Dave had a clear victory, dropping only ten marks, seven less than Andrew and Sticker Martin who both dropped 17 in their Escorts. It has to be said that the lower classes had significantly easier routes, one of the features of The Clee Hills Trial. There had been a lot of rain leading up to the start and some of the sections were pretty sticky, leading to some cancellations. Nerveless, despite this and some route card problems, the Clee maintained its reputation as an thoroughly enjoyable and continually evolving event.
In recent years the Clee has employed a unique system where the route is two circles, forming a figure of eight with the start in the centre. The entry is split according to class. So 6, 7 and 8 do one loop first while the other classes do the other. It’s a bit more complicated as class 0 have some unique sections and omit some used by 1 to 5, while 6,7 and 8 also have some unique sections. Why am I telling you this? So you understand that as a competitor in class 4 I didn’t see all the sections!
Penhale’s Puzzler Special Test – I will start by being sarcastic and say that the first puzzle was finding the damn thing! Fortunately one of our fellow Beetle driversknew where it was and the rest of class 4 followed them! When we got there it wasn’t so much of a puzzle as a very nice marshal told us what to do, which was to drive forwards in a circle, then retrace in reverse. Kevin Barnes didn’t make it this far in his venerable Singer ADU, retiring less than a mile from the start when the cylinder head failed.
Section 10 Flounders Folly – A very slippery route though the trees next to the special test. There wasn’t really a track there so there was no bottom and the wet clay was very slippery. Everyone spun to a halt in the slime. Dudley Sterry got the furthest, stopping just before the sections ends board. Eventual winner David Foreshew came just behind, making the two. Both Stephen Kenny and Mark Endley retired their Liege’s here, Stephen with a disintegrating distributor.
Section 13 Easthope 1 – This is in the same complex as the old Ipikins Rock section, which wasn’t used this year. It’s a muddy track with some pretty deep ruts. Quite a few cars in 7 and 8 cleared the section but most who got through the ruts at the bottom OK spun to a stop as the going got more slippery.
Section 14 Easthope 3 – Attempted only by the lower classes the section started with a horrible right hand hairpin which defeated many, most of the remainder failed to surmount the deviation that lay just ahead. It was possible though, and the eventual winners of classes one to four all went clean, although goodness knows how Dave Haizelden managed it in his Golf.
Section 15 Majors Leap – Only attempted by the reds and yellows Dave Foreshew was the only clear.
Section 16 The Jenny Wind – Well known section which has been used on The Clee for many years and was trialled before the war. After the sharp right hander its straight up if you can. Most couldn’t and spun to a stop on the lower reaches, way below Dave Cooks camera! Nigel Jones had to retire here with driveshaft problems and Nigel Scotford dropped out with clutch issues in the ex-Courtney Yandle Skoda. Nick Farmer had electrical problems with the ex-Tony Rothin Cannon Alfa but was able to continue.
Section 17 Harley Bank – This used to be a wonderful long track but the old route has become too easy after council re-surfacing so there is now a horrible deviation with a very tight left-hand corner which was impossible in the sticky clay.
The 2nd loop had a very different character. Much more picturesque, more rocks and less mud. It started with a trip over The Long Myndd. It was very clear so there were some wonderful views. Its a long way down, with unprotected drops. At least when it was used as a selective in Motoring News Rallies it was dark and they couldn’t see what would happen if you didn’t make the corners!
Section 1 – Ratlinghope – Not particularly competitive but a wonderful long old section. It should have been followed by…
Section 2 – Phil’s Folly – Unfortunately the conditions were to bad to allow this old track to be used this year. Something I have experience off when marshalling the section a few years ago. Nobody was more disappointed than John Sergeant who was first going to be marshalling at Round Oak before it was cancelled, only to arrive at Phil’s Folly and find that couldn’t be used.
Section 3 – Gatten’s Gamble – Starting in farmer Phil Harding’s yard this is another wonderful long up and over Clee sections with fantastic views crossing the summit.
Section 4 – Allez ‘Oop1 – Classes 6, 7 and 8 all went clear as they climbed this cleft in the hillside, made infamous by C.A.N. Mays book Wheelspin. Although it has been resurfaced since, it couldn’t be taken lightly, and claimed some scalps amongst the lower powered cars for who were using it as a section. At the top the route followed the southern ridge of The Long Mynd before entering the forestry containing the Priors Halt sections.
Section 5 – Priors Holt 3 – Another Clee section Mike Hayward and I have marshalled, and as last year there were multiple restart lines depending on your class. There was plenty of grip for the later numbers, to much in some cases as some of the less powerful cars on low pressures found themselves bogging down. Giles Greenslade went clear for the second year on his way to winning class four, as did both Sticker and Arnie Martin in their Escorts.
Long Mynd Special Test – Nice timed rocky climb with a nifty descent where it was all too possible to overshoot the finish line. Unfortunately it was probably a bit steep for some of the lower powered cars as several of them couldn’t make the climb.
Section 6 – Priors Holt 2 – Yet another section Mike Hayward and I have marshalled. Used only for Class 0 this year.
Section 7 – Priors Holt 3 – A steep climb with loose rock, demanding close attention to tyre pressures and throttle control. This was the last section for the lower classes as Strefford Wood was cancelled after 6,7 and 8 passed through and Round Oak was taken out before the cars started although this failed to get into some of the road books.
| Best Overall | Dave Foreshew (Ford Dingo) | 10 |
| Class Winners | ||
| 1 | David Haizelden (VW Golf GTi) | 30 |
| 2 | Adrian Dommett (Wolesley Hornet) | 25 |
| 3 | Andrew Martin (Ford Escort) | 17 |
| 4 | Giles Greenslade (VW Beetle) | 22 |
| 5 | Thomas Aldrian (Austin 7) | 40 |
| 6 | Gary Browning (VW Beetle) | 30 |
| 7 | Mal Allen (Marlin) | 40 |
| 8 | Dudley Sterry (MG J2) | 21 |
| 0 | Keith Hill (Singer Junior) | 24 |
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