• Got going again as a OO run but had to withdraw due to problems… 40 days ago
• Went ok on ss1, also going well on ss2 until the throttle jammed open and we slid off deep into trees… 40 days ago
• Lovely sunny day, just heading out to ss1 now. 41 days ago
• Rd2 of the Petro Systems National Forestry Championship takes place this weekend in Carrick. Weather looks good - Stay tuned for updates! 42 days ago

http://www.carrickonsuirmotorclub.com/downloads/Wm%20Forestry%20Rally%202009%20Entry%20List.pdf

Must watch the DVD tonight, one stage repeated from last year and reckon I recongise a bit of another…

Should be sorted for the next day.

With thanks to Denis from RallyMad Motorsport Photography.

After an early mishap, 6 points is a solid start from a slippery Tipperary Forestry.

SS1 was cancelled and ss2 had to be shortened due to heavy packed snow in the high up middle section of the stage.

About 2k into the shortened ss2, we came across another class 3 runner - Alan Dineen’s beached Nova.  We got the speed down ok but then caught an icy pach which threw us sideways, headed straight for the back of the Nova.  Thankfully there was just enough grip to steer clear but unfortunately in the process of correcting we slipped off the opposite side of the road, stuck on top of a sapling.

Many thanks to Alan and his navigator Tony Dineen for their hard work trying to get us out.  We both got going eventually but with plenty of time lost.  We were lucky enough not to have any serious damage but the Nova crew were forced into retirement soon after.

After service, a slippy SS3 made it a little difficult but posed no serious problems.  SS4 was back on and had thawed nicely, turning into a lovely stage.  SS5 was clean enough and to finish off, SS6 went ok but deteriorating tires lost us a good deal of time.

In the end, we were happy to finish after early woes and all in all it was a pretty good day.

Roll on Carraig in a little over two weeks time!

Top photo with thanks to Pablo Rally Photography.

• Ss6 went ok, decent pace at times but not helped by old rubber. Back to parc ferme, hopefully with a few points in the bag. 18 days ago
• still going well after a thawed 4 and 5. just one stage to go now. 18 days ago
• Ss3 v slippy but made it through without incident and back to service. Ss4 will run as the stage seems to have thawed. 19 days ago
• Slid off on a slippery ss2 trying to avoid a beached car. Got going again but lost a pile pf time. 19 days ago
• Ss1 cancelled due to too much ice. Just heading to ss2 now. 19 days ago
• Scrutiny passed, leavin parc ferme at 8.44 in the morning… 19 days ago
• Just lining up for scrutiny. It’s busy… 19 days ago
• Tipp forestry kicks off our 2009 forestry championship. Scrutiny tmw from 3 - further updates to follow. 20 days ago

So we’ve ended up with a pretty poor seeding for the first round of the forestry championship this weekend. 59th out of 64 main field runners is disappointing but we’ll see what we can do.

We’re into class 3 this year as we’re officially ancient now.  So it’s back into the main field but could be quite rutted that far back.

We’ve a new final drive in the car which should shorten the gears up a bit and hopefully give some more pull on the uphill sections and up through the gears.  We’re also kitted out in new Stilos which have much better noise reduction along with a much better intercom.

Late drama however - the gearbox was only back in at the start of the week, but it’s been out again due to a broken spring causing the clutch to go to the floor.  Thankfully, all looks ok now and it’s back in the car ready for the weekend.

Finally, we’ve struck a deal on a new in-car camera for the year.  So hopefully there’ll be some better footage this time round!!!

More updates soon.