Mine was wet and muddy! We were in the select group of classes 3, 4 and 5 running at the back of the field. This meant that the grass had gone from the sections when we got there so we were battling a sea of mud. Nevertheless it wasn't too bad until we got to the Ellers/Peels Wood complex when the rain started in earnest during our two hour wait. Ellers was canceled for class 0 and beyond but we had a go at Peels Wood. A few miles up the road we had another wait of an hour and a half at Wilsons Wood which was finally canceled when Edward Broom got his Escort stuck on a tree stump.
This is when the rain really got heavy and our select group of around ten was very grateful that the burger van waited for us, even though it was nearly an hour since he had seen the last car. Incline was deserted when we got there but we had a go at Watergate and the section in the quarry. It was now gone 5 and we had a monsoon when we got to a deserted Peels Wood for what would have been our second gp had there been any marshals. The final four sections took a bit of finding but the stalwart marshals were still on duty so we had a go. We particularly enjoyed the last sections at Browns Wood as we not only saw a section ends board but actually drove past it!
We got to the finish at about 7 pm for our pie and peas supper. A lot of people had gone already, especially those who had a long drive in wet clothes. We left about eight when a very provisional set of results were posted http://classicalgas.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!9D45C19A8B93429F!3611.entry
On reflection maybe a lot of the grassy sections were ambitious in the conditions but I am sure the organisers will learn from that.
How was your Ilkley trial? And did anyone see Tiff in action?
Provisional results on Ilkley website....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ilkleymotorclub.org.uk/Classic/Files/Provisional%20Results%202009.pdf
Stuart and I ended up running first car on the road after a couple of hills but our trial came to an abrupt end at Peels' Wood. Having clawed our way from the start line to the deviation for Classes 6,7 and 8 we lost the front end and whacked a big rock pretty hard with the offside front wheel as we were going down hill. After we were extracted by the recovery crew we found out that the whole of the suspension had been moved back a few inches and was otherwise a bit mangled, together with the front wheel which is probably a write-off.
ReplyDeleteWe did stay to watch a bit and saw Tiff (we'd passed him somewhere near Bolton Abbey) clear the section in quite good style. Not sure if he had a restart or not, but he didn't stop. He seemed quite pleased because when he went past me he was whooping a bit.
Best attempt on Peels Wood that I saw wad Dean Partington who got a 7 I believe.
Having failed (along with Dudley) the restart on the first section and got stuck on the top of the hump on section 2 (swinging about like a see-saw) as did Dudley as well, we were a trifle worried that classes 1-5 were going to have a pretty difficult time on both.
In dryish conditions all those restarts would have been Ok, but with all that rain they were an absolute nightmare.
Still, enjoyed what I saw of it and I expect us to be back next year.
Running in class seven, we were fairly early-on so perhaps did not see all the problems that followed. Just for once I had few issues with the road book as I know the area well and I spotted only one distance that threw me, the one leading to the last four sections. I guess that as we approached downhill when everyone else was queing uphill, maybe the roadbook was correct.
ReplyDeleteWe saw Tiff frequently and were pleasantly surprised at his tenacity, what an overgeared beast that bike was. In an interview that is not likely to make it through the cutting room someone said they always thought most TV personalities were a bit lightweight but after seeing him stick with it despite the difficulties, he's gone up in a lot of people's opinions.
Did you notice the sections were attempted in the reverse direction to normal? A refreshing view of the countryside and I have not approached Dob Park from the exit side for thirty years. Pretty deep this year, too.
We found the sections to be somewhat narrow so the line is defined and when the surface cuts up, everyone suffers delays.
As Ilkley run a lot of PCTs on grassy farmland their marshals and competitors know that once forward motion has ceased the continued blasting only digs holes for following competitors. It is as unsociable as using bad language in front of a lady so we stand aghast at the inconsiderate thrashing of some folk who get their front end stuck and proceed to chew holes with the back wheels for others to fall into. Our marshals, being kindly souls, are apt to indulge the visitors and allow them to ruin the course for everyone when, on a clubnight, they wo
Running in class seven, we were fairly early-on so perhaps did not see all the problems that followed. Just for once I had few issues with the road book as I know the area well and I spotted only one distance that threw me, the one leading to the last four sections. I guess that as we approached downhill when everyone else was queing uphill, maybe the roadbook was correct.
ReplyDeleteWe saw Tiff frequently and were pleasantly surprised at his tenacity, what an overgeared beast that bike was. In an interview that is not likely to make it through the cutting room someone said they always thought most TV personalities were a bit lightweight but after seeing him stick with it despite the difficulties, he's gone up in a lot of people's opinions.
Did you notice the sections were attempted in the reverse direction to normal? A refreshing view of the countryside and I have not approached Dob Park from the exit side for thirty years. Pretty deep this year, too.
We found the sections to be somewhat narrow so the line is defined and when the surface cuts up, everyone suffers delays.
As Ilkley run a lot of PCTs on grassy farmland their marshals and competitors know that once forward motion has ceased the continued blasting only digs holes for following competitors. It is as unsociable as using bad language in front of a lady so we stand aghast at the inconsiderate thrashing of some folk who get their front end stuck and proceed to chew holes with the back wheels for others to fall into. Our marshals, being kindly souls, are apt to indulge the visitors and allow them to ruin the course for everyone when, on a clubnight, they wo
I too was fairly impressed with Tiff, he seemed to be giving it a real go and was well pleased to clear Incline 1, even though there was no Cameras there. Apart of course from Mine. i have loaded up the pictures and you find them here
ReplyDeletehttp://hoits.smugmug.com/Classic%20Trials/786495
I hope you enjoy them, the rain and late running certainly made some of the photography difficult, but I think they are not too bad.
Dave Cook
This may amuse some who have followed the Yeller Dutton in the past . .. Tiff and Tom asked to follow us as they had lost the route book momentarily in the wind and rain . . . ;-)
ReplyDeleteBri
And by the way - June 15, Channel 5, 5th Gear. One of the TV lot told me at 8.42pm . .. but the last bit may have been leg-pulling.
ReplyDeleteBri
Looking at the results they did well on an unsuitable machine considering he had never ridden a chair before.
ReplyDeleteI believe there was a little rule bending in the drive department - but I heard it had a ridiculously long first gear which was probably what helped to create the hot clutch smell - on his escape from Watergate back past us,it smelt rather, and didn't actually appear to have much drive!
ReplyDeletePleased to say we continued our 100% record on Watergate - but this year was probably the most worrying at the bottom - all the water and mud. And we cleaned Hawpike 2 but seemed to have recorded a 12 . . . For those who really did record a12, it is an interesting roller coaster of a test further in ;-)
Bri
Hi Bri,
ReplyDeleteWell done on your 1st in class seven smooth driving.
I would loved to have set off on tickover on the first group of section but we dont have the HP under the bonnet.
Well done to you and all at the club for running the event.
Caroline and myself enjoyed the day.
We where lucky to be running early and missed the long delays,back home for 6.30pm!
thanks
Steve
i see that for those who made it off the restart at Wilson's Wood, only 2 cars noticed the deviation at the 2 marker - we only noticed it after looking back at the video!
ReplyDeletethe worst of the rain seemed to coincide with our section attempts - easing off or stopping minutes after we get back to the road. or of course when we had to change a tyre after hitting a rather large rock hidden under some nettles in a verge - we were treated to the monsoon!
Ah, the Wilsons Wood "trap" that catches most Ilkley first timers!!! Didnt get to use my Ilkley experience here as it was cancelled for class 4 and 5 after we waited on the road for more than an hour. James - Your Vid is mega. Really shows what the triual was like - Michael
ReplyDeleteVideo is great James, really shows the conditions well. It will be very useful next year when I'm working out which sections to go to.
ReplyDeleteDave C
I think the writing was on the wall, when the recovery tractor failed to find grip within the actual section.......???
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed my first outing for more than a year..a lot more than a year!
IT took a while to get back in the groove.....somehow, thirty tonne 6x8 wheelers behave very differently off road compared to a Skoda on worn-out Colways!
Also a real boon having Arron Homewood as passenger, in addition to my 10 year old son!
Arron created much merriment at Ilkley Rugby Club when he discovered the front seat of a Skoda Rapid is height-adjustable...and was set high up...opening the sunroof improved his headroom no end!
I forgot the premis that experimentation on what line to take is really better left until one has recovered one's skills.......on more than one occasion I would have improved our scores if I had simply 'stayed in the ruts!'
Watergate was a high point of our day....however, that 'one' marker is simply inside the limits of a skoda's turning circle!
The tatty skoda performed well...considering the bashing it took...in that little broke, and the tyres retained air!
Not too sure about those minimum tyre pressures.....needed some 'adjustment' for the later classes in my view....appropriate to the conditions faced. Still, removed some of the onerous decision-making?
Thank you Ilkley for a splendid event, however.....our own problems apart!
Driving home again was another issue!