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Snow caused the cancellation of this years Midland Automobile Club Clee Hills Trial
Competitors leave the start at The Boyne Arms, but the route led home rather than to the first section as “The Clee” was snowed off.
The weather was reasonably clear for most competitors travelling to Shropshire for The Clee Hills Trial. There was a little light snow but it wasn’t settling and they were looking forward to a good day. However, once they passed thorough Bridgenorth and started the climb to the start at Burwarton the snow started to settle and several who were trailering their pride and joy had problems getting up some of the hills.
By the time the first cars arrived at the start Clerk of the Course Simon Woodall had already re-routed the trail to avoid The Long Mynd and Barbera Selkirk issued amended directions bypassing sections three to six. The start was delayed by 30 minutes while Simon went out to inspect the route and it wasn’t long before he phoned in to say the lanes and byways had so much snow that he had no option but to cancel the trial.
So it was home for an early bath for the early numbers. As they descended the hills back towards Bridgenorth they passed later numbers who were still on their way to the trial who must have been very confused why so many people were going the wrong way!
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The regulations for the Midland Automobile Clubs Clee Hills promised some interesting “new” sections and the event more than lived up to this commitment. Regulars like Longville and Hungerford were retained, but out went much of the artificial stuff of recent years, replaced by a host of “new” hills, two of which were brand new, and two revived pre-war sections not used since the 50’s. There were three clean sheets. Overall victory went to Paul Bartleman who was faster than Adrian Dommett and Stuart Harrold on the special tests.
Stuart Harrold and Chris Phillips pictured leaving the start on the way to a clean sheet. Unfortunately they lost out to Paul Bartleman on special test times
Pat and Jonathan Toulmin had thought of everything, and even organised good weather for their trial. So conditions were ideal when Falcons David Thompson led the entry, in class order, away from the start. Unfortunately this didn’t include David Alderson’s Troll. No sooner had he fixed the clutch he blew on the Exeter, than there were major problems with the front suspension and the bits to fix it didn’t arrive in time. The thorough Toulmin organisation had started the class eight’s at one minute intervals, but spaced the lower orders two minutes apart so they wouldn’t get in each others way too much when they got stuck! Jonathan must have been reading the “hanging back” debate over on the Web Community, because he instituted penalties for slipping too far back down the field.
Classical Gas Web Community member Tony Branson’s dramas started before the off, when he had had minor problems with his lights at scruitineering. But it was good to see that Sally Bolam had recovered from the cuts to her face that she sustained when their Marlin dived into the bushes on the Exeter’s Normans Hump.
Tony Branson and Sally Bolam weaving through the trees at Starvecrow. At the time I thought this section had no place in the event, but reflecting afterwards it sorted out the results so I think it was a good thing.
Farlow has been the Clee’s first section in recent years, but there were problems with the neighbours this year so Jonathan substituted the woods at Starvecrow. These were very muddy and several competitors, including Mike Hayward and Robin Howard, had problems getting to and from the sections. It wasn’t David Thompson or Maureen Chattle’s favourite place either, as they both failed in the lower reaches of the section and the following special test as well.
Starvecrow was followed by a long 20-mile road run to Allez Oop, a hill first used in 1938 and described in detail in C. A. N. May’s book “Wheelspin”. These days the hill is surfaced with shale so there was a fair amount of grip and Jonathan spiced things up with a re-start for the yellows and reds.
Simon Woodall and Adrian Marfell tackel Allez ‘Oop on their unique machines. As you would expect from Adrian he ain’t got no VW lump in the back!
Mike Hayward got off the re-start OK, but with a slipping clutch and massive clouds of white smoke, so much that he was concerned the engine was on fire! At the summit Mike found a fair amount of oil all over the engine, so stopped to clean it up and adjust the clutch before the next section.
There was a diff check just before the next section called Stanbatch which was a long easy section, much loved by the VSCC. A bunch of marshal’s leapt out from behind the hedge with a trolley jack and proceeded to check the diff in the middle of a single-track road.
Adstone was approached down a steep muddy rutted track that would have been a good challenge for the class 8 boys if used uphill. There was a rocky ford at the bottom, which was the downfall of Robin Howard, as he hit something nasty in the middle causing the front brakes to lock on and even the Land Rover had problems in dragging the Dutton Sierra out of the section.
Gatten’s Gamble was a great section but a bit heavy on tyres!
This was followed by a long blast up Ratlinghope and Jonathan continued to delight by finding a brand new hill he called Gatten’s Gamble. This long section stated with a steepish bank before the gradient eased off. It didn’t get any easier though, as the surface changed from rocks to mud and the ruts got pretty fearsome as well. This was certainly not one for the faint hearted, as you would stop if you eased off, as Neil Bray found out when he punctured. Mike Hayward had tyre problems as well, but kept his trotter down and came out of the top OK. There were a couple of notable class eight failures here as both Mike Pearson (Dellow Replica) and Bill Foreshew (GVS) ground to a halt on the final grassy bank.
The traditional Clee sections of Harton Wood and Hungerford didn’t trouble the scorer too much, although it was pretty difficult to get out of the latter because of some very deep ruts. Peter Thompson had come all the way from Essex in his Opel Kadett and must have thought it was never going to get back there when he well and truly grounded out. The route card suggested straddling the right hand track, but this wasn’t practical as the car just slipped back in the ruts again. Finally Peter managed to back out, lightened his load by jettisoning his passenger and charged the obstacle at full speed to get out.
Longville was nice and simple for the lower orders, but the yellows and reds had restarts actually on the steep ramp onto the main road. This was a gathering point for spectators, who included web community participants Kevin Barnes and Falcons Dave Nash and Alan Bellamy. This was Anthony Young’s downfall as he dropped his only mark of the day. If he hadn’t he would have been the overall winner as he had by far the best time on the special tests. Mind you he wasn’t the only one as very few class eights got away cleanly, and even Dudley Sterry dropped a three. Notable class eight cleans were Adrian Dommett and Stuart Harrold, both retaining their clean sheets. David Thompson was also successful in his Buggy, a small consolation for all the marks he had dropped at Starvecrow first thing in the morning.
The Railway Special Test was a funny affair. To get a good time you had too crawl up a steep hill very slowly by slipping the clutch. Until you got half way when you blasted the rest. Yes was an interesting variation but not popular amongst those who liked to take care of their clutch! This was where Paul Bartleman won the event. He was one of three drivers to still have clean sheets and his time here was light years ahead of Adrian and Stuarts.
The trial was drawing a close now. The leading contenders are growing wise to the hairpin at Ippkins Rock and it didn’t influence the result. It still catches out the unary though including ace class seven man Roger Bricknell.
The Clee started and finished with “tree weaving” and it was these sections that provided the results. It was worth it so we could tackle all those wonderful sections in the middle. Here Giles Greenslade and Murray MacDonald blast up Hillside 2
Just as the trial started with a muddy section through the woods so it finished, this time with Hillside, located within the Boyne Estate, just a mile or so from the finish. The principle class eight contenders and Paul Bartleman all went clear so it had no effect on the overall result. None of the Falcons got up but like everyone else I spoke to they enjoyed the event enormously. It was imaginative, with the challenge judged to perfection as the results show. Jonathan and Pat must be congratulated for finding those new sections and devising such a beautifully scenic route. They have run The Clee for four years now, during which thy have listened and improved their trial. Long may this excellent event continue under their stewardship.
Adrian Dommett won a very muddy Clee Hills Trial on 21st February, his climb of Bradburys Bank putting him into a commanding lead that he was not to loose all day. David Alderson and Adrian Marfell headed the chasing group although Adrian was aided by the class eight’s having to do more hills! The organisation was very professional. Superb documentation, plenty of marshals and recovery. In fact everything we have come to expect from Jonathan and Pat Toulmin. It was needed because the conditions were pretty dire. The heavy mud caused some appreciable delays and the field was well spread out at the end.
Dudley Sterry supervising the team trying to extract him from the muddy hole at the bottom of Boynes Bouncer. Dudley retired with a broken gearbox after LongvilleMike Pearson and Arnold Lane coming off the tarmac and onto the mud at Hugerford, They punctured just a few moments later.ACTC chairman David Alderson is a study of concentration on the line at Harley Bank. This was David’s first trial since last years Kyrle.drian Marfell chased the leaders hard but was denied overall victory when he ran out of ground clearannce on his Alfa Romeo powered VW BajaMike Hayward at the start of his first Classic Trial
There was another strong Falcon contingent on the Midland Automobile Clubs Clee Hills Trial. Neil Bray had Allison reading the route card as Marc Lawrence was hosting an Escort owners club meeting back on the ranch. Murray MacDonald was our other class four competitor, delighted that Hazel let him have a drive in her Beetle. PCT specialists, but not (yet) Falcon members, Mike and Duncan Stephens in a 1300 Beetle followed them.
David Thompson was driving in his first one day ACTC classic in his VW Buggy, running with Mike Pearson and Arnold Lane in Mikes Dellow Replica. Falcon’s trio of class eight’s was completed by ACTC Chairman David Alderson with Emma in the passengers seat. This was David’s first run in his Troll since last years Kyrle.
Mike Hayward was our only class seven competitor, driving in his first Classic trial in his highly modified Mk3 Escort. Finally there was another rather distinguished local driver, although he is not yet a Falcon member. John Quenby, the chief executive of the MSA, was giving his MG TC a run in the green sticker MAC closed to club event. I may be wrong but I believe, that as MSA head honcho, John is not allowed to hold a competition licence himself, so can only compete in closed to club events, like the MCC classics and this rare Clee MAC only class.
Competitors assembled for the start at The Boyne Arms, on the fringe of the Boyne Estate. With their usual professionalism Jonathan and Pat Toulmin had arranged for Lady Rosemary Boyne, mother of the present Lord Boyne, to present the awards at the finish. They did have some last minute problems. BT had dug large hole at bottom of Boynes Bouncer. It had been filled in but was to cause problems later as very heavy rain over last week had made this, and many of the other sections, very claggy.
FARLOW was the first section. Classes 2 to 8 went up the muddy track that cuts across a hairpin bend. The other classes had a re-start on the tarmac. The track became softer and more rutted the higher you went. The hill was covered in mud when the early numbers arrived and this played a significant role in the results in class four, which was running at the front of the field. Neil Bray was first to arrive and stopped at the ten. Each competitor got a little further as his predecessor ploughed a little more mud from the surface. Murray MacDonald was running half way through the class and dropped seven but the wily Giles Greenslade had his go last and got as far as the four.
In class eight both David’s Alderson and Thomson came out of the top for a clean but Mike Pearson stopped at the four. Farlow was Mike Haywards first ever classic trials hill and like most debutantes he didn’t give it enough welly off the line. The Kent motor coughed and spluttered in protest and by the time it had recovered the Escort had lost that all-important momentum and stopped at the seven.
The route returned to the Boyne estate for a group of sections. BRADBURYS BANK was more or less going to decide the trial. It’s a soft muddy track through the woods. After a gentle start there’s a sharp right hand bend up a very steep bank. All but one of the entry either under-steered straight on at the corner or floundered on the bank. Adrian Dommett was the hero who made it to the summit. The next best score was a seven, giving Adrian a substantial lead that he hung onto all day.
A note in the route card said BOYNES BOUNCER has never been climbed and it wasn’t going to be today either. It’s a steep muddy path and BT work had turned the bottom into a quagmire. Too far to the right down into a ditch. Too far left into a bottomless pit of goo. After the first couple of class two’s got well and truly stuck in the mud it was called of for everyone except class eight. Adrian Dommmett, David Alderson and Adrian Linecor were the three super-men who at least saw the top of the hill, even if they didn’t actually get there. Getting through the goo at the bottom was enough achievement for most people.
HILLSIDE was another section that got easier as the day went on. It’s a long, straight muddy affair, traversing across the slope of a wooded hill. There were some big bumps half way up just before Red & Yellow restart and David Alderson was the only Falcon to get through this difficult part of the section although Neil gave it a real good go.
BEAMFORD was approached via a track with a “we object” sign outside the only house along its length. Apparently the householder maintained the byway himself and thought the competitors would mess up the surface. Some post event work by Jonathan Toulmin managed to turn him into a possible supporter rather than an objector! The section started on the bank of a small river and went along its course for ten yards or so before coming out along a very muddy track. David Thompson dropped three here and both Murray and Neil had problems when they both hit the same boulder on the exit road the impact bending Neil’s suspension a bit.
There was more drama a mile up the road at HUNGERFORD. This is a great section. It starts on the road and turns right up the track. The section begins twenty yards up hill but you are allowed to start on the run. Murray and Hazel remembered this as a rough section and didn’t drop the pressures much. The wheel’s started spinning as soon as they hit the rough and they passed “section begins” at a crawl. They managed to continue until the big hump at the top, but by now they were going so slowly they couldn’t coax JAZ over. Mike Hayward experienced a similar problem. He was going much faster but his Escort is much lower and he grounded out. Mike Pearson and Arnold Lane didn’t get that far. They rocketed up the track but the side-wall blew out of a tyre with a tremendous bang just after section begins and they had to reverse back down.
HARTON WOOD was a nice blast up a tree lined rack and came with protesting local at the top for some. Sections nine and ten were the LONGVILLE Special Test and Section. Not too difficult unless you were yellow or red when you had one of those horrible restarts on polished stones to get back on the main road.
IPKINS ROCK looked nice and easy from the bottom, but there was a very sharp hairpin right near the top where the reds had to do a restart. In a way this was a blessing in disguise as it forced them to slow. A few of the non restarting lower classes had too much speed on and went over the side, including Greenslade’s senior and junior, costing Giles a class win.
THE JENNY WIND is a long straight blast up an old cable tramway, without very much grip. This was worse for the later numbers as it had started to rain, but at least this compensated for their easy run up Farlow. HARLEY BANK was a few yards up the track. It started with easy gradient but got a bit rutted near the summit where Mike Hayward ran out of ground clearance and stopped
MEADOWLEY was only for yellows and reds. It was particularly slimy and evil with deep ruts and tree routs to complete the challenge. Nobody came out of the top and it was the on-form Adrian Dommett who got the furthest to re-enforce his overall win, aided considerably by those huge wheels. The LOUGHTON SPECIAL TEST finished off the day. This was a dive down a muddy track, hairpin round a cone and back. All in the dark for the later numbers
Back at the Boyne Arms it was Adrian Dommett who was declared the winner, dropping only ten marks. This was despite having to do two more hills than most of the other classes. David Alderson was the best Falcon, winning class eight. Competitors were pretty spread out at the end. Running towards the front of the field Murray finished by three and was back home in Welwyn Garden City by six, while Mike Hayward had only just got to the finish.
The end of the event wasn’t the end of the excitement for Neil and Allison. They had a good run back to Bedfordshire but just a few miles from home the transmission gave up the ghost when Neil was changing down for a roundabout. Looking at the car afterwards Neil also found more water and dirt in the fuel system, lets hope he can get it fixed in time for the Cotswold Clouds.
Best Overall – Adrian Dommett – Ford Special – 10 marks
Class 0 for MAC members – Jeremy Nightingale (Dellow) 28
Class 1 – Adrian Tucker-Peake (Peugeot 205 GTi) 28
Class 2 – Barry Clarke (Grotty Chummy) 38
Class 3 and 5 combined Paul Bartleman (Ford Escort) 18
We have been publishing stuff about Classic Trials on the Web since 1995 and always appreciate feedback. Comments, Corrections, Criticism & Concerns are all welcome. You can leave a comment to have your say here on this web site or our Social Media
Please help spread the word and share this on your Social Media:
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