Tour of Epynt 2024

Port Talbot Motor Club's Successful Two-Day Rally Event

Port Talbot Motor Clubs first foray into a two-day event over the Epynt Military Ranges proved to be a great success for both the Mini Cup and Cat 1 Cup contenders even if logistics were a little challenging. In short, the rally began with a ceremonial start in Llandovery after the Saturday morning recce and Day 1 ending on the ranges. Day 2 started on the ranges with a ceremonial finish back in Llandovery……..fine if you’ve the luxury of service crews but for the clubman competitors who look after themselves it can be a little fraught.

Having managed the logistics and the recce the Mini crew of Eric Davies and Russell Joseph fell at the first hurdle with a driveshaft issue on the way to the Llandovery start and duly retired. A bitter blow given their non-finish at Argyll.

Even though the rally was held in July the crews were greeted with a very wet Saturday run and while rally drivers can cope with all weather conditions it becomes impossible without the aid of windscreen wipers! An issue that had to be overcome by the Mini crew of Harvey Stevens and Lawrence Selly.

A quick visit into service and the subsequent fettling and banging saw them on their way and although they were well inside their maximum lateness the over anxious Sweeper Car had entered the stage. After some in-depth discussions and the assistance of the CLO the crew were attributed with their subsequent stage times after the road surface had indeed dried a little…….every cloud etc. etc.

Stevens & Selly Show Great Progress after the Rain

Photo: Andy Crayford, Crayford Media

Progress and Setbacks: Harvey Stevens & Lawrence Selly's Journey

Local Mini crew of Ken Pryce and Don James certainly showed the way to go on the short first stage but this was soon overhauled by the charging pack led by the TR4 of Stephen Hall and Aggie Foster with Clive King and Anton Bird only a hand-full of seconds behind.

The newly re-built Mini of Andrew O’Hanlon and Kevin Hogan was starting to make inroads onto the results board when the cars gearbox had other ideas leaving very few options for the crew and duly retired the car before the end of the day.

By the end of Day 1 a distinct pattern was beginning to emerge with the Cat 1 Cup Leaders of Hall and Foster heading the HRCR members from Clive King and Bird some 19 seconds behind and followed by early leaders Pryce and James.

Mini Cup Leader Clive King Offers Words of Encouragement to Son Craig

Photo: Chris Phillips

Clive King & Anton Bird: Battling for Mini Cup Glory

The Stevens and Selly Mini benefiting from the organiser’s intervention holding their own in front of Shane Gamble and Julia Perry, Craig King and Craig Hardiman in similar machines. Craig King and Hardiman, by their own admission, were a little cautious after their substantial “off” in Argyll and the intervening few weeks spent on re-building the car! First time out this season, Kevin Haselden and Gary Evans getting to grips with the conditions in a supporting role.

Well-fed and watered and under a much drier sky the remaining crews returned to Service Area A with some private scores to settle amongst the 96 runners from the original 113 starters in the Inter Club section of the event.

The organisers had linked the previous days stages bringing each stage mileage to around 13.5 miles by the end of which brake fade was the common denominator for all crews. One experienced co-driver (who shall remain nameless!) explaining that he’d just received his first flying lesson on four wheels.

The battle for the lead in Cat 1 was extremely hard fought for but there’s no substitute for horsepower on the big banks of Epynts’ Eastern Ridge with the Hall and Foster TR4 leading all the way to finish with a very creditable 52^nd overall from a start seeding of 103.

A Productive Two Days for Hall & Foster in the TR4

Photo: Chris Phillips

A Day of Endurance: The Impact of Brake Fade and Long Stages

The Clive King and Bird Mini fought all the way leaving nothing on the table and coming within a handful of seconds on several of the stages. Local Mini of Pryce and James holding up honours in just keeping Stevens and Selly into the next overall spot with Gamble and Perry only 7 seconds behind.

Gamble & Perry Still in Hunt for Both Mini & Cat 1 Points

Photo: Chris Phillips

A Mini’s Fight for Position: Clive King/Bird’s Persistence

The Craig King and Hardiman Mini kept Haselden and Evans at bay to the end.

After three incidents on the last stage by previous cars the organisers called it a day and subsequently cancelled it leaving the weary crews the long drive to Llandovery before returning to the ranges to load up and head home.

The Exol oil recipient was Eric Davies who given his problems will be greatly received, I’m sure with Craig King picking up the Snap-On prize. The Questmead brake pad prize for the best improvement on seeding was taken by Ken Pryce.

New for the last few rounds is the generous award given by Andy of Crayford Media given to the co-driver of the quickest Mini on a stage selected by Andy and on the Tour of Epynt 2024 this went to Anton Bird.

Craig King & Craig Hardiman Proving it Does Rain in Wales...Sometimes!!

Photo: Andy Crayford, Crayford Media

With a little respite the next round is the closed road Three Shires Rally on the weekend of September 14^th & 15^th promoted by Cheltenham Motor Club and a first for the both the Mini and Cat 1 Cups.

We join our sister championship, Stage Masters, for a big showing from HRCR, the Club That Goes Historic Rallying