 Gravity
was seemingly in short supply for the opening round of the Goodyear
MSA British Off Road Championship in Radnor Forest, with two of the
fancied
front runners being sidelined by multiple rolls.
Returning competitor Chris Hammond, was the first to leave the fray
with his newly acquired Bowler Wildcat. Chris got out of shape
in one of the high-speed sections, and clipped a rock which sent him
in to a series of rolls.
Next to go was former British champion Tim Marsh who was also caught
out by
a fast section of track, in the process destroying his TMC and
probably his
chance of the 2004 title.
Reigning champion Richard Kershaw was quick from the outset, laying
down the
marker with fastest stage times on all of Saturday's six stages.
Following
the retirement of two of the top competitors so early on Kershaw's
challenge
came from a perhaps less expected corner. John Cockburn made a
dramatic
return to the British Off Road Championship, about eight years after
his
last appearance, by setting consistent top three stage times.
With
relatively unsophisticated machinery up against the more specialist
buggies
John put on a remarkable show to rack up such impressive times in his
Tomcat
88", with the disadvantages of both a short wheelbase and a
failing power
steering system.
Kershaw was at a loss to explain John's times after setting a last lap
time
of 7m25s just one second faster than Cockburn's best; "I don't
know how he's
doing it.we can't go any faster than that!"
Nonetheless it was Richard who came out on top, followed by Cockburn
and a
personal best from the fast improving Neil Davey.
Colin Read brought Mitsubishi's latest challenger a production class
Shogun
Warrior 3.2 DI-D diesel into an incredible fifth overall, leading Read
to
suggest that a podium finish could be a reasonable aim for the year.
Julian Read's Freelander also took production class honours, whilst
Glen
McKeith's Defender 90 TD5 scraped a finish, despite an engine failure
in the
closing stages of the event. Steven Smith's V8 Defender 90 was
the highest
placed Super Production category car in eighth.
In the clubman event AWDC champion Keith Lewis took the win from the
experienced Alex Lofthouse.
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