Just about climbing out of bed and
slinging the overalls on, we made it to Terry Coventrys house where we met
to go to the start. On route we were passing dad’s business ‘Moss Motors’
and doing the usual check we spotted a white van with blacked out windows
which as you can imagine is not the best thing to see. But on further
inspection it turned out to be car 78 a red midget immerging from a
trailer.
Finally to the start which was
at what’s becoming the usual start venue SKF. After passing scrutineering
we went to sign on and receive the route card and competition numbers
(28). After a quick bacon roll and a chit chat it was time for the off.
Crawley: The first
challenge of the day with its large drainage channels and slightly
slippery surface. We new in the old Y Type we had a challenge on our
hands. Letting the tyres down to 10psi I thought we would fly it. With not
a lot of traction of the line we were unable to back off much for the
first drainage channel, Hitting the first corner with as much speed as
possible we scrabbled are way to the top of the section.
Crooked Mustard: With no
pressure to climb the hill (as there is with the Imp)
we eased the Y of the line and settled for a respectable 8 ‘That will do’
we said. Very well done Dave Haizelden for doing yet another miracle with
that front wheel drive Golf.
Axe: A very long
surprisingly steep muddy lane, ‘our challenge’ hill as we named it. It was
hard and showed just what a challenge pre war car are, so yes we had
failed, but it was a fair attempt. Phillip Tucker in his
Escort Estate made a
very good climb here as he was a early number (21).
Nailsworth Ladder: A
very old section that we feared failing because of the pure embarrassment
of all the people witnessing your failure, But luckily we flew up there
all 1172cc’s singing-‘Result’.
Over the valley to-
Ham Mill: Another very
old hill that would be a doddle in the Imp. Was
a full throttle challenge and was great fun. After quickly putting some
air in the tyres we were back on the road again. Nick Farmer lost the
trial hear with a tyre spinning in the wheel
Wicked Juniper: A fairly
steep, very slick and generally not to suit the Y section but we gave it
our full effort, We waited and had a chat to Jim Scott and his gang from
reading who were doing a very fine job managing the section.
Pheasants Run: A new
section which was steep and muddy with a nasty corner and a tree staring
you in the face. Hear we had a much better climb than we anticipated,
bouncing and revving as hard a possible. In fact, bouncing so much that
the engine note was being stalled I had the instruction of dad to stop
bouncing and let the engine recover a bit, a slight dip of the clutch and
we were soon attacking the deadly corner. Turning in and hoping for the
best we grabbed a 5 stopping just inside the restart box. Nigel Scotford
was my climb of the day hear in his Skoda.
Merve Swerve: We knew
that we had no hope of cleaning this little devil of a section which also
saw many over cars fail including eventual winner Mike Workman. Creditable
climbs hear went to Dick Bolt, Tris White (Tubby) and Nick
Farmer, all having disadvantages with either
having to stop or being an early number or in nicks case an early number
and having to stop.
Highwood Special Test 1:
Starting on (A) left of a cone and astride (B), only taking it steady we
had a mid range time. Highwood Special Test 2: Again starting on (A) going
in between two cones which were very cleverly placed and stooping astride
(B).
With the special tests done we
moved onto-
Highwood 1: With the
ever cheerful Bristol team, we had are tyres checked and were ready for
the off. Starting down hill we fired of the line and hit the ruts, gaining
a 3 ‘we were happy’, a quick yank from a Bristol Land Rover
and we had access to-.
Highwood 2: Very steep,
very slippery and this year proving un-climbable,
we managed a (8), maybe we could have gone a little further but are main
concern was coming back down the gradient.
Climperwell: The first
restart of the day. A muddy track that winds through the trees, we pulled
away looking for the restart and more importantly where to stop. It was
located on a very rooted patch, we thought we had stopped perfectly but as
we were soon to find out we did not move an inch. After revering behind
the restart box and having a run at it we realised some nasty chicanes had
been added, which snatched a few class positions of people one being Bryan
Phipps, His Marlin decided it wasn’t going to steer into the chicane.
Bull Banks 1: With a
restart for classes 3-8 we new we should be alright. On approaching the
restart box we decided that it was particularly evil this year and would
claim a few class positions and so it did, Nigel Moss in his Blue Troll
lost second class position hear.
Bull Banks 2: we had our
second and last restart of the day here, a surprisingly steep section that
has a marble like surface claimed yet a another failure out of the old
‘Y’, we moved but not quit far enough to get over the dinosaur eggs.
The last section of the day-.
Station Lane: As
described by somebody as the marmite section ‘You either love it or you
hate it’. Personally I think it’s a good section that suits some cars and
not others e.g. Beetles storm up there Imps
ground out, BMW’s fly up there Escorts ground
out. Bill Bennett, failing just before the section ends board (about a
yard) but what a climb none the less. We stopped just before the 5 marker
here, which we were very pleased with. On are way back down I hoped out
for a watch of the rest of the entry and soon got back to the pub to sign
off, get a drink and listen out for the results.
A Fantastic day that made me
realise what a challenge class 2 cars are. Very big thanks to the marshals
I think they did I great job and I think you will agree.
Page added 10 March 2010
