Oswaldtwistle rallyman is a star in Belgium

4:44pm Thursday 17th April 2008

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RALLYMAN Gary Gee entertained spectators on the TAC Rally in Belgium after being invited to demonstrate his ex-works Opel Manta 400.

Gee joined other members of the Slowly Sideways group - a band of rally enthusiasts who own legendary Group B rally cars - for a series of runs ahead of the 150-strong main field in the Belgian Rally Championship.

A total of 12 cars and crews from Slowly Sideways took part, ranging from an Audi Quattro S1 to a genuine group B Lada Riva from Russia.

"The weather was very wet and windy, which made the stages technically very demanding," explained Gary, who lives in Oswaldtwistle.

"The trick was to keep out of the large ditches that run alongside and using the cuts on the bends to keep the car on the cambered roads.

"We had to run without any clutch pedal on most of the afternoon stages, but we were one of only three group B cars to make it to the end.

"The whole demonstration proved a big spectator attraction and the TAC Rally organisers have invited us back again next year."

l Gary Gee would like to thank RVL for their car preparation and sponsor Triple A Road Rescue of Clayton-le-Moors.