Report

The C&A Motor Club’s committee faced a difficult decision when original Clerk of the Course for the 2019 J.J.Brown Rally, Peredur Davies, was appointed to a new position at work and was no longer able to commit the time required to organise the event. The committee reluctantly decided, on Thursday, 28^th November, that the event should be cancelled. However, within two days, a new team had volunteered and a hurried meeting on the following Saturday evening established that Shaun Bee and Gruff Parry would be joint Clerks of the Course with a supporting cast of Dion Bee, Osian Jones, Sian Elen Jones, Nia Thomas and Dafydd Edwards. Beespeed of Cibyn, Caernarfon, offered title sponsorship and O.G.Owen & Son continued the support they have provided since 2017.

With only five weeks to go, time was of the essence to have the route authorisation application confirmed and the Supplementary Regulations submitted to Motorsport UK and Permit applied for. Most importantly, the PR work had to be undergone with visits to properties along the route and notification to all residents. The online entries system was opened on November 10^th and applications came in at a surprising rate, so much so that consideration was given to applying for an increase to the maximum of 60 cars, However, it transpired that it was a little late in the day to take the application forward and the limit would have to stay as originally established.

In all, 69 entries were received but there were withdrawals for various reasons and the final start list was of sixty crews, with all reserves being offered a place. Heading the list were Sean Crowley and Daniel Jones in a Ford Escort, followed by the Escorts of Emyr jones and Max Freeman at two and Stephen Kerr/Huw Manion at three. Emyr and Max almost missed out with the Escort developing an electrical fault and they only just made the signing-on deadline after managing to cure the fault.
Number four away were Lee Matthews and Matthew Henry in the Astra borrowed from Lee’s son Sion as the Consul Capri was not ready; at five was the Peugeot 205 of Dewi Hughes/Gethin Povey and at six the Seat Ibiza of Wil Evans/Sarah Robson. Completing the top ten were Robin Williams/Jason Chinery (Peugeot 206), Gwyndaf Evans/Ieuan Owen (Honda Civic), Gryffydd Jones/Andrew Baines (Vauxhall Nova) and the Mk2 Escort of Robyn Jones/Aron Jones.

The start and finish of the rally was at Plas Menai with trailer park and noise check at the Cibyn Industrial Estate and scrutineering at Beespeed. The ninety-mile route comprised of twelve timed sections. Competitors left the start at one-minute intervals from 00.01 hours to face a nine-minute section to the south of Bethel and Llanddeiniolen towards Rhiwlas. It was not the start that everyone hoped for and amongst the early retirements were Matthews/Henry having a slight mishap resulting in a broken driveshaft; early bath at this stage also for Berwyn Evans/Merfyn Williams in the Escort.
There followed a fifteen-minute run from Pentir, north towards Bangor then east to Caerhun, Glasinfryn and through the famous Llandygai ford and then a challenging four miler from Talybont through Crymlyn. There followed two short sections south-east of Y Felinheli to Llanddeiniolen and a slightly trickier one from Llanrug to Ceunant. The final two sections before the petrol halt went up from Waunfawr to Rhosgadfan and then over towards Groeslon.

The halt at Dolydd saw Jones/Freeman holding a lead of eleven seconds over Crowley/Jones with Kerr/Manion a further 27 seconds adrift. Ben King/Paul Clarke in a Peugeot205 led the semi-experts by just two seconds from the Mk2 Escort of Gareth Edwards/Dafydd Roberts. In the novice class Phillip Roberts/Andrew Campbell in a Toyota Yaris led by over a minute from the Nissan Micra of Gwion Jones/Gareth Flynn.
What was probably the toughest section of the night was to follow the petrol stop – a 24 minuter through Nebo and following traditional J.J.Brown territory through Bwlch-derwin and Mynachdy Gwyn to Clynnog Fawr. Two short sections between Aberdesach, Pontllyfni and Penygroes followed before sections 11 and 12 from Llandwrog to Saron and, finally, Foryd to Caernarfon along the foreshore.

Crews returned to Plas Menai to enjoy a welcome breakfast and await the results. The pre-start problem with the Jones/Freeman Escort had obviously been well and truly cured as they ran out overall winners by 26 seconds from Crowley/Jones, with Kerr/Manion in third place. The crew of King/Clarke comfortably held on to first placed semi-expert and finished a very creditable ninth overall. The two leading crews in the novice class at petrol failed to complete the event leaving Alan Evans/Rhys Jones in a Fiesta to take the class and an excellent 11th overall.
Thirty-seven crews were classed as finishers over a testing route in difficult conditions. Sincere thanks go to the many marshals who braved the rain and wind throughout the night to ensure that the event ran smoothly and for their significant contribution, Rhian Jones and Catrin Jones were awarded the Spirit of the Rally prize. Thanks also to Duncan Littler for use of the photos of some of the award winners in action (see slideshow above and the gallery).
Many congratulations to all the award winners and well done to everyone that finished the rally.

FULL RESULTS AND LIST OF AWARD WINNERS BELOW

View Gallery

Results

AWARD WINNERS
First Overall: Car 2 – Emyr Jones / Max Freeman (Ford Escort)
1^st Expert: Car 1 – Sean Crowley / Daniel Jones (Ford Escort) ... 2nd overall.
2^nd Expert: Car 3 – Stephen Kerr / Huw Manion (Ford Escort) ... 3rd.
3^rd Expert: Car 17 – Tom Evans / Justin Campbell (Ford Escort) ... 4th.
1^st Semi Expert: Car 26 – Ben King / Paul Clarke (Peugeot 205) ... 9th.
2^nd Semi Expert: Car 33 - Aron Pierce / Steven Jones (Ford Fiesta) ... 12th.
3^rd Semi Expert: Car 34 – Adam Jones / Iwan Williams (Volkswagen Golf Mk2) ... 16th.
1^st Novice: Car 45 – Alan Evans / Rhys Jones (Ford Fiesta) ... 11th.
2^nd Novice: Car 37 – Ifan Devine / Thomas Devine (Citroen Saxo VTR) ... 14th.
3^rd Novice: Car 40 – Osian Nash / Tomos Lloyd (Peugeot 106) ... 15th.
Best under 1400 cc: Car 19 – Huw Gwyn jones / Aled Pennant (MG ZR) ... 10th.
Best Presented Car: Car 14 – Richard Thompson / Roger Evans (Suzuki Swift Sport)
Spirit of the Rally award: Rhian Jones & Catrin Jones.

Results summary available here: 2019 JJBrown Results Summary
Detailed chart available here: 2019 JJBrown Time Penalties and Fails

Latest

Seeded list of entries now available here: Entry List 2019.
Final Instructions published here: Final Instructions 2019

Marshals

MARSHAL BOOKING is now OPEN for the Beespeed JJ Brown Memorial Rally.
Booking by PHONE CALL only between 5pm and 9pm! (No private messages, etc.).
Thank you,
Dion Bee - Chief Marshal - 07544 840234

Information

We are pleased to announce that Beespeed Ltd of Caernarfon is to be the title sponsor of the 2019 J.J.Brown Rally. We are very grateful for the support and also thank O.G.Owen & Son Ltd, Bangor Street, Caernarfon for their support and continued association with the event.

The rally is a Clubman status event, which means that it is only open to paid-up members of Caernarvonshire & Anglesey Motor Club - competitors will be required to produce a valid membership card, renew membership on the night or submit a membership application form on the night (see section on Forms & Documents below). A Motorsport UK Competition Licence is NOT required.
The rally will start and finish at Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre ,Y Felinheli, LL55 1UE; map reference 115/503 660 and we are grateful to their people for their continued support. The route will be approximately 90 miles on O.S. Map 115 (Snowdonia) and all crews will be required to supply a marshal.

Insurance - Competitors should please read the Supplementary Regulations regarding the JELF insurance arrangements. Drivers who wish to use the scheme but cannot comply with the stated requirements MUST apply for a Letter of Acceptance as soon as possible. Competitors who do not have the appropriate Third Party cover will not be allowed to start and the entry fee will not be refunded.

The Supplementary Regulations will be published and online entries open at noon on Sunday, 10th November.
Supplementary Regulations available here: 2019 Beespeed JJ Brown SRs
Online entry form available here: Beespeed JJBrown Entry Form

Unseede list of paid-up entries is now available here: Unseeded Entry List

Forms & Documents

You may require one or more of the following in order to compete on the event. Please read the Supplementary Regulations in order to establish what you need.
Jelf Driver Declaration form to apply for a Letter of Acceptance: 2019 Road Section Driver Declaration Form.
C&A Motor Club membership application form - Become A Member

A competitor under 18 years old whose parent, guardian or carer is unable to attend at signing-on, will need a person authorised to sign on behalf of the parent, guardian or carer and produce this completed consent form - 2019 Parental Consent Authorisation.