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PAGE UPDATED 7th July 2008
FORTHCOMING
EVENTS |
Stuart
satisfied with Czech test.
Welsh rallying ace Stuart Jones has declared his recent foray into the Czech Republic, where he contested the Rally Bohemia at the wheel of his Lico Wheels MG Super 2000 Sport, a success. Stuart and co-driver Andy Bull were invited over to contest the rally, based in Mlada Boleslav, 40 miles north east of Prague, by the organisers. And with the two day tarmac based event proving the ideal opportunity to test ahead of the third round of the British Rally Championship, the team jumped at the chance. Following the recce earlier in the week 23 year old Stuart was aware that the base settings on the MG would need adjusting to suit the characteristics of the stages and opted for a cautious start as he dialled the car into the conditions. Facing stiff competition from some of Europe’s top drivers Stuart and Andy were pleased with their progress throughout the opening leg, despite the high speed nature of the roads not really suiting the normally aspirated MG. Day 2 dawned with plenty of promise for the MSD run car. A string of top 5 fastest stage times showed the true potential of the nimble little MG but when the power steering failed at the start of a loop of stages Stuart took the sensible decision of retiring the car rather than risk damaging any components ahead of the Isle of Man International Rally. Rally Bohemia has been a wonderful experience. Everyone has been so helpful and friendly and the roads are fantastic. Friday’s stages didn’t really suit the car as they were primarily high speed tests but once we’d dialled in the settings we were very happy with the times. The power steering was a minor issue and we could have carried on, but with the Isle of Man only two weeks away we didn’t want to risk anything. We achieved what we came here to do, and that was to test the car against some of the best cars and drivers in Europe, and we are happy with the results. Stuart and Andy
are backed by Lico Wheels, PIAA, Rallytech, Teng Tools, Motorsport Insurance
Service and Dacha Oak Products and currently lie second overall in the
British Rally Championship. |
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These are two wheels taken from Stuart Jones' MG S2000 after the Jim Clark Rally. Stuart was using wheels from his sponsor Lico Wheels. In both cases the rim took the battering and the tyres did not deflate. What better way to demonstrate the strength and durability of these wheels. For more information on these wheels visit www.licowheels.com |
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Stuart
Jones accepts invite for Rally Bohemia
Welshpool based rallying ace Stuart Jones has accepted an invite to contest the sixth round of the Central European Rally Championship, the Rally Bohemia, in his Lico Wheels backed MG Super 2000 Sport. 23 year old Stuart and his Birmingham based co-driver Andy Bull will travel across to the home of Skoda, Mlada Boleslav, 40 miles north east of Prague to contest the 600 km long two day tarmac rally and are both understandably excited about the opportunity. We received an invite from the organisers to compete on the rally, and to be honest it was an offer we couldn’t refuse. Not only does this rally give us the opportunity to spend more time in the car, but it’s also a great way of showcasing the MG Super 2000 Sport to a whole new audience. |
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The route is characteristically made up of fast sections of smooth tarmac, putting a high demand on accurate pace notes. Stuart has always had a great confidence in his notes and as such should go well this weekend. And with the rally being a round of the FIA Central European Rally Championship the MSD run project should be able to challenge for overall honours as the young Welshman goes head to head with some of the top drivers in mainland Europe. The Rally Bohemia begins with a super special stage in Boleslav on Friday 4th July. From there the cars move out to the ‘proper’ stages for two days of high speed action before returning for a ceremonial finish on Saturday evening. Stuart and Andy are backed by Lico Wheels, PIAA, Rallytech, Teng Tools, Motorsport Insurance Service and Dacha Oak Products and currently lie second overall in the British Rally Championship. |
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After
nearly 18 months in the making and many long hours spent by engineering
supremo Norman "Big Norm" Spann, Mick's Escort MkII finally
reappeared on the Rally Marketing Mid Wales Stages. |
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Partnered by youngest son Darren for the outing as regular co-driver Andy Morgan was co-driving Mick's daughter Kim in her Peugeot 205, Mick set about getting back into the swing once more. The car is still in the early stages of it's development and Mick and Big Norm have quite a few tweaks to do it which they are both keeping very quiet about. The next outing will be the Neath Valley Stages when Chunky will be back alongside on the maps once more. Further outings planned for the year include the Woodpecker, the Plains and the Roger Albert Clark Rally in November, by which time the Escort will probably be on it's second evolution with even more of Big Norm's secret bits bolted onto it..! The
outing on the Mid Wales Stages netted Mick and Darren 2nd in class and
6th overall. |
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I
was just sent a link to this video on YouTube and it demonstrates just
how hard a co-driver has to work on stages. It is a must for any budding
co-driver to watch and learn from. I don't know who the crew are but they
certainly get my vote for entertainment...! |
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Little
Miss Kimberley had a bit of a whoopsie on the Granite City Rally in Scotland
recently...! Kim who was codriving Jane Nicol in her Mitsubishi Lancer
Evo 5 went off on SS5 Fetteresso barrel rolling the Lance into retirement. Kim is once again carrying on a family tradition of crawling out of the side window of inverted rallycars and follows in the footsteps of father, Mick and brother Stuart. Younger brother Darren has yet to join the family club and I am sure that Kim's off will inspire him to join the family hall of fame sooner rather than later. |
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Stuart Jones having a nap on Eppynt Mad Mick showing how abrasive the inside of a Peltor helmet can be
How did I ever get talked into posing for this one...??
The worst
that could happen was Mad Mick slammed me sideways into a tree |
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A lot of people have commented on the fact that I am half the man I used to be. Over the last two years I have shed eight stone in weight. My nomex now looks rather large on me to say the least. I am now using my smallest suit and this is way too big on me. A new suit is definitely needed soon. Mick has mentioned that we need new suits, so hopefully I wont look like a sack tied in the middle for too much longer. Mick has commented that the car goes a lot quicker since I have lost weight and for the first time I am actually lighter than Mick for the first time in years of sitting alongside him. The only problem is now I rattle about in the seat..! But it's a small price to pay, just got to tug the belts a little tighter now. Mick worked it out that my weight loss was equal to gaining 15 bhp in the Evo III, think how much you would need to spend to get that extra horsepower!! Funny though, the last two rolls Mick has had has been since I shed the weight... is it the extra speed or lack of ballast holding the car down...??? |
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ACTION
FROM THE 2006 RED KITE STAGES - VIDEO BY RALLYQUEST |
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Over the years I have been rallying I have had many weird and wonderful things happen on events. I started one rally in one car with one driver and finished in another car with a different driver. I started the same rally twice and retired in both cars within the space of two hours! Not one I am impressed with is that one! I have had various encounters with with wildlife, seen spectators in the oddest of places and even once stopped by a bunch of ladies while on the Lombard RAC Rally and force-fed tea and biscuits..! Mind you that wasn't one I complained about! I have even completed one rally without a roadbook, using only the timecards and stage maps after losing the roadbook in a roll on the first stage. I knew the way to all the stages, having done them so many times over the years, but even so the driver was impressed by that one at the time. One thing I have learnt is never to complain about the car being dirty. I once complained to Mad Mick about the Escort being filthy inside many years ago and told him to get it cleaned for the next event. I arrived for the next event to find Mick bolting his seat back into place and the car looking spotless inside. Mick had pressure washed the car... inside! I should have known better by the smile on his face. When I got in I found my seat soaking wet. He had only taken his seat out and had pressure washed it with mine still inside... it was wringing wet! "Well it will keep you cool so stop moaning!" he said. I never mentioned cleaning the car again. One cold dark night on a road rally in Cardiganshire we came across two very pretty girls on a very rough white at around 2.30am. As we approached picking our way through some very large rocks the girls whipped out their boobs and waved them at us. It was one of the few times I have ever pleaded with a driver to slow down. It transpired that their boyfriends were out on the event, but they couldn't remember what number they were running, so they flashed to every car that went past. I was so tempted to wrong-slot us and go round again, but didn't sadly. One of the most tiring rallies I ever had I never actually got in the car at all. My wife at the time always wanted to do a rally. I got her a ride on a local single venue in a rather quick Escort with a local driver. I spent the day running from stage start to stage finish to make sure she got the timing correct. They went on to win their class I am pleased to say. I went home totally knackered. On one local event with Mick many years ago our service crew comprised of two very harrassed lads and four kids! My two eldest daughters who were only 8 and 10 at the time and Mick's two eldest children, who were just a bit younger, had come down to the start of the rally with us and were going to be picked up before we left. That didn't happen so they were bundled into the service van with Ellis and Ted and told they were now babysitting. They were not impressed. When we arrived at service the lads had them well organised though. One on each corner of the car, each with their own jobs to do. There were a lot of strange looks from people. We went on to win the class on the event and the car never looked so clean! |
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