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There were ten clean sheets spread across four classes. Duncan was fastest in his Fugitive from Joe Browning in his Baja.
Stroud attracted their usual full entry for this years Cotswold Clouds which was held in unseasonable dry conditions, resulting in a number of clean sheets.
Continue reading “Duncan Stephens wins Dry Cotswold Clouds”Held in dry conditions Charlie only dropped two and the top ten were only spanned by a further four marks.
This years Mechanics Trial was earlier this year and held on a dry, sunny day. It was a low scoring, but very close battle between the leading contenders. However, unlike the Exmoor Clouds last week Class Eight dominated the leader board.
Mackhouse was back on the agenda this year, there were only a couple of failures but it was considered a bit rough by some competitors.
Dave Sargeant was out in his new VW Buggy but had the misfortue to damage the bodywork early in the trial and retired shortly afterwards when the transmission cried enough.
The trial was decided in the Catswood complex where Charlie Merson dropped his only marks of the trial on Sapseds Surprise in his Ford Special. Charlie got to the two followed by Mark Hobbs in his trial on a three.
Continue reading “Charlie Merson wins Close Mechanics”Charlie had the only clean sheet on what is now an ACTC Championship Event
Forty Four cars assembled at Froombridge Mill for the Mechanics Trial, round 11 of this years ACTC championship as clubs are now allowed two scoring rounds. There had been torrential rain overnight but this slowly cleared during the day.
Charlie Knifton came down from Derbyshire, cleaned every section and won the event in his rear engined, Subaru powered, Scorpion. Locals Joshua Moss (Cannon) and Mark Hobbs (Troll) both dropped marks in the wooded complex before Merves Swerve to complete the podium.
Continue reading “Charlie Knifton Best Mechanic”Ian Moss Conquered the Conditions to pull off a Narrow Win
Ian Moss was first overall in his familair immaculate Imp. Ian dropped nine marks, one better than Matt Facey (BMW) who in turn was was one in front of early leader Sam Holmes in his Class Four Beetle. Continue reading “Tough Cotswold Clouds”
Ryan Eamer (Cannon) was the provisional winner of a closely fought battle with Tris White (Troll), Richard Hayward (Escort) and Dave Haizelden (Reliant Scimitar)
Stroud and DMC received their usual full entry for their well established trial. The first half of the route included many traditional hills, some dating back before WW2, even if some like Crooked Mustard have changed their name in the intervening period! Continue reading “Tough Cotswold Clouds”
Dave Wall proved Dellow’s can still cut the mustard, beating Tony Underhill to win the Mechanics Trial on Special Test Times
With dry sections the leaders contested the win on the Catswood sections where the slippery Sapseds Big Surprise proved the deciding hill. Dean Partington actually cleaned this beast but fell out of contention when he was one of many to go the wrong way after the restart on Mini Hoskin.
Alf was fearsome not Delightful!
After all the recent snowy trials Stoud & DMC had arranged fine weather for The Mechanics as Sam Holmes led the field away from the well organised start in Stonehouse. Sam’s hopes of another Class 4 win were soon dashed when, like all but one competitor in the lower classes, he failed the fearsome restart on Alf’s Delight. The one who succeeded was Ian Moss in his Imp, now running on approved 13 inch wheels. Ian was to continue his form throughout the day, challenging for the overall lead and eventually finishing third overall.
About half the Class 7 & 8’s managed to get away from the restart. They didn’t include Brian Partridge who had a rear upright break on his Ridge Cannon. Aaron Haizelden retired soon after, worried about the oil pressure of his Cosworth engined Escort.
Into Catswood
After some delightful traditional sections the route entered Catswood from the top, where three observed sections and a Special Test awaited. Sapseds Big Surprise is a slippery, muddy climb between the trees. Only Dean Partington, in his DP Wasp, could clean this difficult section. Dave Wall (Dellow Mk1), Tony Underhill (Triumph Special) and Mike Chatwin (DP Wasp) all came close, but couldn’t quite make it past the one marker. Ian Moss showed his mastery of the conditions, the only car outside of Class Eight to get a two.
Climbing to the top of Catswood Mini Hoskin awaited. This had a sting in the tail, a restart followed by an immediate 90 left up a steep bank. Unfortunately this deviation wasn’t obvious too most of the entry and around 70% went straight on, dropping four marks in the process. Dean Partington was the big loser here, taking him out of contention for the overall win.
Greenway Lane
After the traditional sections at the picturesque King Charles Lane and Bulls Cross the route descended Greenway Lane to the sections on private land half way down. These didn’t have any significant impact on the results but the news is the main track has been repaired and hopefully will be back in action as a section soon 1.
The Finish
After some extended Green Laning and another Special Test there was just Bulls Bank and Viaduct to come. These passed without impacting the results and the last competitor signed off at Minchinghampton Golf Club before 5pm, where many realised their mistake by not planning to eat here as the food looked first class.
Congratulations to Dave Wall for proving a Dellow can still win a one day classic trial. It was a shame about the confusion on the route at Mini Hoskin. Lets hope it didn’t spoil too many people’s enjoyment of another well organised Stroud event.
| Class | Driver/Car | Marks |
| Overall | Dave Wall (Dellow Mk1) | 7 |
| Best Stroud | Tony Underhill (Triumph Special) | 7 |
| 1 | Dave Haizelden (Golf GTi) | 17 |
| 2 | John Bell (MG TB) | 21 |
| 3 | Mark Linforth (Ford Escort) | 22 |
| 4 | Ian Moss (Hillman Imp) | 10 |
| 5 | Nick Deacon (Suzuki X90) | 23 |
| 6 | Harry Butcher (VW Beetle) | 21 |
| 7 | Rick Neale (Dutton Melos) | 14 |
| 8 | Mike Wokman (Golden valley Special) | 11 |
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It was a Class 1 victory on The Mechanics Trial. Dave Haizelden was the overall winner, dropping 11 marks, compared to Mike Workman on 14, although in fairness Mike had a lot more restarts in Class Eight.
It was quite dry in the Cotswolds so the results were determined by some fearsome restarts, especially for the higher classes, and the tricky Catswood sections with deviations off the tracks into the trees. All but 1 & 2 also had to run with very high tyre pressures, which must have contributed to the result. Stroud & DMC also ran a Clubmans event, mostly using the same sections but without the restarts. This was won by Ian Moss in his 1937 Ford Model Y who only dropped six marks, all on the impossible Don’t Blink section in Catswood.
Stroud had just over 40 starters for their non-championship trial, run in the same area as their Cotswold Clouds but with different sections. The second section “Alf’s Delight” was not so delightful, with many of the fancied runners failing its fearsome restart. In Class eight Mike Workman was the only one to get away in his Golden Valley Special. This was bettered by Class Seven where both Mal Allen and Julian Archbold were successful, delighting Julian in his newly acquired Marlin.
The Catswood Sections were Difficult
After some sections on delightful old roads came three sections in Catswood. OS 7, called Sapseds Big Surprise, saw Dave Haizelden loose his first marks of the day, dropping five after the section deviated off into the trees. Without having to restart Dave also cleaned the next section, Mini Hoskin, the only competitor in the main trail to do so. This showed just how good this driver/car combination is as none of the other non-restarters in 1-6 got less than a six.
Dave dropped six marks on Don’t Blink, the final Catswood section, the last he was to loose for the rest of the day. Tony Underhill retired here, his Triumph Special making horrible noises, later diagnosed as a loose flywheel on his newly rebuilt engine.
Bulls Cross Claimed Some Experienced Scalps
Coming out of the woods came a a section at King Charles Lane before a restart at Bulls Cross, situated right on a nasty rock step. This claimed a few victims, including the experienced Pete Hart (Marlin) and Eric Wall (Dellow mk1). Eric was having a bad day on the restarts having failed the Grassy Wood Lane earlier in the day.
Broken Cars on the Greenway Sections
This year there wasn’t a section on Greenway Lane itself, as the track was approached from the top. Anyone wondering why soon found out as it was very, very rough after considerable water erosion and it must have been very difficult for the lower slung cars to get to the sections. They were both grassy and didn’t impact on the results although Stuart Deacon broke the diff on his Escort, changing it to finish the trial. Luke Baber wasn’t so lucky with his Peugeot, coming down Greenway Lane on a rope behind mark Hobbs Land Rover, although shown as a finisher.
Viaduct was Dry this Year
The trial finished on Viaduct as usual, the ruts not proving a challenge in the dry conditions. The event seemed to go down well with competitors. The clubmans section was well received and it was nice to see Ian and Josh Moss take that category in their Model Y.
| Class | Driver/Car | Marks |
| Overall | David Haizelden (Golf GTi) | 11 |
| Clubmans | Ian Moss (Ford Model Y) | 6 |
| 1 | Nick Cleal (Peugeot 205) | 18 |
| 2 | David Wall (Austin Seven) | 21 |
| 3 | Phil Tucker (Ford Escort Estate) | 24 |
| 4 | John White (VW Beetle) | 23 |
| 5 | Colin Biles (MG Midget) | 42 |
| 6 | Gary Browning (VW beetle) | 25 |
| 7 | Mal Allen (Marlin) | 20 |
| 8 | Mike Workman (Golden Valley Special) | 14 |
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Ian Moss had a conclusive home win on the Stroud & DMC Mechanics Trial
Ian and Josh had a near flawless run in their 1200 Imp, putting up the best performance on all the hills except Greenway Lane 3 where they failed the restart. Tony Underhill was second overall, with Jade Bray in the passenger seat, in their Triumph special. Competing in Class Eight they did have a couple of extra restarts, including a real horror on Greenway Lane 3. Special well done to Steve Potter for winning Class 2 in his Trojan.
Organisers Carl Talbot and Tim Smith had an entry of 43 assembled in the spacious surroundings of the SKF car park for the start of Stroud’s Mechanics Trial. There was one non-starter. John White had a call from his passenger at 5 am saying his injured foot had swollen during the night and couldn’t come on the event.
The First Special Test
The route headed west from the start to the first section, a special test in a very muddy field. It was an a stop astride line B, back all four wheels over, round a bollard and back to stop astride C affair. C was the same line as B so this area got a fair amount of use and it became stickier and stickier as the morning went on. There was a six mark penalty for a failure and three or four competitors found them on their score sheets.
Tyre pressures had been free on the Special Test but there were high limits for the rest of the trial. Clerk of the Course Carl Talbot was worried about getting a result and had imposed the high tyre pressures and quite a few restarts. The early sections were old roads, mostly with restarts and there were some fantastic views on offer. The first observed section, Tin Pan Alley, an old Falcon Guy Fawkes section, was a nice gentle start, with a restart for everyone apart from Class 2. Everyone went clear here but that was to change at the next section, Alf’s delight, where the majority of the entry failed to get away from the restart.
It’s All About the Restarts
Crossing a golf course, and passing the exit tracks from Crooked Mustard and Axe, Boxwell was approached via a remote track, winding down through a wood, where the section started beside a lake. It almost made you want to start painting! Once again the hill was all about the restart, situated on a 90 left at Tee. More clean sheets disappeared on this slippery rocky surface, including Beetle drivers Giles Greenslade in class four and eventual Class six winner Gary Browning.
Wood Lane was approached via Nailsworth town centre. Everyone went clear here, despite the restart but like a few sections things would have been different had it not been so dry.
Delays at Mackhouse
Later numbers were waited more than three quarters of an hour at Mackhouse. There have been many variations over the years here and competitors were relieved the section more or less straight up the exit track, rather than use the versions where you risked understeering into the trees or drove along a ditch filled with dinosaur eggs. Even so there was a twist, the route deviating off the rocky track where there was one of those restarts that were very much a feature of this years Mechanics Trial. The main track is pretty rough and very long. When there were problems they took a long time to sort. Reg Salway had the misfortune to retire his BMW here. A reversal of fortunes after his class win on the March Hare the previous week. Dave Haizelden was a notable failure here, putting James Shallcross into the lead in Class
If You Go Down to the Woods One Day….
Up until now all the sections had been on public tracks, but the character of the event changed with the five sections in Catswood. The first three were situated at the bottom of the wood and were all very similar, starting on the track and deviating up amongst the trees onto the mud. They were all sub-divided and it was here the results of the trial were pretty much decided.
The first, called Infinity and Beyond, was a real stopper and only Ian and Josh Moss (Imp) and Tony Underhill/Jade Bray (Triumph Special) got as far as the one marker.
Angela’s was cleanable and several did. However, there was a horrible tree at the bottom, just in the right place to hit if you understeered at the bottom. Several did, or backed off before they did, including James Shallcross putting Dave Haizelden back in the lead in Class One. Sapsed’s Surprise was another stopper, the leading contenders all spinning to a stop at the 4 marker.
James Gets a 12
Mini Hoskins was a long section up a forestry track, with a deviation and a restart at the top where Dave Cook was taking photographs. There were quite a few cleans here, but also some 12’s where drivers couldn’t get grip off the start. Unfortunately these included James Shallcross and Dave Haizelden went on to another win in the Astra borrowed from passenger Nick Farmer.
Don’t Blink, familiar from the Cotswold Clouds, was the final section in Catswood. This is a real horror, tight, muddy and deeply rutted, with a restart for class eight which stopped them all. Pete Hart got to the three, Ian Moss to the five and amazingly James Shallcross a zero. However, most everyone else floundered at the nine.
The track out of Catswood (the one you use to get to Merves Swerve on the Clouds) was rough and wet, it was a shame we didn’t go up it as a section! King Charles Lane was just across the way, with John Blakeley on the restart flag and being a nice man didn’t fail anyone!
Greenway Lane
Greenway Lane is a rough track which had been made into three sections. The first one was on the track, deviating off onto a grassy area which would have been a problem had it been wet. The second was a pure PCT affair in an adjacent field. It was back on the track for the final one with a wicked deviation, especially for the class eights who had a special one through a very deep hole.
The first section had a restart for classes 6 to 8. It was achievable but tricky and when Tony Underhill failed it more or less meant Ian and Josh Moss had won overall unless they made a silly mistake, which they didn’t.
Ian Fails a Restart
The third section had difficult restarts with Colin Perryman on the flag. It was difficult for classes 1 to 7. Most of the class leaders negotiated it successfully, except Ian Moss and Pete Hart. Both failed but their lead was such it didn’t affect the final result. Class eights had to negotiate a horrific hole but amazingly Dave Wall (Dellow) was the only one to pick up a penalty.
John Bell’s nice MG TD was suffering by now, earlier he had carburation problems, had a collapsed wheel in Catswood and now the exhaust was broken. Fortunately it was after the silencer so he removed the broken bit and carried on.
Bulls Bank – Inspired by Longville?
The Second Special test was at the familiar Bulls Bank. This was very much like Longville on the Clee. It was important to concentrate on getting a clean first and a time second. The trial finished with Viaduct, a blast across a rutty, muddy field and it was a shame it was so dry and competitors who stayed on to watch saw only a couple of failures.
Well done to Ian and Josh Moss for a great drive, especially in Catswood, and a deserved victory. This years Mechanics was very much a trial of three parts. Public Tracks followed by Catswood and a finale at Greenway Lane. It was a shame it was so dry, perhaps next year Stroud will arrange for a few more localised rain showers!
| Best Overall | Ian Moss (Imp) | 16 |
| Class Winners | ||
| 1 | David Haizelden (Vauxhall Astra) | 31 |
| 2 | Steve Potter (Trojan | 32 |
| 3 | Stuart Deacon (Ford Escort) | 33 |
| 4 | Giles Greenslade (VW Beetle) | 36 |
| 5 | Stuart Roach (HRG) | 34 |
| 6 | Gary Browning (VW Beetle) | 35 |
| 7 | Pete Hart (Marlin) | 27 |
| 8 | Tony Underhill (Triumph Special) | 24 |
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Duncan Stephens Reports
Mike Workman won The Cotswold Clouds after beating an equal scoring Tris White on Special Test Times. Kelly Thomas was third in Paul Bartleman’s Troll only one mark behind.
Sunday 7th February, and seventy five crews travelled to the secure parking area and start of the Cotswold Clouds near Stonehouse. Each of the classes were represented, five and six been the smallest with four in each. The Clouds saw the début of two brand new cars in experienced hands. Nicola Butcher in her long awaited swing axle 1300 Beetle, and Paul Allaway in his even longer awaited Nova GTE. Nicola was to have a very trying day as the engine didn’t pull very well, but was awarded the Ian Moss trophy for best presented car.
The first section was Crawley, just down the road from the start, where you pass the finish on the way to the section. The road sweeper and marshals were busy keeping the main road clear of mud, although it was a bit disconcerting to find the tractor heading towards you as it kept the road clean! Passing the sensitive houses at the bottom with great care and onto a gently meandering section with three gutters running across. These are no normal gutters as they had been built up in big speed humps with sand bags! A slow approach was needed but five competitors were adjudged to have stopped whilst traversing them which had a huge effect on the results.
A short run down the road to Dursley where Crooked Mustard awaited. Whilst waiting it soon got round that the hill was on top form, especially for the early cars. By the time Dave Haizleden arrived in car 37 only a handful of class 7’s and 8’s had been successful. Dave was the first “saloon” up the section with Duncan Stephens passengering so far forward he cracked the windscreen with his head somewhere on the section. He never worked out where as couldn’t find a bruise!! Made of hard stuff these sporting trial guys!! Special mention must also go to Giles and Keith Sanders who were the only other saloon cars to be successful on the day. Classes 7&8 had a much easier time of it though, with twenty two climbs, the majority been class eight. Dave Cook was here once again catching cars at all angles round the bends! One of these included David Shaylor who had borrowed Gary Brownings trial winning Beetle and went onto win the class.
A short loop to get to Axe on the other side of the road, with a holding control beforehand. With a deep area of clay half way up this proved extremely hard for the first twenty five cars with very few successful climbs on an clean/fail basis. Phil Tucker was one of the early successful climbs, his Escort Estate revving hard.
Next was another historic section, Nailsworth Ladder, with Ross & District Motor Club marshalling. It’s great seeing local motor clubs supporting each other in marshalling section in each other’s trials. The ladder had two restart lines for all classes but 1&2. Bruce Aitkin continued to have a very challenging day in his low slung AX, and the Trojan were the only other non-stoppers to fail. Bill Bennett continued his heroic acts in the J2 getting airborne twice on the step!! Dean Partington was in full confidence mode, backing right off even before the front got to the step. The higher re-starters generally didn’t have too much trouble provided they moved off the restart with some pace.
Ham Mill was just across the common at the top of the Ladder, with a restart on the right hand bend for some classes on polished rock, but with plenty of width to choose your line. The section ontinued to finish on grass. The restart caught approximately half the stoppers, including Nick Farmer who was unfortunate to have a puncture, costing him the overall win.
Wicked Juniper came next, gradually works its way further and further into the woods on lots of leaf mould. Just for an extra challenge a restart was in place with a nice long box to choose from. Bill Bennett, Keith Sanders and Emma Robilliard were the only saloons to climb, the latter two with a restart. Carl Talbot had a wheel fall off his Anglia which resulted in a 30 minute job to get him out of the way of the section.
Pheasant Run was a new section in a huge wood complex. You had to go past the section, turn round and come back to it. The early runners started on the track, but this soon became starting straight. The first few feet didn’t see much grip then loads before a slight bends with trees keeping you steady, and then another restart. Bill Bennett continued to excel with another clean, Dave Haizelden was persuaded he should have climbed it afterwards! Giles dropped a three here, but was out-climbed by Bill Rosten’s Imp and Nigel Scotford’s Skoda which cost Giles the overall win. Class seven saw Tubby, Rick Neale, Norman Tonkin (who must have shot gunned the trailer before Ryan or Ben) the only ones away and out of the top.
Following a long trip through the woods and across a horse training ground Merves Swerve was next, with 7&8 having their normal restart just before the bend. Dick Bolt used all his Duratec power under the watchful eyes of the noise meter to be the first climb. Dave Haizelden, Nick Cleal, Bill Bennett, Dick Bolt, Carl Talbot, Giles Greenslade and Keith Sanders were the only saloons to climb this year, as not much grip could be found up the first bit. Various re-starters tried to get out of the tracks but failed and the only way was flat out off the restart. Mike Workman failed to move far, Tubby was the only seven to climb it with Claire working hard in the back. Kelly Thomas using Paul’s Troll this week, Nick Farmer and Dean Partington were the only successful eights.
Into the Highwood complex for the two special tests and two sections. The two special tests were short all forwards simple tests which generally suited early numbers before the mud was brought onto the track, or the brave. Worky and Nigel Moss was fastest over these. Onto the sections and Highwood one was on fine form catching a few unwary at the top bend. Highwood two was a real stopper as normal. Nick Farmer was best with a one, but a trip into the trees on the previous section cost him dearly.
Climperwell was next running up the side of a country lane with a restart for all, and a couple of deviations on the way to slow you down. The restart caught all that came rushing up to it and inconveniently parked with the wheels against a tree root! Under the watchful eyes of South West Chairman Paul Parker.
Next were the two fearsome Blue Banks sections and their tricky restarts, which have caused so much heartbreak in the past, costing many an overall win. Who were they going to stop this year? Keith Sanders failed the second costing him overall, Norman Tonkin failed both, possibly due to never seeing them before, but Dean Partington didn’t have that excuse but was struggling selecting second gear and rolled back on each.
The finale was at Station Lane, with many competitors parking up and watching after theyfinished. Tim Whitney caused a few issues in his Imp repaired after the Kyrle, as reverse had broken. Then Neil Robins high revving BMW finally broke its diff, but there wasn’t much of a hold up, despite the length of the section. As time went on it got a little easier until the ruts got deep. Nick out climbed Dave in class one and was the only clear. Bill was once again in super determined mood and climbed out of the top, having been on valve bounce all the way. No class three looked like climbing due to ground clearance issues. Giles and John White were the only fours up, Keith the only five, as was Dave Shaylor in six. Late on Tubby got stuck in the ruts, and despite lots of bouncing which got the car moving again he had stopped for a four which cost him the trial. Next up was his Troll which had been leant to Mark and Mandy Hobbs for the day who had big grins at the finish having competed for the first time in many many years.
Very fittingly Mike Workman won overall with his grandson passengering. Next were the “if only club” competitors of Tubby, Kelly, Giles, Keith and then the extraordinary Bill Bennett’s MG.
| Best Overall | Mike Workman (GVS) | 7 |
| Class Winners | ||
| 1 | David Haizelden (VW Golf GTi) | 11 |
| 2 | Bill Bennett (MG J2) | 32 |
| 3 | Carl Talbot (Ford Anglia) | 27 |
| 4 | Giles Greenslade (VW Beetle) | 9 |
| 5 | Keith Sanders (Reliant Scimitar) | 11 |
| 6 | Dave Shaylor (VW Beetle) | 30 |
| 7 | Tristan White (Imp) | 7 |
| 8 | Kelly Thomas (Troll) | 8 |
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Ian’s Imperious Imp
Local man Ian Moss won a closely fought Cotswold Clouds on special test times, tying on three with Andrew Martin and Bill Bennet Behind came Dave Haizelden, Simon Groves and Bryan Phipps all on four. The class 8’s were well out of things with their tough start line on Highwood 2. To many the moral victor was Kelly Thomas who cleaned all the hills but failed to complete the second special test properly.
Stroud’s long running Cotswold Clouds rejoined the ACTC championship this year and was well and truly over-subscribed. Some of the reserves came to the start but were turned away, notably Harvey Waters who spent the day spectating after his long journey up from Cornwall.
The route followed a well-trodden path, via a nice easy Crawley Wood, through Dursley to Crooked Mustard, or Breakhart as it was once appropriately known. The dry conditions meant there was plenty of grip and it wasn’t until Roland Panes came along at number 10 that the usual big crowd of spectators saw their first failure.
As Andrew Brown said last year the hill is more a triumph of engineering over driving for the nimbler class eights with their high power to weight ratios and ability to chop and change direction at will. For the rest it was very important to get the line right as there is a big step on the inside off the final right-hander. For any except the class eights going that way meant certain failure. Even if you did avoid the step Crooked Mustard still demands a good power to weight ratio and Giles Greenslade was the only Beetle to go clean. In class four both Ian Moss and Bill Rosten mastered the conditions. The question was would the fragile Imps hang together? In class one the amazing Dave Haizelden humbled many “more suitable” cars as he flew up in his VW Golf.
There was plenty of entertainment for the spectators. Harry Butcher was definitely the star of the show, getting near to vertical as he “wall of deathed” around the left hander, losing speed and nearly toppling over as he tried to repeat the performance on the following right hander, oh so nearly stopping before getting it all back together and clearing the section.
Some of the Escorts were spectacular, throwing themselves at the section but with very little control, getting a bad line and failing in the process. Well done to Richard Hayward, Kelly Thomas, Tristan White and Simon Groves for using their brains, driving fast but smoothly, taking a good line and going clean.
A rather dry Axe didn’t present any problems but Nailsworth Ladder certainly did. The lower classes were allowed to blast straight through so the step didn’t present any problems, apart from Stuart Deacon who broke a half-shaft, couldn’t get the end out and ended up having to change the diff, missing a couple of sections in the process.
The yellows and reds had a restart right on the step. Giles was the only big Beetle to get away and two thirds of the sevens and eights failed. Amongst the Falcon contingent Ian Davis was the only one to succeed as neither Geoff Hodge, Keith Oakes or Peter Mountain succeeded. Talking of Peter it was nice to see Mike Young, the builder of Martin Allen’s Racecorp, in the passengers seat.
At Ham Mill the deviation was used again, with a cunningly positioned restart, right on a sharp corner where the ruts dragged the inside wheel up against a bank. This caught out even the experienced Simon Woodhall and Adrian Dommett amongst others.
After a dry wicked Juniper came Freds Folly with another restart to catch the unwary yellows and reds.
Merves Swerve attracted the usual hoard of spectators and with differential start lines and restarts presented a real challenge. Just getting to the restarts was a problem. As ever the start lines were such cars couldn’t really get a run at the hill. If they got away from the start OK non restarters could throw their machinery at the steep bank, leaping in the air and hoping to regain some sort of control on landing. It was all very hairy. Passengers had to hang on for dear life and Sara hit her head very hard in the back Simon Groves Escort.
It was here some of the class 8 challengers fell by the wayside. They had a very tough re-start, positioned right on the bank and Paul Bartleman and Ian Davis lost their clean sheet. Eric Wall may have failed Nailsworth Ladder but here he was master of intelligent positioning. Stopping his Mk1 Dellow well over to the left, minimising the rise up the bank and pulling away without any wheel spin.
The Highwood complex lay just up the road. There were two sections and two special tests and this is where the trial would be decided. The fearsome Highwood Two was where it all happened. All but one competitor lost their clean sheet. Only Kelly Thomas came out of the top to go into the overall lead of the trial. Simon Woodall was the only car to come close, dropping one in his buggy now repaired after its Clee Hills engine problems., with his Clee Hills enging problems repaired.
Kellys lead was to be short lived as tragedy befell her on the second special test where she stalled, couldn’t restart and had to be pushed over the line, incurring a penalty of six marks and costing her overall victory. This put Ian Moss, Andrew Martin and Bill Bennet into a joint lead, all on three marks with Dave Haizelden, Simon Groves and Bryan Phipps just behind on four. It ended this way as they all cleaned an easy Climperwell and the tricky Bulls Bank restarts. It all came down to special tests times and victory went to Ian by less than a second. Kelly’s problems pushed her down into 3rd place in class three. Class honours going to Simon Groves, making a hat trick of ACTC wins for the hard charging Ely driver.
| Overall Winner | Ian Moss (Imp) | 3 |
| Best Stroud | Andrew Martin (Dutton Melos) | 3 |
| Class Winners | ||
| 1 | Dave Haizelden (VW Gold GTi) | 4 |
| 2 | Bill Bennett (MG J2) | 3 |
| 3 | Simon Groves (Escort) | 4 |
| 4 | Bill Rosten (Imp) | 16 |
| 5 | Stuart Roach (HRG) | 12 |
| 6 | Giles Greenslade (VW Beetle) | 11 |
| 7 | Bryan Phipps (Marlin) | 4 |
| 8 | Adrian Marfell (Buggy) | 7 |
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Classical Gas 