[woodcote]

Before I start on the results & standings, just a quick word on the cars that didn't do so well this afternoon...

There was one Class A car, three Class B cars and three Class C cars that didn't complete the stage and were given the default maximum of 180 seconds. If it was possible to get to the end, I did. Apart from Doug & Noah's Audi (couldn't see anything obvious - probably the motor...) and Rebecca's Subaru (flimsy Policar guide snapped right off on the practice decent...) the issue was long guides.

The Classic SCX and Scalextric slot doesn't have a flat bottom - it is essentially an open ladder. Any guides that are too deep and 'pointy' get stuck on the rungs. Quite a few cars struggled, but those five cars couldn't make it more than a few feet without getting stuck or getting catapulted out of the slot.

I want to respect parc fermé conditions - so sorry Alan, I can't change your wheels and tyres! And I won't be doing major surgery on the long guides or replacing a motor for Doug or repairing Rebecca's car. I will, however, have another quick look at the Audi and I will take a small nick out of those four guides to create an angle. If that works out tomorrow morning, great. If not, that's rallying. And it also depends if I have time tonight after getting the results and standings done!