Graham Samuel and Tony Phillips achieved a very creditable second in class in their Ford Escort RS. Our report is based on Tony's HRCR report notes and the photos are by Mike Hally: -

Graham and Tony had a good run throughout this year, with only a couple of small delays during the event!

Mist and fog on Thursday evening helped them catch the 2 cars in front on Cronk-Ny-Mona. A fastest time on the second Castletown stage also helped and they were pleasantly surprised to find themselves in front of Frattaroli and Stokes and leading the Post Historics after the first night!

A few seconds were lost with a straight on at Brandywell Cottage (Little London 1) on Friday morning, when they didn't turn left down the hairpins and then fluffed the start of Rockmount 1. On the downhill 90 right over narrow bridge on Round Table 1 they side swipped the rear nearside but no time was lost. Then, aiming for a very quick run at the second Ramsey stage, they spun at the end of the prom and dropped a few seconds. However, they were still leading the Post-Historics, with only Steven Smith ahead! Last year they found that the fog was less off-putting for them than anyone else and this year the same could be said of the wet - so the hope was for more rain and fog!! At one service the alternator belt was found to be almost off the pulley after a heavy landing - it was only on the last groove. With a stronger bracket and regular checks after each stage it survived the rest of the event.

With a fine day on Saturday, they knew they could not hold David Stokes off for long and it was only a matter of time before he was past and into the lead. At the end of Baldhoon 2 (stage 19) they were dead level again but he then pulled away. Hitting the bank, with the same rear near side corner, in Ballavale 2 didn't help but again no time was lost, and it was already damaged anyway!!

Pip Carrotte and Roy did an excellent job in keeping the car running and even managed to give them full near-side rear lights despite leaving the light unit at the bridge on Round Table!