Well I enjoyed my day in the mud! Lots of new ideas, some working better than others. We cleaned the VSCC's "one reverse permitted" section at Pinstones with 4psi in the rear tyres! As we went clean it must have been a good section although there were mutterings at the finish from many!
What a difference at Easthope 1. Traditionally you blast up until you belly out in the ruts. This year it had been graded and you blasted up until you sunk in the mud! I understand James Shallcross got his Peugeot to the 2 or 3. Superman or what? Always a good section though.
Hated Hilltop (used instead of Ipikins Rock), probably because I floundered in the mud at the start and slipped into the 12 marker, stopping just after and would have slipped sideways down the bank if John White hadn't steadied the car.
Similar issue on the Harley Special Test. On a technical note are you allowed to hit markers unpenalised on The Clee?
Loved the new "traditional" sections at Heywood Common (new) and Castle Hill (new last year), Adrian T-P told me Heywood Common had been used in the past and he remembered it from his Pop days. He was very disappointed that Hugerford had to be scrubbed when their work clearing the exit track had been undone by a very large tractor when a bank collapsed.
Personally I enjoyed Far Gatten (Gattens Gamble in reverse) but others didn't. I know there were big holes but there was plenty of grip and you didn't have to go any faster going up than coming down!
Also enjoyed the transit through the gliding club to get to Priors Holt. Well done MAC.
Was surprised how Priors Holt 2 had deteriorated since last year. Don't know why but I reckon its only time before the ruts become so deep it becomes unusable.
With an early start scheduled for Monday we turned for home as soon as possible after signing off and arrived back in Bedford just before 7.
How was your Clee?
My records suggest that the very first use of Heyward Common was for the 1949 trial. I used it on the first Clee Hills that I organised in back in 1980, until (I think) 1987 My climb of the day was definately coming out of the top of Jenny-Wind. Hilltop was great for the Class 8's, blasting out of the top after being told that no saloon had made it past the 10 marker - very satisfying. I was disapointed that Slab, which had cause some much trouble last time it was used, had turned so benign If you have a problem with the Priors Holt 2 ruts, its 'cos you're taking the wrong aproach!
ReplyDeleteI had a very pleasant day following Classes 7 and 8 around three sections and have posted a few (rather dark) pics at:
ReplyDeletehttp://picasaweb.google.com/AKnightlyBrown/201101_CleeHillsTrial#
Castle Hill : What a wonderful section this is, first used PreWar and "rediscovered" by Simon a couple of years ago.
Strefford Wood 1 : First used (I think) in 2008. Don't be fooled into thinking this is a typical "woods" section. It's a true classic lane cleaned by those who followed the route card instructions - Flat tyres and flat out!
Easthope 1 : A real mess by the time that Classes 7 and 8 arrived. Apart from the few top runners in Class 8, everyone else either tried too hard and bounced out of the track for a 4/5 (oh, how clearly I remember doing that myself in the past), or backed-off and slid to a halt (on or off the track) at the 2.
I had a great time marshalling on Majors Leap. Shame Hungerford was cancelled as I could have marshalled there and seen everyone, rather than just Class 7 and 8. I have just finished cleaning the mud off of my Barbour. It seems that the amount of mud we got sprayed with at the start was directly proportional to how far up the hill people got. I think 5 class 8 gout out the top and a couple of class 7. Everyone seemed to be enjoying it, despite the mud.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Ian Williamson, for the lift up and the company.
Had a very mixed day - car launched itself way out of the ruts on Far Gatten and stopped stone dead instantly all crossed up - anyone know who the lady was stood at the top taking photos was as she must have a great shot of us crossed up on the track with one front wheel way off the ground! Not a good start...
ReplyDeleteStrefford was great fun - as the routecard said flat out!! Didnt realise it was that long...but managed to pull the top coilover mounting off the chassis so with a ratchet strap attaching it to the chassis we continued much to Derek Tylers passenger's surprise! On that note - when we came out of the top were confused by the route and grass traingles - ended up in a farmyard which going by the tracks quite a lot of people did - maybe a bit of a PR issue there as the dogs were going crazy??
With Dave Oliver (double MSA PCT champion) passengering it was a bit of shock to him the severity of some of the sections and shortness, how low on pressures and how much power was been used been his first experience of Classic Trials...an entry to the March Hare is to follow from him I believe.
Thought it was really useful having some route markings on the side of the road, especially where we had had issues last year so well done.
I took to the Passenger seat for a change in Julian Lacks Liege. The trial seemed to fly by so must have been having fun.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the new sections except Jenny Wind Out which seemed to be a waste of time and appreciated the running order of Meadowly which when its at the end always seems a long run back to the start only to retrace my steps on the way home.
Well done MAC and Marshalls
By mid January Hungerford was too rutted for all but 7&8 due to LR activity. The man living at the bottom says there are loads of them descending every weekend (note - descending!). The last straw was when tractor activity at the top pushed a mass of earth from the verges into the middle. With 3 days to go and setting up to do it was too big a task for 3 oldies to clear. Pleased that Hilltop worked for the 7s & 8s.
ReplyDeleteWe lost Handless due to the unfounded fears of catastophic landsliding by a certain resident (not Handless Farm who were very keen).
I was disappointed that Harley ST proved so difficult. We thought reversing a car's length up a cross track would be easy and that the slope would offer a good start for the dash to the finish. I think the thawing ground didn't help but, thankfully, some drivers managed it in the morning and afternoon.
Just spent most of the day cleaning the mud off my Troll, got quite a big bag full. I don't really enjoy lots of mud so love the Western loop but not so keen on the Eastern one. Managed to clean Stretford wood, the work on the 'bomb hole' has made this a good section, still very slipperey all the way to the top after the muddy bits. Jenny Wind Out seemed pointless, I managed a nine and that was quite good but really only travelled a few feet into the section. Messed Hilltop up, slid sideways into a big hole and stopped for a 11 score.
ReplyDeleteCastle Hill was fantasstic, what a find. The route to and thru the Gliding Club was fun with great views. Far Gatten seemed less rough going up than it usually is going down, also got the opportunity to see what a junk yard the farm is, particurly taken with a lone office chair half way down the drive! It is always good to finish in daylight so one again well done the two loops organisation.
Stuart Harrold
The Tank ( Chieftain?) in the farm was rather interesting..............wonder if it still works? Always wanted a Tank. [huge want face]
ReplyDeleteThe tank is a Chieftain, and it does work - ask me sometime about the fun we had at the farmer's birthday party!
ReplyDeleteI remember the farmer (Phil Harding?) coming along when Mike Hayward and I were marshaling Phils Folly on his land. There was snow on the ground and chaos as the lower classes bogged down. Along comes this JCB with some kids riding in the bucket and he scooped out the mud to find some solid stuff underneath. When the higher classes came along most made the section but much to his disappointment we had to call things off when Arnie Martin slid into some barbed wire on the exit track. One of the storeys he told was taking the kids to school in the tank!
ReplyDeleteYou got some great pictures there Dave. Fascinating to see the different techniques on the PH2 restart, especially Dave's Golf and the MGB
ReplyDeleteMichael
Interestingly the Class 0's definitely didn't do a restart, and I don't recall Class 1's doing it either, mind you I was busy preparing my escape route for Dave's and James's "spirited" climbs.
ReplyDeleteDave C
My first Clee, having neither passengered, marshaled or spectated: The queue at first Class 'O' section, Pinstones added to the anticipation - as did the number of cars struggling to reach this section start from the holding point: Consequently, was pleased to 'Clean' the section without a 'stop and reverse' at the left hairpin" - [Curious as to why an 'all forward' Clean was marked the same as a 'stop and one reverse' Clean?]
ReplyDeleteThereafter, my beginner's luck ran out, and least said the better! - including failed Harley Special Test having slid into the lower 'B' marker -despite having been warned (without prompt) by the start marshal.
Redeemed slightly at Heywood Common, benefiting from the encouragement of C-of-C, A T-P - with whom NJI 7966 was temporarily re-united for a brief photo-shoot. Castle Hill and Ratinghope Special Test passed without drama - but was, and remain intrigued as to what pressure-range is acceptable as "road pressures." Ascending the Long Mynd from Asterton, noticeable noise emanated from the osf - and it being a goodly drop from the narrow road, discretion rather than valour resulted in missed Priors Holt 2, and return to the finish for investigation and collection of a Finishers Certificate.
A very enjoyable experience, great location and scenery, efficient, friendly and knowledgeable marshals, and a tribute to the organising team and for all their work and effort involved. Roll-on next year!
We felt the top of Pinstones was too sharp for many cars (so well done for getting round) and it was our first use of the section so we didn't want it to be too difficult - no really! We didn't want Harley ST to claim a lot of victims either................
ReplyDeleteClee Results Published http://www.actc.org.uk/news/Clee%202011%20Provisional%20Results.pdf
ReplyDeleteWell thanks guys for the generally favourable feedback - we recognise that the Wenlock Edge stuff did turn out more slippy than planned - all the tracks were frozen solid for days then thaw overnight to catch you! But as Graham says, we didn't expect Harley Test to snare so many - beady eyes open for a change of surface...and all the pole bashing has stalled the results. Of course the eastern loop would have been bolstered by the epic rock slab climb that is Hungerford, and we thought that routing up new Pinstones would spare you floundering at Flounders.
ReplyDeleteOur labours on the ramp of Strefford Wood 3 got you a bit further up - great to see virgin undergrowth disappearing under James' wheels en route to a thrilling 5. Jenny Wind did her stuff as always, but you won't be seeing the experimental Wind Out again! Major's saw more Cl 7 success this year and Hilltop worked for the 7's & 8's to the relief of the marshals - norralotta bottom there, unlike Ippikins.
Heywood was fun to reinstate, with locals' goodwill - Terry Ball made a classy climb, and my Chassis Dynamics engineering pal was astonished to witness Cl 1 seemingly accelerating upwards in defiance of rocks and leaf mould. Glad Mike and others enjoyed another traditional climb up Castle en route to Far Gatten, under John Sargeant's eye. Lots of grip but the once frozen silt soon scooped out from the holes - certainly spurred some radical choice of lines!
Getting into the top of Priors Holt remains a challenge to resolve annually with locals and landowners - Cl 7 & 8 were due up the epic hairpins and rarified air of Handless until denied a week beforehand, but the Gliding Club ridgetop route was an appealing alternative. PH 3 looks fearsome but rarely stops anyone, PH 2 is getting weather worn - I figured keeping you on the boil around the bends at the summit would avoid last year's blockage. And PH 1 is another cracker - well done the Kennys for getting their Liege out of the top.
Many thanks to Graham, Jonathan, Simon, Pat and Mike Davis.
That's good news about Jenny Wind Out.
ReplyDeleteStuart