ARCHIVE
This page contains items of
"old news" which may be of interest in years to come.
Colin McRae MBE 1968-2007
Colin McRae
pictured by a club member whilst taking part in the recce for the 1998 Rally
GB
The recent death of Colin McRae, his son Johnny and two
family friends came as a huge shock to rally fans and enthusiasts from around
the world. More than twenty thousand people attended a special outdoor service
in Lanark High Street, Scotland. The service was attended by many
personalities and celebrities from the sporting world, including two Subaru
bosses from Japan. Colin had a huge following of fans who would travel all
over the world to see him compete. He was also famous for his 'Colin McRae
Rally' video games which brought 'armchair rallying' to the masses.
He was born in Lanark in 1968, was the son of
five-time British Rally Champion, Jimmy McRae. He was the first Briton
to be named world champion when he won the championship in 1995 and
was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his outstanding achievements.
McRae bought a home in Monaco in 1995, partly through his friendship
with fellow Scot and Formula One driver David Coulthard. However, as
his young family grew up, he spent more time back at his home in
Lanarkshire. McRae and his wife Alison had two children, Hollie, nine,
and five-year-old Johnny. Following his death, the following statement
has been made:
"We have been
deeply moved by the amount of floral tributes that the bereaved families have
received at this sad time and we are extremely grateful for these.
However you
will realise there are only so many flowers that we can cope with, therefore
it has been decided that the families preference from now onwards would be for
people to pay their respects by making a donation to the ‘Jerviswood Trust’
which has been set up specifically to distribute funds to the undernoted
charities that have been chosen by the families involved".
Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS)
Make-a-Wish
Bravehearts Childrens Trust
If you would like to make a donation, there is information
available on www.colinmcrae.com on
how to do so.
Our Sincerest
Condolences to their families
5th WELSH ENDURANCE
ROAD RALLY - 18th and 19th August
It's over for another year, and from their many
comments made to us at the Finish, the competitors have clearly considered the
rally to be a roaring success in spite of the atrocious weather.
The Selar Selectif commander, Martyn Blandford Hall,
emphasised how much all the crews were enjoying themselves, and on Sunday when
all the rally cars had passed his deputy commented "Not one single miserable
face amongst them all!" Considering the pouring rain, the really arduous driving
conditions, and the technical problems experienced by so many, that was
remarkable. Clearly you wanted a hard and testing rally, and that's what you
got, with 42 finishers out of 54 starters.
Please click HERE for the results.
Added 17th September:
please click
HERE for a fascinating account of the rally - and the
tribulations of competing - by the driver of car 13. THIS YOU MUST READ!
OUTRIGHT WINNERS
OWEN TURNER and
MATT FOWLE
Rover 214 (1397 cc)
Our sincere thanks go to all the officials,
marshals, land owners, and everyone else who made the Welsh Endurance Road Rally
a success for the 5th year running.
In 2008 the 6th WELSH ENDURO will be held a week
earlier, on 9th & 10th August. Next year SURELY we'll get some fine weather!
Get Well Soon Seyyan!
Seyyan John
Photo: Roy Whitney
|
Committee member Seyyan John suffered a horse riding accident on Friday 29th
June. Her ankle is badly broken and she also dislocated her knee. She was
airlifted to hospital and underwent 5hrs of surgery to repair the ankle.
We all wish
her a full and speedy recovery. |
Sunseeker Rally
Terry Frayne was a Guest recently at the Sunseeker
Rally where he got the chance to meet the Championship Co-ordinators to discuss
our own 2008 Red Kite Stages.
Russell Brookes (pictured with Terry) drove his
Championship-winning Lotus Sunbeam on the Promenade Stages on the Friday
evening.
Thanks to Rick smith and Wug Utting for their
hospitality
2007 Summer Dinner Dance - 15th June
Following the great success of last year's
anniversary Dinner Dance, many people have asked for another Dinner Dance this
summer. This event will have a 70's theme fancy dress or smart casual if you
prefer (or you're too young to remember the 70's!). Please click on 'Club
Activities' in the left pane for more details.
West Cork Rally - 17th and 18th March
Click HERE for Darren's report
Port Talbot Motor Club Tour Of Epynt - 4th
March
Rob Tout and Dan Holley
Photo: Darren Morris |
The
weather was horrendous with wind and heavy rain, and we would like to thank
those who turned out and marshalled. The journey home was a real adventure.
Dai Wilmer decided to use the ‘old Trecastle road’, most of which was
covered in standing water and had small rivers flowing down it! We stopped
to take photos of the river in full flow, but when Dylan ‘Smiley’ Harries got
back in the camper van, he dropped his phone! We had driven nearly two miles
before he realised it was missing, and when we returned, we could see it
lying on the road in pool of water! “Don’t worry, the phone is waterproof”
he said, and it was! |
Saint David's Day Quiz and Raffle
- 28th February
Some club members enjoying their cawl
Photo: Darren Morris |
We would like to
thank everyone that supported our Saint David’s day quiz and raffle. The
evening was very successful with an excellent turnout of members. Welsh
cakes were provided by Gavin Pickett and Dai Wyn Thomas. Cawl was provided
by the rugby club and Terry Frayne organised quiz questions. Thanks also to
those that helped sell raffle tickets, serve food and clear up.
The evening was the idea
of Kath Morgan, who also had her birthday on the same day. Happy Birthday
Kath!
|
2007 Red Kite Stages
Our special stage event in January was again a success. For details and results
please click on the 'Red Kite Stages' link in the left pane. We would like to
thank everyone who supported the event. We couldn't run such events without your
help.
2007 WINNERS
SIMON HUGHES &
CLAIRE MOLE
Ford Focus WRC
Photo: Jonathan Suter
Simon and Claire had a drive on the Red Kite Stages in the VK Focus WRC of Steve
Perez. They won this prestigious prize drive for achieving the most "fastest
stage times" in the 2006 Fiesta Sporting Trophy Championship.
Peter Nieman, known to us all as "Joe", passed away on
Thursday 22nd June after a long and patient fight against cancer. The funeral at
Morriston Crematorium was attended by hundreds of his friends, a final farewell
to a well liked and much respected man.
30th Anniversary
Dinner
The Club's 30th Anniversary
Dinner on Friday 9th June [2006] was a great success, with 160 members and guests
attending. Phil Collins was the Guest of Honour.
Click here for
Hannah Morgan's pictures
West Cork Rally
Here are
the Club's intrepid Murphy's testers on their recent Cultural Trip to watch the
West Cork Rally.
Photo: Jill Austin / Dai Wilmer
Back
row, left to right: Adrian Parry, Roy Thomas, Terry Frayne, Matthew Wood-Griffiths,
Steve Griggs, Jonathan Oliver, Martin Oliver, Leighton Lewis, Darren Morris, Huw
Jenkins, Richard Bowen
Front
Row, left to right: Cerith Davies, Michelle Davies, Mike Frayne, Seyyan John, Dai Wilmer, Dai
Lloyd, Barry John
Photographer (not in picture): Jill Austin
Click here for Terry Frayne's report
CHAIRMAN'S CHAT
For me this was the "lost month". I think August is
the worst month of the year, not helped this year by the **** weather. My
Supervisor takes his fortnight's holiday on the first two weeks of August,
leaving me to cover his work as well as my own - I worked a lot of hours!
There is also the usual wrapping of bales (tractor
driving in the dark!) and the usual fixing of machinery, and of course our
Club's 4th Welsh Endurance Road Rally ran very successfully on the 19th and
20th.
This year we decided to run the event locally from our
base at the Banwen RFC. John, Roy and Hywel worked very hard to put on the
event. I have worked with them for many years now, and still find their
dedication astounding.
Despite the poor weather, the event was enjoyed by all
and the feedback from competitors and officials was excellent.
It was nice to see so many Club members out support
their Club when it mattered, and some were asked quite late in the day to
fulfil important roles and did not let us down. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
On the Night Leg, Roy and I were acting as a sweeper
to ensure that no competitors were left stranded by breakdown or accident.
We found one competitor who had left the road near the Usk Reservoir and
become stuck down a bank. It took us several hours to recover the car using
tow ropes and hand winches, after enlisting enlisted the help of both the
Recovery Crew (Edward and Julie) and the Night Leg set-up crew (Barry &
Seyyan), and finally got the car out at about 4 am! It was a longer night
than expected, and none of us got much sleep.
The last weekend of August saw the running of the
Mewla Rally on Epynt. It was a nice day and we had an easy time running
three Stage Finishes. From the Flying Finish we had a great view of the
final hairpin bend on the stage and saw plenty of action. Thanks to those
who came out and supported the event.
More next month.
_____________________
July
2006 - sorry for the delay
in publishing the July report; the Chairman wrote it on time, but the website
author was rather busy until after our Club's Welsh Endurance Road Rally in
mid August
July kicked off with the much anticipated "1000 Lanes"
road rally. This was my first road rally outing for some months (I had no
excuse, the start venue was 10 miles from my home!)
It was a lovely summer's evening and many Club members
were competing, marshalling or spectating, and it reminded me of why road
rallying is hugely popular!
The crew from HOVAC worked hard to put on the
event (road rallies are never easy to run) and they put on a good event that
was enjoyed by all. Well done, HOVAC.
I would like to congratulate Richard Thomas (the 'son'
in Dai Wyn & son) on his marriage to Stephanie. We wish you both a happy
future together.
OUR next rally outing was the Swansea Bay Rally. It
once again turned out to be a rather dusty affair and I would like to thank
those that turned out and turned grey!
July has kept me busy with the usual round of fixing
and breaking farm machines (mowers, balers, etc.) but I know that August
will be even busier!
More next month.
_____________________
The Club held its 30th Anniversary Dinner on Friday
9th June. We had 160+ guests, including members old and new. As the current
Chairman, I had to give a speech to the assembly and I admit to being
nervous despite speaking at the Club each week. My hands were shaking
halfway through but I managed to finish without blubbering (or did I?).
I would like to thank everyone who
supported the evening, especially those who organised the event - Jayne,
Cath and Lynda - and those who spoke - Phil Collins and Rob John. Thanks
also to the Glyn Clydach Hotel for their hospitality.
The Club marshalled on two rallies
in June, the Midsummer Caerwent Stages on 18th and the Leukaemia Rally on
24th. I regret to say that I missed the Leukaemia because I was in Dublin
'spoiling my liver' (a stag weekend, best of luck to Steve the groom).
Thanks to those who turned out for both rallies.
The month ended on a sad note when
Peter "Joe" Nieman sadly passed away after a long illness. The world will be
a poorer place without him. He was always on hand to help and was a genuine
nice guy. He was a true stalwart of the sport and will be missed by many
people in many clubs. The huge turnout at his funeral came as no surprise.
_____________________
May
2006
Some months ago, we decided to hold a 30th Anniversary
Dinner at the Glyn Clydach Hotel on June 9th. Much of May has been spent
organising this function and I've been involved in various issues regarding
the event.
John and Roy have been busy with the endurance rally,
due to run on 19th/20th August. They have been successful in securing venues
for the event in our local area. I hope that running the event locally will
encourage more club members to get involved.
.
If anyone is interested in getting involved please
speak to John, Roy or myself. We will appreciate any assistance that is
offered. The rally will start early on Saturday afternoon, and finishes
early Sunday afternoon. There will of course be a night leg on Saturday
night.
The club marshalled on one rally in May, which was the
Red Dragon rally held in the Neath valley. I was not able to attend myself,
but would like to thank those that supported the club in running SS4.
On a negative note, May saw me suffer my second cold
in two months! If anyone knows of a bombproof cure for the common cold,
please let me know!
More next month. TTFN
_____________________
April
2006
April has been a busy month. Our accounts have to be
processed by the accountant ready to be submitted to the Inland Revenue by the
end of the month, and we had missed a few statements which needed sorting out.
I had also been busy sorting out the Red Kite Stages
accounts (I was Rally Treasurer), and that task is now complete - at last! It
seems that a pile of statements, cheque books and paying-in books have been
sitting on top of my telly for months, but every time I tried to look at them
I got 'brain fade'.
There were two stage rallies that I attended in April.
The first was the Talbenny Stages down in Pembrokeshire, a nice place when it
doesn't rain, and the second was the International Welsh Rally on Epynt at the
end of the month. I would like to thank those that cam along to help.
Plans for our 30th Anniversery Dinner are progressing
nicely. Jayne Morgan and Barry John are taking names and money.
_____________________
March 2006
Since Christmas I had been very lucky to avoid the horrible
cold and flu viruses that have been 'doing the rounds', but one week before
our West Cork rally trip I caught a nasty bought of cold and spent 2 days in
bed.
I was too ill to attend the Rali Cwm Gwendraeth at Pembrey
on the 12th, and I would like to thank Gavin, Jayne and Mathew for braving the
weather and coping with doing the stage finish with only 3 people.
Wednesday the 15th saw us meet at the club at 9pm then
leave at 10.30 to catch the late night sailing to Rosslare. I was still
feeling under the weather, but a few whiskeys soon sorted me out, I got
'hammered'!
You can read about our Irish trip elsewhere on this website
[click here]. Thanks to
Terry Frayne for submitting the story.
Sunday the 26th saw us travel to Caerwent for the Tour of
Caerwent rally. We provided 2 radio cars for the event which made a pleasant
change from timekeeping (I slept in the back of Roy's 4x4 for most of the
day!)
Phil Collins (the rally driver, not the singer, has been
confirmed as our Guest Speaker for our 30th Anniversary Dinner Dance, should
be a great night!
More next month.
_____________________
February 2006
February kicked off with the Tour of
Epynt on Sunday 5th. It was a nice dry day but a little on the cold side. Thanks
to all those who turned out to marshal.
Wednesday 15th saw the running of our
Navigational Scatter. This event proved a nightmare to organise, and the
catalogue of disasters goes like this ...
Recce 1: crashed the Clio! If anybody
asks, the banana-shaped radiator 'improves cooling'.
Recce 2: the potty bulb blew (Martin
Oliver was driving), and I didn't have a spare bulb or a torch! Later I realised
that I'd left my notebook with the Clues in Martin's car so I couldn't start
typing the handouts!
Recce 3: almost ran over 'suicidal'
dog!
Then when I started printing the
handouts the printer ran out of ink.
So, I copied the file onto disc so that
I could print it in work, but at work I found that the disc was corrupt so I had
to make a second copy!
Finally, the handouts were printed!
Next, I had told the Club members that
the event would start at Glynneath's McDonalds, but I forgot to tell most of
them that I would be parked on the Washery access road, not in the actual car
park. At 7-20 I'm thinking "Where is everybody?" - they were all in Big M's
filling their faces).
After all that, I would like to thank
those that supported the event and hope that they enjoyed it. Thanks, also, to
Neil Amber for being our one and only marshal.
_____________________
January 2006
There I was, sitting on the beach in my T-shirt
enjoying the glorious sunshine. It was hard to believe that this was 2nd January
in Wales! Dai Wilmer and I were down at Pembrey beach doing a bit of Kite
Buggying. A week later we would be freezing cold on top of a mountain in mid
Wales, trying to keep warm!
This year's Red Kite Stages fell on a very cold
weekend and I would like to thank everyone for their support and for braving the
weather. Snow and ice hampered the running of the most northerly stage (Esgair
Dafydd) which was then cancelled on the second run. Gareth Thomas, the Clerk of
the Course, and his organising team did an excellent job - as usual.
January proved to be a busy month for me. My
supervisor being off work ill with a chest infection meant that I was working
long hours to try and fight the backlog of work, and then there was the Club's
annual presentation dinner to think about. I spent hours trying to come up with
a Chairman's speech, but when I got up to give it I totally messed it up. It had
been a long day, and I've decided that drinking alcohol when you're tired isn't
a good idea!
This year's dinner was a small affair, but we
hope to revamp it next year with a change of venue, and then I'm sure it will be
better supported. I would like to thank those that attended, and I hope they
enjoyed themselves despite needing waders to visit the toilet!
2006 is Club's 30th year, and Jayne and Kath
Morgan have offered to organise a 30th Celebration Dinner or some commemorative
event. We are open to suggestions and ideas. What sort of event would our
members like?
That's all for now. More next month.