Yearly update.....

I'm planning lots of things for this year, sadly most of them revolve around my 40th birthday and not rallying. Still if Mini can come back to rallying after a long break there's no reason why I can't......

Will I rally this year? Yes but not 'til much later in the year.

Will it be a stage rally? Not in the UK, no.

Will it be a road rally? If I rally in the UK it will be a road rally.

I have a party at Rock im Park to plan so updates will be as random and the gaps will be as lengthy as ever!! At least I'm still having fun, just without the added excitement of motorsport.....

Still here....

I'm still here but just not rallying! Having two young children is keeping me from the stages and, to be brutally honest, I'm enjoying spending as much time as I can with them. Having said that there are moves a foot to venture back into road rallying in the next 2 years.

It's not the first time I've had a break from rallying so rumours of my retirement are untrue. Expect to see myself and Mark (my eldest) out and about on a few events later in the year.....

Exciting developments!!!!!

Not much more I can say at present apart from I will need an international licence and should start racking up the frequent flyer miles too!

Late entry into 2010 Dakar!

With an astounding stroke of luck and a quick tap on the keyboard I got a last minute entry into this year's Dakar!

Fair enough it's only the virtual version (http://www.virtualrallygame.com/index.php) but it follows the exact route in, pretty much, real time (if required).

Sadly after a bit of help from a 3½ year old I'm way of course and something like 25992 overall..... Tomorrow I'll start my great fight back; oh and keep Mark from switching the computer off!



After a few days of attempting the Dakar I realised that whilst the game was free there were performance aides available for those willing to part with cash. I gave up at that point!!

Happy New Year!

After a long break away from blogging (and motorsport) I have returned!

2010 should see me back in harness a couple of times, with child number 2 due on the 5th of Feb it's not realistic to aim for a full season so I'm hoping to do a few events towards the end of the year. Who knows I might even make it back to Jersey....

My first motorsport event will be a trip round the ever disappointing (and wildly over-priced priced!!) Autosport International in January. Even though the show has been shrinking for many years and offers such minimal value for money it is a good place to meet up with friends before the rallying starts seriously again.

I'm trying to spread my motorsport wings again in 2010 and am loooking to compete in road rallying (again) as well as experiencing comp safari/off road rallying. With both the Golf and Jetta now sold I'm left with my trusty Passat which is (fortunately) completely unsuitable for either forms of motorsport so it looks like I'll be navigating/co-driving. As I haven't done a road rally for a good 8 years I should be a novice once again.....

Oh well enough idle waffle I must buckle down to my latest projects (and surf Facebook!) - have a great (and safe) transition into 2010 where ever you are!

Paperclix Jersey Rally.

Good luck to everyone competing on and organising this year's Jersey Rally.

Since I first did the event with Andy Corner in the Skoda Ford I've always enjoyed my trips to the island. As an event it's challenging and highly rewarding with an excellent social aspect too! If you've never been you are certainly missing out!

I'll be following the event (by any means possible) and expect it to be a very hard fought event, this year's entry really is quality!

Full event information and live results can be found here:~ link

Pentti Airikkala

Pentti Airikkala 1945 - 2009

I was fortunate to meet Pentti and learn a few valuable lessons from one of the original "Flying Finns". Always friendly, helpful and humorous Pentti was a true gentleman and a rallying expert. Not only did he know how to drive exceptionally fast he also knew how to set a car up to drive exceptionally fast! He views on the Metro 6R4 never cease to make me laugh.

Everytime I write a pacenote I'll think of him, he'll be greatly missed.

RIP Pentti.

I’m still here…..

As you can see by the lack of updates things have been really quite busy for me just recently with changes aplenty! This, sadly, doesn’t include rallying though, 2009 will be a rallying free year for me.
The most important change is the fact that I’m due to become a father again in February 2010!

I’m certainly not stopping rallying, just having some time off to concentrate on getting fit, being a husband and father as well as having a couple of holidays!!

New sponsor

Despite not actually doing any motorsport at all at present I have managed to secure another personal sponsor (at this rate I'll have to invest in a new racesuit!!). German Cars Blog {link} have kindly offered to pay for my on event expenses!

As the name suggests the German Car Blog covers everything about German car manufacturers and tuners. They have even threatened to add a little coverage of my exploits when I finally make it back onto the stages!

Walking freely.

I'm now walking without an help amnd undergoing intensive physio to get as much function back into my knee/leg as possible. My latest activities are certainly helping with exercise that's for sure!! Follow the link to my other blog to see just what I now own!

Now that I'm pretty much fully mobile I can now start to plan a start to my 2009 season. There are a few ideas and offers floating about at the moment and once I've completed a few more visits to hospital to see my surgeon and physio I'll concentrate on getting back into rally cars. Until then I'll keep walking to and from my shed.....