First things first - any news re how Brian got on - did you get your triple?
Mike Hayward and I met up with a few others at the Rugby Truck Stop and drove in convoy up to the start which was just as sterile as last year! No problems in the night and on to the biggest disapointment of the trial, the breakfast at b****y Bently Brook where we were told it would take more than an hour for our food to come by a lady that appeared to be on the edge of throwing in the towel. Lots of people were giving back there tickets and leaving without breakfast.
Running in class four we were denied Bamford and I was very disapointed about that. We didn't have any problems on any of the sections because they were so dry and almost everybody I spoke to claimed a gold!
My Beetle ran OK although clubmates neil Bray and Simon Robson both had problems and Richard Tompkins retired with a broken diff on Putwell 1.
I liked the dinner in the Pavillion. Hope thats a feature in future.
How was your Edinburgh?
Michael
Michael - Firstly. Brian claimed a Gold (and hence a Triple) but there'll be no celebrations until the results arrive! Personally I felt rather sorry for the Edinburgh organising team who made some comparatively radical changes to the route and then 'suffered' with the driest Edinburgh I can remember since 1996 (our first event in the Marlin). We were running right at the end and finished only half an hour late - all lost at Haggside and we never managed to catch-up time. Bamford was horrendously rough but with huge amounts of grip and totally 'driveable'. It would have been a very different matter if it had been very wet, which would have required much more 'attack'. The only real buzz for Classes 7/8 was Jenkin Chapel (Corkscrew to the uninitiated) which was in fine form - lots of water, and rough but not very rough. The restart had been moved down to the short straight between the two hairpins and was 'quite interesting'. A good event, due more to the weather and spectacular scenery than the challenge of the trialling, but, hey, who cares? Andrew
ReplyDeleteChris and I had a good Edinburgh, we ran at 138 so were generally in the first 6 or so cars on the hills. We towed up to the Bull in Whatsit and then drove the Troll to the start. Quick and efficient scrutineering then a warm drink before the run out. Burst a front tyre on Clough Wood which was very rough but no problem. Had to put a wide rear wheel on the front as the wall of the flat was too badly damaged to put in a new tube. Breakfast for us at Bently Brook was worth the 30 minute wait but rather surprised at the wait as the food has come quickly in previous years. The worst is the queu for the W.C.'s, why don't they hire in some porta loos for this event? Got to Putwell to find a slowly deflating rear tyre, probably also caused on Clough Wood, a quick change but now no spares. Enjoyed the special test blast up and around the corner. What a good job Dudly S. did with the restart flag, good to see him and Eric Wall out marshalling, but isn't Putwell rough now? Litton was great and the Troll romped up it in style. These 18 p.s.i. pressure limits are great, no pumping up for the road. At the Gliding club I put a new tube in one of the flats so we again had a spare. Good views from the club but was it windy, would not want to be there in the rain. Bamford is well past its use by date in my opinion particularly the concrete steps at the top. In the Troll I have the power to ease over the steps then get the power down again but I feel sorry for the lower powered cars that have to use a bit of speed, it must knock them about a great deal. We had a petrol and sandwich stop at the garage opposite the Marques of Grandby for old times sake. Was surprised at the trafic jam in Buxton on the way to Corkscrew. Now for me Corkscrew was THE hill of the trial. We were third car up it and it was running with water, very muddy slippery rocks and as narrow as a footpath. We cleared the restart but had to fight for grip every inch of the way from start to finish, a great hill and a wonderful sense of achievment to get to the top. If that was the only hill in the trial I would have been happy.But at the top another flat on the rear. We decided to risk the last 2 hills without a spare, no problems. Then back to the Bull, sign off, load up and a well deserved pint having claimed a Gold. Into Buxton to our B&B, 2 hours sleep then out for a drink and the pavilion. I really enjoyed the meal at the pavilion and the service was so good. Just a pity that no one from the MCC or the organisors said anything, it was a bit of an anti climax. But good company, food and drink. A good trial in great weather. Stuart Harrold
ReplyDeleteHi Michael - as Andrew said, I have claimed a Gold and hence the Triple but am anxiously awaiting the provisional results as there is many a slip between cup and lip etc... No celebration until confirmation.... My first Edinburgh and I fully acknowledge that the weather made many sections relatively easy but nothing prepared me for the arm and shoulder pounding that Bamford Clough provided! Followed closely by a marvellous Haggside whilst arms still pumped - no room for complaceny there. Could it get better? Yep - it could - it was called Corkscrew - can I bring that hill back to Devon please? The queue of bikes edged slowly forward and all we could do was wonder at what the heck was going on around the corner out of sight - all we could hear was the sound of engines in pain (or sudden quiet) and what seemed like very long waits for the next victim to start. Myself and Michael Moyle from Truro (on his XR250 two bikes ahead of me) started to feel considerably stressed imagining our Triples disappearing around the bend - but, in the event, we both cleaned it - phew! The bog at the end, just as you thought you could relax, may have caught a few riders out - it nearly did me. I was stunned to learn that Class 7 & 8 went up the hill and there were several cleans - any chance that it was videoed? I need to see it to believe it - surely the restart area was hardly wide enough for an outfit! Moto Service station was the pits, breakfast at Fenny Bentley was yuk and one sit-down facility for all the guys? But... the scenery was fantastic, the route card was perfect, the Pavilion was a great evening venue and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the excellent company provided by the Marliners team. What a fantastic weekend - ached a bit at work today though and nearly fell asleep a couple of times. Well done to all the organisers and marshalls plus to my travel companion and mentor, Roger Cantle, who made the long car journey go so quickly with his many yarns. Fingers crossed guys... Brian PS We won't mention a slight detour up the M42 at the start will we eh?
ReplyDeleteIt was our first proper outing in the newly finished Dellow (after failing to get to the start in the Lands End). It all went very well, except that I forgot that I did not have to drive like I had to with my Class 4 Skoda and failed Corkscrew as a result. A bit of carburation to sort out, but nothing fell off, so I am really pleased with a claimed Silver. Bamford was really rough; I am glad I did not have to do it in a car with any overhang. Repairing the hill with concrete seems to be a bit harsh; has the use of a softer concrete made with PFA instead of cement been considered. Does anybody have any experience in this? It would be a shame to loose Bamford, but I have broken a few cars on it over the years. On the subject of tyre pressures. I think higher pressures are a good idea and the problem with running cross-plies is easily dealt with by allowing them to be at lower pressure, say 4psi, than radials; this used to be the case in PCT's (still is for all I know). Thanks to all the officials and marshalls. They did a great job, which is much appreciated. Peter Mountain
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