Now that the first new trial of 2000 is over, can I remind you all to put the 11th November in your diaries - yes it is a Saturday again but this time the first car will be off at midnight on the Friday. The format is as advertised in previous issues of Restart and should offer a distinctly different sort of trial to the Northern and, indeed, to any current ACTC trial - a sort of mix of the Exeter, Allen, and Cotswold Clouds.
The route planning is well-advanced with the vast majority of sections on county roads, and those that aren't are all on 'proper' tracks. There will be minimal, if any, overlap with sections used for the Clouds. We hope to run five or six sections, including at least one special test, at night. A lot of the route will be on 'green lanes' - yes we do have them in the Cotswolds - and we have found a decent number of historic sections that have not been used for years. Some were last used for the Guy Fawkes Trial in the 1960s and 70s, one goes back to the 1950 Fedden Trial, and some have not been used (as far as I am aware) since the 1930s.
Some of the sections will be comparatively easy (unless we have really bad weather) and shouldn't stop anyone unless they're very silly but others will be as taxing as anything on the three events mentioned above. We have at least one potential 'all classes' stopper if I can persuade the farmer to let us use it (the entrance and exit are UCRs but the section, unfortunately, is a Bridleway).
More news as and when we have it.
Andrew
It sounds a great new event. Will ACTC regulars automatically get regs? If not put me down for a set.Stuart Harrold
ReplyDeleteIn reply to Stuart - Yes, the event is 'ACTC Invite' so we will be using the normal ACTC mailing list but we already have 'expressions of interest' in the form of SAEs from over 50 potential competitors - see previous Restarts for details of where to send yours. We are intending to run 100 or 120 cars and we currently anticipate a full entry so you'll need to be quick when the Regs come out.I must say that it has been entertaining planning the event over the last (nearly) eighteen months but we have to start getting serious from now on. As someone who's new to running a trial I must say that the MSA PR requirements, in particular, are incredibly onerous although I realise that we've made a noose for our own neck by running a night-and-day event. I know that good PR is essential to all motor sport but it can become the over-riding factor in route and section planning. For every (new) section we currently intend using there must be three or four that we've had to disregard due solely to the PR implications.I'll keep you all posted.Andrew
ReplyDeleteThe Regs should be out during w/c 25th September if all goes according to plan. The final entry date is 14th October. Details all as the original 'Discussion' and the 'southern' sections were in fine shape during a recce earlier today. Book the date - it will be a memorable experience!Andrew
ReplyDeleteAndrew. I would appreciate a set of regs for the SDMC Anniversary event please. Mike Furse.
ReplyDelete