In 2005, Bryan contested ANWCC and Welsh Clubmans

2004 season review

updated 17/11/07 (items marked *****)

Something to keep children away from the fire or to put with my  profile. I guess male modelling is out of the question as a future career?  I hope you can use it.  If not, I'll find one of Brad Pitt.

****** I try to put something back into the sport if it’s only a bit of time. I’ve been marshaling on Mull for over 10 years and I officiate at my club's events and other local rallies when not competing myself

Approximately 10 rallies a year
**** Managed 19 in 2003
***** Only 10 events competitively in 2004 but have done a couple of Course Car jobs

Rolled on the Pirelli in 1999

**** My accident in Barbados now takes this honour, crashed heavily into a bridge parapet and wrote a Suzuki Ignis off and broke my middle finger, which I didn't discover for 3 months.

Am contesting the last two championships with Duncan Goldsmith once again and bits and pieces with James Morton. I am open to offers for my free weekends!

A quiet 2004, relatively speaking, for me with only about 10 competitive outings with a smaller than usual selection of drivers but, saying that, I have managed to win my class in two regional championships being the 2 litre class-winning co-driver in both the ANWCC and Welsh Clubmans Forestry Championships - both won sitting alongside Duncan Goldsmith. More of the same in 2005 in a hired Mk2 Escort from Jones Sport.

Other outings have been limited to sitting beside Mike Oates in his S9 Scooby WRC at the Abingdon Carnival and Abi Mahmood in his Grp A Sunny GTi at a event at Longcross. I have also sat beside one of my longest-standing partners, James Morton. We had planned to contest the whole of the Evo Challenge but due to my commitments in the Escort and then a shortfall on budget our year fell short.

During 2004 the MSA fitness scheme ended but my visits to the gym certainly haven't. In fact I'm probably fitter now than when the scheme was running as I can see the benefits and so am working harder at it.

In 2005 as well as contesting the Welsh Clubman's and ANWCC I hope to be doing ANCRO as I have been approached by a couple of drivers but until my bum is in the car on the start line I won't count my chickens and so am open for offers as usual.

Bryan
December 2004

Year kicked off with the Red Kite on the 4th of January with Duncan Goldsmith in his Mk II, a really foggy event but not as icy as the previous year but once again Craven's Colin Minton and Peter Henness had their 'off' caught on camera. If you see the video of the event you even see Peter turning the page of the notes during the accident - late call?

Onto February and it's Rallye Sunseeker and it sees the return to the competitive driving seat of James Morton in his recently-acquired Evo 6. The rally ran in freak snowy conditions and was an interesting challenge. We booked into the very first control 6 minutes late and then the car kept cutting out in the arrival control of the first stage due to a badly placed ECU. Every time I moved my feet the car stopped; I think the ECU has now been moved.

Nothing doing in March except navigating the Course Opening car for Peter Henness on the Swan Rally and attending an MSA Marshals' Training day.

April and it's the Astra Stages and I'm back with Duncan and my first 'off' of the year when we have a rally-ruining-but-no-car-hurting 'off' on SS2. James was also doing the event and covered a bit more mileage before retiring in service wanting to save the car from an unknown engine problem.

Into May and it's Craven's rally at Longcross and I've got the top job for the first time as CoC. I think we can say the event was a success as we had no injuries and all stages ran without delay. Well done and thanks to everyone for their help and support.

The following week it's the Red Dragon and I'm once again with Duncan and we have an almost faultless rally except for a couple of big spins on the last stage when trying to make up time on our class leaders. Oh, and I broke a rib but not on stage - on a road section, bizarre!

Now we're into June and I'm lucky enough to have been asked to sit with Mike Oates in his Subaru Impreza S9 at the Abingdon Carnival. The car is awesome and I feel very privileged to have been asked and thank both Mike and Bill Gwynne for the opportunity as not many people get the chance to plant their bums in such modern ex-works machinery. Boy, can it accelarate and stop.

As I write this I'm due to compete at Longcross with Abi Mahmood in his Nissan Sunny on Sunday the 27th of June and I have a confirmed entry on the Swansea Bay with James in July and an entry form in the post for the Coracle Rally with Duncan in August.

Bryan
28/6/04

I've only managed to co-drive 4 times so far in 2004 so not sure I will beat my 2003 total of 19, but the events so far have been the Red Kite with Duncan in the Mk 2, the Sunseeker with James Morton then back out with Duncan at Sweet Lamb and the Astra Clubmans.

This weekend sees me take the step up to being the Clerk of the Course of the Brook Motor Sport Stages at Longcross, a role I've not had before as only having been a deputy previously and it feels like my biggest challenge yet. I hope it all goes well. The following weekend it's the Red Dragon with Duncan.

Not sure how the rest of the year will pan out but I'm sure I'll do more as the year progresses and my list of drivers and events will continue to grow.

You may have read in Motor Sports Now about my fitness training? Well that's moving forward and whereas I may not be the racing snake that my trainer wants I'm 10 times fitter. The pounds are not dropping off as I'd like but the inches are, as my fat is turning to muscle (or so I hope!) and I seem to have more energy. Maybe it'll make me a better co-driver?

Bryan
11/5/04