It was five years since I drove on The Allen and was very much looking forward to coming back. Interesting how some of the sections had changed. I couldn't believe Burledge was so smooth and Bitton Lane had gone the other way. Uplands was back to what I remember when I first did The Allen some fifteen years ago. I must say I didn't like the PCT type sections at Ubley Woods and Lakeside as they weren't in character with the Allen I remember. However, this was soon forgotten after the joy of blasting up John Walker in the dark. Thats the Allen Trial I love!
Results wise I didn't trouble the awards secretary to much. The highs were getting off the Bitton Lane restart, which used to defeat me, and cleaning the second section at Ubley Woods. The lows were failing Travers by not going fast enough and not getting away from the Burledge restart which was pure pilot error!
How was your Allen Trial?
Well both Dad & I enjoyed did.
ReplyDeleteWe collected a lot of points along the way too!
Dad's first time and I did it about 8 years ago. The first time I had seen Big Uplands in any case.
We liked the trial - again prefered the lanes & roads but field sections weren't damaging.
A tyre off the rim low down on Big Uplands was disappointing especially with 18psi in there!
Dad drove Burledge well.
The ruts were a surprise on Bitton Lane and I was impressed the Imp cleared them with the 12" wheels.
John Walker was also rougher than I remembered. For an unknown at present reason the engine was down on three after the section. It has sparks and compression. Better now than early January!
My Allen was definitely a trial in both senses of the word, due to a variety of mechanical problems. We had the car boil on the start at Bitton, but due to the limited space there did the section anyway (and made it off the restart to the top), collecting a couple of sizeable dents on the way, then set to work on the cooling system which had developed an airlock - thanks to Mal for the extra water after I'd used the gallon of my own. The exhaust was dislodged coming back down Big Uplands. Our club chairman compained of head injuries sustained from hitting the roof of my car on the way up - he didn't suggest I slowed down though! A tyre went down in Ubley woods, then we had a trouble-free run through and out of Lakeside only for the bottom caliper bolt on the OSF wheel to come undone on the road section - thank you to Bill in the other Imp who stopped to offer assistance and left his mobile number in case I needed any help (and to all the many other people who saw us stopped at various points and enquired if we needed help). Last of all the exhaust came off again coming out of the ford on John Walker and the lack of torque meant it finally died about 20 yards short of the section ends marker. After some re-engineering by feel in the dark we made it to the finish and I have never been more pleased to collect a finisher's certificate! Despite all that lot (which were largely due to my car not really being "trials prepared", more an Imp with RAC springs and a sumpguard) we had a great time as always, the whole day makes all the effort of getting the car ready and in this case keeping it going worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteOur 2008 Allen Trial was a long one.Early start and drive down from Rochdale towing of course. It was my sons first real ACTC event,he has only done PCT's before that and now he is 14 he can sit in with me in my Liege. We got stuck fast on the end of section one Lakeside, and thanks to the class 8 blue Dellow guys.Just reversed up to us put a tow rope on then towed us out of some real deep clay mud. Thanks again, my son was very impressed with that! We enjoyed the event nothing to repair no punctures but did struggle with grip, and belive it or not in a Liege ground clearence! You will see us next year at the Allen. All the best Steve & James Red Liege
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