.

It's a really good result..........Well done to both of you

Hope to see/compete against you soon on another event soon.

Tom, will be in touch soon regarding my axle.

[105Ian]

Well done Matt and Tom , fantastic result and very well deserved also like to say a big well done to all your support team and all who have helped to build a very special Escort

[team_zi]

Well done Matt. I thought Rockinghman was just a taste of things to come. Onwards and upwards and all that.

[merp0]

Very well done

[mervhill]

I personally can't say enough of how proud I am of my Brother. I've been there on every event he has ever done with that car, and can safely say that Sunday's performance really does rank number one in my book.

Winning sprints and hillclimbs is an excellent thing, and a good training ground for getting used to a car, however I can only imagine that it's nothing like lining up and preparing yourself for twice the mileage of a sprint on your first run of several in one day!

A few of you have commented on how well Matt can drive that car, being his brother naturally has its advantages and I can safely say that this isn't learnt talent, it comes as naturally to him as swimming does to a fish. (sorry Matt, I'm probably embarrasing you now, but you know how I love to do that ) I for one can only hope I drive half as well as he does when it comes to competing in mine eventually.

Well done big Bruv, Pops would've been so proud.

Same to you Tom, McRae/Grist eat your heart out!

[mervhill]

Photos are now up, follow link below, there are about 20 pics in the sequence.....

http://www.edpphoto.com/toc10car61-7...toc10-0327.htm

[mervhill]

Rockingham event report for those interested.....

http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthre...ssie&p=1679667