We started out early from home and took a steady ride from Worcestershire into Shropshire; the old beetle has never been famous for its heating so we knew we were going to have a chilly day ahead. One thing guaranteed from the day ahead was picture postcard scenery from the glorious Clee hills.
Scrutineering was swift as ever with John and June Blakely doing a great job. We signed on and collected our route card with amendments from Pat Toulmin, looking at the first amendment it was clear there was plenty of snow around with us having to divert from going over the Long Mynd.
Off we set for the first special test of the day in our class 4 beetle:
Ratlinghope:
The scenery was fantastic as we waited for the escorts in front of us to go; the test was quite straight forward all wheels across line b then back across b and astride c. The B board was quite slippery and certainly made pulling away again for the c board difficult. From the C board we went straight into Ratlinghope hill not a difficult section but with a great view of the countryside.
Phil’s Folly:
On we went to a new hill Phil’s Folly which was located next to Gattens Gamble. We arrived to see the first car attempt the section which was Jeff and Carol Buchanan in the Reliant, the car was at the top of the hill being towed out by a four wheel drive jeep, but unfortunately was not having much success and with the edge of the field looming, the watching competitors decided to go and help.
It took about 10 people to push first the jeep then the Reliant away from the edge and off towards the next section, By this time it had been decided they would cancel the section for all the classes who were there and we all had to back up and form a new queue at Gattens Gamble, it was a shame for the marshals and the competitors as it did look a good section.
Gattens Gamble:
Straight forward climb no real problems for anyone.
Walkmill:
We set of with 12 psi in the tyres, I probably would have been more comfortable being at 10 as the car didn’t stop wheel spinning I had to keep backing off the power to get grip but no real worries.
On to Adstone:
The hill was straight forward, but getting down to it was another matter!!
We slowly followed the other beetles down the section, having to wait for quite a length of time as an Austin 7 was nearly consumed by the ruts. Then I edged too close to the right and consequently fell into the gully with both left hand wheels the further I went down the more the car got stuck leaving me with the front bumper hard against a tree and the floor of the car wedged on the bank stuck fast I couldn’t go backwards or forwards, as the oil light came on as I was on such an angle I turned off the engine and waited for help. It came from a couple of marshals and Colin Perryman, Peter Barr and his passenger, armed with a hand winch and ropes they tied around a tree and connected the cable to my rear tow eye. It was at this stage Jayne decided it was better if she could get out of the car while it was attempted to be retrieved so she climbed out of the passenger door and waited down the hill.
The winch did its job the guys soon pulled the car back from the tree by a few metres problem was it was still in the ditch and no way of getting the wheels out.
Colin Perryman and Peter Barr rallied the guys and promptly lifted the front of the Beetle onto the track; I then drove the car forward back upright. Our heart felt thanks go out to all the people who helped us and I only damaged the back wing.
Allez oop:
18 psi needed I certainly did I struggled to pull away as I had so much grip on the first corner after the bend we picked up momentum and it was a straight forward climb, I see from the results it stopped a few of class 1 and 2. The views were fantastic especially with the snow on the ground; we just had time for a quick snow ball fight at the top before moving off to harton wood special test.
Harton wood special test:
I remember marshalling this as a hill years ago, this greasy special test was extremely slippy on the B board, I think it would have been a great test as a section with a restart, how about it Jonathon?
Longville special test:
I promised myself last year that I would definitely go far enough back this year, but what did I do exactly the same as last year only less smoke surrounded the car as I struggled to get back up to the B board, I said to Jayne that’s far enough back, to which she replied I don’t think it is, she was right !!
Onto Diff test it was nice to see Paul and Ann Fairbanks out, will Paul ever get that old special back out?
Easthope:
A really difficult section, the only way to climb it is flat out straight away, but with the added problem of hitting a tree as the track slopes to the right hand side at the start. We arrived just as Terry Ball in his beautifully prepared Beetle took of the start line, and whacked the rear wing off the first tree, it didn’t stop his climb though and he managed to get a 4.
Next to attempt the climb was Adrian Marfell in his orange beetle, he left the line in his usually attacking mode, and drove superbly up to the corner where the 4 marker was and was able to back off and go around the bend to clear the section, I stood with Bill Bennett and we watched with awe. The cries of follow that rang in my ears as we watched David Dyer attempt the section, he too attacked the section with vigour, missing the tree by inches, he climbed well until the bend where he fell of the track into a tree badly damaging the wing and front panel again getting a 4.
Bill Bennett was next with his gorgeous old MG, Bill too attacked the start and made a good climb up to a 5, finally we attempted the section, I thought I may as well join the club and go flat out from the start 8 psi in the rear tyres and we were away, the Beetle went well apart from slowing drastically up as we reached the bend and resulting in us nearly reaching the 4 marker. We were pulled out of the section by a land rover.
This hill proved difficult for most of the competitors, only a handful of class 8 and 7 managed to clear the section, and of course overall winner Adrian Marfell.
Easthope 2:
We got there in time to see David Dyer get a 5 a really great attempt as the corner was very difficult, Adrian got a 4 and Terry got an 8 the same as we did, Pete Barr got a useful 7.Great climbs from Adrian Dommett with a 3, and Simon Woodall, Mike Workman and Ian Davis in Class 8 getting a close as you can with a 2.
Jenny wind:
As ever Jenny wind was as greasy as ever, we climbed out of the ruts and got a 4, as did Terry ball, David dyer climbed well to a 3 and Adrian unbelievably cleared the section! David Haizelden had a fantastic climb with a clear, as did Harvey Waters, Adrian Dommett and Andrew Martin. Class 6 best climb came from Gary Browning with a 3. Only 3 cars in class 8 got as high as a 4 included in that was class 8 winner Simon Woodall.
Harley Bank:
Quite a straight forward climb we could have done with a lawn mower to clear the grass from the centre of the track.
Hungerford steps:
We got to Hungerford as Ian Bates came over to us and said that after the section ends board the ruts were very deep and to treat the rest of the way out as a section , he stopped the other classes attempting it while we were there to try and get all of class 4 out of the section first, so off we went one by one all of class 4 cleaned the section and got through the ruts comfortably David Dyer had a puncture on the way out and was helped out by Adrian so that we could all get out. We had fun trying to find the rear tyre valves at the end to blow the tyres up though.
Back to Craven Arms Hotel to sign off and get back to pick the kids up from the baby sitters. A great day out shame I mucked up Longville special test still there’s always next year I’ll listen to Jayne as to when I decide to put it into first gear.
Many thanks to all the organisers and Marshall’s for all their hard work, we did manage to not only finish in the light but we also got home in the light, Perfect.
See you next year
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