I had a really enjoyable Exeter passengering for Simon Groves in his Escort. I liked the re-introduction of Meerhay, There seemed plenty of grip on Normans Hump and Clinton and we flew up both although I don't think it was so easy for the re-starters. Don't know if it was my imagination but Tillerton didn't seem so rough this year.
We had eports that the Cornich Escort drivers running at the front of the field had all climbd Simms so there was no way Simon was going to fail and we flew up. There was quite a long delay at Tipley, caused by almost all the 7 and 8's failing the restart. We climbed all the hills and claimed a gold. Simon hadn't planned to do the lands end but I think he will change his mind now!
I thought it was a good and well balanced event. It didn't seem as rough as usual but then I wasn't in my car! How was your Exeter Trial?
We had a great day.The weather was very kind to us all.We ran at the back and were surprised how dry it was!However the restarts were very polished when we got to them.Failed 4 hills including simms however we did get to within 5 yrds of the top.Great trial no punctures finished 1 1/2 hrs early.Major weld broke as we left the hotel in the morning.How lucky was that!!! Maureen and Ross
ReplyDeleteWe had a c**p day, as did most of Class 7. MCC Clerks of the Course seem to have forgotten that not everyone in Class 7 can drive like Andrew Martin, Bryan Phipps, and a few others, with the result that our trial was identical to Class 8 except that Class 7 didn't have to restart on Slippery Sam. From the inevitable Trecarn Bar post-mortem, fails on Normans Hump, Clinton, Simms (above the A boards), and Tipley was the average performance. ... and whilst I'm in sour-grapes moan mood ... am I alone in thinking that it was criminal not to check tyre pressures more, especially for those cars restarting on Tillerton and Tipley? Dropping pressures below 10psi could have made a real difference for the restarters on those two sections, but we'll never know if anyone did. Andrew
ReplyDeleteAndrew - Just beem talking to Simon Robson who tells me he coaxed his Leige off the restart at Tipley - joining the band of elite supermen as none of the 7's or 8's were getting away while we were in the queue. Michael
ReplyDeleteFrom the left hand seat of Billy Goat Gruff, No 151. We had a carp trial as well, but we put it down to running at the front, but perhaps we were not that bad after all. Failed Normans and Clinton with absolutely no problem, had plenty of grip off the restarts, but very quickly ground to a halt. At Wooston we did not get off the restart probably because we were the first car. Got to Simms and managed to be the first car again for the restart, and flew up the hill, which made us a bit happier, until we got to Tipley, and got about 2 feet past the restart. At least the snow held off, and it did not seem that cold. I must agree with Andrew, it seems pointless trying to compete in class 7, if you are doing virtually the same trial as class 8, especially the siting of the restarts.
ReplyDeleteWell we had a dark night on Waterloo!! No moon or star that place is dark!! Bikes were good fun and fairly quick in passing. The wait for the cars seemed ages. Unfortunately the Trojans didn't come. Simms seemed "easier" than usual. Especially after the surface was cleaned a little. We only stayed for the first half roughly but most things seemed to get up. The Cornish Escorts (clive kalber's estate especially) made it look part of the main A30. The Leiges didn't seem to have enough momentum although the blown one was better. Simon Robson's grip and blown power would be interesting. John Parsons climb on the right hand side made the crowd take a step back. The Pops were pedal to metal wheelie stuff so there must have been grip to put that power down! Good climbs all. I did think that a higher Class 8 restart could have been operated and maybe include the Class 6 Beetles with the Class 7 restart. Seems that Simms wasn't the decider this year then. Mark
ReplyDeleteMeant to add something to John Salter. 151 was the first car though Waterloo & Simms. What happened to 138-148? The first five cars were all around 153ish. Dad (143)i know stopped to replace the fan belt. I saw a pink Beetle right at the end of the trial getting right off the approach road along to the section. Get a beep of thanks and then never arrived. Mark
ReplyDeletePosted on behalf of Mike Warnes:- Hi Mike I have not logged on to post anything for some time and now I cant rejoin as my email address is shown as in use! Just wanted to add a comment onto Exeter Trial posting - as I was running as no 149 and was hopfylly in the right place ! Good event - cleared all sections and hoping for a Gold with the TR 7 liked you online updates, Mike Warnes
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the exeter trial we had some tough restarts in class 7 in our baja but all us cornish class 7 boys like a challenge!
ReplyDeleteA word on behalf of Cornish Beetles (just to counter the Cornish Escorts mentioned above)... I thought it was a good trial for class 4, helped by the dryish conditions and none of the restarts that caused class 7 so much grief (as noted above so eloquently by Andrew). We ran through without any delays which explains why we didn't have much opportunity to contribute to Michael's blog. We failed Norman's Hump (a particular challenge that I have yet to overcome) but got to within about 10 feet of the section ends board - next year!! Got up Simms for the first time on an Exeter which was a real buzz even though it did seem a little flatter than before. The crowd were great. Also got up Waterloo for the first time and redeemed last year's miserable failure on Wooston. Probably the most fun part of the trial was travelling all the route with a fellow Cornish Class 4 Beetle (Hans in the beautifully painted gelbeschwarze 1302) and having the opportunity to be helped out mechanically and then return the favour. Other than caused by some electrical gremlins, fixed by hitting the fusebox gently and a carb balancing problem that we were able to solve, we ran OK. So did Hans until his fanbelt went on the way out of Slippery Sam - taking out with it various engine ancilliaries. Was it me or was the exit from Slippery Sam particularly rough this year? We ended up with a big dent in the floorpan. Claimed a silver. Pete
ReplyDeleteMichael you are most generous in your message, but I have to pass the credit for getting us off the Tipley restart to Matt. We simply would just have sat there with wheels spinning if it were not for his concerted and prolonged bouncing enabling us to literally inch off the restart and up the next few yards until some grip could be found. Having read how Andrew's Exeter went I feel much better about how we did. We were running at 190 and had the same problem at Normans, with plenty of grip off the restart (staying out of the ruts), but then losing grip on the really slippery last few feet when we had no option but to drop back into the ruts, (bloody Avon crossplies !). We cleaned Clinton, but again full credit to Matt as we really had to work to get off the restart. Tillerton was OK as we read the box correctly and placed the car accordingly. Failed Wooston at the restart box as, (although we saw the tree root and the huge crater in front of it and positioned accordingly low and off to one side), the front wheels missed it but the back wheels slid down into the ruts and came smack up against it. I really thought we had it at Simms this year, getting reasonable drive off the restart, (had to back off to get grip and the all important roadspeed), cleared the slab OK, got well above the "A" board and into the final muddy gully but then lost all grip and came to a slithering halt (bloody Avon crossplies again !), still and honourable effort all things considered. I totally agree with Andrew regarding the difference, or lack of it, between Class 7 and Class 8 this year, and if you were only going to have one restart different why choose Slippery Sam ? It seems to me to be the one that make least difference, not more ! Regarding tyre pressures, a lower limit for Class 7 would not have made any difference to any Liege driver, as the Avons just go concave on the tread without any discernable tyrewall flex. I know that doesn't help the Marlin guys, but us Liege fellas have absolutely no other tyre to choose from currently. They could have put a higher limit on Class 8 however ! One other issue I'd like to open up. Anyone else feel more than a little dissapointed like me regarding the new ownership's catering at the Trecarn ? I have never seen such a miniscule portion of vegetables to be shared between 2 people, historically these have always been plentiful and more available if you needed them. Also the separate cheese & buscuits course has disappeared as have the chocolate mints, however I suspect that the price has been raised !!! Did they think that because it is an "old time trial" that the appetites of those competing were the same as the "Saga holidays" groups that Shearings usually cater for ? I for one hope this is raised with the hotel and put right for next year, otherwise I shall certainly be voting with my feet and eating elsewhere, as I believe will quite a number of others. SimonR
ReplyDeletePictures of Falcon's om The Falcon Blog http://spaces.msn.com/members/falconmotorclub
ReplyDeleteDad (Bill Rosten 143 Imp) had a decent trial. Gold claimed. Imp going nicely apart from the Fan belt needing attention early on. It certain flew up Simms very quickly. Too quick for me to get more than one bad photo. Looking forward to my annual spot in the passenger seat for the Cotswold Clouds. Third time lucky for Mustard... Here's hoping!! Mark
ReplyDeleteI have to say for a first attempt by the CoC I thought it was a fantastic event - even though we suffered our first retirement since the 1991 Ebworth. Well done to all concerned, especially to Tim & Anne given the trials & tribulations you had along the way. Great to do Meerhay again and to have some more challenging restarts and I'd be interested to know what Class 1, 2 & 5 drivers thought about revisiting Waterloo & Tillerton. Is it me or is Wooston also recovering some of its old stopping power now the trees are growing back a bit? If only Tim could get us into some of those new forestry tracks on the NT land near Fingle or find Old Stowey again... It seems you can't please all the people all the time though and no doubt comments on Class 7 restarts will be taken on board for next year. It has to be said (and Andrew Brown has already done so on his own website) that some of the Marlin boys need to raise their game to stay competitive in Class 7. The ones we saw (whilst lying in the mud changing a driveshaft) attempting Norman's Hump appeared unable to build any momentum at all from the restart and I'm not sure I'd back some of them in a tug of war against a home-made rice pudding with a well-formed skin either... Simon, there were plenty of potatoes and veggies on the Falcon table - perhaps the Liege table were given short rations to stop the accumulation of excess weight? Finally, a big thank you to all the people who helped us with our various mechanical maladies especially Carl Talbot, Colin Perryman & Keith Pettit at Normans and the famous three in the morris minor for their water and the marshal who gave us a tow up to Ilsington village hall after Simms.
ReplyDeleteIan, you're probably right because, as you know, us Liege lot are all very slim and svelte, ..... not an ounce of fat on us !
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