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It's another outing at Three Sisters race circuit in Wigan for the Mini Road Runner boys this coming bank holiday weekend with the Procare Three Sisters Stages taking place at the tight and twisty venue. With the team narrowly missing a class award at the last event they competed in at the popular venue they're hoping the newly tweaked suspension used for the first time in anger at Weston Park will help them further up the finishes list. Once again Andy Elliot will be in the co-drivers seat with the crew seeded at car 30.

We loaded the trailer, with the Mini on it, onto the Maverick and just as we were about to set off the Maverick would not start…..flat battery. I asked Andy C to put his car to the front to jump-start it - if this was the way things were going to go then we were in for one of those days. Anyway, we got it started and off we went. This was the first time I had pulled anything with the Maverick fully loaded and with a trailer.

We travelled down the M53 then A41, half way down the A41 there was a sign saying road works A41 closed - it was going to be one of those day's, wasn't it? We followed the diversion signs and eventually were back on the A41 - to cut a long story short we just managed to get there on time for scrutineering and were the last car to be done.

We set up service with Mike Quinn and Skilly waiting for us. The weather was glorious and I thought that after a bad start it was going to be a good day, I would be able to give my new wider rims with slick tyres a good work out.

For the next stages, all I can remember is that it started to rain, then it started to hail, sleet, snow you name it, this meant the stages got muddier and muddier and holes that were dug by the other cars got larger and larger, so we spent most of our time trying to avoid the holes or trying to get out of them.

On stage 7 all I can remember is that we came over the first cattle grid, went onto the slippy stuff, fish tailed and we were heading for the trees. We then hit something like a log or a stone sticking up which made us do a 360 and then tried to get back on the tarmac - I think we were lucky.

Before stage 9 the service team had done a sterling job after two flat tyres and one set of plug-leads and lots of WD40 they got car back out - this was the first of the stages with a water splash. We started off over the cattle grid were we had spun earlier, this time cleanly, down to 90 left, which neither of us could see, turned anyway, found the road, 90 right were the splash was, went though fairly fast in second and crawled up the other side sliding all over the place. In the distance we could see a MG ZR (In the Green and Black colours) Andy said go on see if you can catch him (red…rag….bull) off we went all remember is Andy saying go on flat out, go on. We were catching him all the time, on the long straight flat out, Andy is shouting go on flat out! Just got to the 90 left at the hay bails' were the Wallasey crew were turned left we caught him I was right behind him, Andy was stamping on the horn button he wasn't having any he wouldn't let us past right to the end. When we got to the end the finish crew said, “Did you catch that MG?” both of us said “Yeah,” “good on you” he said back “Well done.”

On stage 10 we knew where the Wallasey marshals where, so each time we went passed Andy tried to beep the horn, every so often I would see someone I knew leaning over a wall or something, so I would try to give them the thumbs up. On the last stage, there was a long straight and I was in 4th flat out, came down the box, just were they were and all I saw was 4 - 5 bare arses, as they were all in front of us with their jeans down, bent over wiggling and smacking their behinds at us - I am scarred for life! Seeing that corner will never be he same again, I couldn't stop laughing from then on till to the finish.

Mini Road Runner Rallying will be starting their 2009 season on Sunday 8th March with Owen Motoring Clubs AGBO Stages Rally. The event will see Nev out with the two Andys with Andy Elliot in the co drivers seat once again whilst Andy Creer takes care of spanner duties.

After a horribly early start, we picked up our service crew of Andy Creer, loaded the Mini onto the trailer and headed off in the motorhome. The weather seemed promising early on, and turned out to be a gloriously warm and sunny day. We were by no means the only Wallasey crew competing, and so it proved to be when we arrived into the service area and were greeted by numerous familiar faces.

Fortunately, our position in the service area meant that we were right by the start line for half the stages so were able to watch the top cars catapult off the start line before having to get ready ourselves. The first couple of stages were as much about getting used to the car and the handling of it as they were about getting used to each other. And we didn't succumb to the early carnage of the first few stages, which resembled something akin to Wacky Races with the shape some cars were arriving back into the service area in. Most unfortunate incident of the day had to be the Mk2 Escort that was, according to the driver’s version of events, demolished at the front by a Metro 6R4 falling out of a tree! They say money doesn't grow on trees, but 6R4s??

As the day wore on, my note-calling got better, and Nev’s confidence in the car was definitely growing – as shown by a few sideways moments, but always in complete control……….! Some parts of the stages were getting quite rutted and gouged out, in addition to the infamous kerbs, so I was trying to warn Nev of any impending canyons in the road. There was also a “watersplash” in the middle of the stage, which had almost caught out several people earlier in the day but with the sun out it had mostly dried up by the afternoon – or been dispersed by those choosing not to avoid it.

Right up until the end of the day, the car had been pretty much faultless with the only problem having been a detached air filter which was soon re-attached via several cable ties. Halfway round the last stage, there was a loud banging coming from the front of the car which was making it judder along so we decided not to risk damaging the car and cruised round to take a stage maximum, all the while trying to figure out whether it was a broken driveshaft, suspension or something else. It was only when we crawled back into the service area, jacked up the car and took the wheels off that we found one of the brake callipers hanging off with one bolt missing which had been hitting the inside of the wheel and also contributing to the juddering when braking. Just Sod’s Law it had happened on the last stage, when we'd been

Weeton Camp was the setting for the latest outing for Mini Road Runner Rallying on the Weeton Stages Rally. On what was the hottest day of the year so far Nev and Andy Elliot took the mini out for it's first outing on the renowned car breaking event. Seeded at 66 it was also the first time for Nev driving on the new suspension, with it's different geometry and ride height.

Throughout the day Nev drove faultlessly slowly climbing up the leader board and the crew (just about) managed to keep their cool in the heat. Despite brake failure on the final stage causing a 'new underpants' moment the crew finished in a very impressive 47th overall and 8th in class continuing with the mini's 100% finishing rate.

Mini Road Runner take to the stages again on Sunday 8th June at Weeton Army Barracks in Blackpool South Shore Motor Clubs Weeton Stages rally. The mini now has fully adjustable suspension and is sitting considerably lower now with vastly improved handling. Due to prior commitments Andy Creer is unavailable to co-drive on this event so Andy Elliot will be taking over the left hand seat and keeping Nev on the straight and narrow. Andy Elliot has previously co-driven for Steve Noble in his Subaru Impreza and Wayne McArdle in his Sierra Cosworth so is looking forward to his first outing in a classic British rallying icon.

With a new rear subframe fitted to the mini, the updated Anglesey Circuit was the destination for Mini Road Runner Rallying's latest adventure - the two day Glyn Memorial Trophy Rally. The team arrived at the circuit to strong winds and heavy rain - new conditions after the good weather at Trawsfynydd and New Brighton. A quick look at the stages revealed some very long runs which were not going to suit the mini but the surface and new track layout was very impressive looking.

Saturday was run almost entirely in the rain and the team did well to limit themselves to a couple of trips to the grass and many cars spent the day off roading. After the final stage run in the dark, which resembled driving in the snow, Nev and Andy had moved up to 65th Overall and 10th in class.

After a night of heavier rain and stronger winds, Sunday dawned a lot brighter with softer wind and no rain. With the cars having be re-seeded the team now found themselves with cars behind them for the first time - another new experience. On the second stage the crew had a slight off and an altercation with the wrong side of a rumble strip resulting with a front nearside puncture and a stage maximum and a loss of 9 minutes and dropping to the back of the field. With not having any spare 165 tyres the team were forced to use 145's on the back which resulted in a lack of rear end grip so the rest of the day was spent very sideways with huge smiles on the faces on Nev and Andy. Despite this the crew managed to finish the event 59th Overall and 9th in class. Three events and three finishes - not a bad record.

Mini Road Runner made their debut appearance on their home event, the Printmatters Promenade Stages run by Wallasey Motor Club, on Saturday 8th September. The pressure was on Nev and Andy to perform well with them having been Deputy Stage Commander and Chief Marshal respectively for a number of years.

Having another (although larger engined) Mini, crewed by Lee Hartley and Mark Shepherd, in front of them inspired the boys throughout the day. As the day went on day the mini developed a grinding noise from the rear that seemed to get worse and some play was found in the radius arms but it was decided that this wasn't the cause. After stage 7 it was discovered that the front off side bottom arm bushes were destroyed so that was replaced quickly by the service crew. The battle with Lee and Mark went right up to the final stage with them taking four seconds out of the by now badly handling mini therefore beating the team by 3 seconds. Investigations by the service crew after the final stage discovered the rear subframe had failed causing the noise and the loss of handling.

Saturday 11th August saw Mini Road Runner Rallying's stage rally debut in the mini at the Trawsfynydd Motorsports Complex, in the DPS Ranges Stages run by North Wales Car Club. The car performed faultlessly all day with a loose sump guard bolt being the only item that needed any attention during service. Despite saying they were only out for a shakedown of the new car prior to the Promenade Stages, the team improved their times throughout the event as they got to grips with the handling of the car out on the stages. Finishing 31st overall and 5th in class with mo mechanical dramas was a great result for the team after the problems they have suffered during the build of the car. Nev and Andy would like to thank their service crew of Mike, Tim and Andy for their work throughout the day and also to Mark Skillicorn and Karl Hughes for their advice and good humour during the day.