(QQ, Summer 2003) — Slowly Sideways… Originally founded by the world famous rally photographer, Reinhard Klein, for like minded owners of Ex-works rally cars, Slowly Sideways, caters for all makes and types of rally cars and has grown to over 60 registered Ex-workls rally cars throughout the UK and Europe.

During the past two years, Slowly Sideways UK has been formed for the owners of Group A,B & 4 Ex-works rally cars on British soil and 2002 saw the first event that the group successfully ran on the Killarney Rally in Ireland. Such was the success and response to this that the Slowly Sidways UK Group were once again invited to run in this years May 2003 Killarney Rally.

It has to be noted however that Slowly Sideways is not a club or an organisation but a collection of like minded enthusiasts that want the public to witness the awesome sights and sounds of the 70's and 80's rally cars.

As with all the Slowly Sideways cars entered into rallies there is strictly NO competition, we run our cars on a non-timed, non competitive basis which in turn allows everyone to drive at the speed he or she feels safe to do and with total respect towards each other. Additionally should any of our rally cars experience a mechanical problem we are allowed to return to service, repair and rejoin the rally at the next convenient special stage.

The 2003 Killarney Rally is a very important event on the rally calendar and is part of the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. This year had no less than 166 entrants with 17 historics and of course, a total of 13 Group A and B Rally Cars.

To overcome the rules and regulations, the Slowly Sideways entrants run at the head of the field after the zero cars have cleared the special stages and we are let loose at one minute intervals.

This year's event saw a fine collection of 70's and 80's ex-works cars on demonstration which were made up of the following:

Audi quattro
The quattro was never as successful on the Irish soil as it was on the 80's World Rally Championship but watch out for John Hanlons "Flame Spitting" Ex-Works (Hannu Mikkola) Group B Audi quattro A2 and the later developed Ex-Works (David Llewellin) Group A Audi Coupe quattro owned and driven by David Preece which will demonstrate the significant differences between the performance of the Group B and Group A quattro. It goes without saying that the resounding 5-cylinder engine note on song at 6000 rpm plus will unquestionably send a chill of excitement down the spectators spines and rekindle the "Vorsprung durch Technik" atmosphere.

Austin Metro 6R4...
Over the years we have regularly heard and witnessed the sight and sounds of the Metro 6R4 but not often do you have the opportunity to see original Ex-Works Metros in action and this year is no exception with an Ex-Works Metro being driven by Michael Kitt in his 6R4, last driven competitively by Toivenen on the 1986 Rally of the 1000 Lakes. Big wings and spoilers and the unmistakable sweet sound of six cylinders will put many a wry smile on spectators faces.

Mazda RX7...
Built in the 80's with 2000 Technology this Ex-Works twin rotary engined Mazda RX7 is a sight and delight to watch. Very few of these rally prepared RX7's exist today so make the most of this original 1981 Lombard RAC rally prepared.

Nissan 240RS...
Ex Dealer Team Middle East Car owned and driven by Tony Walker. Tony had great success with this car in the early 80's in the Indonesian National rally Championship.

Memories of the Nissan 240 RS are that they always seemed to be steered by the rear wheel drive as the 270 plus Bhp was put down to the Tarmac.

Opel Manta 400...
The last Opel Manta 400 ever built had podium finishes in the hands of Andrew Wood. However current owner, local Irishman, Seamus Heron squeezes every ounce of performance from the Manta 400 and with his rally expertise will be a delight to watch as he pendulums the Manta over the Killarney Stages.

Porsche
911 SCRS Rothmans
The Rothmans Porsche currently owned and driven by Slowly Sideways UK coordinator, Stephen Davies, enjoyed numerous podium results in the European and Middle east Championships during the mid 80's.

911 ST...
The first of the Ex-Works Porsche 911ST's was built in 1971 and driven by Bjorn Waldegard on the Swedish Rally. Professionally restored by current owner/driver James Avis over the last four years and the 2003 Rally of the Lakes will be the first outing for the 911ST.

911 ST...
The second of the 911 ST's is one of the most successful competition Porsches in Australia with over 40 race victories to its credit between 1971-1977. Current owner, David Cavanagh, brought the car back to Europe for restoration. The 2003 Rally of the Lakes is its European debut.

Peugeot T16...
Peugeot attacked the dominance of the Audi quattro in the mid 80's with their light weight T16 and went on to win many of the WRC events. Owner Dave Bramwell's superbly presented 85 Belgium Tarmac Championship T16 will remind us how nimble these cars were.

Renault 5 Maxi Turbo...
Rarely seen in action these days-two of these 1400cc pocket rockets are entered. The first one is owned/driven by Adam Keeler in his ex John Price Rallying Maxi Turbo. After a three year total rebuild this is the first outing for this car and also Adam's first time behind the wheel since the rebuild.

The second of the Maxi Turbos is an exact replica of the 1985/1986 Tour de Corse car, prepared and owned by Neil Brighton.

Talbot Sunbeam Lotus...
Last but not least we are fortunate to have two Ex-works Talbot Sunbeam Lotus in action this year. This is the first time that two Sunbeam Lotus' have been seen in action on the same Rally in 20 years.

Owner-driver Steve Rockingham's Sunbeam Lotus is again ready to kick up the dust on the Killarney Stages in his ex Stig Blomqvist car and will be looking to up the pace having experienced the Killarney Stages in 2002.

Owner-driver Gary Gee is also looking to blow the dust off his Ex-Works Sunbeam Lotus after spending the past 12 months rebuilding it with the help from the original works Team Engineer Phil Davidson.

During the two days we experienced some 19 Special Stages and 200 Stage miles over some of the most demanding Irish roads. On Saturday we witnessed very heavy rain and fog which was a tad demanding for the novices.

As one would expect, owning, preparing and running these 70's and 80's Ex-works Rally cars is a challenge. On the first Special Stage, Molls Gap, we witnessed the Nissan 240 RS retire with a broken oil pump and one of the Porches off the road to rejoin us later. Although we all look out for one another's best interest, it was a difficult day with 11 Special Stages on the first day. We did our best to put up with the torrential rain and fog.

My Ex-works David Llewellin Group A Coupe quattro lost a wiper arm at the end of SS1. My co-driver Aelred and I struggled on for the rest of the day with one wiper-boy was that an experience-especially when we caught the two Porsche 911 ST's on Special Stages 4 and 5.

Day two saw a further eight Special Stages, and with the exception of the Nissan 240 RS and the Rothmans Porsche which blew an oil pipe, we were all up for SS 12 "Molls Gap" Twenty-three miles of hell, but now at least the roads were starting to dry out in places.

Setting off at one minute intervals and having got into the swing of things on SS13-Beallaghbeama, both Aelred and I with the help of some good pace notes caught the Peugeot T16 much to the driver's amazement and held or own until the Stage end.

Two Stages later we surprised ourselves again when with only two kilometers to go we also caught the Metro 6R4. This proves that a coupe Quattro, with only 200 bhp in the wet is just as good as a 400 bhp Group B car.

At SS16, Molls Gap, we started to see the Slowly Sideways group cars reduce in number due to mechanical or electrical problems. To our surprise, we saw John Hanlon in his immaculate A2 quattro parked up mid stage stricken with engine problems. Ouch-expensive!

Aelred and I finished the last Special Stage SS19 with a sigh of relief apart from loosing a wiper arm. Day one ended with no problems, no accidents, and no prizes, but the best prize was to finish in one piece. All we did all weekend was to put fuel in the petrol tank and enjoy the 200 miles of Special Stages.

When we returned to the podium we learnt that out of the 12, Group B cars and one Group A car, that only Aelred and I plus one of the Lotus Sunbeam Talbot's had completed all the 19 Special Stages during the weekend. It was democratically decided that the good old faithful Group A Coupe quattro had finished first in Class-not difficult as mine was the only Group A entrant. More importantly, however, we had finished second overall.

So I think you will all agree it's fair to say-Vorsprung durch Technik! Until next time-keep it sideways.

Dave Preece
Chairman/Secretary
quattro Owners Club (UK)
www.rallyofthelakes.com
www.quattroownersclub.com
Copyright-Images courtesy of www.Rallygallery.com