Report

With numerous Griffin Motor Club members contesting National and domestic Tarmac Championships, the events have been coming thick and fast for those involved.

The month started with four Griffin crews competing at Caerwent Base near Chepstow. The event run by South Wales Automobile Club was a qualifying round of the Welsh Clubmans Tarmac Championship and attracted a capacity entry. Caerwent saw a return to the drivers seat for Mike Hayes who has not competed for a few years. Mike was co-driven on this event by Alan Jones, and despite this being the first event for the recently built Nissan Micra they had a steady run building confidence for the future.

Richard Merriman and Gareth Short in their Darrian are currently at the sharp end of the Welsh Championship and scored well to continue their overall championship bid. Huw Reed and Chris Short finished slightly ahead of the Darrian pairing taking maximum points in the Welsh Championship, however Gareth, Chris' son is streets ahead of the old man in the championship at present. Local Garage owner John Thomas and co-driver Julian Smith were highest placed Griffin crew with a fine 4th over all.

Mid month saw Chris Short co-drive Graham Hollis from St Clears on the Jim Clark Memorial Rally in the Scottish Borders. The event based in Kelso is a round of the British Rally Championship and The National Tarmac Championship. A very good run in the Mountune Engined Escort saw Chris and Graham finish in 14th place and first in their class ahead of many more modern four-wheel-drive machinery. This result leaves them lying second in their class in the National Championship.

Saturday 15th July, and Colerne Airfield was the Venue for the oddly named Azimghur Stages run by Bath Motor Club. Again a round of the Welsh Tarmac Championship. Two Griffin crew contesting this one and it looked like the battle was on! Richard Merriman and Gareth Short out to score championship points, and John Thomas and Julian Smith out to see if they can repeat their victory over them at Caerwent. The venue, a very fast one suited both the Darrian and the Mitsubishi alike, but who would triumph. At the end it was just a handful of places that saw Richard and Gareth the victors with a fine 10th over all and a class win, together with maximum championship points.
The remainder of the month sees Chris Short co-driving for Ian Godney in the new BMW M3 at The Fat Albert Stages at Keevil Airfield near Trowbridge in Wiltshire.

With the clubs own championship finely balanced and everything to play for, battle recommences in early August on the Epynt Military Ranges on the Harry Flatters Stages.

Chris Short

(This item was used in an article which appeared in the Rhondda Leader)

Richard Merriman & Kath Curzon
The 2011 Season with Team CRS

As defending champions of the Welsh Tarmac Championship.
The first event was the rally 'Cwm Gwendraeth' at Pembrey, which didn't get off to a great start as on the first stage we went through a deep puddle which covered the car in muddy water only to find the wipers seized, resulting in us being down at 20th overall after that stage. However we did recover and ended up being 4th overall and 1st in class.
The next event was 'Tour of Epynt'. A very wet start to the day and on the 3rd stage we went off at Edmunds Bend, losing us around 3 minutes, we

on and ended up 27th overall and 4th in class.
Then it was 'Tour of Caerwent' again not the best of starts as we boilt the brakes on the first stage leaving us with problems all day the result being 5th overall, 3rd in class and 1st Welsh Championship Contender.
Next was 'Bob Shaw Memorial Stages' at Talbenny to defend the win from 2010. A good start leaving us lying 2nd overall after two stages, just 2 seconds down on Bob Fowden only for a plug lead to come a drift and having to stop to replace it, we then took the two quickest stage times and finished 7th overall and 3rd in class.
Then the long trip to Trawsfynydd for the 'Clwydian Car Stages', a trouble free run on this event finishing 5th overall, 2nd in class and 1st Welsh Championship.
It was the 'Mini Epynt rally' next. It was a good day but losing time with two overshoots on the same place resulted in 3rd overall.
Then back to the Caerwent for the 'Midsummer Stages' where we were lying 3rd overall with one stage to go, however we were let down by the gearbox resulting in our only DNF for the season.
Next was 'The Harry Flatters' this was a good run ending up with 10th overall and 1st in class, then a return to Epynt for the 'Mewla Rally'. A slow start in wet conditions but battled on to finish 15th overall and 3rd in class.
Then the final event of the season was the 'Peter Lloyd Stages' at Pembrey. A good run resulting in 3rd overall and 1st in class and we ended up runners up in the Welsh Championship and winning the class.

We would like to say a big thank you to
Cardiff Roofing Supplies, Old School Engineering, Gareth Swan Roofing and W elsh Tyre Service.
For all the help and support throughout the season
And a further thank you to
Barrie Jenkins
Karl Davies
Richard Bebb