Letters Page

From Ken Green kengreen@landcrab2.freeserve.co.uk Date: 28/02/00 22:49

RE: MCC Events that you are welcom to enter

You are invited to both these events MCC members will get the entry forms in the club mail.

Road Runs

OR

What to do if the Sun Shines

After the Exeter Historic we decided that it would be a good idea to expand the summer activities of the MCC from one Road Run to two and invite some selected clubs to the events. Both are all tarmac and non damaging.

The events are suitable for any road legal vehicle, in the past everything from the family shopping car to pre WW1 belt driven Motorcycles have entered, It always amazes me what vehicles people have hidden in their Garages.

The first event is The Summer Run, this has been a great success and the format will be the same as previous years, that is a leisurely drive round the Cotswold’s with some pre-war tarmac trials hills for you to storm up.

This year the date is 4th July, starting and finishing at Mickleton in the Cotswolds - as in past years, I can’t tell you where we will be going I don’t know myself – yet! Enter and turn up on the day and find out! The route will be about 80 miles of motoring down byways, a cream tea will be available at the finish – please pre-book this with your entry.

The new event is The Mid-Summer Run for the people who live in the "Frozen North" and will cover the Derbyshire and Cheshire areas.

It will start at Ashbourne and finish at a Private Museum in Cheshire.

The route will be approx. 80 miles long and there will be a "Something to do on the route" element for the car crew to keep them awake.

There are refreshments close to the finish at a café.

The date is the 23rd July entry forms for both events will be sent in the usual MCC mailings. The Summer Run with Triple and The Mid-Summer Run with the AGM posting

If you are not a MCC member please send let me know if you want to do the event and I will Email you a set.

So clear the date(s) in your Diary and we hope to see you on the events in your Pride and Joy, so get polishing now!

Ken Green

From John Rhodes john@jdrhodes.freeserve.co.uk

26 January 2000

Here in the classic trial starved wilds of deepest, darkest Yorkshire we do not often get a chance for real sporting action. I have the opportunity to visit my recently removed daughter in Exeter on condition that I look after her screaming brats for an evening as well as take in a local trial. I am due to go for the weekend of 20th Feb, which I believe is the Holworthy. Where is it, who is on email that I can contact and is it worth a six hundred mile round trip, the screaming brats don't count.

Yours

John Rhodes

Editors Comment:- Can anyone give John any advice on this one?

From James Alexander James.Alexander@certa.com

30 December 1999

Dear Mike,

JABS gets two mentions in two months !!!! I cant believe it. At long last a motor club covering the often ignored and noble art of sporting trials, magic, thanks very much again. Did you get my last mail ??

In response to one comment regarding the JABS being much like a small truck may I defend the ethos that surrounds the JABS experience.

She is built to make the most of the cast iron block, that is to add stability on arduous climbs and steep cambers. Indeed the great John Boswell has often commented on the added grip afforded on full lock as a result of the iron engine. Wet weight 280 kilos, 70 horse power, (250 hp/tonne)

True, she is no mountain goat admittedly but in terms of fulfilling the following criteria she is the best car in the world. To drip oil on my garage floor/drive/trailer/face (Delete as appropriate) To make a lot of noise going on the trailer at 10 pm or 6 am (delete as appropriate) To stimulate conversation whenever she see's the light of day. " I remember seeing these on television" to quote an oft said line. To remind me of the halcyon days of my childhood when all hills were climable !!

Anyway must get on now, I have 5 tonnes of coal to collect from Northampton, better get the JABS out !!!!

With best wishes and in good humour,

Please pass on my best wishes to all the members for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

I am yours etc.

James Alexander

Editors Comment:-

Many thanks for your e-mails. Sorry I didn't reply to the first one. I have been really sick now for nearly a month. However, I am now feeling a bit better and coming back to the world of the living! Appreciate your mails - which I will add to the "letters" page so others may share!

btw - The stuff on the site is what I am interested in - Beetles - Classic Trials and anything to do with Falcon Motor Club + What other people contribute. I would really like to expand it to include more on PCT's, Sporting Trials and Bikes - but I need help!

Best wishes

Michael

PS - Have you tried to join the community?

From Robert Porter RP4252@aol.com

21 December 1999

Michael

First I enjoy reading Classical Gas its great keep it up. I noticed that you were looking for a Trials Marlin there is one for sale in the Marlin OC mag. I have a swb Roadster not yet prepared hence the call.

Do you of anyone who can fit Ford diffs into Leyland axles, the vans are very rare now.

I have attached an article written for the MOC mag about using may Marlin in the Liege Targa event earlier this year. It was printed in the current mag , if you would like to use it or part for CG feel free, I know its wasn`t a trial but the Marlin connection might be of interest. PS I used to use Beetles in Classic trials a while back and the bug`s biting again.

Yours in sport

Robert Porter

From Nick Woolett nickwoollett@hotmail.com

16 November 1999

Thanks for an excellent web site which I find most interesting. Keep up the good work. I have recently purchased a Mk 1 Dellow, MTT 667 which I hope to use in MCC and a few ACTC events next year. Have you progressed with the Dellow site because there was a reference to it somewhere on your site when I looked previously.

You may remember my not very successful efforts on the 1992 Exeter and Land's End in a Talbot Solara !! We finished both events but had a problem with the tight corners at the start of Bluehills.

The history of various hills is particularly interesting. Do you have any information about similar events held in the past in our part of the world (Kent, Surrey and Sussex).

Regards

Nick Woollett

Editors Comment:- No progress on the Dellow piece as I really havn't got stuck into the research yet.

Personally the only event I know about down your way is the Invicta which was last held about four years ago. I competed on it twice and actually won my class on one event. The only time I have won anything on a Classic apart from my MCC medals.

Can anyone help Nick?

Michael

From James Alexander James.Alexander@certa.com

22 December 1999

Michael,

I read with great memories of my day at the Gill Morrell Memorial Trial you article refering to my old bean tin and the great Boswell. Splendid journalism - many thanks. I never met Gill but remember the sun shone all day and everyone had a smile on them that day.

On the subject of trials pictures I know that one of the Fack twins had his car in Autocar ?? some 3 months ago, that may be a good place to look either on the Autocar webpage or by request of back issue. ???

Bit busy right now but will type later.

Best regards

James Alexander

From Mike Furse by Snail Mail

Sent with his Edinburgh report sometime at the end of October

....... On another topic, I enjoyed The Jenkins Chapel debate in Classical Gas (the hard copy one in the Falcon magazine). I think I've found you another one. Again it involves Roger Thomas' MG Trials Cars book which, incidently, I enjoy re-reading regularly. On page 48 there is a large picture of Macdermid on New Mill in 1937. From the competition number, it is obviously not an MCC event. On page 53 there is a picture of Toulmin at New Mill on the 1938 Lands End. C.A.N. May states that New Mill was a new hill on the 1938 Lands End (page 141, Wheelspin). To me, these pictures are not taken on the same hill, unless the start and watersplash are further down the hill to the left of the p 48 picture. May suggests that it would not have been a difficult hill on an MCC event. Did the MCC route turn left at the cottage and up the "escape" route, whereas on this small event the cars had to turn right up the edge of the field? Judging by the lack of wheeltracks, the failed car (?) at the bottom and the wheelspin of the Musketeer, this would appear to have been difficult. Tuck's book lists only one trials section called New Mill, with no location details, so that's no help. I would guess that the 1938 Lands End picture is captioned correctly, but where is the other one if the foregoing surmises are not true? And which event was this? The cottage is of a style and construction common in the Chilterns (brick and flint), but Thomas does not list a New Mill in MGCC Chiltern Trials.

Want another? What happened in 1936 to make Maidensgrove and Crowell so difficult on the MG Chilterns Trial? (Thomas - p78).

Does Roger Thomas know we're pulling his book to pieces!!

Mike Furse

Editors Comment: There is lots more on this topic over at the Classical Gas Web Community

From Mike Warnes Mike.Warnes@btinternet.com

21st October 1999

Hi Michael,

Have a look at the route tab on this page - it makes our local route cards a bit short!! http://www.carnet.co.uk/rallyoffice/html/around_the_world.html

Hope all is going well with your trialing - my Husky goes mutch better with the 2.0 Sierra injection motor (complete car for 70 pounds!). Last weeks Exmoor trial resulted in two punctures ans a very noisy propshaft U/J - it had no needles in two journels when we finally got home.

Mike Warnes, Exmouth

From Kevin Barnes kevin@barnes74.freeserve.co.uk

21st October 1999

I've been having another look round the sight, I tried logging on to your web community but it dosnt seem to have worked.

I couldnt find the message/article that was around a few weeks ago, regarding trials hills names, I would like to see this again, one that wasnt mentioned was "Tin Pan Alley" MG Car Club Abingdon Trial. I know it had another name but have mislaid it maybe someone else could help. We tried searching for this section a year ago but believe a road to be in its place. Evidently it was a mud bath and there is a picture of the section in Wheelspin.

Cheers Kevin

Editors Comment: The Trials Hill name piece is by Andrew Brown and is on the Web Community at http://communities.msn.co.uk/ClassicalGasForTrialsenthusiasts There was a problem last week as Microsoft took the Communities down for a few days while they did some upgrades. I checked it this morning and it's working fine so let me know if you have any problems.

Michael

From: Sue Jamieson (Tuckers daughter) jamieson@lasertesting.co.uk

To: mleete@compuserve.com
Subject: Classical Gas - The Tucker-Peakes.
Date: 29 September 1999 10:26 pm

Dear Michael,

The wonders of modern science, I wonder what Dad would have thought of seeing and reading about himself on the net!. I have been visiting your site occasionally for a while, but felt compelled to write and acknowledge and say thank you for the wonderful article on the family. Perhaps I could take the opportunity to give you an update and also add some coincidental links.

Firstly, Yes Jeff and I are now living in Launceston, which was not planned but a true coincidence, and am proud to carry on the connection with the Lands End Trial, but we are itching to return to competing in it when other pressures allow, and are currently looking at, dare I say it a Marlin?.  My other main involvement with motorsport is that I am currently Chairman of the British Women Racing Drivers Club, the only organisation looking after the interest of Women in Motorsport, details on us can be found on www.bwrdc.co.uk - for many years our membership, which is by invitation and for holders of National A licences, has been around the 70 odd mark, but following an joint initiative with the MSA approx. 3 yrs ago, and applying for funds from their development fund, to finance a promotion to make the public more aware that women can compete in motorsport, we have totalled around 130 for a couple of years now.

I noticed the picture of the Quiz team in 1972, whether this was the year or not, but I do recall many battles with a team from Camel Vale Motor Club, (not far from me now) and a certain member of their team, who never seemed to get it wrong, Peter Tuthill, well interestingly enough I have just teamed up with him to embark on the publishing of a Book about women in Motorsport, , he is great historian, and not long after we moved hear, (5 yrs ago), he contacted me as he was about the publish a book on Davidstow,, which I am sure you must have seen, which also features quite a bit about the time when Dad raced there.

On another of your pages, mention is made of A F Rivers Fletcher, coincidentally too, the BWRDC have just appointed a new Treasurer, namely, Yvonne Rivers-Fletcher, wife of Jeremy, one of 'Rivers' s sons, and they HillClimb a very interesting Homebuilt Triumph Special - a real classical gas contender, and can just about be seen on the bwrdc webpage under the Coys Festival report. ( The light blue one in the foreground).

I think that's all for now, I am about to start on the SSR's for the Lands End Trial!. A wonderful site and long may it continue.

Susan TP-Jamieson

10 September

From Ron Warren by Royal Mail

Dear Michael,

Your article on the Tucker-Peakes is very good. When HTP left Cornwall for Welwyn, he had digs in Welwyn Garden City and it was there he met Bety.

When I moved to Stevenage late 1935, Shelford and Crowe was a well established business run by Jack Shelford and Bertie Crowe and both were still active in the business when they took the TP's into partnership.

Looking at Classic Car Weekly I see Rivers Fletcher has died. I remember Rivers and his Bugattiat the first Falcon Speed Trials at Tewin.

Yours ...

Editors Comment - I was delighted to receive this letter from Ron who I know to my cost does not suffer fools gladly. Hopefully I can get some of his many experiences down on paper as the basis for future articles.

12 September 1999

From: Peter Davis mailto:peter@liegecars.freeserve.co.uk

Michael,

Really enjoy your site, thank you for including the Liege Classic Sporting Car in your links. I would be grateful if you would add a link to the Liege-Targa-Liege 1999 Endurance Trail site which may be of interest to class class 7 owners. There are 57 hand built cars entered in this years trial. The route takes cars from Liege in Belgium to the Targa Florio in Sicily and back again. No competition licence is required. The trial starts on the 25th September and finishes on 7th October 1999.

123 competitors booked into 14 hotels through France and Italy. The Guild of Motor Endurance site is: http:www.ashford-perf.com/targa 3 of the cars entered require co-drivers, if you know anybody who may be interested?

Regards Peter Davis.

31 August 1999

From John Lees johnlees65@cwcom.net

Dear Mike,

Very interesting to read your 'classical gas', I am actually a motorcyclist when it comes to competing (back page of 'Triple' issue 70-that's me!).I thought I might enclose a couple of photos of an MCC 3-wheeler being built in deepest Cornwall, it should appear in the Exeter 2000 for its first outing . The owner will be competing in the 'Edinburgh' on his Tiger Cub in the meantime.What is it ,who is building it ? All will be revealed in due course.

John Lees, Penzance.

Click on the thumbnails to see the full pictures.

Editors Comment:- Many thanks for the pics John, looks like an awesome machine. Hopefully you will be able to give us updates on the progress.

Michael

MORE ON JENKINS

24 July 1999

From: Kevin Barnes kevin@barnes74.freeserve.co.uk
To: Michael Leete <leete@leete.free-online.co.uk>
Subject: Jenkins Chapel becomes Wrynose Pass?
Date: 23 July 1999 19:53

Hello Michael,

Just seen the Jenkins Chapel debate and thought I would try and help.

I to have been to the hill before we found out that the MCC still use the hill under a different name. My impression was that it wasnt the so called "Terror" that it once was but was definetly the right hill.

This image (jenk1.jpg) shows Roddy Baker in a 1.5 litre Le Mans Singer in the Derbyshire Sporting Trial 1934 it a different view of the hill at the first corner that I see you have some modern pictures off.

That stone wall wasnt there if I recall on my visit and the angle of the track looks to have changed providing an easier asscent.

One of the thing that did confuse me with my visit was funnily enough the MG Picture of Lewis Welch that I had with me. Were on the hill was this taken. It looks to flat unless taken at the top somewhere. I have a possible solution to this. I go with the miscaptioning idea of the picture. I think that (99% sure) the picture may actually be of Wrynose Pass on the London-Edinburgh. I enclose another picture of my grandfather J.D.Barnes on this section.

(wrynose.jpg) Its not as good quality as the MG picture but after studying it at high zoom levels I belive that some of the people and features in the background are the same as in the MG picture. I have higlighted them on the MG image highlighted.(mg.jpg). I will have a look at the competition numbers for that trial to see if I am right when I get time.


The caption of the original picture says "J.D.Barnes entering the second loop of the tricky Wrynose Pass Climb in the London-Edinburgh". I think the MG by the way is on the first corner just before this picture was taken.

Hope this sheds some light/debate on the picture.

Kevin Barnes

(p.s I also have some general comments on Jenkins Chapel if you want me to dig them out e.g features, gradient, and description from pre-war files)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kevin Barnes
EMail kevin@barnes74.freeserve.co.uk
Singer Car Web http://www.barnes74.freeserve.co.uk/singer/index.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editors Comment:- Thanks Kevin (whose grandfather was the well known driver F. S. Barnes). I think we are getting closer and closer to solving this mystery. I havn't posted Kevins pictures yet. I will do that soon in conjunction with a new page drawing all the Jenkins stuff together.

Can anyone else chip in? btw - If you han't seen Kevin's site you should drop by http://www.barnes74.freeserve.co.uk/singer/index.htm There is some good stuff on Classic Trials.

LANDS END ON THE TELLY

30 June

From Stuart Cairney Stuartc@btinternet.com

Michael,

Don't know if you get Meridian ITV channel where you are but tonight at 10.30 there was a prog called The Road Show which included about 3minutes of this year's Land's End. I just managed to get the video on in time to capture shots of Hazel's climb of Blue Hills 2 along with 'Super Dud' and Primrose with yours truly screeching to a halt on the Penzance test. If you didn't catch it I'll lend you the original tape.

See you soon

Stuart.

Editors Comment:- Guess what. Despite Mike Hayward e-mailing me over the week-end, and me intending to put a trailer on the site I missed it as I was watching my favourite American cop show on Channel 4!

26 June 1999

From Pat Toulmin ptoulmin@motorcars.free-online.co.uk

Michael,

Further to the debate about Jenkins Chapel, the photo of Lewis Welch is not on Jenkins Chapel. Indeed it is not even of the 1935 Sporting Trial - in Donald Cowbourne's excellent and well researched trials book, details found on www.ukmotorsport.com/actc/history/bibliography.html, Lewis Welch was number 89 on the Sporting Trial (see page 463). In the photo you publish he was number 75 and this is the number he ran on the 1935 Edinburgh Trial, 7th and 8th June. This had 4 sections only - Park Rash, Summer Lodge, Wrynose and Hard Knott. The latter two are in the Lake District and it seems likely that the photo is on one of these.(See pages 190, 256 and 283)

I attach two photos that Maurice Toulmin stated are Jenkins Chapel. Both photos are by W J Brunell. The one of JB 7521 we took with us on the walk with Tony and Derek and we were able to confirm that it is Jenkins, the buillding is still there and the approach road was very characteristic and exactly the correct shape. This photo was used as the basis of the drawing on the cover of Roger Thomas's excellent book on pre war MG Trials Cars, published in 1995. We have other photos of Maurice on Jenkins Chapel.

It should be fairly easy to check the Morgan one, the fields in the background are a characteristic shape.

Best wishes,

Pat

PS The section which we use today on the MCC Edinburgh Trial known as Calton was called Taddington Moor in the 1930s.


Editors Comment - Super to get this e-mail from Pat (Editor of Re-Start, Author of the ACTC web sire and co-organiser of the Cle Hills). I plan to publish the pictures she enclosed as soon as I can grab a few minutes from the day job.

28 June 99

From JohnMacG@aol.com

KTM 191 on your thumbnail

The above is a Dellow,Chassis No. 3311151, Engine No.C631640. Current owner R.Fransen The chap in the picture is Ron Dellingpole founder of the car , his partner was Ron Lowe hence the name Dellow. A healthy Dellow register exists,for all you need to know contact Jim Harvey. My own car is a Dellow Mark 1, 1950  I look forward to your summer article

John.

Editors Comment:- Now guys and gals, John's not 100% right is he. Any other ideas?

22nd June 1999

From Andrew Brown andrew.brown@SheppardRobson.com

Michael - Jenkins Chapel

Having started this correspondence I thought I'd better do a bit of serious research. So here goes ...

I don't where you got the original photograph from, but it is on Page 34 of Roger Thomas' excellent 'M.G. Trials Cars' book where it is captioned as"Lewis Welch in Athos on the 1935 M.C.C. One Day Sporting Trial in Derbyshire at the upper part of Jenkins Chapel". The registration is clearly shown as JB 4606 and the competition number as 57.

JB 4606 was one of the three MG NEs (1287cc) which ran in the 1934 TT, were converted to trials cars for a short period in 1935 when they ran as 'The Three Musketeers' team, and were then re-converted to race cars for the 1935 TT. According to Roger Thomas they entered only four trials (Lands End, Edinburgh, Abingdon, and Rushmere) and the Welsh Rally. Donald Cowbourne's book lists Welch in a 1287cc MG Magnette in both the Lands End (No.399) and the Edinburgh (No.57), and in a 1408cc Magnette in the MCC Sporting (No.89). So, unless there is some amazing coincidence, I think it's a pretty fair assumption that the picture was taken on the 1935 Edinburgh. But where is it?

Cowbourne lists only four Observed Hills for the 1935 Edinburgh - Park Rash and Summer Lodge in the Yorkshire Dales, Wrynose Pass and Hard Knott Pass in the Lake District. I'm not familiar with any of these hills but have seen enough photographs of Park Rash and Summer Lodge to be pretty sure that it's neither of them unless the photographer stood at a particularly unusual location. There's a picture on Page 256 of the Cowbourne book of an AC in the 1935 Edinburgh at a location that looks remarkably like the Welch MG picture. So, does anyone recognise either of these pictures as somewhere on Wrynose or Hard Knott Passes?

Pat Toulmin has a lengthy account of the 1935 Edinburgh on the ACTC Web Site but it doesn't say anything really useful like "Lots of entrants failed in front of the photographer on ........"! However, from the Light Car account of the weather, and the general dullness of the two photographs, it would seem to support my view that's it one of the two Lake District hills. My money's on Wrynose Pass, but I'm not really a betting man.

Any more ideas?

Andrew

Editors Comment:- I think Andrew is getting near the truth now. He, I and a lot of others would really like to hear from anyone who can add anything to this fascinating saga. Can those of you from "trials families" repair to the loft and look through Granddad's photo album please!

Michael

13th June 1999

From Tony Branson tony.branson@cwcom.net (of DAF and now Marlin fame, one of our really keen triallers who comes all the way down from Hexham to compete)

Hello Michael,

Congratulations on an excellent website.

Reference Andrew Brown's letter about Jenkins Chapel/Corkscrew, I share his doubts that the old picture of the MG is really this hill. I too have spent some time with Jonathan Toulmin poring over old trials photos trying to recognise which section they are. It's amazing how much the landscape changes over the years, trees move and cottages sprout or lose chimneys.

After the 1993 Edinburgh Jonathan, Pat, Derek and I walked the section and I bemoaned the fact that class 3 didn't get a shot at it. I have since gone up it twice in the Marlin and my propshaft tunnel has the scars to prove it. I attach 4 photos I took that day. The first shows the section from across the valley, The second the infamous first corner with Derek having a little trouble on the restart and the other two the rocky steps in the upper reaches. Hope they are of interest.

Cheers

Tony

Editors Comment:- Very interesting E-Mail from Tony. I have published his pictures on the Jenkins page. Any other ideas on the authenticity of the original picture? If it's not Jenkins where is it?

Michael

9 June 1999

From Simon Woodall

Re: A Fishy Tale

I don't read Classical Gas as often as I might, it galls me to watch the 'phone bill ticking up! I therefore missed the above when it came out originally. I would therefore like to add two points to the storey to correct a couple of details.

1, I am not Margaret's son, she is my Aunt. I am Victors son. This is an error Tucker made when compiling the details for the MCC book and seems to have passed into history.

2. Although Margaret was the first woman to win a Triple, it is only fair to reveal the whole truth behind this. Margaret and Maralyn both achieved their goals on the same trial but as Margaret had an earlier number she finished first and therefore it was she that took the honours of being the first woman to win a Triple.

3. Woolford Special Mk2 with which Margaret won her Triple. A typical special - A7 frame plus Ford 10 engine, but with the engine so far back in the frame that the prop shaft was only six inches long. It was the overwhelming success of this vehicle that caused the RAC to introduce the spark plug to front axle measurement and thus was the National Trials Formula born!.

Editors Comment:- Great to get this E-Mail from Simon. I freely confess my accuracy isn't always up to my enthusiasm to get into print, just like a real jouurnalis! Joking apart I really appreciate this sort of help. I'm under a bit of pressure from the day job at the moment but I'll update "A Fishy Tale" as soon as I can. Many thanks Simon.

Michael

5 June 99

From, Duncan, eaysjds@nottingham.ac.uk,

Hello,

On the site that you posted about the "fishy tail story" the date says
July 97, on titles!!!!

Just thought that you might wish to know, as it may be a mistake!

Duncan

Editors Comment - July 97 is in fact correct under the perverted Classical Gas system. The site is basically an Internet version of the "real" Classical Gas which is a supplement I do for the Falcon Motor Club magazine. The dates are in fact the dates of that magazine, hence you will find July in June! "A Fishy Tail" was published in the July 97 Falcon magazine. This was also published on the first or second Internet version. After about six months I started to take stuff off the site (or so I thought) as it was so difficult to work with CompuServe's Home Page Wizard as the size grew. When I moved to Front Page I found that most of the stuff was still there and I had only killed the links! As this is the "graveyard" period with no trials to write about I decided to re-instate the link as most of you have only come on board relatively recently and probably missed the original.

Keep those E-Mails coming. I appreciate hearing from you.

Michael

28th May

From Andrew Brown (ACTC Rights of Way Officer) andrew.brown@SheppardRobson.com

Michael -

Re: Your page on Jenkins Chapel.Although I'm familiar with the picture that you show of the MG (and I too have seen it categorically captioned as being taken on Jenkins Chapel), I've never been entirely sure that this is correct. I've never been to the hill except when competing, and one never has time to look at the view from that point(!), but my recollection of waiting at the start line is that the backdrop (now of trees) is much lower and further away than shown in the MG picture. Any comments?

Jonathan Toulmin and I have a whole 'catalogue' of mis-captioned or un-captioned photographs in various books but I haven't tackled him on this one - I'm still on a 'mission' to track down the various 'Kinetons' and 'Guitings' used in 1930s before venturing further afield.

Andrew.

Editors Comment - I've always been worried about these pictures being Jenkins too. The one of Dudley definitely is as it was given to me by the photographer (Mike Furse) but I'm relying on the captions on the other pictures I scanned. Can anyone help or comment? One of the problems I have on Classical Gas is that with "the day job", Trials car preparation, home and family I don't have any time left for research! I concentrate on (hopefully) writing stuff that's fun to read and updating the site pretty often so people come back and read it regularly.

If any readers can provide any information on old trials hills both Andrew and I would love to hear from you.

Michael

27th May 1999

From Simon Clemow , simon.clemow@st.com

Hi Michael,

I'd just like to say that your site is excellent entertainment and always has well written interesting reports on the trials. As a recent recruit to the world of classic trials I always enjoy reading the articles.

One suggestion for a useful addition to the site would be a calendar of classic trials. As a beginner it would be very useful to be able to tell which trials are coming up and a contact number for entries, as I don't always know there on until they've appeared on your site!

regards

Simon

Editors Comment - Thanks for this Simon. I will certainly add a calendar and will try to do this in the next day or so.

Michael

18th May 1999

From: Andrew Brown andrew.brown@SheppardRobson.com (Andrew is the ACTC Rights of Way Officer)

Michael -

I don't think I've ever e-mailed you to let you know how much I've enjoyed your site. Pat's ACTC site (which I've had a good look at on disc) will be excellent but it is very much an 'official' site and I think she wants it to stay that way. Yours is more personal although far too Falcon-centred for those who are not members!! I do find that it 'struggles' sometimes - presumably a limitation of using free Compuserve space - and I'm accessing via an ISDN line.

I'm hoping that Pat will add a Rights of Way page with links to all the various ROW sites that I've found, but that may have to wait for Update 2 - and I'm far too busy on other ACTC stuff to set up one of my own.

Keep up the good work.

Andrew

Editors Comments - Nice to get this E-Mail from Andrew. It makes it all worthwhile when you hear people are actually looking at your stuff. Sure Classical Gas is Falcon centred. It's a bit like when I wrote to Tom Trelfall complaining that he didn't publish many pictures of Beetles in Triple. He wrote back and said that's because he thought they were boring!

I confess that Classical Gas is totally self indulgent. It's mine and I write about who I like, what I like and when I fancy doing it. The site is not a mouthpiece of Falcon Motor Club, yes I am a member but I am not an official or anything like that. In CG I wallow in my own views and opinions but I am a Falcon fan and the site majors on it's members and their activities. I also indulge in featuring other people and cars that I admire. The great thing for me is that I am not forced to tow a "party line". I can be a bit controversial and sail close to the wind sometimes. As for those who read the column, you must admit it's excellent value for money. You get exactly what you pay for!

Interesting to hear the site struggles to load sometimes. I don't notice that myself as I use an ordinary modem. I have E-Mailed Andrew and asked him to send me his ROW links. I would welcome links from anyone who finds some good ones.

Anyway, It was great to hear from Andrew. Without people like him putting in the work they do we wouldn't have a sport.

Michael

14th May 1999 - Received an interesting E-Mail from Pat Toulmin. There is an official ACTC web site on it's way. Watch this space as Pat is a professional so you can expect something a bit classier than this sites amateur attempts.

From: "John Duncan Stephens", INTERNET:Eaysjds@nottingham.ac.uk
Date: 01/05/99, 15:54 PM
Re: Re : Website

Hi,

Your website is fantastic. I keep looking at it to find out the current trials results and stories. Just some more information for you to add in if you want.

Dad and I (PCT'ers) watched Cutcliffe and Hoskin on the Lands End. Cutcliffe was really hard, but seemed to get easier for the last ten cars. The answer to climbing it appeared to be flat off the start and then feather the throttle through the gate and then once straight floor it again! However David Hazeldeen in his Golf went through it absolutely flat out!!! Commitment or what.

We then went straight to Hoskin. The class two cars seem to come round the corner flat out and then just keep going. The restart was pretty evil, though some did get off. A 1835cc beetle trickled off the line, finishing Graham Brasier's chances of a triple! A fair few Marlin's and class 8 cars got up, with a lot of commitment generally. The pinto engined Imp got off late too. Apparently it has a VW floorpan, transmission, 2000cc Pinto engine, Imp body and 14'' wheel, and tremendous traction. A fantastic climber.

Ken Payne was driving the Golf that Nick Pollitt drives on PCT's, but with bigger wheels. The amplifier broke after Hoskin apparently.I thought that Nick Pollitt won the Falcon PCT on the 28 - 02 - 99, and not Andy Clarke, as the website suggests.

Thanks again for the hard work you put into the reports, they are really interesting.

Duncan Stephens.

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