It was cold, very cold. The snow and sleet from the previous days had frozen solid on everything it had touched as the lowest overnight temperatures in Yorkshire in 2014 took hold. Unfortunately the KRU team just happened to have a 0500 start.

 

Slipping and sliding away from KRU HQ in the freezing darkness it felt like an entry on the Swift Stages at Croft racing circuit had been a serious error of judgement.

 

But everything was ready, the team was up and about and there was a larger than average KRU fan club due to rendezvous with us at Croft – so gloves were deployed and heaters cranked up as we made our way northwards up the A1.

 

A quick Mclatte later and we were feeling better. Until we arrived at the venue.

 

The entry officials were shall we say ‘keen’ and forbade any entry to the circuit until passes were forensically scrutinised, heads were counted and re-counted, cash was demanded and seized and orders barked. Not the best start.

 

It got worse when only Service 1 and Gary’s estate were allowed anywhere near the service area, Team principal Dave explained that he had a small workshop of tools in his car but the car park Gestapo were adamant, he would have to park in the spectator area and take the 20 minute trek with tools. Where does common sense go ?

 

On this occasion it was not motor club marshals but the Croft circuit staff; clearly the arctic temperatures did nothing to promote their Christmas spirit and we were left with a distinctly anti-rallying feeling from those on the gates.

 

Morale didn’t increase when we got to the service area. It was full and the mandatory ‘only 1 vehicle per rally car’ ruling seemed to have been pushed to the limit as massive hospitality coaches and HGV’s lorded over the valuable smooth tarmac surfaces. Lower runners (us) were left to scrap for the broken, rutted concrete at the far end of the car park. To compound our disappointment the surface was sheet ice with the crew performing pirouettes and slides just trying to unload KRU from the trailer.

 

The queue for scrutineering was long and it was a 30 min wait in the freezing cold before the car was given the ok and we were given our route and time cards.

 

The long wait at scrutineering meant that there was little time for any route preparation and all too quickly Jon and Gary were heading off to Stage 1, a 6.4 mile dash around the tarmac circuit with chicanes and off circuit detours for good measure.

 

But there was a problem. As we left service we realised that our helmet intercom was dead. Gary calculated that we could afford the time to return to the service area so a fraught return saw the lads descend on the car. A faulty battery was suspected but with no immediate replacement and no time to replace it anyway, the crew went to the start with no intercom.

 

As suspected the track surface was a mixture of standing water, wet patches and then sheet ice. Treacherous was a good description and as virtually all of the top runners had spins, slides and ‘incidents’ Jon and Gary would be no exception.

 

We had planned a careful, steady test run on the first stage as we debated between the Yokohama wet tyres or Mud and Snow grippier treads. In the end we went with the wets, the green light came on and Jon floored it up the pit straight which made up the start /finish of the stage. The first corner arrived as did the loss of traction right in front of the main spectator area which was packed.

 

Jon just about kept everything together and we slithered around the tight right hander and made our way to the back of the circuit. As we returned to the main straight the stage snaked through a very tight hairpin left. Jon braked but KRU didn’t and we immediately lost control into a very fast spin, with barriers, tyres and cones spinning before our eyes. We executed a full 360 deg spin on a sheet of black ice that had also caught out 90% of the field.

 

Managing to not hit anything we found ourselves facing the right way. Jon claimed it was all ‘under control’; Gary reckons it was a sheer fluke and made a mental note that once again Jon had manoeuvred the car so that the co-drivers side was nearest the barrier…….

 

We continued on the icy first stage and were pleased to see that we had a good time and were 6th fastest in our class of 12, good going considering the lost time in the spin and the lack of comms.

 

Stage 2 was a repeat of the first and we were ready for the ice this time round. However higher up the order a Ford Puma had been caught out on approach to the flying finish and spun heavily into the pit lane garages resulting in a horrible collision. The stage was immediately stopped as the rescue vehicles rushed to the scene. It was a harsh reminder of the conditions as the crew were extracted and taken to the medical centre at the circuit, fortunately both had no serious injuries. Their car was a mess and the pit lane garages will need some substantial restoration before the Touring cars return in a few months time.

 

KRU was going well, no problems mechanically so the service crew cleaned and checked, trying to keep warm.

 

Stage 3 was shorter but with less turns was quicker. Flying into a right hand bend Jon lost the car on the ice, a HUGE tractor tyre appeared in our path as we slid sideways off the asphalt and onto the grass. Gary braced for the impact (as usual it was the co-drivers side nearest the hard obstacle) and Jon performed steering wheel roulette on the no-grip icy grass. He managed to avoid the tyre by a good 10 cm and the car slewed back onto the circuit and Jon accelerated away laughing hysterically as the crowd applauded his avoidance skills. Gary opened his eyes and swore heavily. Jon laughed even harder.

 

By this time the crowds were huge and between the stages the service area was packed with rally enthusiasts. The Skoda proved as popular as ever and we enjoyed the attention and the discussions with knowledgeable and encouraging rally supporters.

 

We were delighted to have so many friends and family arrive and support us considering the wintry weather. Grateful thanks go to John, Elaine, Helen, Stu, Mick and Steve for braving the ice and piercing winds to encourage and assist us. Hope you have all thawed out by now !

 

KRU was subject to a random scrutineering check on the approach to Stage 4. Seemingly a little jumpy from the earlier crash the chief scrutineer took objection to our dangerous video camera mounted on the roof of the car and like an overzealous headmaster promptly seized Neil’s expensive bit of kit. We could have it back after school had ended.

 

Stage  4  found the track thawing slightly and we increased our tyre pressures to find more grip. Jon was going well and at the lunch break we were 6th in class.

 

A long lunch saw Pete’s famous hot stew devoured by a freezing crew and supporters. Pete was the hero of the day; he kept everyone supplied with hot drinks, stew, burgers, sandwiches, treats and encouraging words when we were all cold and tired. Good job Pete.

 

Stage 5 and with a weak sun rising just above the North Yorkshire horizon the track was at its warmest and least icy. Jon found more speed and we overtook one of class rivals on the stage. But the stage had been reversed and the route was slightly confusing. As Jon was flying round the stage Gary missed calling a split direction to him and with no way of reversing back into the rally traffic we had to drive a distance until we could get back into the finish section. All our hard work was for nothing as we dropped to last in class.

 

Gary was first to apologise and accept responsibility and felt crap for the remainder of the event. His regret wasn’t eased by the realisation that about a dozen crews had made the same error and missed the junction. Though it was the first time in his ‘veteran’ rally co-driver career that he had missed calling a split junction, Gary had no excuses. 3 minutes were lost and the push for any class honours had gone.

 

The team rallied round (excuse the pun) and were even more determined to finish on a high.

 

New batteries had arrived via our supporters and with comms restored Jon had a flying afternoon, beating many of the other remaining class contenders and clawing back all of the lost time to challenge once again for a mid-class placing.

 

The crowds thinned as the sun dropped and temperature fell to freezing once again. Our trusty crew fitted and adjusted our lamp pod and soon the thrilling sight of rally cars battling through the darkness at silly speeds enveloped the circuit. KRU was running without a hiccup, which is a testament to the fantastic maintenance of the KRU team and Martin Grimwood at CD Grimwood & Sons of Bradford who oversees the more technical aspects of the rally car.

 

All too soon it was the final stage in pitch blackness. Jon and Gary were in the groove now and we flew round the stage taking a minute from our previous lap as Jon drove on the limit of the car and the conditions.

 

A final placing of 65th overall (out of 90 odd starters) and 9th in class was better than we had hoped amongst the tarmac specialist cars that enter the circuit events.

 

It had been a freezing day for the team and many thanks go to Team Principal Dave – “Is that intercom working now ….. I said is that intercom – oh very funny”, Jon – ” Ha hah hah that was fun”, Gary – ” No it ****ing wasn’t “, Nathan – “Oh sorry I think it was in gear then”, Jamie – “I’m cold, I should have put a warmer coat on, well any coat really”, Oli – “I’ve licked the battery three times, I think it’s dead”, Neil – “Where’s my camera gone ?”, Pete – ” No, I stopped serving breakfast at 11 am” (team response ‘you’re not bloody McDonalds’).”

Next up The Riponian forest rally in February 2015.