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Mel Harries Memorial Rally 2004
Sponsored by Marc's Motors & Sons
Ammanford Motor Club
12th/23th June 2004
Clerk of the Course: Rob Richardson & Huw Mathias
Route: 100 Miles
Maps: 159 160 & 170
Starters: 75
Winners: Martyn O’Connor/Peter Collins (Vauxhall Astra)
Martyn O’Connor/Peter Collins took their second successive victory on Ammanford MC’s Mel Harries Memorial Rally. The pairing had been in third place at the petrol halt but a smooth run to the Finish, plus problems encountered by their rivals, saw them take a comfortable win.
Winners: Martyn O’Connor/Peter Collins (Vauxhall Astra)
The first half took crews south from the event's base at Ammanford to Cwm Dulais, then moved back north, via the lanes above Clydach and Pontardawe, back to Petrol at Pontamman. The only section on which most leading crews dropped time was on the one just prior to the fuel halt; this ran from Llandyfan to Llandybie.
The surprise leaders at this point were Huw Jeffreys/Avarina Connor (Ford Escort); they stopped the clock at the vital time control eighteen seconds faster than any other competitor. Unfortunately, gearbox problems in the latter stages of the event saw them drop to twenty-fifth place at the Finish.
The leading positions at Petrol were:
Huw Jeffreys/Avarina Connor (Ford Escort) 0m 56s
Martyn O’Connor/Peter Collins (Vauxhall Astra) 1m 14s
Gary Jones/Andy Oakes (Toyota Corolla) 1m 19s
John Davies/Dylan Evans (Vauxhall Astra GTE) 1m 21s
Nigel Nelson/Martin Saunders (Vauxhall Astra GTE) 1m 28s
Tony Davies/Owen Dodd (Toyota Corolla) had a short rally, withdrawing after picking up two punctures on the second section. Darrell George/Arwel 'F12' Thomas were also out before Petrol, their Nova's steering was badly bent when they hit a pot hole.
Chris Jenkins/Carl Williamson had been in sixth place at Petrol but retired in the second half when the rotor arm broke on their Escort.
The second half opened with a run through lanes on the western edge of the Black Mountains, with the rest of the event being in the area to the south of Llandeilo; it was here, in Golden Grove, that the results were decided.
O'Connor/Collins were fasest through the critical section and arrived at the Finish 27 seconds ahead of John Davies/Dylan Evans, leaving Davies, after many near misses, looking for his maiden rally win. Nigel Nelson/Martin Saunders finished third, 40 seconds behind the winners, to make it a Vauxhall Astra 1-2-3.
A number of crews, including the winners, missed PC27, at the end of the Black Mountain section; it was in a loop opposite Plasbach. Fails were initially given to these competitors, but these had to be removed as the code board was found not to comply with the MSA requirements.
Class winners Eurig Davies/Meirion Rees (Semi-Experts) and Nick Murfin/Julian Cram (Novices) were both well clear of their nearest class rivals to secure their placings.
OVERALL POSITIONS
| Pos | Driver | Navigator | Car | Penalty | |
| 1 | Martyn O'Connor | Peter Collins | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 0m 25s | |
| 2 | John 'Mk1' Thomas | Patrick Walsh | Ford Escort | 0m 25s | |
| 3 | Gary Jones | Andy Oakes | Toyota Corolla | 0m 44s | |
| 4 | Gordon Thomas | Carl Williamson | Ford Escort | 0m 54s | |
| 5 | Nigel Nelson | Iestyn ap Dafydd | Vauxhall Astra | 1m 13s | |
| 6 | Robert Wilson | Dylan Jenkins | Peugeot 205 GTi | 1m 15s | |
| 7 | Dan Holley | Steve Herbert | Ford Escort RS | 1m 16s | |
| 8 | Alyson Acreman | Matthew Maidment | Honda Civic | 1m 46s | |
| 9 | Gareth Harries | Dalis Ifans | Honda Civic | 2m 01s | |
| 10 | Richard James | Eurig Davies | Vauxhall Astra | 2m 03s | |
| 11 | Mark James | Rob Duke | Ford Sierra 4x4 | 2m 08s | |
| 12 | Elgan Jones | Byron Jones | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 2m 21s | |
| 13 | John Davies | Neil Bevan | Vauxhall Nova | 2m 28s | |
| 14 | Roy Thomas | Michelle Thomas | Peugeot 205 GTi | 4m 07s | |
| 15 | Neal James | Eurig Evans | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 4m 07s | |
| 16 | Ceri Richards | Aled Jones | Ford Escort | 4m 10s | |
| 17 | Andrew Thomas | Paul Morris | Peugeot 205 GTi | 4m 20s | |
| 18 | Darrell George | Arwel Thomas | Vauxhall Nova | 4m 29s | |
| 19 | Chris Williams | Brian Thomas | Peugeot 106 | 5m 45s | |
| 20 | David Wilmer | Mark Powell | Ford Escort | 6m 33s | |
| 21 | Alan James | Edwin Venville | Peugeot 205 GTi | 6m 58s | |
| 22 | Dafydd Walters | Ian Nicholls | Ford Escort Van | 8m 30s | |
| 23 | Bruce Charles | Stephen Jancziak | Ford Escort | 8m 37s | |
| 24 | Ceri Jones | Edrian Monk | Ford Escort | 9m 43s | |
| 25 | Mike James | Richard Evans | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 9m 52s | |
| 26 | Clive Davies | Trevor Davies | Toyota Corolla FWD | 10m 37s | |
| 27 | Mark Coleman | Christian Male | Ford Escort | 13m 20s | |
| 28 | Mark Reardon | Fiona Reardon | Vauxhall Corsa SRi | 13m 57s | |
| 29 | Aled Evans | Martin Richards | Vauxhall Nova | 15m 34s | |
| 30 | Peter Smith | Paul Seabourne | Ford Escort | 15m 56s | |
| 31 | Max Jones | Anthony Powell | Ford Capri | 18m 06s | |
| 32 | Barry John | Seyyan John | Ford Escort | 23m 38s | |
| 33 | Paul Davies | Steven Hicks | Vauxhall Nova GTE | 24m 38s | |
| 34 | Alun Cole | Euros Lloyd | Ford Escort Mexico | 28m 29s | |
| 35 | Robert Price | Lionel Plant | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 32m 14s | |
| 36 | Paul Roberts | Anthony Lemon | Vauxhall Astra | 33m 42s | |
| 37 | Simon Griffiths | Paul Jennings | Vauxhall Nova GTE | 46m 47s | |
| 38 | Sterling Jenkins | Wayne Owen | Vauxhall Nova | 49m 04s | |
| 39 | Ian Evans | Christopher Saunders | Vauxhall Astra SRi | 50m 40s | |
| 40 | Scot Gregory | Ben Murray | VW Golf | 61m 51s | |
| 41 | Alan Hands | Melanie Hands | Vauxhall Chevette | 1F 1m 23s | |
| 42 | Dyfrig Evans | Noel John | Peugeot 205 GTi | 1F 26m 06s | |
| 43 | Gareth Davies | Thomas Blair | Vauxhall Nova | 1F 38m 42s | |
| 44 | Paul Davies | Martin Curzon | Daihatsu Applause | 1F 67m 19s | |
| 45 | Jonathan Oliver | D Morris | Peugeot 309 GTi | 2F 16m 58s | |
| 46 | Robert Brown | Alexander Reilly | Peugeot 309 GTi | 2F 47m 19s | |
| 47 | Steven Price | Alan Roberts | Ford Escort | 3F 31m 51s | |
| 48 | Chris Lewis | Chris Williams | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 5F 33m 41s | |
| 49 | Jayson Francis | Roger Davies | Toyota Celica GT | 6F 33m 08s | |
| 50 | Howell Wyn Christie | Sandra Powell | Ford Escort | 33F 58m 11s |