2003 Safari Tasmania

[Micky G]

Hi all,
What a great finish to the year for the SG3D Dell Team!
We had a tough start to the Rally with some fuel issues on day one. Temperatures had soared to 34 degrees in the Tassie forest and the mighty Subaru felt the heat as the fuel pumps almost failed. The three stages of Claypit Paddys & Uxbridge Short were only just completed with the car spluttering & coughing to the service. The service boys Steve Graeme & Ian were camping in luxury at the One World transporter and gave the beast a fresh dose of cold ELF. This cooled the pumps and provided new lease on life, we blasted through the final 3 stages on Saturday knocking off the likes of Juha, Brett Comber & Mark Haybittle on the Baskerville stage and finishing 7th outright.
Day 2 again tough with one set of tyres going off in just 5k. A great drive by Michael saw us finish 13th outright even knocking off Brad Goldsborough and setting a dead equal time with Simon Evans on the Super Special.
We finished the year second in class to Brad and Dale at ARC level, got a fastest stage time in Queensland, secured the Manufacturers Championship for Subaru in Perth and completed 2 WRCs. Whew can't wait till next year!
Micky G

[Matt Sosi]

One thing Micky G has forgotton is that when he had the fuel problems on the Saturday, he nearly ended his rally in a huge hole in Uxbridge Short.

It was at the 2nd SOS Point, a TL at TJ across a narrow culvert. The road was a large main road coming and when you turned in, it narrowed considerably.

Micky T came in way to hot, should of been in 3rd gear not 4th as he told me later, when into a ditch, up on two wheels, across the hole and logs that were there and managed to continue on. Channel 10 was also at the same spot and we all thought this is going to be a big one and were waiting the all mighty hit.

From my point of view, really enjoyed the experience down there. And if there is anyone from Canberra who wants to help out in any ARC, you are very much welcome with open arms. A number of co-drivers came up to me and said, "at least you know what to do".

Matt