I have got the electronic version of the route card from John Aley and will soon need to reformat it to fit my Acerbis holder. Does anyone know of any amendments or additions before I commit please?
Also, I recall being able to print off a marked up map for either the 2002 Exeter or Lands End - anyone seen that yet?
Belated Happy Christmas to all triallists and a timely New Year's best wishes!
Brian
PS Mind you with competitor number 13, I guess I need all the luck myself ;o)
I had an e-mail from John to say that all was well with the route card and he sent along a version with a larger typeface which looks good. Just settling down to tweak it with my own bits and pieces. Point of information - my "due" time at Exeter is 05.43 but under the "3/4" rule I can arrive at 04.20 without penalty. If I manage to arrive early, can
ReplyDeleteI leave before my official departure time of 06.43 or do I just have to sit around for longer? Regards Brian
Brian - In my experience, you ALWAYS have to sit around at Exeter to leave on your due time if you arrive early. Plus ... the 3/4 rule only applies when making-up time if there has been an 'official' delay. It doesn't allow you to get steadily earlier and earlier throughout the event. Andrew
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to all you Gassers. I am looking forward to tonights Exeter as the weather is looking better. I have the opposite problem to Brian as at number 298 I think we will collect the hold ups. Andrew has made a good point about the 3/4 rule. But the main thing to remember is the 3/4 rule is part of the MSA standing regulations and can NEVER be varied by anything an individual organisor wants to put in his regulations. The 3/4 rule always applies on all MSA events using the public highway. It actually referes to covering the distance between 2 controls in less than 3/4 of the time allowed. So it applies equally to making up time when you are late or just being early at a control where you are told there is no penalty for early arrival. So the 'no penalty for early arrival' is not actually true as the 3/4 rule will always apply (assuming the organisor checks it). On Brians last point, if you are early at Exeter you still cannot leave before your scheduled 'out' time. Have a good run and see you in Babbacombe. Stuart
ReplyDeleteHi, I have made a discovery. Mike Pearson has told me that Windmill Hill, the first section, is the road we used to go down as we exited from Sugg Lane on the Lands End and we go down Sugg Lane as we exit from Windmill. I know Windmill was used as a section in the past. Any idea how difficult it is? Also any ideas on Higher Rill (Sandy Lane). Thats a new one for me. Have a great trial everyone. I think Brian will be first to the bar Michael
ReplyDeleteWindmill was a bit tame as it turned out Michael but Suggs Lane was fun on the other side - it certainly woke me up! Just a quick note to say I finished on the TTR250 and hope to be in for a silver medal - if anyone has done the Exeter Trial before, all I need to say to explain why no gold medal is "Norman's Hump" - aaagggghhh! Someoone (John Lees?) who cleaned it said he went straight up the middle - that's what I tried, but staying in the middle was easier said than done. Next time (what am I saying!), I reckon to try the left hand rut - what do folks think?
ReplyDeleteMike Holden's mate fell ill so we teamed up - Mike (number 2) finished with me on his vintage BSA (B40??) despite having (a) a kickstart that only operated for abvout a third of the swing and (b) an interesting little fire under his seat at Wooston Steep near Clifford Bridge - I reckon it was too much Vindaloo the previous day ;o)
I felt like throwing in the towel on the night trip down to Honiton as I was so cold that it hurt - badly - but I am glad I stuck it out. I found out from Roger Cantle (who also finished on his DR) that he runs heated grips - luxury eh? Anyone else use these and are they recommended? Roger thinks they are the bee's knees.
I drove to and from the Trial so left here at 6.30pm on Friday and got home at 1.30pm today - about 19 hours I make that - Trish and I went to the Club supper which was good. Crashed in on a table with Mike Robertson (who I know) and met John Lees plus (I think) Richard Harvey and Tom Beckerleg.
It was good to see Julia Browne's friendly face at the Granada Services control at 5.30am - she ably sorted out a mix up on control
cards as I had been given someone elses (John's as it turned out!) at Sparkford and hadn't noticed. Thanks Julia The gear is in the washing machine and I am trying to find the motivation to power wash the bike.....
Now, where is that entry form for the Lands End
Brian
We started from Cirencester and had an un-eventful run down to Haynes, taking the direct route to maximise the sleeping time when we got there! It was good to have a section so near the start but we thought the running water down Sugg Lane might have made it more competitive than Windmill Hill! We had no problems in Bovey Woods but boy wasn’t Normans Hump rough, especially the bottom part. Nearly came to grief on the lower reaches of Waterloo, which we found very slippery but managed to keep it going although I understand others didn’t. We didn’t know what top expect on Sandy Lane and went very low on tyre pressures just in case but in the end it was un-eventful. Enjoyed Bulverton Steep and Passaford Lane when we had our first small delay as David Spraggetts Morgan had got stuck and had to be towed out. In the afternoon we managed to everything until we got to Simms, which defeated us. More speed next time! We thought Tillerton was rough but boy what how Slippery Sam has cut up on those top corners! And what about the overgrown exit road. It was hard to fight our way through the undergrowth even running at 211. I bet it was a real shock to the first biker! Overall I thought it was a very enjoyable and well-organised trial but a very rough one. Normans, Tillerton and Slippery Samm were all really rough and even Fingle was badly cut up on the corners. I understand a Green Midget went off the road just before Exeter, went up the bank and turned over. I hope the crew are OK. I enjoyed the evening as usual. The awards presentation is a nice touch but needs a bit more polish, it got a bit embarrassing when half the people didn’t come up and get their awards! Didn’t quite understand President John’s point that “The MCC trials will remain the same but things will have to change….! A touch of the Alistair Campbell’s here I thought! How was your Exeter?
ReplyDeleteFrom Stuart Cairney - Hi Michael,
ReplyDeleteDidn't catch up with you before leaving the Trecarn so thought I would just
explain why I was spectating on Simms (always good value from a spectators
point of view hence a few familiar faces in the crowd including Duncan
Stephens, Ed Nikel, Bob Saunders, Bob Barrow and fellow retirees Mike and
Sheila Furse).
We failed both Normans and Clinton in similar fashion - despite having the
tyres at 25lbs and taking off with maximum revs, when we dropped into one of
the many holes it virtually stalled the engine and I couldn't induce any
spin to help us get going again. Think I need to have a weight reduction
session (me and the car!) or find some more horses....
Anyway on leaving the woods as soon as we got back on tarmac I noticed a
clunking noise about once every four wheel revs (similar to the noise a
train wheel makes when it goes over the gap between the rails...) I checked
the drive shafts just in case but they appeared ok and when I tried jacking
each rear wheel in turn clear of the ground and ran the engine in gear, as
soon as I applied a load with the hand brake the noise could be heard. The
consensus was that one of the crownwheel teeth was damaged so clearly it
would be pointless in attempting any more sections, however we were able to
limp along to Simms via Exeter services and then to the hotel but I didn't
want to risk driving home in case it all locked up solid so we went home via
the rescue truck (again...).
The transaxle in question was one that David Heale had loaned to me for
the event as I hadn't finished rebuilding my own."It's done 25 trials mainly
in my Imp but both Jim Scott and Bill Rosten have borrowed it previously and
havn't managed to break it......" he said, which I suppose means either its
unbreakable or on borrowed time... . So when I saw David at the finish it
was "Now David, about the warranty on that gearbox....."
Seriously though I was grateful for the loan of the box as without it I
probably wouldn't have been able to do the event at all.
What about Ian Moss then! First time out with a 'new' car and a gold! (ok
the 1040 engine and transmission are the ones he's been developing in his
old Hut (so called because of the reg) which was last out on the Mechanics
trial, but many many hours have gone into the preparation of the 'new' shell
which, at the start, was immaculate as you would expect from Ian).
He absolutely stormed up Simms at a time when there wasn't a lot of grip to
be found (which, as a fellow class 4 competitor can be a bit de-moralising
to watch!) - I gather he didn't do that well on one of the special tests so
he may not have won the class but he will obviously be a force to be
reckoned with this year. He does have some remedial work to do though as the
shell had some stress induced riples around the rear wheel arches.
We were no 298 from Popham so at the back of the field. We ran the reccomended route to Haynes but by the time we arrived much of the hot food had sold out. We generally had a good trial claiming a Gold and even signed off about an hour early so no complaints on that. Yes the hills were in Troll terms rugged rather than rough which allows me to drive the hill easying over the bad bits and then I have enough 'grunt' to accelerate again. Wooston Steep was fantastic with loads of grip and I accelerated all the way to the hairpin right. Simms was maximum attack, very high on the left but only just in the restart box then floored it and straight up the middle, lots of leaping about, bangs and crashes and we braked for the stop board. Yes the exit from Slippery Sam was quite dangerous in an open car haing to fend off all the overhanging briars. Need a flail down there before the next Exeter. The supper was great and the ACTC presentation on Sunday morning. Left Babacombe at 11.00 am home in Hayling by 2.30 pm and car washed off and put away by 4.30 pm. A very good weekend. Stuart Harrold
ReplyDeleteMy passenger Paul and I thoroughly enjoyed the Exeter as usual. Nice bright weather, spectacular daybreak at Sidmouth and of course the club supper. Tillerton and Slippery Sam have always been rough and rocky but I'm not sure they were any worse than usual. There was so much grip around that we pottered up them nice and slowly anyway although I appreciate that might not be possible in some of the saloons. As Stuart pointed out the worst part of Slippery Sam was driving down the exit lane in an open car! I didn't really understand what John Aley was getting at either although I would second Roger Bricknell's plea not to change the events any more. The Exeter seems to have got steadily easier under Ken Green which is good in that we don't have to spend hours in the freezing cold waiting at various sections and we finish in the daylight. On the other hand it doesn't seem to be as much of a challenge as it was in the early 90s when it was a really tough event with tricky restarts on Clinton, Simms and Tipley, not to mention Stowey (remember the floodlights going up the hill ?) and Wooston in its prime. Obviously it's a tricky balancing act between keeping the trial moving and providing a test for all competitors, especially given the uncertain weather. Did we claim a Gold? Unfortunately not as I snapped the throttle cable on the Simms restart and it wouldn't climb the hill on tickover (well we had to try didn't we?). Amazingly there were no cars around once we'd fitted the spare cable and the marshals kindly allowed us to have a go 'for fun' and we duly got to the top amid the blinding sunshine. I suppose I shouldn't be too upset as it was the first failure in the buggy due to a 'mechanical' since the 1991 Ebworth Trial.
ReplyDeleteBlimey! So the Exeter is getting LESS challenging is it? Maybe the time has finally come to ban Class 8 from MCC events (joke). However, I do think the conditions were somewhat easier (for Class 7/8 at least) this year than for the last two or three years. Tillerton definitely seemed less rough and I anticipate the results will show fewer failures. Wooston had bags of grip but we were still experimenting with new tyres, let them down far too much, and just hadn't got the power. I know that Simms was climbed by more Class 7s than for some years (but not us unfortunately) but I'm not quite sure why. I'm also sure someone in Classes 1 to 5 will have a very different view to Ian or myself. Waterloo was generally reckoned to be much MORE difficult than previous years for example. Whatever, I just think 2003 was a comparatively 'easy' year for Classes 7 and 8, I don't think the event overall is getting easier. Andrew
ReplyDeletePlease allow a mere passenger to comment on the level of difficulty, or otherwise, of this years's Exeter. The organisers, I believe, lost a number of opportunities to put in hurdles for Classes 7 and 8. According to John Aley the number of Golds on this year's event will be about twice last years. OK. But where could the organisers tighten up the event? Clearly the defining hills come after the lunch break: Tillerton: Difficult with a restart, but if you get the position right it's a doddle for Class 8. Why no tyre pressure limits? Wooston: Restart on the flat and no pressure limits. I had to get Stuart to brake quite hard for the hairpin right on the steep part of the hill. Simms. Tyre pressures 3psi less than in 2001 (we didn't do 2002). This is for Class 8 Tipley: No Restart . The Torbay restart on this hill (for 7 and 8) was always a right bar steward and did a bit of sorting out. What about Norman's Hump? I can remember the Restart for Class 8 being within a spitting distance of the crest of the final part of the section. And no pressure limits this year or as far as my records show. There seems to be plenty of scope for tightening up the event, but it does need some overall control and planning for how difficult the event is to be. Is such planning in place, or are individual hill Sector Chief's allowed to make their own decisions regarding Restarts and tyre pressures?
ReplyDeleteThere is a line of thought that as the drivers and cars in Class 8 get better and more developed that if the hills stay the same does that really mean the event becomes easier? If the event was made more difficult to cater for the Class 8 for this wouldn’t either it deter new people from entering the class or cause the current entrants to modify, or build new better cars, to retain the “easy†gold/triple and hence the problem is never really solved but gradually reduces entries? As the road mileage drops the temptation to drive/build more specialised cars because the time in it gets less and less so the sections become “easier” but we have been here before! The Tipley restart caused quite a few problems on the Exe Valley on a warm dry autumn afternoon maybe a little vicious and costly in time for failures but I do not remember if the Exe Valley Team put a pressure limit on the Reds. Very difficult for the organising team maybe there should be an extra levy on the entry fee for Class 8! Personally I like the idea of yours and Stuart's about linking the pressure limits to tyre size. Congratulations on the gold. Will it turn into a triple? Mark
ReplyDeleteNot sure what "Bill" is up with the "". Maybe becasue i cut n'paste from Word. Odd. Mark
ReplyDeleteAs some of you may recall (see Triples passim ad nauseam) I maintain a spreadsheet which rates the relative 'difficulty' of all three MCC trials for all eight car classes. When we have the Provisional Results I'll update the spreadsheet and give you all the DEFINITIVE answer as to whether this year's Exeter was actually easier for any, or all, car classes. OK? Andrew
ReplyDeleteWell the Provisional Results have arrived, and they make interesting reading. At first glance it certainly looks as if this year's Exeter was much more difficult than 'average' for Classes 3 and 4, and much easier than 'average' for Class 8, but I have a car to prepare for the Clee Hills Trial before I can update my spreadsheet, etc. etc. I hope to be able to publish the full results of my analysis within the next two or three days. It also looks as if there was a severe case of 'MCC-itis' on the Slippery Sam (Rocombe) restart. Can that number of Class 7 cars really have 'run back'? Andrew
ReplyDeleteYes the results are very interesting reading. What about all those jumped starts! Well done Brian on getting a gold. If you need a few tips just ask as I see I won your class! Michael
ReplyDeleteThe chief marshal of the Slippery Sam restart hinted at the 'get together' that there were a lot of failures due to running back, defined as breaking an egg placed behind the rear tyre or to that effect. He felt the running back rule should be adhered to strictly and applied equally to all those that did the restar t. I note my special test time for the first test was half as quick as Dudley Sterry's, I don't mind being a bit behind ,but I must have been asleep when the light changed to green! Well done Brian on Norman's! John Lees
ReplyDeleteI see the MCC have scrapped all the failures on the Slippery Sam Restart. See MCC News of the week. http://www.ukmotorsport.com/MCC/MCC_news_of_the_week.htm Michael
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling the MCC has just lost a Marshall. Regards
ReplyDeleteI see from the report cancelling the results on rocomb that there is a marshalling art video available where can I get one as I will be marshalling on hoskings hill this coming lands end as it may be helpful to view this
ReplyDeleteHi Chris, Just read your message regarding Tipley on the Exeter. As the marshalls (bar stewards) that ran Tipley for Torbay over the last five years that it ran, I whole heartedly agree that this would be a class 8 sorter. If set correctly, and particularly with tyre pressusres, this restart will sort the men from the boys. Those that know the trick will not be troubled excessivley but those that don't will have a fight on their hands. I would suggest however that bearing in mind the number of vehicles attempting the hill that it be restricted to only class 8. As you may recall Torbay ran the hill with 2 restarts. The lower used for classes 3, 4 and 5 which would, if needed be more suitable for classes 6 and 7 leaving the higher and more difficult one for class 8 only. Go on fight for it! Philip Tucker ( Not Phil Tucker in the TR3)
ReplyDelete