This year's "Would Be Good" Stages at Goodwood turned out to be just about the most eventful single venue rallies I have had the opportunity to Clerk. However, before I recount some of the highlights from this event, I have a big thank-you to say to a number of people (and these come in no particular order). To Chrissy Chorley for her help with producing the mountain of paperwork which is required to make any good event successful, to Tim Hines for his professional road book and results service, to John Blaber for stepping in and performing the duties of Secretary of the meeting (with the valuable guidance of Sue Smith), to Ray Tyler for organising an excellent team of marshals and for his tremendous assistance on Radio Control on the day, to Paul Smith for organising the straw bales without which we would have struggled to have an event, to the consistently hard working team of Nick Jenkinson, Neil Boxall and Brian Price and all of the others who worked hard to set up the stages and keep things running to time throughout the day, and last but not least to everyone who marshalled or assisted on an exceptionally hot, sunny day.

With a reduced number of entries this year, and I'm still not sure why as everyone seems to agree this is one of the best run stage events around, we were determined to offer as many stages as we could run to give best value for money. A small complication was that a cement mixer had been due to arrive at 8:00am, but due to an admin problem turned up late. At least when he left we thought that, as he had managed to negotiate the chicane outside the pitlane, none of the competitors should have any excuse! Everything started well enough, with the first stage completed slightly ahead of schedule. Then matters started to get more complicated. Apparently the cement mixer had been 1 cubic metre of concrete short on the load, requiring a further visit, turning up in the middle of the first stage and wanting to "nip" across to deliver! The thought of a cement mixer "nipping" across the circuit mid-stage filled me with visions of a number of competitors all arriving to find their way blocked by said machine. We managed to persuade him that the end of stage one would be the best time to trundle over, which duly happened, but just as we were about to start stage 2, he "popped out" onto stage to reverse into position! More heart stopping moments and some expletives!! Stage 2 started ok once he was out of the way, although 5 minutes later he was back wanting to leave. Again this would have had to wait for the stage to finish, but as it turned out he must have had a direct line communications device with Bruce Coate-Bond in car 6, who on command, buried the Sierra in one of the new gravel beds at Lavant, requiring a stage stoppage to recover him from this dangerous position.

Having recovered the Sierra, and disposed of the cement mixer, we seemed to be nearly back on schedule, and some nifty work by the start marshals, and fast driving by crews saw things back on schedule. I checked with Tim Hines to see how the seeding was panning out, and barring one or two hiccups (Derek Manchester's electrical problem, and a blindingly quick 3rd fastest run on stage 2 from the Dolomite Sprint of Robert McGregor, sadly ending in a blown engine) all seemed about right. Gavin Rogers and Carrie Parsons justified their seeding at number 2, with David Jacobs unable to compete due to lack of an engine, setting fastest times on all of the stages bar one. What surprised or pleased me more was that Colin Hutchings was lying 5th overall after 2 stages. From the outside he didn't seem to be trying that hard, and I began to wonder just how much stick he was giving it out the back where I couldn't see him! Gavin however, assures me he was trying equally hard all the way round. Tony Straker and Brian Hugh were having a great time in the Sprite, equal 5th fastest after stage 1 although slipping back slightly as others went quicker, but recovering to 7th overall at the end.

Stages 3 and 4 were less eventful, and went off smoothly, whilst 5 & 6 caused a few moments for those unable to use or not knowing what the handbrake was for. At lunch the writing was on the wall, Gavin Rogers was walking away from everyone else although Derek Manchester pulled out a quck time on Stage 5, with Martin & Mike Owen, Adrian Dyer & Stephen Higgs and Mark & Richard Gomm in Escorts 2nd to 4th.

After lunch, and a reversal of stage direction, stages 7 to 12 went off relatively smoothly. Again Gavin Rogers was extending his lead, with everyone else beginning to settle. After Derek Manchester's difficulty on stage 1 he was now pulling up through the order, lying 5th at the end of stage 11, but sadly he was to go no further, losing control at the flying finish and although setting second fastest time, damaged the car badly and returned on a tow rope. Among the Historics Alen Tice/Catherine Tice were walkaway winners, setting times worthy of 5th overall in the main event!