My Edinburgh Trial
By Ken Green
I competed in Class “O” in my 1955 Ford Popular and have the following observations
The early sections were very wet and several people got stuck on the way out of Wigber Low well after the end of the section on the almost flat escape road. Richard Andrews had a puncture in his Dellow here, dawn, and the later sections dried out
The section at Black Harry was cancelled due to lack of marshalls and a extra section tacked on to the special test at Moneystones to make up the numbers
The way in to Litton was very wet and slippery, several passengers were leading the cars down the entrance track leaning on the cars to keep them on the track – its a long drop if you were to go off the edge !!!
The Class “O” Litton caused many failures, most had trouble reaching the start line but there were some good climbs . Reg Taylor in his new Ford KA managed to get off the start line was very unlucky to wheel spin to a halt further up the hill. Mike Furse in Reg’s old Anglia did not make it. But Richard Andrews in the big engined Dellow, Jonathan Laver in a very nicely prepared Mazda MR6. Vic Lockley in the MGB and my Ford Pop did.
There was a delay at Deep Rake when a Morris Minor got stuck where the section was rocky, Calton was fast drying out when we got to it and caused no real problems. Great Hucklow was however very rough and and the Pop got thrown around on the rock steps that had appeared, caused no doubt by the torential rain of the last few days prior to the trial.
There were some overnight showers but they cleared towards dawn. The later parts of the trial were a real joy with dry sections, beautiful scenery and bright sunshine. We finished on time and were back home in daylight We waited around at the finish for about an hour but very few cars were coming in, I suspect there was a big delay some where, however on the way back home down the A515 we saw a steady stream heading for the later sections.
Ken Green / Tim Cradock and PKV 434
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