Oliver wins the GERRY P EVANS CYMRU PCT
For the first half of the ‘Welsh Weekend' in mid September, North Wales Car Club were pleased with the 21 car entry split fairly evenly between the four classes. There was broken cloud with some sunshine, but a cool northwesterly wind took the edge off the warmth. However, the wind did dry off the substantial dew from the longer than expected grass and the dry ground eventually held sway.
British Champion, Garry Preston, took his customary lead in Class A with his Fiat 127 and never lost control. Although Neil Mackay clawed back some points in the afternoon, he stalled his Fiat Panda at a critical point on the penultimate hill and lost all he had painstakingly regained. Carelessly driving out of section on the last hill of the day also cost him second in class when Les Andrew's Peugeot 104 sneaked past.
Class B was dominated by the two Golfs of Derek Barnes and Simon Harris. Lee and Siõn Matthews had plucked a Nova from the garage yard after Lee's Ibiza was sold last week, but it didn't perform well and needs a few carburettor tweaks to run smoothly. Past winner at the site, Harris eased out a small lead which he maintained to the finish. 19 year old Siõn finished level on points with his father, but beat him for the first time on countback to come third in the class.
Malcolm Brown drove his Westfield to a comfortable class win with Barrie Parker double driving Richard Harrison's MGB GT and beating the owner to take second.
The performance of the day was undoubtedly by Dave Oliver. His Imp was virtually unstoppable, and his total score of 15 marks for the day was only a third of the next best. John Ludford scored 45 in his Marlin to pip Colin Weeks by 7, but neither had any answer to the climbing ability of that Imp.
No surprises that Dave Oliver won overall, and so the majority of the BTRDA competitors adjourned to the hotel for a super social evening and await the second installment on Sunday.