TAVISTOCK rally driver Simon Allen steered a course to success when he won the 2002 Regency Stages Rally last weekend by being 'either crazy or brave'.
Simon, aged 43, is proprietor of Tavistock Tyre and Exhaust Services and has been rallying for 26 years, already having a number of wins under his belt.
At the rally at Brean Leisure Park near Weston-Super-Mare, Simon and co-driver/navigator Clive Mitchelmore from Plymouth took their MG Metro 2800cc 6R4 through the 12 stages in 44 minutes 33 seconds.
Simon said the rally had been 'very hard work': 'There were three or four very quick cars and we were swapping times.
'The weather was really wet and terrible on the Saturday, with a lot of lying water, but I go better in those conditions and I think we won it that day.'
The weather started to dry slightly on the Sunday, and by mid-morning they had lost their lead. 'We were either crazy or brave and put slick tyres on the rear — but it worked and we pulled back 14 seconds,' Simon said.
With a lead of six seconds going into the final stage, the couple eventually won by only three seconds.
'At speeds of 120mph-plus you have to keep your nerve and hang on to the lead!' said Simon.
Their next outing will be in March at the Tour of Cornwall Rally, when they will be up against 'very expensive and fast machinery'.