In an attempt to appease my rallying withdrawal symptoms, I volunteered to drive myself and others to watch the Vauxhall RaIly. Guess what, the new F2 is boring and if that is rallying at top level then I am glad that I compete at club level. Sure the cars are fast, but gone is the spectacle of flame spitting Turbos etc. etc. The best part of the event was when the proper rally cars in the National 'B' part of the event came through, all the B.D.A. engined Escorts, Chevettes, etc. No, I was most definitely not impressed and doubt whether I will be a spectator again unless it's on a proper rally, Silva Stages sounds favourite. Oh by the way just to prove how unamused I am the sole Clio of Alain Oreille was the Bestest, Fastest and Meanest car going plus it looked Brill.
By the time you read this, the club presentation night will have been and gone, as will the last of Bill's Navigational Nights, which may have ended in a draw, more of that together with the results next month.
In a bid to entice everyone away from Coronation Street and East Enders and to to generate some interest in the Motor Club we have decided to change club nights to Monday. The first of these will be a Table Top Rally on Monday 24th April, 8pm at The Fanny Grey.
You will need to bring the following: Map 103, pencil, ruler, protractor, romer, a rubber, bits of string etc. (put into practice all Bill's theory). Yes, come along, get "Flat in 5th" without going outside, and with a pint in your hand. Just think for those poor unfortunates who navigate, they will be able to complete an event and retain the days' intake of protein, fats and carbohydrates in its correct place a couple of inches behind their navels, that's your "Belly Button" Neil!! Seriously, come and have a do, it won't be hard, it's all fun and we all may learn something.
Following the cancellation of the Lee Holland, I was invited to have a do at "The Hall Trophy" (see report). What a cracking event and one which PDMC could organise, to try and put some money back in the coffers to offset some of the costs incurred when the Lee Holland was cancelled. Bill and I were toying with the idea of putting on a 'Road' event later in the year, September may be favounte. If we decide to do this we will need people to do the P.R. If you think you could give up a couple of Sat/Sun to help with this please let Bill or myself know, our telephone numbers are on the inside of the front cover, all info will be supplied.
So anyone can apply, depending on the interest we could possibly offer a few quid towards petrol, please think about it. If we can get the support then the chances of purling on the event are much improved. That's all for this month, yes I do go on a bit, see you at The Fanny Grey on Monday 24th April 8pm.
Bye for now
Rod
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Scrutineenng and documentation caused no problems, once the officiaJs turned up. Four Maps were required for the event 97, 98, 102 and 103 with a 170 mile route and a rest halt with petrol at the same venue as the start. It became apparent that the first half was to head out west onto 102 and the 103 overlap "Trough" and all. With the documentation was a list of "Black Spots" and Km Sq. quiets also 30/40 vias with either direction of approaches/departures - not stated. Having slightly more intelligence than your average gastropod I soon sussed out that the route had been defined by avoiding the "Black Spots" and following the vias. So the 11:33 start time arrives (car 18 ), car 1, last years' winner, navigated by Paul Burns was entered under Pendle, along with James Hoyle, so three crews from Pendle in the event. TC 1 was on the yellow above Grindleton and was to take in the bad yump (scene of great carnage when first used by PDMC in the 80's), round through to Gawcar House to the T-jumction left and right on the brown Newton to Waddington road, along Marl Hill to Cow Ark, around 'Dr Who triangle' Doeford Bridge and using all yellows to close section one at River Honeywell, Burholme Bridge. 3 mins down but a control missing, my fault or what. On through the Trough of Bowland, the not as map junctions on 102, getting controls in fine style and even still on time after the odd 'wrong slot'. Our plan of action was that at the 'Clickers' Bill would get out thus saving time with me not having to chuck maps etc. etc. and it was working well. One or two lads from Wales in full road rallly spec. cars, thoroughly p***ed off with this Sierra Estate blistering past them on the Trough, Bill's route to and from club nights. Following the loop on/off 102 and 103 we ended up at Edsford Bridge and on to Chatburn and petrol. No problems, we'll query the lost control at the finish. The second half started at the back of Gisburn by the Dog Kennels on Carter's Lane, along Paythorne, left at the crossroads through to Grunsa Gill to finish at Tosside. Then the classic Lythe Fell, held back (naughty) to do a non-qualifying quiz!!! Looping on and off 97/98 through Ivan to Wennington, all familiar territory now back through Bentham and along the top of Gisburn Forest. Oh shit!!! I sends Bill the way I've always gone not the way Clitheroe wants us to, another control and code board missed, in hindsaght we could have gone back and gone the correct route. The route took in Black Bank and the infamous Brow and immediate 90deg. right. Non-competitive now into Settle and the final loop around Airton, Winterburn, Bell Busk into Gargrave and the final control, well at least a finish and points for PDMC. Breakfast at The Red Pump Bashall Eaves saw us in 7th place after the first half but with 7 fails (only 1st & 2nd o/all fail free). Without having time for queries (I was working at 8 and it was 7:10) we left. To date we have had no results, but talking to Dave Barrett (clerk of course) at the SD34 night, he suggested that there was a control missing and we had not done too badly. Impressions, what a super event. Obviously any queries over the results, missing controls or errors by the results team are now history, with only myself to blame. Both Bill and I enjoyed thc event. With only one white approx. 150 yds. called "Dandy Birks" it's definitely the way to go and as far as I can see perfectly legal. The route handed out 30 minutes (well "Black Spots and vias) before the off and at the half way, all 6 fig. for references, 50 unmanned code or "Clicker" boards and 10 time controls. The "Clicker" boards this time placed strategically on long straights or made in unobstructed areas. The winners eventually obtained a fail, so no-one was fail free. Many thanks to Bill for the ride I hope he enjoyed himself as much as I did.
Come on let's give it a try, to run a similar event all we need is 8/10 willing volunteers to help run it
I've (sorry Diane) even found my "Potty" lost for over 18 months in our "Junk room", Watch this space...
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