June 2009 PK Memorial Road rally

A road rally is a navigational based event run on public roads, usually starting late on Saturday night and finishing in time for an early breakfast on Sunday. Competitors (usually up to 60 crews) have to decipher a set of navigational instructions, then visit specified locations along the route where they check into a control.

The PK Memorial is one such event and runs from near Corwen in North Wales. Unusually it adds a handful of private land timed special stages in the early evening.

I went out to watch, going in the Sunbeam, given the nice weather. I've never been out on a road rally where it was possible to do without a jumper, fleece, waterproof before! The start venue is a large farm estate near Corwen. Scruitineering, noise check etc. were held on the farm and competitors lined up in the sheep sheds.

Escort Mk1 Mexico

Pair of Mk2s
Unusual RWD Escort Mk3
Ready For Action
As you can see from the above photos, the event has a bit of a retro feel in terms of the cars competing. After a bit of sustenance from the organic farm shop it was off into the lanes to catch some of the action. About 40-50 specatators at the junction I went to - a slot left off a wide-ish yellow into a narrow yellow. There was some commited driving in evidence.

Smokin' Mk2

Slideways

Was tempted to go and watch at a second location, but a 2:15 arrival back home was late enough this time.

MEP went very well again, no problems, and a fair bit of interest at the start venue. Sadly no Sunbeams running in the event though.