My Clee Hills Trial

What a fantastic event. I really enjoyed it. OK there are probably quite a few clean sheets and results will have to be decided on special tests but to me that didn't matter. The sections were much drier than usual and Easthope and The Jenny Wind were cleanable by mere mortals but that added to the day.

The event departed from the two loop system of recent years. However, every car didn't do every section on the single loop. It looked horrendous on the plan sent out with the final instructions but as a competitor it worked well. We were running right at the back of the field and can't recall any serious delays

Highlight for me was that wonderful, long, Hungerford Steps. There was plenty of grip so I should have run harder tyres to give some more ground clearance but what a blast. How was your Clee Hills Trial?

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A110 alpine

Just noticed this in a CJM auction A110 Renault, if anyone is interested. ( go on lift the suspension  and you are away)http://www.cjmasset.com/ClassiccarsandGarageEquipment.htm

Mainstream Media

Simms has made the Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2084055/Spectators-watch-horror-classic-race-car-flips-wet-muddy-track-leaving-driver-trapped.html

The pictures seem to have come from John Baker http://www.jfbclick.com/ Don't think he is involved in the sport. I wonder how much he got paid?

My Exeter Trial

Just got back to sunny Bedford via A303 & A34. I thought it was a very good do. Shame to loose Meerhay, especially was we drove past it, but a well thought out event. In a way loosing Normans Hump did the organisers a favour as the replacement Maralyns toughened up the night time sections. I understand the incident on Simms occurred while reversing down. If so that's a lesson to us all to take great care when that happens.

We really enjoyed the route and the sections, helped no doubt by some nice weather. Our biggest problem was that navigator Mike had really bad car sickness during the night so I was kept busy finding the way as well as driving. We had to stop for a while before the Musbury control and left there some 15 minutes late but otherwise ran near to scheduled time all the way through and reached the finish pretty much on the minute. After failing Marilyns we were disappointed  that Waterloo was cancelled but from what I hear we would likely have failed that as well!!

One lesson we did learn on Mailyns (where the engine bogged down) was that there was tons of grip and we ran quite high pressures there after. I couldn't get over how dry Bulverton Steep was although the same couldn't be said for Simms which we failed in fine form!

It was a real shame that later numbers had to miss so may hillls but I didn't hear any moans at the do in the evening. Well done to Jon the Pres for a nice speech (which we actually heard) and to Gerry for his well deserved life time achievement award.

Back to Simms, James Shallcross was two cars in front of us and you should have heard the cheer when he cleaned it. Hope we get to see that one on YouTube.

How was your Exeter Trial

Message to jeepmadmike

Thanks for your application to join ClassicalGas. Your application does not comply with our rules on real names. Check out "Joining Classical Gas" on our main page. - Michael

Northern Classic Trial 18th February

If you are not on the ACTC;s list to receive the regs for the Northern, please email me at fsacnct@yahoo.co.uk and I will get you a set sent out. We cater for all classes including Class 0 and bikes. Biased as I may be, but the Northern has consistently received favourable reports  in it's relatively short life for being a competitive, enjoyable and friendly trial. As usual the very small but obsessively dedicated team from Fell Side have been scouring the North Cumbria forests and byways to come up with some new, returning and altered sections to test veteran Northerners and newbies alike. If you have visited us before you know the score, if you are a Northern virgin why not try us for size!!! Bite the bullet, give all those softy southern trials a miss and spend your hard earned sheckels  Up Noorth. You KNOW it makes sense. We look forward to welcoming all to Cumbria.

On a serious note, we need to reach a certain number of entries to guarantee the continuity of the Northern in futire years. Trialling is a sport but also a bussiness for the organising clubs  that needs income from entries to continue. Please support us. 

 

Myke Pocock

Chairman, Fell Side Auto Club

Are we all ready for the exeter?

This will be my first time driving in the exeter trial, navigated for about 4 years and competed in the lands end in my old beetle. Iv just got a little bit left to on the marlin (ex angus stewarts car) but not much mainly checking things this car has been built very well. My dad got his beetle ready then trashed it in local trial just before christmas so we are working hard at the min to get it ready.

Is everybodys elses cars ready or is just start it the day before and hope for the best?