I thought it was a tough one, challenging, fair but tough.
We experieced all sorts of weather. Sun on the way to Popham, a clear sky on the route to Bridgewater, some snow remaining under the hedges across Exmoor, persistent rain after lunch, clearing as we arrived at the finish.
We started the sections in good mood when we saw a generous restart box on Fellons Oak. It was pretty muddy though, especially the exit track, pointing to the conditions for the rest of the trial.
We were defeated by Rodneys Revenge and Cutliffe Lane. More momentum next time? No restarts on either Beggars or Daracott, be nice to know more about the thinking there as it left them pretty un-competitive.
Crackington, what a buzz and very knowledgable spectators. Blue Hills was a real sting in the tail. We saw quite a few failures on 1 and were delighted when we didn't join them. Suffered the indignity of the winch on 2 when I made a bad choice on pressures. The engine bogged down and I couln't get it back. Understand the bit after the restart was "challenging"
How was your Lands End ?
Michael
Well it was ok overall - also failed Rodney's Revenge and Culliffe Lane and the final part of Bluhills 2. I think that maybe "they" should build a a vertical wall in front of the section ends line and make every competitor carries a rock from the bottom of the valley and add to the wall just to make absolutely sure that later cars can't clear it ! It was a good event though and despite delays and the rain everyone seemed in good spirits. Roll on next year
ReplyDeleteThe inside story re fewer restarts. Beggars restart was pulled at the last minute due to a recent complex PR issue. Daracott was lifted to make a change for 2010. It was also done to help remove delays. The recovery time upon this section can be as much as 20mins per car. Direct any special requests to Roger now, since he has already started to talk about next year. We liked the new Regularity Test and it did break up the run in to Bridgwater.
ReplyDeletethe last car did clean it i have seen some video and watched it twice.both times he made it look very very easy well done that green beetle
ReplyDeletefor myself i loved the event well done all involved cheers arnie
John Salters great Pictures here http://johnsalter.multiply.com/photos/album/47/MCC_Lands_End_Trial_2010
ReplyDeleteCheck back often as updates still coming thru
Well we had a great time in Class O. Our 3rd Lands nd and the muddiest yet. Cleared everything, really struggled on Petherwin Old Hill, didn't bother letting the tyres down as last year it was a doddle and easy. This year we went round the corner to be confronted by mud and rocks. Plenty of right foot and we managed to scrabble to the top.
ReplyDeleteDecided not to go for Bluehills 2, when we arrived most of the main trial vehicles on the section werefailing it and the queue was building up. So in the interest of all we went up Old Blue Hills and safely to the finish.
Went from the M5 to the A46 on the way home. As i changed up into 5th there was a loud bang, but everything kept going so I carried on to Seven Springs where it was safe to park and had a look. At first I thought it had blown a driveshaft oil seal, but closer inspection revealed a hole the size of two 50ps in the top of the gearbox! So something has let go inside and then escaped through the hole, but all the gears work and the diff was fine, made it all the way home with the slight aroma of EP90.
10mm hailstones at Michaelwood! The regularity test was a nice break from the tedious monotony of the run in, I'd prefer it closer to Bridgwater as the last 25 miles are the worst. My first time as a sidecar passenger, we failed some, cleaned some and made it to the finish in once piece.
ReplyDeleteFailed the restart on Rodney's Revenge, and was a bit pissed by that, but soon discovered that I was in good company. Discussed tactics with Dudley at lunchtime (is 11:00 lunchtime?), he stopped low and failed, we stopped high and failed. OK then 'til BH1, where I stopped in the wrong place and couldn't get going, and just to make it worse a plug lead came off. Chose to stop across the bottom line of the BH2 restart, and was glad I did. Came gently round the corner and instantly thought "Wow". Booted it and it went, but I liked the change and thought it was a good section to end on.
ReplyDeleteFinished at about half past three, turned straight round and went home. Was in the pub for Eight.
I hadn't thought about it before, but when we arrived at the Regularity I thought - this isn't going to work. Competitors are arriving at 1 minute, the test takes 1 minute and theres a house just 100 yards away. That leaves the marshals no time to do the paperwork without creating a delay. But I did think it was A GOOD THING. (Turned out later that the house owner was out spectating!)
Never really got dry all day and that took the edge off somewhat, yet the only place where we were actually queuing in heavy rain was Bishops Wood.
Maybe I was a bit harsh in my earlier post but the site of an apparent mud wall was a bit unexpected! Thinking about it I should have stopped on lower restart line trickled around the corner and gunned it rather than trickle into the box and then have to stop and restart - oh well next year - mind you bringing rocks up from the bottom may have helped with the mud ;-)
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say I enjoyed the regularity test nice break in the run good fun as well
Wow,the wettest lands end I have done,decided to have a bit of a go on the special tests and subsequently broke a rear suspension rose joint on the first test,thought"do we go home or try to continue?",decided to ratchet strap it back together and continue on steadily.
ReplyDeleteStruggled to get off rodneys revenge but made it with 'er indoors screaming at me that she couldn't breathe for tyre smoke(she is insured!).
Went fairly steady 'til bradworthy wicketts garage where i removed the rose joint,borrowed the chaps welder to weld it up,refit it outside lying in the stream running down the gutter and on we go.
Rest of the event was good,have always wanted to trickle up bluehills 1 and luckily it worked. Thought bluehills 2 needed a bit of spicing up but was that a bit too much? not sure.
Back to the finish nearly 3 hours later than scheduled but clean hopefiully.
Stuart H and I were marshalling at the top of the Somerset regularity test. We reckoned that on average we got a competitor though about every 70-75 seconds and we were finished by about 23:15. The major threat, which didn't materialise, thankfully, was the milk tanker taking his usual shortcut in the reverse direction to the trial traffic. Now that would have caused a bit of mayhem.
ReplyDeleteI spent all of Saturday at Blue Hills, saw the first bike through Blue Hills 1 at 10:45 am., and the last car through Blue Hills 2 at 7:30 pm. In between I got soaked in the rain and frozen in the wind. Still I took lots of Photos which you can see here:-
ReplyDeletehttp://hoits.smugmug.com/Classic-Trials/Lands-End-2010
and if you want to buy prints you can go here:-
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/3796
I hope you all enjoy them.
Actually I met the milk tanker on my way back to the main road.
ReplyDeleteFortunately he was just coming out of the farm entrance and very kindly reversed back in. I guess he realised that his shortcut was not going to work that night.
I remember when I lived in the North East, down a lane in the countryside. We were worried what would happen in the snow, would we be marooned? No, there was a dairy farm further down the lane. The farmer made sure the milk tanker always got through!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures Dave, you really got a great angle on the action. With you and John S there are some super pictures to drool over and they bring a different slant to proceedings. PS - Thanks for not picturing me on the end of the winch cable!
ReplyDeleteCracking pix as always Dave. You sure made a better job of taking pix on BH2 than I did of clearing it. Still not sure how I managed to thump the bank after the re-start! The repairs will give me something to do after the Kyrle.
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting, Simon. We were warned to expect the milk tanker about 10 pm ish, and we were looking out for it. But as far as I know e never saw hide nor hair if it, so perhaps yours was a different one. I agree with your sentiments that a Regularity test is a GOOD IDEA, but it does need some pretty smart marshalling to keep anywhere near the time schedule. I would be interested in the management view od why it was included.
ReplyDeleteWas it to break up the run from the start to Bridgewater (interest for the competitors) or was it to try and regtulate the flow of competitors into the rugby club?
I have added the last set of Photos to both Smugmug and Photobox. These are of the start at Plusha. They are in the same set as the other Lands End Photos, Here
ReplyDeletehttp://hoits.smugmug.com/Classic-Trials/Lands-End-2010
John, there some great photos of your Beetle. At last it looks as if I'm getting the hang of Flash Photography as well.
Dave Cook
dave super pics i know i should be looking at the cars but the cloud ant night is caught a beauty cheers arnie
ReplyDeleteArnie
ReplyDeleteI worry about you.
Pete
thanks pete its nice to know someone is worrying for you. i just love looking at clouds too.funny how when you get older your tastes change somewhat cheers arnie
ReplyDeleteHey Arnie - Wait till you get to 50 - thats when it all starts - and when you get to 60 - Wow !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteArnie Wordsworth - " I wondered , lovely is a cloud "
ReplyDeletehttp://cloudappreciationsociety.org/
ReplyDeleteIf anyone's interested I found a few photos here:
ReplyDeletehttp://surfchick100.blogspot.com/2010/04/lands-end-trial.html
thanks for the link andrew very good i;m not alone after all .and the rest of you ,well i;m still chuckling to myself and looking forward to what age brings my way. cheers arnie
ReplyDelete