Despite Easter being early this year the Lands End was run in pleasant conditions. This meant some of the sections were very dry and dusty, even Crackington which wasn’t the same section without the usual doctoring.
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Early fails at Felons Oak
The restart was in its usual place and the holes were quite deep. There was a lot of grip, perhaps too much for some, and this seemingly innocuous section claimed 38 scalps this year. These included both Steve Potter and John Wilton in their Trojans and the equally experienced Dennis Greenslade (MX5) and Bill Bennett (MG J2).
The section and the rough exit track were too much for Marc Shafer and Tomas Pordzik, who had come across from Bonn in Germany in BMW 318 and Peugeot 305 respectively, and they both retired.
Problems on Beggars
The Crook Horn Special Test was on tarmac with a flying finish. Eventual Best in Class Six Dean Vowden was penalised for over running a line in his Notchback but otherwise this substitute for the nearby section was uneventful for most. It was getting cold now and there was still snow under the hedges on the twisty minor roads leading back to the A39 and a long chilly wait at the Barbrook control.
Beggars Roost has not been very competitive since the restart was dropped, until this year. The big problem was getting away from the start line on some very loose stones. This caused a lot of fails, including Lester Keat and Greg Warren in their class three machines.
Hangmans Hill
With no Rodneys Revenge the inclusion of the real lane at Hangmans Hill was very welcome. New to the Lands End this long section had a restart for all classes. There was more than enough grip in the bone dry conditions so there was little impact on the results. This could have been very different had it been wet. There was more than an hours wait for the later numbers but the queue was in a sunken lane so there was plenty of time to look at the primrose growing in the grassy banks.
Cutliffe Lane and Sutcombe were very Dry
Neither of these well established hills had real teeth list year although Cutliffe Lane took its toll of the less experienced who weren’t going flat out through the gate at the bottom.
Changes on Darracott and Crackington
Both of these famous old hills had their teeth drawn this year. Darracott had the section ends before starting the famous hairpins, which were sporting recent concrete repairs. Although competitors still had the enjoyment of the hairpins it wasn’t the same with them being on the exit track.
After the control on the sands at Widemouth Bay Crackington addded to the disappointment Easing off the line down by the ford competitors built their speed to assault the deep ruts in the fresh mud dumped in trailer loads towards the summit. Only this year there was no mud and without this doctoring the hill had no impact on the results. Lets hope the muck returns next year.
Warleggan
The rest halt at the Wilsey Down cattle market was very welcome. Many competitors taking the opportunity to repair the many punctures incurred on the sharp rocks.
Later numbers had a long wait in the sunshine for their attempt at this rocky section. With no restart the lower classes had a relatively trouble free run. Not so for the yellows and reds who had a tricky restart. This took its toll on medal aspirations, particularly in Class six where Harry Butcher was the last to loose his clean sheet and a gold medal.
Cardingham Woods
Entering the woods from the top it was along way down to the first section, Lady Vale, the only section shared with Class 0. This is a very artificial affair, all about a tight restart, marked out with tape. It always seems a shame that something a bit more natural can’t be found in this complex.
Following the track along the river came Hoskin. Long and steep with different restarts for the lower and higher classes. Most found the necessary grip but the section is a power sapper and many of the cars with a low power to weight ratio failed. This was a particular issue in Class 2 where the gradient proved to much for the Trojans of Steve Potter and John Wilton and Nigel Hilling’s 1171 Anglia.
Bishopwood
Later runners slipped further behind schedule in a long queue on the A30 which was closed near Bodmin. Arriving at the woods the special test came first. Not too much of a problem unless you were Greg Warren who was penalised for over running the line.
The following section is all about the restarts where it crossed the main track. The higher classes had to stop in their usual place, on cobbles, after the cross track. The Blues and Whites had theirs lower down on a loose surface, leading up to the cross track. Positioning was everything and it was essential to stop low down to stand any chance. Many didn’t and paid the price, Alan Selwood, Michael Leete, Paul Allaway and Sam Thompson all loosing their chances of a Gold Medal here. Both of the Trojans failed and one just avoided overturning into the trees.
Blue Hills
Unlike Crackington Blue Hills 1 hadn’t escaped the doctor and there was a veritable lake round the horse-shoe to wet the tyres before the cobbled exit back onto the road. The higher classes had to restart here and this cost Brain Partridge / Lee Peck their Gold Medal in Brians familiar Cannon.
Bluehills 2 may be the MCC’s showcase section but the modifications for this year weren’t universally popular. A vertical stone wall now lines the deviation. This has the benefit of removing the banking, which could act as a launching ramp for spectacular acrobatics However, it has made the track very tight and narrow and a lot of cars scrapped against it, blinded by the setting sun.
Finish and Reflections
There was just a 20 mile run to the finish remaining. Time to reflect on another Lands End. It was surprisingly dry, considering the wet winter. This had made some of the sections easier than usual, compensated by a tricky Beggars and some difficult restarts. The finish at a Brewers Fayre, mixing with families out for lunch, was a questionable finale to an otherwise excellent event. The Lands End isn’t for everyone. Its a trial bigger than the sections and is above all an adventure. A battle of emotional highs and lows, tiredness, fatigue and a feeling of achievement just reaching the finish. Long may it continue.
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