Cotwold Clouds

Had a good day out on Sunday, spectating for a while on Nailsford and then marshalling on Merv's Swerve.  I'm awfully glad we didn't get any rain.

Nailsford was interesting.  I didn't think that the restart was close enough to the hump to cause too many problems for Class 8, except for Pete Fear (who I understand was the eventual winner) who thought that the four cones represented a box restart and overran the line.   

Prize of the day for attack (whilst I was watching) went to Bill Bennett in his MG for the highest front wheel elevation over the step.

 

Merv's was looking absolutely horrible when we got there.  Restart area very claggy. the steps even more so, and if you got over that there was a significant rut around the 3 marker.

The first two or three customers merely confirmed my opinion that it was going to be a day of backing down.

Then Pete Fear appeared (about car four), got out of the ruts left on the restart and just went away making it look easy.

 

Car No1 (Nigel Allen?? - I don't have an entry list) also cleaned, but without the restart, but then there were no more successes for about 40-50 cars until the restart area had worn down to the rock underneath.

Gallant efforts from David Hazedein (how does he get a front wheel drive car that far up hills?) Neil Bray, Michael Leete in the VW, lots of local Stroud boys in Escorts who gave it absolute death and made it to the four marker.

 

My prize for the best attempt went to the big old Riley (in class 2) which got a 2, I believe, and the driver was mighty disgusted that he hadn't cleaned it.

In total I think five class 8 cleaned it and the big VW from class 6.

All the remaining competitors got to the hill the hill in daylight and we were able to get in a couple of pints at the finish.

Good day all round.