Davies/Furniss on top form

  

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Justin Jones and Rhodri Morgan on the Sarn Helen Road Rally - Photo courtesy of KRB Photography

    

     Kevin “Smiley” Davies and Dale Furniss produced another fine performance on November's Bryniau Clwyd rally in North Wales taking yet another victory. The win takes Furniss' tally of victories on road rallies in 2011 to a personal best of seven. November would also see LDMC's very own Sarn Helen being held on the first weekend of the month. The rally would be the final event of the WAMC Road Rally Championship and although with the championship already decided on the previous round, the event still produced a strong entry and drew the crowds to Lampeter.

 

     After the disappointment of losing the WAMC championship on the last round due to a retirement, Daniel “Lwni” Jones was hoping to clinch the runners up spot on the final round. A fail picked up early on would see “Lwni” withdraw from the event to preserve the car ready for next years rallying. Best placed LDMC member on the Sarn Helen was Stefan "DR" Davies in his Escort Mk2. Davies finished an excellent 3rd O/a and won the Experts class on the rally with Ryan Hands on the maps. Highest placed LDMC crew on the event would be Kevin Davies and Dale Furniss in their Escort Mk2. The pair had been leading early on but a misfire would see the Escort crew drop down the order to finish a respectable 8th O/a. Next LDMC crew on the leader board were Phill Jenkins and Abi Carrington in 12th O/a taking 3rd in the Experts class improving highly on their seeding of forty two. 14th O/a would see another LDMC crew in Dafydd Hughes and Dafydd Evans in a Vauxhall Astra. Gareth Hughes and Alan Gaunt were yet another LDMC crew on the event finishing 16th O/a. Dorian Davies and Edryd Evans, yet another LDMC crew, finished 28th O/a on the event. The pair had been leading at petrol but a wrong slot during the second half unfortunately dropped them down the leader board. Chris Palmer with regular navigator Carwyn Evans finished the event in 25th O/a whilst LDMC crew Marc Mayes and Alex Crowley finished 32nd O/a. Husband and Wife Dylan and Fiona Balchin brought their Escort Mk2 home in 35th O/a. James Davies and Gareth Hodgson finished 45th O/a picking up a fail whilst Oliver Meuthuen and Richard Eadon finished 53rd O/a incurring five fails. Caryl Davies and Cadog Davies were the final LDMC crew home in 56th O/a incurring twelve fails due to a drive shaft failure.

     Eventual winners of Lampeter Motor Club's Rali Sarn Helen was Gethin Morgan and Iwan Jones in a Ford Escort Mk2. A consistent, clean and steady run through the event saw the crew capatalise on others mistakes and took the lead that they held until the finish on the final three selectives.

     The final weekend of November saw two events held with the Bryniau Clwyd in North Wales and the Peak Revs near Leominster. The Bryniau Clwyd would see just the single LDMC crew of Kevin”Smiley” Davies and Dale Furniss head up for the event. After their recent Cilwendeg success the pairing went onto claim yet another well deserved victory with a winning margin of just over a minute.

     The Peak Revs rally would see a few LDMC members head down to Leominster for a taste of some forest rallying with a few selectifs through Wigmore and the surrounding forestries. Heavy rain made for some slippery conditions making the forestry sections a real challenge and with the area having a no spotlight policy, it made the event even more challenging for the crews. First LDMC member home on the event was Edryd Evans in 7th O/a having his first taste of four wheel drive machinery in the Subaru Impreza belonging to his navigator Carl Williamson. Debbie Furniss would again team up with Gary Roberts in the VW Golf securing yet another top ten finish in 10th O/a. Chris Palmer finished 11th O/a in his Escort Mk2 just eight seconds adrift of 10th. Andy Davies was the final LDMC member home in 38th O/a incurring a fail which without would have also seen him finish just outside the top ten in his Impreza.