Lonsdale Belt sees an end to VEC

Post date: May 10, 2011 10:41:14 AM

It was my first ever outing with Steve in his Escort "VEC" on the Lonsdale Belt Rally on Saturday night. A pre-plot event, it promised to be fantastic! And the first half was. With back to back competitive sections, Steve had not experienced a rally like this since the Motoring News days! I had a terrible night on the maps, but towards the end we were still looking at a top 5 finish with valuable points towards the ANCC championship. Then the end came! On the last section of the rally, some not as map bends caught us out and we ended slid off the road, launched into the air off some small rocks and then stopped dead by a huge boulder. Fortunately both Steve and I were OK with just a few bruises, but unfortunately VEC will be rallying no more!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150182488316841&set=a.10150127220411841.275136.523041840&type=1&theater

My Ramblings on the BRC....

Thanks to Dan, Steve and the rest of the organising team for an amazing event. It seems that everyone really enjoyed it! Despite an absolutely shocking night for me on the maps, the rally was one like I have never done before and Steve said it was a "number of years" since he had experienced anything like it! So well done for a brilliant route.

Big thanks to the marshals who stood out all night in appalling weather conditions. And well done to the award winners - all well deserved, especially Dave and Yvonne to come home 5th o/a

At this point in my ramblings, I usually thank the driver......hmm......thanks for the experience?!

Steve was faultless coping with the very slippy roads in not the easiest car to drive given the conditions. It really was a fab experience for me right to the end and I do hope that won't be our first and last outing together

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Finally we have to thank the army of people who came to help us very quickly, recover the car and help with the logistics of getting it back to North Yorkshire. So thank you to Steve H who arrived first to make sure that we were all OK, the LandRover recovery men (sorry I don't know your names), the end control marshals, Colin and Nick (see you on the JC!) then Stan, Ian, Dave, Yvonne, Will, Sam, Jay and Sam who all missed out on breakfast to help. Was anyone left at the finish!!? A big thank you from me and Steve. (Sorry If I have forgotten anyone)

Despite Steve's best attempts to put me off rallying for good, I am doing the Plains rally this weekend, and Steve hopes to be out with Sam on the G&P (in some car or other)...so see you soon,

Sasha (& Steve)

Car 2 - no more