It was a cold and wet Edinburgh for the later numbers, causing problems at Litton Slack and especially the final section at Moneystones which finished off many triple hopes.
The usual start at Tamworth Services saw a route amendment that eliminated Haven Hill for the main trial, who joined class 0 on Wigber Low. The sky was clear, so it was a cold trip north up the A515 through Ashborne to Wigber Low, where the normal holding control ensured there wasn’t a queue on the main road where the section started just up the track. This was a pretty straightforward section, although quite rocky, which may not have been ideal for the more delicate cars in Class 0. It wasn’t a happy hill for Myke Pocock, as having come all the way down from Carlisle he had too retire with damaged rockers. Fellow Skoda driver Aaron Homewood had to nurse his car round with a collapsing driveshaft bearing and starter solenoid problems. Team mate Nigel Jones was the only one who went round trouble free although both Litton and Moneystones defeated him.
It was quite a long way to the second section at Clough Wood, considered a bit rough for Class 0. The cars were delayed at the start as quite a few bikes had still to make their attempts. There was a restart for 6, 7 and 8 but this wasn’t to present many problems.
The Deep Rake special test was a real corker. A nice straightforward figure of eight blast round a super track in a quarry, ending with surfing through a small lake! This tested out the waterproofing of the electrics before the forthcoming rain! Roger and Tania Beaumont, on their first trial on their 2CV based Blackjack Avion, were amongst those who discovered some improvements were required!
The observed section at Black Harry was in the same quarry complex, although it was a a couple of miles away, mostly on extremely well made tracks. Everyone attempted this, with a restart for all except class 0.
Litton Slack was next, passing the approach to Putwell, sadly not on this years agenda. The section was pretty slippery, but the bikes were having a fair crack at it, with a lot of them going clean. The successful solos seemed to choose the grass by the side of the track, many of those who chose the ruts fell off! The bikes were starting on the main track by the telegraph pole. But Chief Official Roger Ugalde was concerned that the less able cars would be able to get across the grass to the start line, so changed the section in order the four wheeled brigade could blast off on the lower reaches of the normal approach track. This didn’t help a lot initially as many of the cars really struggled for grip in the start area. It started to get easier as successive competitors cleared the mud off the limestone chipping’s put down by the MCC in the early 90’s. Good conditions didn’t last long and things got tricky again when the rain come down and remained for the rest of the day.
Harry Butcher lost his triple here but some class eights stormed to the top, including Dudley Sterry (MG J2), Dean Partington (DP Wasp) and triple contender Bill Appleton (VW Buggy). Non Restarting Triple Contenders Simon Groves (Escort) and Giles Greenslade (1300 Beetle) both got to the A Boards so were hoping they would still be in the running. Andrew Martin saw his triple hopes disappear in a shower of stripped teeth as the diff on his Dutton Melos failed as he tried to restart.
Calton was a killer a few years ago, until the ruts were filled in and emasculated the section. The restart was more or less on the flat so not to many problems here.
Breakfast at The Bull I’th Thorn was a copious and rather heavy affair, but gave later competitors a break out of the wind and rain. Falcons Ross Nuten and Ted Holloway both retired here. At the start Ross noticed he had lost a lot of oil on the trip up from Hertfordshire. He topped up using all his spare but it was still disappearing as the morning went on, and as neither Ross nor his passenger were feeling that great they called it a day. Ted was finding his rather low slung Enigma special was taking too much punishment. Running so late, and having a lot to do on Sunday, Ted decided to turn for home. At least his SU carbed CVH motor ran well.
Haydale – Like Calton there was a restart on the flat. However, it was more slippery and had to be approached through some fearsome ruts so Class 0 were probably relieved they didn’t have to attempt this one. Once away from the restart the gradient starts and its quite a well surfaced track.
Bamford Clough – Along with Litton Slack this is one of the Edinburgh’s “big ones” and this year did not disappoint. There is no mud on Bamford. Just rock and some concrete where the MCC working parties have been active. This forms some fearsome steps. Some describe these as rough but its all a matter of how you approach them and they very much form the character of the hill. This year the restart for the higher classes was quite high up, on one of the steepest concrete steps. This caused a delay when competitors failed as it takes more than a minute for most competitors to get up the hill, even if they go clean. This is extended to more than a couple of minutes for failures. There was a delay of the best part of half an hour for the first cars so it was inevitable this would build up to more than two hours by the time the last of the entry went through.
The early cars found plenty of grip but even so the restart was to prove quite a challenge, which was to increase as the surface became more and more slippery through the day. Mike Pearson was one of many who couldn’t get off the restart, backed down a few yards and just drove up.
Peter Mountain was pleased to go clean in his Dellow Mk1, but no sooner had he hit the road again than he got involved in an emergency at the petrol station by the traffic lights, where a staff member was receiving artificial respiration and it took some 15 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.
Great Hucklow has been one of the Edinburgh’s most feared sections in recent years. Many competitors feeling that deviating left over the dinosaur eggs was far to damaging for their cars, even if good spectator value. No problems this year, as it has been fenced off, so the organisers were limited to the main track. Even so this was quite rutted and muddy and was probably challenging for the lower slung class 0’s. There was a restart for the higher classes.
Hollinsclough Village Hall – A nice break for tea and some excellent cakes although the ladies of the village had to work some overtime as Mike Pearson, running at the back of the field arrived there no less than three and a half hours behind schedule.
Rakes Head – Starting on the surfaced road this short sharp section is all about a rocky restart for the higher classes which didn’t claim too many victims amongst the early numbers but was really slippery towards the end and even Mike Pearson couldn’t ease his Dellow Rep away.
Excelsior – Here the challenge is a very slippery restart for all except Class 0 on polished flint. To make things tougher the shallow box was positioned in its usual place, right on the 90 left just where the gradient is the steepest. Again there was a half hour wait even for the early cars, boosted in numbers by the Class 0’s who were doing this one as well. Consequently the Chief Official wisely decided to abandon the restart to keep the trial moving.
Moneystones – Normally considered far to easy for the main trial competitors still on for their triple must have been mentally clearing space on their mantelpiece for the coveted award. However, their was a catch. In the summer the MCC had solicited the services of local man Dean Partington and his fearsome special to test out some new ideas. This resulted in a restart, immediately followed by a deviation off the stony track onto the grassy verge. This may had been OK if it had stayed dry but as the day went on and the rain came down it became muddier and muddier until the end it was only cleanable by supermen in their rocket ships! These didn’t include Ray Goodright, Simon Groves or Giles Greenslade, both of who lost their triples here. Andrew Martin manged to blast his way through, as did Dudley Sterry, one of the few car competitors claiming gold.
Moneystones Special Test – Another nice straightforward special test but not enjoyed by those who had just lost their triples on the observed section.
Middleton Steep (Class 0 only)
Club Supper at The Pavillion Gardens – The day finished with a nice meal at the Pavillion Gardens which would have been pretty much perfect had the presidential PA worked. However, he rose to the occasion by walking round and repeating his message to those who couldn’t hear him. Well done for that.
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