|
The
2008 Clee Hills Trial – a classy challenging contest by Pat Toulmin
The
Craven Arms hotel, after a major face-lift a year or so ago, was
offering a better service than last year, with good bacon rolls and hot
drinks to prepare competitors for a tough event. The hotel had excelled
itself the previous evening by laying on a special carvery just for
trials competitors – and excellent it was too! The location of the
hotel is perfect, with a supermarket and filling station next door, and
at the perfect cross-over point for the “figure-of-eight” course
that we have run for some years now. The real snag is that the pub car
park seems to get smaller every year! First they built over part of it
to make a beer garden, and now Network Rail have taken over some of it
whilst they refurbish the adjacent railway line. So space for
scrutineering, parking and starting off was at a real premium, but Mrs
Tucker-Peake was directing traffic with great skill and it all just
worked, helped by speedy and efficient scrutineering, as always, by the
Blakeley Team.
 |
 |
Liz Tucker-Peake in
action at the start
(Photo by David Price) |
Dave Clewley at the
start
(Photo by David Price) |
A
new route took us to Phil’s Follly - the first section on the western
loop. We were slightly apprehensive about this being our first section
(last year it was later in the event for us) because last time, although
we got up it, we had only just got round the sharp hairpin right – the
Marlin almost under-steered into the bank. As we were approaching the
section, we met Phil the farmer on his quad bike and he warned us that
cars had been having difficulty getting to the start line, due to the
very wet conditions in the field. The marshals had already been ‘on
the case’ and we were directed up a harder track, but this meant that
we would have had to reverse into the field to get to the start line. We
watched John Ludford attempt this feat and as he also got stuck so
section controller, John Sergeant, very sensibly cancelled the hill and,
with no difficulty, we drove up the section and on a couple of hundred
yards to Gatten’s Gamble. This was the hill that when Jonathan found
it in late 1999 Phil the farmer gambled a £1
that Simon & Jonathan wouldn’t get up it in Tony Rothin’s
Cannon-Alfa – he lost! This year the
bottom of section looked very tricky where a ditch had been dug across
it, but we did start back a yard or two in the farmyard and results show
that everyone cleared it. It is a public road, and has all the features
of a classic section and you have to keep going to clear it – it must
be about a third of a mile long with spectacular views at the top.
Allez
‘Oop was next and a very cheerful lady marshal checked our tyre
pressures. This section should not these days worry anyone, although the
surface is much more cut up than when the Midland Automobile Club first
ran it 2000 (It is one of the sections
used on the 1938 Midland Trial). I think Jonathan thought he was at
Shelsley Walsh and we almost caught up Mal Allen in his Marlin –
shades of Shelsley with two cars on the hill! The results show that this
year Allez ‘Oop did catch out a few cars. There was a real snag here
for anyone who did not get up it: A recovery vehicle was supposed to tow
failed cars to the top, but for some reason it did not happen, and the
fails route shown in the route book proved as difficult as the section
itself. From there a couple of competitors got lost and missed the last
three sections.
 |
 |
Dave Haizelden at the
top of Allez 'Oop
(Photo by Robin Goundry) |
Rover recovery at the
top of Allez 'Oop
(Photo by Robin Goundry) |
The
drive over the Long Mynd is really a bonus with wonderful views to the
west and this was only the second year that the trial had been allowed
to drive this. Two dog walkers in the heather looked at us with
amazement and we had to wait for about ten cyclists coming the other way
along the track. Priors Holt 3 seems to be our bête
noir on this event, last year Jonathan was too cautious and missed our
restart line, this year we failed the restart by going high in the box.
We had watched Mal clear it by starting low, but as Jonathan had pegged
the section he was convinced high was best! However talking to Murray
Montgomery-Smith and others at the next section it didn’t really seem
to matter where you stopped, as it caught out all but two of class 7.
Next
was Priors Holt 1 and the start line marshal was one of our speed event
colleagues, Martin Webb, who sprints a Formula Ford Swift. However he
needed his own leg power this time, as he was checking tyre pressures
and then running up to the start line. With the 2-litre Montego engine
in our Marlin, Jonathan usually starts in second gear, but he knew that
the end of this section is very steep, so tried first here. This may
have been a mistake, as we seemed to struggle to get to the “five”,
with not as much go as usual (too much wheelspin?). However this was
about par for the class, but results show that Brian Colman in his
Dutton Phaeton cleared it. As MAC was marshalling this hill, we had
hoped for a better performance!
Next
would have been Round Oak, but due to very last-minute problems Simon
had had to cancel it - not because of the weather, as some rumours
suggested. The owner, having given written permission for MAC to use it,
withdrew that permission just a day or so before the event. This was a
great shame because it is a wonderfully challenging section and Simon
and a small team and spent a long time with a chain saw and several
spades preparing the section.
Then
it was the section that Jonathan had been waiting for, Strefford Wood.
Indeed he has been trying to include the section since he started
running the Clee in 1994! He and Simon have tried to secure the use of
it over the years and all kinds of obstacles prevented this, but because
of its great potential they persevered and, at last, this year trials
cars could attempt it. On the Thursday before this year’s Clee it was
bucketing down and the forecast was for more heavy rain on Saturday and
Sunday. Jonathan suggested that if the 2008 Clee was a washout and he
got very wet and cold he might retire early, but not until after
Strefford!!
We
arrived with Nick Farmer and Keith Oakes in front of us and there was
someone being recovered on the section. Pete and Carlie Hart were in
charge. Simon had obviously decided he needed some experienced marshals
here. Pete told us, as he told everyone else, that what was required was
very low tyre pressures and a flat right foot. I commented that that’s
how Jonathan usually drives. As we were waiting, Jeremy Nightingale
arrived on foot! David Bache had turned right too soon, drove through
the car park and headed up a track. He mistook the down arrows (as this
was a fails route) and carried on, eventually becoming stuck when the
clutch caught fire – David and Jeremy really do have some fun with the
Dellow!!. Jeremy came to find out where they should be. Then it was
Keith’s turn and he wasn’t able to gain any speed and failed within
view of the start line. It is only a single-track approach so we all got
into the hedge as he reversed back to the road. I was concerned that I
would have to bounce us back on to the track – I don’t like
‘wasting’ bouncing reserves when not on a section! We climbed out of
the ruts OK with 4psi in the tyres. Then Nick had a go and he stopped
round corner above the cross track for a five and got recovered to the
top. We learned that Dudley Sterry, running as car number one, had
failed it, so what chance for us? -
None really!
Next
it was our turn. We set off as fast as we could and were carrying a load
of speed as we hit the gully at the cross track. However we mounted the
bank on the left-hand side and when we landed back we thought all was
lost, as we slowed right down. However a huge amount of bouncing, much
of it in with passenger and driver in synch, and the torque of the
Montego engine got us through albeit quite slowly – Jonathan commented
later he thought the climb was real teamwork – car, driver and
bouncer. We knew that at this stage that only three class 8s had climbed
it, but we still weren’t at the top. By the 3-marker we could perhaps
begin to relax, but we didn’t know what was under the leaf mould. The
finish marshal was a tad surprised to see us, but continued enjoying
listening to Vera Lynn on his car radio after he had recorded our
successful climb. I was exhausted with all the bouncing but Jonathan was
ecstatic (possible understatement here?) The results show that there we
were the last car to get up, and the only class 7 car to do so, but
Jonathan did have an advantage as he had walked the section many times
over the last fifteen years.
 |
 |
Jonathan & Pat
Toulmin climbing Strefford Wood
(Photo by David Price) |
Liege in Strefford Wood |
Then
we set off for Penhale’s Puzzler and Flounders Folly, which were
marshalled by the VSCC. I gather that lots of people got lost and
couldn’t find the special test, however Jonathan knew the way round
the whole trial and so I wasn’t reading the route book. Flounders was
first and we tried not to be too complacent after climbing Strefford and
getting a good score on this hill last year. However we lost some of the
advantage we had just gained at Strefford when the car understeered off
the course for an 11. Jonathan thinks he may have been going a little
fast, but who knows, Marlins just like understeering. The Penhale’s
Puzzler special test was designed by Allin Penhale and was first run in
1994 on the first MAC-organised Clee Hills Trial (at the same place too)
and then later on the Manx. The idea was that drivers could choose their
own course, but the kind VSCC marshals told us how to do it.
Easthope
1 was next for us and here we met friends from the MGCC Midland Centre,
as this club was in charge. On the way we saw Linden Alcock and his
daughter Tessa mending the headlight on their Dellow. It had fallen off,
but as it was covered in mud it had survived the impact. They managed to
fix it back on and were very pleased with the car’s performance on its
first trial. We got a 1 here and I am convinced that we would have
cleared it had my bouncing handle not come off just as we were at the
top. By the time I had pushed the remains out of the way and grabbed the
windscreen we had stopped. Oh well, a “1” wasn’t too bad and
Jonathan is going to make a stronger handle for me (old tent pole
obviously not strong enough). Marlin passengers will know that the
windscreen has a very sharp edge and it gives me blisters.
I
guess because we had climbed Strefford we had got ahead of our fellow
class 7 competitors (or perhaps they too were lost?) and were now
running with class 8. Daniel Minett-Smith was in front, but he took a
wrong turn on the way to Major’s Leap and when he re-appeared coming
the other way we suggested he follow us. He looked a trifle apprehensive
and wanted to check the route card, but I guess he didn’t know how
well J knows the route!
We
watched Nick Farmer at Major’s Leap. There was no run at it this year
by request of the local National Trust warden. The approach track has
just been relayed and he didn’t want it cut up before it had had a
chance to bed down. Nick got a 5, but tried awfully hard to get further
– he seemed to be trying for ages, white smoke everywhere. He said he
had been moving and didn’t want to give up. We also got to the 5.
While pumping up our tyres we lent Nick our tyre valve
tool and
I saw a horse and rider appear from a lower track shortly
followed by Harry Butcher in his Buggy! He too was lost and I’m not
sure if he had been chasing the horse?? In the lay-by on the main road
we saw Terry Ball reading his newspaper. He had sheered the crank pulley
off his Beetle engine and was catching up with the Sundays whilst
awaiting recovery.
Three
sections to go. Jenny Wind was slippery due to the rain and we recorded
a 7. John Ludford’s 5 was the best in class 7. At the foot of Harley
Bank we met Kevin Barnes, who had entered the works Singer, but
unfortunately the head gasket had let go before the first section, so he
was now spectating. The class 6, 7 and 8 Harley always looks very
daunting and I am surprised that we get anywhere. We got as far as 8,
although I thought it was a 5 (NO that was the score for class 6). Dave
Cook was taking photos just above where we failed, so I expect there
will be one of me bouncing like mad. Best in class was Robert Hodgkinson
with 7 in his Marlin.
Meadowley
Wood was marshalled by MAC and the two seasoned Shelsley marshals who
were in charge of the hold control were very well organised - tea and
bacon rolls being the order of the day! Tim King of MG fame was at the
start. We made 3, which was a little disappointing, but I think I was
missing my bouncing handle, not to mention getting tired. The day of the
trial was our 29th wedding anniversary, Jonathan knows how to
treat a girl to a dirty weekend, and as we were pumping up our tyres we
realised that, unbeknown to us, our best man, Andy Smith, was
marshalling here, quite a coincidence!
Then
it was a seventeen-mile run back to the Craven Arms Hotel, arriving
shortly after 3.30pm with a big grin on the face and in much need of a
pint! Later, we were
delighted to learn that we had got a second-in-class for our efforts,
but we were a long way from challenging Mal Allen for the class win
Clerk of the Course
Simon Woodall deserves our thanks and congratulations for putting on
another great Clee Hills Trial for the Midland Automobile Club. His
analysis showed that there were 82 entrants of whom 71 actually started
the event, with ten falling by the wayside somewhere in South Shropshire.
Dave Foreshew (Ford Dingo) won the event overall, with David
Leigh (Frazer Nash) picking up the award for best MAC member. Class 8
was won by Dudley Sterry (MG J2), class 7 went to Mal Allen (Marlin) and
class 6 to Gary Browning (Beetle). There were only two entrants in class
5 (sports cars), so no awards but Thomas Aldrian’s Austin 7 beat Colin
Biles’ MG Midget. Giles Greenslade (Beetle) won class 4, Andrew Martin
(Escort) won class 3 with Adrian Dommett’s Wolsley Special taking
class 2 honours. The front wheel drive class was easily won by Dave
Haizelden, and the clubsport event was won by Keith Hill (Singer
Junior).
Return to
2008 Restart
|
