An invitation to do the Otterburn Stages
with the world famous Titson Rally Team just could not be turned down.
It was going to be a two-car effort with the dynamic duo of Mick
and Ryan Lebeter running at number 24 and the well known Manta maniac,
Steve Titmuss, with Penny Norman in the hot seat, running at number 30. Just a small
warning to the lady navigators out there, if you work with this team and
get presented with your own Titson T shirt, try not to get too big an
inferiority complex! Try saying the name of the team slowly - you’ll
get the idea.
Ok, I admit it, the navigator of Car 30 getting somewhat disorientated
(ok lost) in the one way system in Leeds, on the way to the rendezvous
point, on Saturday morning was not a good start to the weekend. It all
comes from taking directions from a rally driver. All navigators
know that they can’t find the way to the toilet on their own; I really
should have known better. While we are on the subject, NEVER leave your
driver to book the accommodation, and if you have to, find out before
you leave for the event whether:
(a) you need a sleeping bag? (yes)
(b) did he mention that you need a sleeping bag? (no, never occurred
to him)
(c) are the ladies toilets/showers locked for the winter? (yes)
(d) does the above mean you have to cough very loudly before entering
the gents' facilities in case you surprise some of the other campers?
(yes)
(e) does his choice of accommodation mean that you end up in bunk beds
with the co-driver from the other car (male) on the top bunk who talks
VERY loudly in his sleep? (yes)
(f) does the fact that you find all the above a laugh and survive the
weekend with your sense of humour intact mean that you are as bad as
your driver and probably need to be sectioned under the mental health
act? (yes)
I also have to admit that it’s the first time I’ve done a recce
for an event in a van, with another rally crew and Molly (strange name
for a young man), a student from the Myerscough College motor sport unit.
However, it all worked very well with Ryan reading the organisers’
notes, Steve and Mick making changes as we went, and yours truly doing
the writing.
Unfortunately, the event didn’t go quite as smoothly as the recce.
Mick and Ryan had an off on the first chicane of stage 1 that holed the
oil pipe and subsequently the engine lost all its oil. They managed to
get back to service eventually, but with no trophy rally on this event
their day was over. Steve and Penny didn’t even get that far after
hitting a patch of ice just before junction 3 on the first stage. The
back end of the Manta stepped out beyond the point of no return, and
all Steve’s skill and experience could do nothing about the nose
dive towards the ditch which resulted in a roll that destroyed the back
end of the car and didn’t exactly improve the steering. A sad end
to a really good week end.
Special thanks must go to Steph Lebeter who kept everyone fed and watered
for the weekend, and also brought a spare sleeping bag (this co-driver’s
very grateful, anyway). As usual if you get one Lebeter you get them
all, so thanks to Dominic and young Liam for their help. It was great
to see Molly’s (no relation) eyes opened as to how a rally actually
looked in the “flesh” as he’d never been part of the action
before. Finally, thanks to Ralph Titmuss who does an excellent job as
service crew for a ten year old, Mick and Ryan for providing the laughs,
and Steve for the invitation to a never-to-be-forgotten weekend. See
you all on the next outing!!
Penny Norman
25/11/03
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