I really enjpoyed my Exter. Failed a couple of hills. Simms, an honorable fail, and Wooston which my loyal passenger tells me was driver error! Didn't mind, loved it. We were 2nd car on the road and found most of the sections quite acceptable roughness wise. OK, you have to ride the waves on Tillerton but there is a steady speed that will get you up without damage if you choose the right line. I thought the roughest part was the exit track from Tipley. I'm just glad I have plenty of ground cleraance. Running a low number we finished early and signed off around 2.45
Interested to know what other people thought. Did the sections get rougher for the later numbers?
Check out John Salters photo's from Fingle http://johnsalter.multiply.com/photos/album/54#
ReplyDeleteA good weekend, trying out a new passenger, it seems we have not put him off, as he wants another go. Failed two, Simms, tried to hard it seems the drivers that took it gentle got out. Failed Wooston Steep at the restart, pulled off and out the box only to bog down and slide back. Best result to date, really no excuse, had the car some 6 years, but only now coming to terms with it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great event and "Bravo" to all the marshalls who beat the weather! 1st outing for us in a new car with different engine/drive configuration (after wrecking the Skoda on the Edinburgh). It was a quick-fix solution for our entry and didn't really know what to expect (we only got access to the car 3 days beforehand). Failed at Simms only and overall very satisfied. Can we do it all again next weekend please? I feel the X90 will be here for a little while yet.
ReplyDeleteWe managed to survive the rain - the worst of it was when we were queueing for Merehay, so had the brolly up and were quite cosy. Only failed Wooston Steep, and at the time blamed it on being a early number. On Sunday morning, I discovered that the tyre pressure limits had been cancelled, and I had not seen the notice. So I'm a bit peeved by that, but also slighhtly smug a climbing Simms on close to road pressure.
ReplyDelete- The C-of-C giveth and the C-of-C taketh away!
Tough event running 2 cars behind Michael. Got off both the Wooston Steep and Simms restarts OK but failed higher up in all the leaves (Wooston) or on the slippery slime (Simms) We got the real heavy downpour as we finished Merhay, with thick mist and rain was a difficult drive to the next hill. Onece the sun came out Saturday was great with some loverly views. Impressed that some of the red slurry pits after Slippery sam have now got some stone in the bottom and are not so deep. Very enjoyable trial, signed off about 15 minutes early and managed a 2 hour sleep before the supper.
ReplyDeleteStuart harrold
As a Class '0' competitor, 'cleaned' all sections, setting times on the Special Tests of 16.50 secs. (described by the marshal as 'a good time'), and of 19.03 secs., on our first attempt at the Exeter.
ReplyDeleteAm I Pleased? - No! - Frustrated and disappointed!! - Why? - Running near the end of the Field, Car 567, the Course Closing car arrived at Back Lane 5mins before us - we being unable to discern in the dark the Bowd Inn (not illuminated and set well-back from the road): - Result, a missed turning. Being both 'first timers' and unfamiliar with area (from Essex/Beds), and suspecting a typo in the distance in the Route Card, we lost some half-hour or more to retrace and find the turning, having sought advice from the service station some way down the road.
The marshals signalled us to attempt the Section, which we accomplished without problem, and without lowering pressures - just to add salt to the injury.
Had we been allocated an early number, I am of the firm opinion, that we would now be awaiting receipt of a 'Tin'! - Unlike in rallies, in classic trials there is no standard lateness applicable on equal basis to all competitors. The regulations effectively benefit early numbers, and penalise late numbers; the latter always having the prospect of Course Closing bearing down on them. I fail to see how this is equitable or within the spirit of fair competition. Whilst early numbers have (technically) the prospect of penalty if not finishing within the order of their start time, I have gleaned no evidence of such penalty having been applied on a consistent basis. Without accurate timing, (as in a rally) how can it be?- But falling behind the Course Closing is absolute! The penalty is huge.
Basis of the competition is 'cleaning' the sections, not navigation - hence applying timing as per a rally is inappropriate - but how to redress this inequality, based on start number?
I suggest that start number should be allocated on the basis of experience - not arbitrarily, or upon stated preference in the entry form.
Experienced competitors know most of the sections, and their locations, and the route card is secondary. Newcomers are dependant. Furthermore, an inexperienced early number, can if need be, 'tag-along' behind a latter-running, experienced crew.
Comments on this suggestion are welcome.
*****
Otherwise, a superb event, and all credit must go to the marshals and the organising team. Very well done! Tremendous atmosphere throughout, and very enjoyable. Club dinner and the Trecarn exceded expectations, complementing an excellent day's sport. What a pleasure to see the children's artwork at Islington. - My selection was No 40! - And excellent PR.
****
Thought remains: What if we had been allocated a number of 561 or lower!! - [Having asked for an early start number on the entry form] - What if - and those five minutes??
John.
I can understand you were disapointed John. Its certainly true that there are occaionally issues with route cards and route finding on Classic Trials and local knowledge or having done the event before helps. When I started I always took OS maps and sometimes needed them! Normally on an MCC event you can request an early number and I think the club try their best to accomodate that request.
ReplyDeleteThe principle of more experienced competitors having a later number plays into their hands. Normally the sections become easier as succesive competitors go up the hills as mud and loose material gets cleared away. The rain did that job this year but I think even so early numbers had a very hard time on Wooston Steep.
Hi Michael:
ReplyDeleteThanks for advice upon OS maps.
Re. your informed comment on benefits of later running: My minimal experience (Edinburgh, 1978, 1980, 2010; Lands End 2008 (passenger); Exeter 2011 precludes an assessment of ease of Section relative to running order. At my level of experience, my principal concern is exclusion, or risk of 'Missed Section'!
Thinking upon this matter, I suspect there may be exceptions to the general principle: Edinburgh 2010, Dudwood 2? : Soft earth between the tree roots and rocks, where passage of cars appeared to have produced deepening of the ruts. - And how about the crater atop Blue Hills 2?
John.
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteI fully sympathise with your frustration at being overtaken/missed by the back marker and losing the chance of a Medal. The back marker does have everybody’s interest in mind. They are looking at closing sections so the marshals end a very long and often late day out. Keep any impact upon the locals to a minimum. Lastly act as a sweeper of the last cars (that are on the correct route) offering reasonable latitude. We have all had the back marker snapping at our heals and quite a few of us have taken many attempts just to finish a trial ! As where in the event you run my choice is the middle as some sections improve and others get worse. You could always try adding a note to your entry form, not to run late or run with an experienced competitor. No promises as to getting you own way because the majority of the 350 entry forms request an early number. My spotter upon Simms counted 18 cars that went clear but more interesting was that the successful climbs were spread evenly throughout the day. There was no easy time ! Giles Greenslade did please the crowd as no vehicle had cleared the hill for an hour and then after a lull in traffic – round the corner and straight up – well done !
As a foot note to John’s comment – everyone would think that seeing the Ugalde team as tail end Charlie was quite a reasonable choice on behalf of the organisers. As it happened Roger had never navigated upon a trial before, Caroline had never driven upon one and it was the first outing for them in the car. It might do us all some good because he said he would view the writing of the Lands End route card in a different light. He also could not believe just how challenging some Class 0 sections are ! But then if I was sat in the passenger seat I’d be worried.
ReplyDeleteSome nice pics upon this site but emphais upon the TR7 from Cornwall http://www.groups.tr-register.co.uk/cornwall/gallery.html
ReplyDeleteFantastic trial ... but typical trials problems .... To start just about to leave home & brake key off in door lock!!! a little engineering skill & im in & got her going ....
ReplyDeleteon way to start & the head lights flicker evey now & then .... on road run lights still flicker then wipers stop !!!!! (just for the record i have been driving the bug most days for the last 2 weeks) sort wipers out so all good still cant find lose wire for lights so carry on into the trial proper!!!!
Get to the to of first section & pump up tyres but compressor wont turn off (falty relay)sorted that still light flicker every now & then but did sort it just as day light appered..
As for the sections good but not to rough failed Waterloo (my mistake) & failed simms (well thats simms for you) got to the finish 25 mins late (no idea how as at one point i was 1 1/2 hrs late ??? mcc timing at its best....
quick cuppa at the finish then plod home .... got bk aprox 24hrs after leaving covering just over 500miles....
Good days sport....
Excellent trial, amazingly no punctures despite hitting the step at Simms so hard that we ended up with 1/2" tow out, the only section we failed. Took the long route overnight to pass the time and had some huge rain storms. All the sections were interesting, other people have commented on Simms. I sympathise with John and his route finding, when I started I used to carry a fully marked up set of OS maps - still carry them now just in case as unknown places in the dark are very confusing, especially if you continue reading the route from the wrong section ;-) I good tip I picked up is to use a highlighter to cross out each instruction as we progress. Also writing notes in pencil as it doesn't run when wet.
ReplyDeleteCar all sorted today Tracking reset and two new trackrod ends. Roll on Land's End
Hi John
ReplyDeleteI think any long-term MCC competitor will sympathise with your experience but it is worth pointing out that following the route (navigation) and keeping to a time schedule (however vague) are requirements of the event. In some events we have had route or passage controls to ensure people are following the official route which has been PR'd and approved and not taking short cuts using local knowledge. Not getting a signature = exclusion. At the discretion of the organisers, timing penalties have been implemented much more leniently in recent years (post-Selby?) but the basic principle of keeping to time remains. And competitors can be penalised for being too early or too late according to the specific regs of each event. Don't forget the very early MCC trials were 'Reliability trials' where everything was judged on following the route and completing the course within the timescale. Observed sections and special tests only came in later when the original format on its own became 'too easy'!
PS
I think Roger still uses the word reliability in the Lands End name...
Excellent event.
ReplyDeleteA wet night!! The marshals out in the rain were much appreciated and remained cheerful although it seemed the holding control Gent at Meerhay had the worst spot as there was no shelter from wind or rain!!
Really liked the interaction with the children of Islington - the pictures were great.
Overall another excellent event. Don't know if it was me but I thought some of the mileages were a bit off in the early pages of the trial, usually they're cock on with how I measure them. Same again next year? If my back holds out...
ReplyDelete