CPMCC Automark
author: Patrick Vermaak
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
John Peiser and Brian Hoskins make it two on the trot
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John Peiser (CPMCC) and Brian Hoskins (WPMC) made it two on the trot with the Speed Pro Cycling Components Gp N4 Subaru Impreza 4x4 Turbo when they won the challenging CPMCC Automark Rally in the Swartland on Saturday 14 June 2008. The duo certainly proving that consistency pays by maintaining a steady pace. Second place quite an exciting duel won by the resurgent Teletubbies, Thorsten Pey and Mark Palmer, in their Winning Business Solutions / Forsdicks S4 WBMK BMW E36 325i.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Thorsten Pey and Mark Palmer a flying second in the BMW
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Fighting third for Abduraghman Amlay and Yusuf Ganief
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Abduraghman Amlay and Yusuf Ganief impressive enroute to the final podium position in their CCMCC Gp N3 Toyota Run X RSi 1800, only 13 seconds down on the BMW after 105km of really challenging stages. Duncan English (CPMCC) and Rob Williams (SWMC) consistent rather than impressive, but fourth spot well deserved in the Team Total Gp N3 Toyota Run X RSi 1800.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Duncan English and Rob Williams fourth
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Corolla Airways fifth with Andy and Alistair Haigh-Smith
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Celebrating an early Father’s Day Andy Haigh-Smith and eldest son, Alistair, gradually found each other in the CPMCC class A6 REACT Marketing Toyota Corolla RXi 1600 and were well pleased with the end result. Quietly slipping into sixth spot was the CPMCC class S5 VW Golf TDi of Llewellyn Jones and Craig Gray.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Fine fifth for Llewellyn Jones and Craig Gray
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Martin Esterhuyse Snr and Paul van Greunen won S3
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Despite a persistent misfire throughout the event it was seventh place for Martin Esterhuyse Snr and Paul van Greunen in the Fetch & Carry / WBMK Toyota Conquest RSi 1600. Kesevan Naidoo (CCMCC) and Garth Ritsch (SWMC) looked the likely winners on the road and they would have, had they not incurred a two minute early penalty with the Freightmore Toyota Conquest RSi 1600. This unfortunate penalty dropped them to second in class and eighth overall.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Kesevan Naidoo and Garth Ritsch lost S3
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Ever consistent Steven White and Jonathan Bright
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With points their main concern Steven White and Jonathan Bright enjoyed another consistent outing in the REACT Marketing Gp N2 CPMCC Mitsubishi Lancer GT1600 to claim ninth overall. Recovering from a roll in Ceres young Ashley Haigh-Smith and Hilton Auffray claimed a fine class A5 victory in the REACT Marketing / CPMCC Toyota Yaris.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
A5 winners Ashley Haigh-Smith and Hilton Auffray
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
A fine finish for Rupert van Zyl and Marius Rudolph
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Eleventh overall must have felt like overall victory to Rupert van Zyl and Marius Rudolph who always give their best in the CPMCC class S3 Hollandes Motors VW Golf MkII GTi 1800. Johann Kotzé (CPMCC) and Derek Jacobs (CCMCC) finishing their debut event twelfth overall in the new A5 VW Golf Citi 1.4i. Rather wild in appearance they lost a few panels when drifts were attacked with too much enthusiasm.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Debut finish for Johann Kotzé and Derek Jacobs
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Paul Emmanuel and Clint Lingeveldt finished after rolling
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Paul Emmanuel and Clint Lingeveldt rolled their similar CCMCC A5 Golf , but could continue to claim the wooden spoons as final finishers. Namibian lady driver, Stefanie Hugo, had a very nervous Berto Mostert as navigator in the WBMK Gp N3 Ford Focus ST170 and with the car sounding much better they were making good progress until the Martini coloured Ford rolled twice early in special stage five.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Stefanie Hugo and Berto Mostert rolled out on stage 5
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Clinton Sassman and Winston Neethling rolled on final stage
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Clinton Sassman and Winston Neethling even more unfortunate having fought hard throughout the day they were almost home on the final stage when the E30 class S4 CCMCC BMW 325i stepped out of line on one of the many yumps. They landed awkwardly and a tyre clombed off the rim, flipping them upside down with Nuwedam in sight. Three rolls in a regional event possibly an indication of just how hard everyone is pushing, but certainly not doing numbers in the region any favours. Fortunately only minor cuts and bruises were sustained by the new members of the roly-poly club and hopefully they will all return soon.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Another retirement for Shaun Jones and Billy Thorpe
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Shaun Jones and Billy Thorpe showed signs of improvement, lasting until special stage three in the CPMCC S5 VW Golf Synchro 4x4 whilst the normally very reliable WBMK S4 Nissan Skyline 2.8GTX of Gavin Grierson and David Delaney expired on the same stage with engine problems. Wynand Theron and Divan Shaw retired their WBMK class S3 VW Polo 1800 on stage one with clutch failure and a broken shockabsorber saw Eugene Marais (WBMK) and Gordon Robertson (SWMC) park the S4 Opel Kadett GSi 2.0 on the same stage.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Disappointment for Wynand Theron and Divan Shaw
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Automark Malmesbury deserve a compliment for the more than welcome complimentary coffee and hotdogs during documentation whilst Patrick Johnson and his team must be complimented for the separate road book provided to competitors utilizing the route notes, it really does make life easier for the navigators!
Having enjoyed the outing in the S2000 entry something that became very clear on special stage one is that the route notes need more thought as most corners were underrated when approached at S2000 pace. N3 cars certainly are not slow, but S2000 cars are much quicker than anticipated and having already changed a L5 to L7 it really got our undivided attention when it became a L9 when approached flat-out in sixth gear. On a lighter note a rather fragile feeling Gerhard Snyman got an even bigger surprise when he called a L9 and Paul Pfeiffer replied by turning R9 – somehow a page of notes had gone missing! What was clear however, was the fact that Jean-Pierre Damseaux have come a long way since his debut in the Conquest 1300 and the Total was just the first real indication of his potential as driver. Paul Pfeiffer is quick and his N14 Subaru is on the water!
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
JP Damseaux and Patrick Vermaak retired from lead
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Jean-Pierre Damseaux (SWMC) and Patrick Vermaak (WBMK) enjoyed a 22 second lead after two stages but unfortunately the very impressive Team Total S2000 Toyota Run X 4x4 suffered a suspected clutch failure on stage three. Paul Pfeiffer had Gerhard Snyman filling the hot seat in the Nobili Gp N4 CPMCC Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 Turbo 4x4 and though they eventually returned the fastest total time they non-scored. Watching this car through a particularly testing section on special stage six was most impressive.
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Pic by Hannes Oosthuizen
Paul Pfeiffer and Gerhard Snyman were flying
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Weather conditions proved almost perfect on the day with the surface dust free with excellent traction. No wind and pleasant temperatures made this a great outing for spectators and it was most encouraging to note an increase in spectators at the popular vantage points.
The next round of the WP Rally Championship (19/20 July 2008) promises to be very interesting as it will be an all tar event starting on the Saturday evening and finishing on Sunday. The entire event is set to take place at the Killarney Race Track and in essence the Saturday night stages will be repeated on Sunday morning. The bonus for spectators being that they will be able to view almost the entire event from a single vantage point and being all tar, a number of Clubmans / GTi Challenge and Gymkhana entries are seriously considering this event! Organised under the Witzenberg Motorklub flag this event promises to become a regular feature on the annual regional rally calendar.
Watch this space!
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