The third round of the Speedsport Design Clubmans Rally Championship was The Tour of Anglesey, organised by Caernarvonshire & Anglesey MC, which took place on the l7th May, victory going to a surprised Michael Wildgoose and Mike Costigan in their Sunbeam Rapier.
The SS starters set off from the seafront at Beaumaris on a bright, but hazy Saturday morning for the first tests at Wern Farm. This was the first of 40 miles over 20 special tests, vvith 90 road miles in between and five progressively difficult regularities.
The tests at Bwlch Gwyn were thought by some to be a bit rough, but there weren't any casualties at this point. The first retirement was the Mini Cooper `S' ot Mick and Carol Young, a result of an accident. David Astle and Colin Francis (Cortina GT) managed not to succumb to `road rage' when a Post Office van decided to park in front of the cone they should have being going around and didn't lose too much time!
After a series of interesting and quick tests at Ty Croes Rallycross & Kart Circuit, the competitors headed for lunch at Maelog Lake Hotel at Rhosneigr. Leaders at the halfway point were novices Richard Craven and Dave Barber (Miini Cooper `S'), just ahead of Astle and Francis in their Cortina GT, Ted Roberts and Rob Granger (Singer Chamois) and Jean and Stan Appleton.
Retirements at this point included Don Stewart and Peter Scott (Sunbeam rapier), Richard Fisher and Phil Boulton (Lancia Fulvia), both with fuel pump problems, Robert Fenn and Dave Kirkham (Tornado Talislnan), Edward and John Stuttard (Mini Cooper) with a broken driveshaft and Neil Huband and Dominic Barron (MGB) with electrical problems.
After the lunch halt, the cars headed back to do all the morning tests in reverse order, finishing back in front of the Bulkelev Hotel in Beaumaris to hand in their time cards before a short finale regularity and then back to the seafront finish ramp.
An excetlent buffet followed at the Town Halt (within easy reach of the hotel bar!), where the results were provisional before 8:00 pm, a little later than last year, but still in pretty good time.
With the very surprised Wildgoose and Costigan collecting maximum series points for their overall win, the next Speedsport finishers were Jean and Stan Appleton in fourth, with Peter and Julie Eaglen (TP3A) eighth and Matthew Collier and Paul Doe (Austin A40) lOth overall.
The Tour of Anglesey remains a favourite rally for most competitors despite sorne stiff tests. competitors were appreciative of the fact that the navigation on regularities was not too difficult. The whole event was extreInely well organised and the organising team were exceptionally friendly and welcoming... hopefully we will be back next year.