Tag: 23 January 2005

Michael’s Marshalling Clee

With no car available Michael Leete and Mike Hayward marshalled on the Clee Hills

Jeff Buchanan arriving at the hairpin on Phils Folly. It was t0o difficult in the morning, their were delays and the section had to be cancelled.
The landowner came to the rescue and tried to improve conditions for the afternoon.
All was well for a while but there were problems on the exit road and when Andrew Martin slid into the barbed wire the section was cancelled again.

As I am out of action regarding Trials Driving at the moment Mike Hayward and I decided to marshal on The Clee. We were sent to Phil’s Folly, a new section before the farm on the approach to Gattens Gamble, on the lower slopes of The Long Mynd. The journey there was interesting to say the least, because there was snow on the Shropshire hills so discretion was the better part of valour and we detoured around The Long Mynd. 

The section started on a level, rutted track, hair-pinned round a tight right hander and went straight up a muddy tree lined gully before emerging on to the exit track which was recessed into the side of the hill. This was to be the scene of some problems as it was very slippery and later some cars went over the edge. 

There were four of us on the section, Michael (Chief Official) and Richard from the MAC, Mike Hayward and I. It was an enjoyable, if challenging, day but we really struggled at times. 

The first disaster was that the driver of the Discovery recovery vehicle went up to the hairpin and decided that he would get his vehicle too muddy, went back to the farm and spectated on Gattens Gamble for the rest of the day! After this, the four of us had real problems running the section and had to call on competitors and the farmer to help us. 

The first car along was Jeff Buchanan. He couldn’t get his ex Dennis Greenslade Reliant round the corner, he was really stuck and we had to go and ask the farmer for help. He came along with a Mitsubishi 4WD but even that struggled and it was more than 30 minutes before we got Jeff out of the section. 

Then David Bowlas got his Midget stuck in the same place but we managed to turn him round in the field and gave him a run at the section. However, he half slipped off the bank on the escape road and in the end, the only way we could extricate him was to lower him down the bank with a rope and winch (the farmer’s idea). By that time, we called Clerk of the Course Jonathan Toulmin and cancelled the section for the lower classes. 

Determined not to give up the farmer bought along his JCB and scrapped the mud of the hairpin, coming down to a stone surface to give the afternoons runners a chance at the section. 

Falcons Ian Davis was the first class eight. He rounded the hairpin without any difficulty and blasted up the muddy hill. We thought that as each car went up it would clean more mud away, making it easier for the later numbers. To some extent this was true, but it was too bring other problems as it wore the edge away at the top of the section and on the exit road, tending to drag cars off the track and down the bank. 

Most of the class eights cleaned the section OK. It was all a question of getting the line around the hairpin right. Simon Woodall clearly knew all about the hairpin as he came along the approach track with one wheel out of the ruts and up the bank. Although this should have given him the possibility of a wider turn it didn’t work out somehow and his buggy under-steered straight on into the trees. The same befell Stuart Ridge in his flyweight. Tim Foster and Harry Butcher were two more who couldn’t get around in one bite and failed. Dave Foreshew got round OK but his GVS fluffed and stalled at the two marker and took a while to get going. 

Difficult as the hairpin was the real drama was at the top of the section on the exit road. 

Extricating the two class fives in the morning had weekend the edge of the bank and Simon Woodall’s VW Buggy slipped off the edge into the field below, only Simons skill as a driver preventing a nasty accident. The same thing almost happened to Stuart Harrold and Chris Phillips. The Troll was right on the edge and in the end Chris hoped out, and swung the front round at 90 degrees so Stuart could make a graceful if rather scary slide down the bank. 

Most of the cars traversed the exit road OK but Tony Young saw what was happening and drove off the track and down the bank voluntarily.

By now the edge of the track at the top of the section itself was deteriorating and when Andrew Martin slipped off into the barbed wire on the section itself we had a group meeting with the experienced competitors in the queue and decided to call it a day! The farmer was more than disappointed and said that he would dig the track out and put some stone down so the section would be OK for next year!

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Dave’s Clee

Dave Sargeant reports on his Clee Hills Trial

Dave and Jayne burning rubber on Longville (picture by Dave Cook)

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 

Dave & Jayne Sargeant. 

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

Claggy Clee

There was snow on the Shropshire Hills for this years Clee Hills. Fortunately not enough to bring things to a halt, but quite enough to make conditions difficult. Adrian Marfell mastered the difficult conditions in his Beetle to win overall, dropping only four marks. Adrian Dommett was second in his Class 2 Wolsley Hornet.

Adrian Marfell, pictured here at Gattens Gamble, dropped only four marks on Easthope 2 to win overall. (picture by Dave Sargeant)
Adrian Dommett, bettered Adrian by one mark on Easthope 2 but dropped another three on Easthope 1 to finish second (picture by Dave Cook)
The fantastic view from the summit of Allez Oop (picture by Dave Sargeant)
2005_clee_hills_resultsDownload

Dave Cooks Photos

Like last year the field was split and went on two separate loops. Classes 0 to Five tackled the Western loop first, embarking on a long detour around The Long Mynd because of the treacherous conditions. Ratlinghope came first, a special test, then a section which was cleaned by everyone. A long descent followed, crossing a road to the farm at the foot of Gattens Gamble. 

There was a new section this year, the route turning left at the tank to Phils Folly. This was new section on an old coach road that is now privately owned. The section started on a level rutted track, hair-pinning right where the gradient started up a muddy tree lined track. Unfortunately Jeff Buchanan couldn’t get his ex Dennis Greenslade Reliant round the corner, neither could David Bowlas who was following in his Midget. Extracting the cars took so long that the section had to be cancelled. 

By the time the higher classes came along in the afternoon the farmer had scrapped the mud off the hairpin and there was plenty of traction. The problem was getting round the hairpin. Regrettably there were problems at the top of the section and the exit road, making it rather to hairy for comfort and it was necessary to cancel it again. Gattens Gamble was cleaned by most of the field but Derek Reynolds found his DAF’s drive belts struggled with the steep gradient at the start. The views at the top were as magnificent as ever. 

After a straightforward Walkmill came Adstone for the lower classes, who descended what was to be Medicot for six, seven and eight in the afternoon. Adstone was not a problem but the descent of Medicot certainly was. The track has really suffered at the hands of 4×4 traffic and the right hand rut was very, very deep. This caused major problems as cars were leaning so far they were practically on their side. Some suffered damage, including Colin Perryman whose BMW ended up with damaged doors and rear quarter panel. 

Ian Davis was the first class eight in the afternoon and described the ascent of Medicot as a nightmare. After a delay waiting for some trail bikes Ian hit a root, throwing the front of his buggy so high in the air it came out of the ruts and beached on the left hand bank. Ian managed to reverse a few yards and get going as there was plenty of traction. Delays built up, causing the section to be cancelled for classes six and seven but not before Stuart Harrold deranged his steering on the same root that caused a problem for Ian Davis. 

The route round its way up the hills to the historic Allez ‘Oop, first used in 1939 and featured in C.A.N. Mays book Wheelspin. It was grass in those days but has a hard surface now. It was covered in snow and a delightful climb to the summit with its magnificent views where the class three and four competitors waited for each other and a had a snowball fight! Most of the entry got to the summit, but it wasn’t a class one friendly hill and three of them got a six. 

The Harton Wood special test was all about time but the challenge at the Longville test was actually re-starting after the reverse. After last year most of the experienced competitors were ready for Longville and backed right down to make sure they cleaned the section, rather than worry about the time. Not Tristan White. He and Emma Flay risked a modest reverse and gave the Escort a blast. They made it in a huge cloud of rubber smoke but the time it took was probably as much as backing right down!

Ippikins Rock couldn’t be used this year because of logging, so the lower classes tackled Easthope 1 and 2. One was the section new for last year, two was new for this. It wasn’t very long, just a short blast up a gully and a sharp right turn up the bank. This was the events stopper and nobody was successful. Simon Woodall and Mick Workman were the most successful, both reaching the two. Overall winner Adrian Marfell scored four, the only marks he was to drop all day. 

After Much Wenlock came The Jenny Wind, an old cable railway incline. This was slippery in the morning for the higher classes and only Andrew Martin in his Dutton Melos reached the summit. Fellow class seven driver Tony Branson didn’t get that far in Jonathan Toulmins Marlin which suffered a persistent misfire all day. Conditions had improved in the afternoon and there were some cleans. Adrian Marfell and Adrian Dommett reached the summit, So did Harvey Waters and the amazing Dave Haizelden in his Golf. The first time a Front Wheel Drive has achieved that distinction.

Harley Bank saw problems for Dick Bolt when the UJ on the end of his prop-shaft broke, possibly weakened when he broke his CWP on Simms. Fortunately Dick has a two piece shaft on his Escort and carries a spare, so he was able to change it and drive back to the finish although he had to retire. The higher classes had a different section too last year and Ian Davis couldn’t get across the frosty grass on the lower reaches, dropping six. Fellow Buggy driver Simon Woodall did well here, only losing two marks which gave him the class win. 

Hungerford was the last section on the Eastern loop for the lower classes and is another to have suffered badly from 4×4 traffic. There were ground clearance problems, both on the section and the exit road, where even some of the class eights had to be towed out. Simon Groves was a little late in arriving at Hungerford, having had no less than four punctures. Because of the penalties on the Clee, for slipping back down the field, his fellow competitors let him back to his place at the head of the class. Simon duly let his tyres down, only to ground out his diff at the six, and had to reverse back down. Seeing this his classmates duly pumped their tyres up to give more ground clearance and cleaned the hill! 

The higher classes had to tackle Meadowley, another historic Clee section, but again one that has suffered severe erosion. There was a tree root across the track, followed by a huge hole and that was as far as most competitors got. There were exceptions of course. Two of the flyweights came out the top and March Hare winner Andy Curtis did exceptionally well to get to the two, benefiting from the increased ground clearance he has generated by fitting dropped spindles to the front, even though it gives the buggy a pronounced nose up stance. 

Despite the problems caused by the conditions, all the competitors signed off in daylight, and first man home Ian Davis was back at The Craven Arms by 2.30. This years Clee was more difficult than usual, both the snow and 4×4 damage taking their toll. It was still a success though. Beautiful views, historic sections and six different classes in the top ten, all a tribute to Jonathan Toulmin and his team.

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