Sunday, 1 February 2009

How was the Cotswold Clouds

Conflicting engagement so I didn't go. Very interested to know how it went.

36 comments:



  1. The animals are fenced in at all good zoos. You just drive by in your car but you aren't allowed to stop and feed them

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  2. Excellent event.

    Well organised and run. No waiting of note through the event. The last section, Station Lane, was probably the only one with 20+ minutes but that was due to getting the failures down the section again.

    Dad was very pleased to climb Crooked Mustard. Less pleased to be changing the electric fuel pump between the Axe holding control and the section. Thanks to everyone who stopped to ask if we ok. The Ladder proved we didn't have enough power to move off the restart with 12psi.

    We had a really good day. Thanks to the marshals as it wasn't warm!

    I think that Dad, and his wife, will be having more of a challenge getting their flight to Scotland this morning...

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  3. Saw the first half of the entry through Crooked Mustard, then moved and saw the same people through Ham Mill. Crooked Mustard was in a very benign state with far more clears than normal, although the Class 3s seemed to struggle, but I don't know if it continued in this state for the second half of the entry. Most people cleared the Ham Mill restart with no problem, although a few came rocketing around the first right-hander expecting the restart to be higher-up and had a "moment" when they realised that it was back where it used to be - just around the corner. Most got off, although with a bit more drama than if they'd approached more carefully and stopped in the "right" spot.

    I then spent the rest of the day marshalling the Bull Banks Special Test, which seemed to run smoothly, packing-up around 4.30 and heading home to thaw out.

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  4. Great day out, tyre pressure restrictions didnt suit the beetle,and being a late number, not enough weight in the back, and bent the front axle on station lane slightly took the shine of the day, but managed to get home under our own steam.

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  5. It was definitely a cold day. Our sporting trial was cancelled so the sporting boys moved to watch the Cotswold Clouds on mass....travelling from Cornwall and Darlington.

    We watched two thirds of the entry through Crooked Mustard which seemed easier than passed years. Richard Hayward took a very novel route which didnt work infront of his club members - one suspects that will not be forgotten. Bill Foreshew put the front right up the outside bank on the final bend, bounced the front off a tree root and somehow managed to continue up the hill. We did observe two paramedics working on a spectator very quietly which some people didnt even notice. Does anyone know if everything was ok?

    Next we went onto Merves Swerve. First few cars were held till the hill was meant to open. For the first few none restarting cars it proved easier than it became once the leaves had disappeared. The green Trojan very nearly climbed out of the top, keeping out of the ruts all the way. Paul Bartleman nearly got crossed up on the bend off the restart with the front right up the bank and back in the tracks initially. Simon Groves broke a halfshaft up the top not lifting off. He was on the way to climbing it. Tim Lakin made comment about a 205 passenger having his arm round the screen pillar and hand on the screen and the danger of this. Round the top bend then the 205 was out of the ruts and left a wheel mark less than 6inches from the tree....NOW THAT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY VERY NASTY.

    Next came the fun of trying to find Station Lane, with the main road closed....!! Missed the first few cars (again). Simon Groves gave it absolutely everything (as usual) and ran out of ground clearance and grip on the steep bank at the three. Next was Harvey.....well if Simon gave it everything...Harv was something else. Someone videoed it on their phone next to me and he was on valve bounce for 9seconds before coming over the brow before the ruts, and never lifted even been totally AIRBOURNE for SIX FEET!! Dean Partington was sensational - trickle up to the steep bank, put the boot in for a fraction of a second and shot off. Shortly after Tim Smith in his Corolla. Trickles up the ruts, floors it, straight onto the rev limiter, spitting flames out of the exhaust and up and gone. Simon Groves face was a picture, followed by "********* how am I suppose to live with that", Simon then an hour later found out he won the class so everything was fine, apart from the two BMW's that also climbed up Station Lane!!!

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  6. Clouds event was a 1st for me.
    Mustard was great,even got up it.
    It went down hill from there.Diff knocking,then axle snapped, rear shocks held it all together!

    (thanks to Protech shocks, Solid little things held the back axle for rest of trial)
    they will be off for refurbishment ,another reason I like them.

    Sorry for any delay I caused, when prop snapped off on last section but car had took a battering.
    Thanks to all who helped and towed me out.

    Managed to fix prop back on, and we limped to the finish.
    When I got on trailer diff was steaming on a bitter cold day.
    scrubbed off a brand new pair of tyres in 60miles! even broke exhaust 1st time in 4 years!
    Anyone got any 155x15 about them? F560 etc.

    Thanks to my Trials buddies who would not leave a broken car,you know who you are.
    Cheers Farny,a man who can tell the difference between 1/2" and 13mm.
    That's more beer tokens you have earned.

    I will be back next year.

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  7. The spectator receiving medical attention at Crooked Mustard had apparently been feeling feint and his mates decided (after ribbing him about last nights boozing etc) to call for help to be on the safe side. The wind chill at the Mustard was quite severe.

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  8. Sam Foster, a newcomer who's found us via the Beach Buggy forum, took a couple of short videos (Dave Sargeant & Steve Johnson) on Nailsworth.

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  9. I can see I'm going to have to change my login, but as an IT professional I naturally didn't read
    the instructions first. Dave Cook

    I spend the morning at Nailsworth, where you always be assured some spectacular wheelies, but Harvey Wates' Ford Pop claimed the prize for the most spectacular. I went to Bulls Bank for the afternoon, not an all action section, but a good opportunity to photograph cars in the open rather than surrounded by trees.

    Photos may be a little delayed as we are in the midst of a family crisis, looking after two grandchildren aged 30 months and 7 weeks, so little time for anything else. but at least the ones on Nailsworth look OK.

    Dave Cook

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  10. Steve,

    I know where there are some brand new F560 165x15's if you or anyone is interested...

    Rgds
    Duncan

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  11. Despite my early bath, enjoyed what I did. Slight probs with the bike carbs on Baldrick meant slight lack of grunt at times but more down to U/S driver. Only done the Clouds once before so there was a lot more crud around this time. On some sections everything happens so quick, or am I so slow to react??? Lost some power on Axe but nice section that I saw of it. Nailsworth was rougher than I remember at the bottom? and why a restart for Class 4 or is it that the Beetles are so good? Ham Mill was awsome but early onset of my eventual demise. Came stonking round the bend having not read the route book (pillock) and faced with restart. GEEZ. Made it though. Merves Swerve and the noise from nether regions is getting worse, good traction and going great guns then BANG. Sheared bolts on flywheel. Towed out by closing Landy (thanks lads) then a wait of 2 hours 45 mins for RAC back to SKF. Arrived in Carlisle at 12.30 cream crack***d. More time in the garage needed. Holding controls good but had a few waits in queues. Thanks to Bill Bennett who gracefuly answered on a number of occasions my questions about sections and tyre pressures. Decline a start number of 57, 58 or 59! Look at the results!!!!

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  12. As usual the Clouds was great fun. 1st time doing it in the Austin 7 so every hill was a challenge, heavy weight bouncer helped as the Austin really responds to bouncing well, unlike the Hurg.

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  13. Hi Duncan,

    165x15 too wide for me,Liege only got 30hp wont pull them in sections
    thanks

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  14. Good photos Duncan.

    the ruts at Station Lane definitely were dug out through the day looking at the last few.

    It is a shame that Giles's climb hasn't been captured on video as he had plenty of speed on!

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  15. love this one


    And is this a Trojan cleaning Mustard?

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  16. Hi, I had a great time at my first trial, it has only made me want to get a car and have a go even more, just need to sort out a car first.

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  17. That photo is from Station Lane....the green one very very nearly climbed Merves Swerve. The blue one DID climb station lane which was a fabulous effort...better than any Escort managed. Giles was super fast yes....too fast to get the phone out of the pocket to video it

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  18. This one got a round of applause from the crowd at the ladder ...







    Have a lot more pictures, will publish details once I have sorted them out - if anyone is looking for a particular car shout ....

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  19. Good Old Harv!!!! Surely even Harvey had to lift off the loud pedal for that???!!Always one to remember - someone must have video'd it........

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  20. Ah wow!!! Fantasic photo......
    Harv your a crazy man!!

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  21. Just looking at the results Chris emailed.

    I am not sure Mustard wasn't in inform. Only 6 cars clear from Classes 1-6: 4 saloons plus Bill Bennett and Adrian Dommett in Class 2..

    Maybe 34 cars in the top two classes made it seem like there were more clears than average?

    Bill Bennett 12th overall - a great round!

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  22. I hope there are no 'anti's' looking at the Classical Gas site. I am sure they could use the pictures of Harvey as ammunition against trialing in general. Health and safety?
    Stuart

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  23. I have uploaded some videos of Crooked Mustard to YouTube.
    Pete,

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  24. Petes Videos are here http://www.youtube.com/user/PeteBristolMC

    Here is a sample


    How to do this? On the YouTube page you will see "embed". Copy all of the code in the box and paste it here. When you have done that you will see a lot of seemingly spurious characters here. Don't worry about that. The video will appear when you save the message.

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  25. no worse than the Walls last year.

    Maybe Nigel (CofC) could move the restart line nearer the step to prevent such a run up :)

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  26. maybe markre should volunteer to be C-of-C :)

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  27. having rode with harv i can assure all in full control and to the un educated it might loook a bit more spectacular than in reality

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  28. At last I've got round to putting my photos on the web. They can be found here:

    start: http://hoits.smugmug.com/gallery/7307341_7LRHv/1/469950824_EpjHo

    Nailsworth Ladder: http://hoits.smugmug.com/gallery/7307354_obaKx/1/469951554_jDKcq

    Bulls Bank: http://hoits.smugmug.com/gallery/7307420_zEuDg/1/469955172_oTfE4

    I'm Particularly pleased with the nailsworth photos, Apart from the obvious action shots, many of the photos actually look as if the cars really are going uphill.

    Dave Cook

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  29. Love the picture of Harvey looking so cool Dave

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  30. Pictures from Clipmerwell by Mark Chater (give it a few moments to load)

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  31. Yes, If that was me there'd be finger holes in the door

    Dave Cook

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  32. What was he doing with the other hand? Texting?

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  33. All of my pictures, including the not in focus, not in shot etc. ones, from the clouds can be found at http://markchater.multiply.com/photos/album/1/Cotswold_Clouds_2009_-_Climperwell
    (thanks Michael for reminding me I hadn't posted a link here)

    Drop me a line if you want the full size ones of your car for printing - they are about 3-4MB each though.

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