Mike Hayward and decided to concentrate on taking pictures and trying to make a video. See http://www.classictrials.co.uk/Gas06031.htm We met up for breakfast with Dave Cook who was also taking pictures which can be found by following http://groups.msn.com/ClassicalGasForTrialsenthusiasts/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=1&ID_Message=2633
We started the day at Crooked Mustard which was very dry and easily on for the 7's and 8's. The heavier saloons were more challenged and well done to those that got up. The secret isn't "keep banging the nuts together" its "drive round the step not over it".
Later we spent some time at Ham Mill, Merves Swerve and Climperwell, sending live reports to my blog as we went. Talked to loads of other spectating triallers including Andrew Rippon, David Heale and Nick Farmer. Everything seemed to run smoothly on the event and we were back in Bedfordshire by 18.15.
How was your Cotswold Clouds?
Results available here - http://www.strouddmc.org.uk/
ReplyDeleteAndrew - The results have something missing - "The most well judged line up Crooked Mustard by a Marlin". This is awarded to Andrew Brown. To twist the words you used when watching last year, it was "a triumph of brains over right foot!" - Michael
ReplyDeleteWe had a good event running with Ian Moss & Terry Coventry. Very dry. The line of Mustard slightly bent the front wishbone but very little else apart from a small knock in the front valance. Surprising as it was loud in the car! Looking at the pictures i was glad i could see out of the front from my position in the back seat! Dad is very happy with the car but has identified a couple more improvements to make which should be on the car for the Land's End. We had a good look at Bull Banks 2 and have a better idea for next year! Ian Davis grabbing 2nd off the restart managed burn off from the hole. Impressive amount of energy but still given a fail. Kelly Thomas clearing Highwood 2. That must have been a great climb. The only downside I had was losing my mobile phone at the top of Bull Banks 2 I think. Remember sending Michael the final message and then not there went I wanted to call home in the Pub car park. Mark
ReplyDeleteThere was talk of a lost phone found at Bull Banks at the Finish. I'm sure if you contact someone from the club they will be able to tell you if it is yours and how to get it back. Hope this is of some help.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil I have just phoned Moss Motors and they are unware of a phone being handed in. Do you remember who? Or could the grape vine be shaken again?? cheers Mark
ReplyDeleteClass 7 anoraks - start here: http://www.wheelspin.org.uk/events/report200604_clouds.htm Andrew
ReplyDeleteMark - i was a little disappointed with the fail on BB2 but I see at least some of the others who had to take second gear before they got away were also given fails and we were there some time! I should think the prize for biggest disappointment, however, must go to Kelly Thomas who arrived at the finish thinking she was clear. She did clear all the hills and was the only person to get up Highwood 2 but was given a fail on special test 2. I hope she's been told how she failed the test. I saw someone fail Special Test 1 (by stopping & reversing and then going forward again) who has been given a time in the results... I thought coc Gary Browing got it just about right overall - Simon W proved that a Class 8 car could have cleaned HW2 - and it was good to see the saloons at the top of the overall results on a trial which has been dominated by class 8 in recent years.
ReplyDeleteHi Ian I believe that the reason for fail was that you had climbed a little in first gear and when second when in the car went back into the hole and then out. SP1 didn't say that you couldn't go backwards or have changes of direction just that you had to go anticlockwise around the cone and stop over B. A don't like the points on the special tests. They aren't supposed to be sections but they were the rules we are playing by. I very well judged trial I reckon - absolutely enjoyed it. Mark
ReplyDeleteI think the disappointment on BB1 was with my stopping in such a stupid place in the first place...I'm sure the marshal had a better view of it than we did through the red mist! Special test said drive forwards in anti-clockwise direction around the cone, failure for hitting markers, not completing the test as described etc. I don't see that reversing and having another go after you've ballsed it up the first time quite matches with 'complete the test as described...' because there's no mention of reversing in that description. I have to agree that penalty points on special tests leave a sour taste especially when it affects the overall result. Shouldn't special tests only come into play when you can't split drivers by their performance on the sections?
ReplyDeleteI think I'm right in saying that for Kelly on the special test the engine cut out and they pushed the car over line. As it says "drive forward", by the rules it was a fail. A real shame though. Not wanting to take away a great win from Ian Moss, Kelly has to be the hero of the day, especially after being the only car up Highwood 2. As for 6 points on special tests I was going to have a real go on the first one and decided not to in case I messed it up and picked up the 6 points. So in that respect its up to the driver to decide whether to go for it or not and take the risk. However saying that I am completely against the idea of points for failing them. My personal belief is the trial should be decided on the hills. The special tests should then only be used, if required, to find a class winner or overall winner in the event of a tie. Still its the organisers perogative to run the event like that if they choose but I can only imagine how disappointing it must have been for Kelly to have lost it that way!
ReplyDeleteFor what its worth I've allways taken the view that special tests are exactly that, a test, which has to be carried out correctly. I see no difference to a re start test or a hill. Having said that Kelly must be more than a bit disappointed. I saw her go up High Wood 2 or at least the first part which was all we could see through the trees from where we were waiting for our go. It was brilliant, exacltly right into the r hander. Dudley
ReplyDeleteThats's a fair point Dudley, just my personal view is that the punishment doesnt fit the crime. On speed tests we are trying to get the quickest time so for a fail I think it should be a time plus for example 30 seconds. On a hill we are trying to minimise points lost so I see that differently. But thats just me! Anyway this topic started as a "My Cotswold Clouds thread" and I should have said in my first message that mine was excellent and the organisers should be congratulated on an absolutely first class event especially considering the very dry conditions.
ReplyDeleteMe and the Boss had a terrific first Clouds in Baldrick, upholding the Skoda tradition slightly I hope. Given wet conditions I suppose things would have been totally different for us but it was awsome to have a go at sections I have just read off and seen on video. Photos and video dont do them any justice. Hope I have learned how to attempt some of them in a slightly different way next time. Got some nice in-car video of most sections so I hope to do the same for the Northern video this year when we set up on the Friday. The front end coming off the ground on Nailsworth looks good from inside!!! Thanks to all the marshals and organisers and to everyone else in the back rooms that enable us to go out and play. Shame for Sean Relph and Garry Sams to travel down with us all that way then to konk out at the start. Looks to be a broken ring on one pot. For what its worth, I think also that failed Special Tests should not count 6 and agree with adding, say, 30 seconds to the slowest time. Myke Pocock.
ReplyDelete