Welcome to new members

Welcome Davie, btw this is a "real names" group and it would be super if you could either change your "nickname" to you real name or make sure you sign any posts with your real name. I accepted your membership on the basis you have a really interesting car! also that I presume from your e-mail address that your name is Dave Lodge.

 

Regarding the application from "wanting to chat to U".  Sorry but we either need you to fully comply with our membership rules - see links to left, or have a much better clue to your identity. This is a spam free zone and we want to keep it that way..

 

Michael Leete

Community Manager

Exe Valley Trial - 22 September

My wife Trish and I went (in a Vitara JLX thingie) to watch sections at Venny Tedburn - much too easy in the dry so didn't stay there long - then over to Tillerton (via green
lane at Posbury) where things hotted up a bit. I stood by a lady who owned the farm at the top of the hill and she was positively pleased to have the trial going through - unlike her neighbours in the barn on the corner at the top who are trying to stop events apparently - takes all sorts but we do seem to be increasingly on the defensive
these days.

 

The day was soon made for me when a chain-drive Trojan pottered up (and back down after failing on the rock slabs) the hill. So they DO exist - I though they might have been a false memory from watching them on the Lands End trial at Darracott Hill as a scrap of a lad. My other recollection is someone saying they were two strokes - could that be right?

From Tillerton (stayed too long) we went to Sims but only caught the tail enders although they put on a bit of a show - ALU 1 broke a prop shaft and a Fiat Punto (I think) popped a tyre whislt wheel spinning madly for grip. The Trojan failed again but it gave me a good photo opportunity!

 

Well done the Crashbox Club. I have a few photos if anyone is interested - let me know car, make and colour so that I can match them up.

 

We then greenlaned it back home via Barracourt at N Bovey (the one with the nice ford!), Pepperdon (I know its tarmac but Trish loved those hairpins), then along by Lowton (BOATs 41 & 42 - the Bridford Bypass) and down that lovely BOAT 40 to Steps Bridge. At this point Trish said that she hadn't really felt challenged by any of the lanes so I suggested (tongue firmly in cheek) we try Spanish Lake (nr Leigh Cross) and immediately wished I hadn't - remembering the washed out section at the bottom. Nevertheless we did it without any problems at all so well done the Vitara (and Trish for being game).

Still feeling un-challenged Trish then asked "So what is this Dean Steep all about??".  I haven't yet persuaded her to go trialling in a 4 wheeler but perhaps I am getting closer

 

Brian

 

PS Some bad news unfortunately thsi morning from a mate who went to watch at Ideford. This is what he says:

 

I went to watch section 13 of Exe Valley LDT yesterday, section had to be changed because the owner of ***, Hestow Rd, believed to be a Mr ***, had vowed to prevent vehicles passing his property & true to his word had felled a healthy mature hardwood tree across the lane @ approx. 892764 (right fork after the ford after Hamblecombe Lane.) I walked up the lane,, clambered through the branches & there was the clever man & a bunch of kids keeping a lookout - I didn't speak to him, too incensed. Have reported it to DCC Local Services officer this a.m. The Crashbox Club had gone to the trouble of flail mowing the lane so it could accommodate cars & taken the time to speak to him so I hope they will also report the matter.
I might be able to get out on Thurs pm to check whether lane still obstructed, I suppose he might clear it having succeeded in his aim of re-routing the event. Two horse riders who had tried to use the route were returning as I walked up but doubt they will be ****ed off enough to report it. I've been down there a couple of times this yr. but Mr **** allegedly stated to the club official that it hasn't been used by vehicles for a long time.

 

What's allowed and what's not

I am not sure which tread to put this under so I have started a new one. John Aley sent me an advance copy of thr MCC News of the Week together with this note :-

---

 

Hello Michael
 
In view of the reactions of some of your members to the comments in Triple about the appeance of cars in our events I thought you might like to see the draft of my news page for the web this week.   Whilst the question of what should be allowed, and I`m one who would like to see the rules more akin to PCTs so sections could be less severe and damaging, the matter of public image is one where we have little choice.  We get special dispensation go where rallies cannot so we must not create any confusion in the minds of the public.  I, of all people, would not want to ban rollover bars, but heavyweight cages, extended arches, spartan interiors and most of all lurid appearances can do just that.
 
End of sermon! Print what you like from my notes but please don`t take odd phrases or sentences out of context.
 
John

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EDINBURGH TRIAL

First let us thank all of you who have volunteered to marshal on this trial. Enough of you have come forward to ensure the full route with all the planned sections can take place. Thank you all.

Secondly, as promised the route card is available either by simply downloading from the Edinburgh page on this web site or by emailing johnaley@portwrinkle.fsnet.co.uk

although one regular motorcycle competitor tells us that the larger format we have adopted has enabled him simply to photocopy it. Whatever you do, the facility is there for the taking and we hope you will find it useful.

APPEARANCE

Comments from the committee in the new edition of Triple about the appearance of competing cars and the possibility of banning those that do not fall into line have clearly worried some members. Nothing will be done immediately to change the types of vehicle allowed to compete but there may be action to prevent anything running where appearance could offend the public. There is no doubt we are faced with public relation problems and if our events are to continue we must have onlookers on our side. In particular the MCC trials all use land inside National Parks where rallying is not allowed. We know our events are not rallies but there are plenty out there who just don`t know the difference and if they see cars that in appearance look like contestants in rallies – and perhaps driving on sections that looks more appropriate to a special stage – they will be only too ready to jump to conclusions. We sell ourselves as promoting harmless events where speed is not a factor and which are open to normal cars. We simply cannot have cars that look and behave differently and we rely upon everyone`s co-operation; if you feel your car might cause offence please speak to the organisers now.

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Click on the link below for the MCC News of the week.

http://www.ukmotorsport.com/MCC/MCC_news_of_the_week.htm

 

Michael

Edinburgh Map

I am having problems with the map of the Edinburgh Route at

 

http://www.ukmotorsport.com/MCC/MCC_Edinburgh_Thisyr.htm

 

In can see the small scale map OK but when I try to open the large scale one it doesn't!

 

Any one else have this problem?

 

Michael

MCC Rule Changes for 2003

For those who haven’t yet read the 2003 SSRs which arrived with the Edinburgh stuff, I’ve done a quick scan and found amendments in the following clauses:

C – Added clauses (f) and (g) under Class E.

D – Added note about gauges under Tyre Pressures.

F – Added note about running order for three-wheelers.

G – General - SEE BELOW!

G – Team Awards – Changes to team combinations.

G – Omission of Motorcycle Standard Road Tyre Award.

O – Added note about signing DOT sheet.

The REALLY interesting change is in G where TWO CLEANS are now required for a Section to count. I confess that I had prior information about this but was sworn to secrecy at the time. I think this is a very interesting rule change, designed to ensure that one ‘superman/woman’ does not have a disproportionate effect on the awards, and I’m quite surprised that it is not referred to in the latest Triple. It could make quite a difference on, say, Simms in some classes.

Andrew

Nice Triple with some interesting matters arising

Got my Triple (the magazine!), along with the Edinburgh stuff and the Exeter regs over the weekend. Mine came on Saturday morning which was much better. I do hate it when it comes mid week and I am not around to fill in the entry form and get it to the local sorting office pdq.

 

I liked the new design of Triple and I thought the articles were pretty good. Lots of stuff from the committee quite a bit of which deserves discussion and comment less we get changes in the rules, or their interpretation, that is against the members wishes.

 

The MCC committee have been debating the suitability of cars, mainly it appears because of fear of adverse PR. It raise some interesting questions. My regular passenger has a rather special Escort that he trials occassionally and he has heard (2nd hand so it could be wrong!) that his car has been mentioned in despatches. It's an ex-Autocross machine with a roll cage, two fancy stripes but definately no advertising stickers!

 

Yes he could paint out the stripes, but what about the roll cage? We read that some of the commitee object to vehicles that look like rally cars "(roll cages, extra lights, non-standard paint schemes etc)" Now Mike Hayward could paint out the stripes but what does he do about the roll cage? Take it out because it would look less like a rally car or follow the Blue Book where under M 6.10.1 for Classic Trials it says "The fitting of a safety roll-over bar is recommended"."

 

Actually I agree with the spirit of what the committee are putting forward but I believe the Classic Trials community has to proceed with care in order not to alienate some of its loyal supporters. My view is that some of the extreme cars, mainly in class 8, are so good that organisers are making the sections harder and harder to stop them, encouraging more extreme cars, discouraging the more standard cars, making it more difficult to enter the sport and putting its long term future in jepordy just as much as adverse PR.

 

I sugggest that there needs to be considerable open discussion before the rules are changed in a way that gives some protection to existing cars but restricts the entry of new "un-suitable" cars and encourages more standard/newer/class one machines, not just with eligibility rules but the development of "class 0" type sections which don't wreck the machinery.

 

And I would of course ban trailers (sorry Stuart!)

 

Michael Leete

Falcon Pictures

Over the past 3 years I have taken hundreds of photos of Falcon club members (and others) and their cars taking part in club events. I have posted lots of them to the Falcon Website. Now I find that I am about to run out of my alloted space for pictures on MSN. I will probably delete some of the old albums in order to add new ones and that will help but it doesn't mean you won't be able see them any more.

 

I am thinking of creating some CDs with all the pictures I have ever taken of Falcon Events or events that Falconers take part in. When pictures are uploaded to the website MSN resizes them so that they don't take up as much room but the downside of that is they don't print out as clearly as they should. I would put all pictures onto the CDs in the same format as they were first created and in the case of my new camera some of the pictures are fabulous. See here http://groups.msn.com/FalconMotorClub/septembersurprise2002.msnw 

 

I will probably make one for each year. So there will be a 1999, 2000 and 2001 CD. Do you think members would be interested in buying these CDs? (All profits to Falcon MC). What would be a fair price for them?

 

Andrea

Class 7 or 5 Classic Trials Car Wanted

Wanted - Marlin or similar trials prepared and ready to go or requiring a little work.

£3,000 or thereabouts.  Not for me but for a fellow member of Launceston and North Cornwall Motor Club Committee.

 

email - mail@caudlej.freeserve.co.uk if you have anything or know of any car available.

 

 

Edinburgh Marshals URGENTLY Required

If you are not competing on the Edinburgh this year, please,please, please, volunteer to marshal.    If you are a member of a club, persuade the club to get a group together to go and "do a hill".     If your old passenger is twidling his thumbs - send him along.

 

As of a week ago, the club had less that a quarter of the required quotient of marshals needed.     If this cannot be resolved, all the debate about night runs will be completely nulified 'cos we'll all be able to stay home in bed 'cos here won't be a trial with or without a night run.

 

If you can help, e-mail John Aley and tell him.   johnaley@portwrinkle.fsnet.co.uk

Thanks. 

Random Collection

Dudley Sterry in his MG J2 on Tillerton restart