SCOUT MOOR

Well Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you bogglers.
Although by the time this gets in Bottom Box it will probably be
Easter.

So it's now two days after Boxing Day and I have finally stopped
dashing around like a blue based insect, so I will try and recall what
happened on the 9th.

I don't remember much of the preparation, all I do remember is
I finally acquired myself some brand new "boy racer" wheels for the
old girl, oh yes, and I fitted two, mind you two, brand new front
springs and shock absorbers.

Anyway as I recall most of the snow which fell on Saturday had
dispersed by Sunday morning, well in Whalley it had, and I burbled my
way through the village to meet 1 Amp. I say burbled, but a friend of mine

who was up a ladder, refitting a banner across the main road,
said that I nearly shook him to the ground as I roared along.

Anyway 1 Amp was up and about as usual and all we had to do
was hitch up the A-frame.

"Back it up into the garage," he whispered. BUDELUM, BUDELUM.
"All right, all right, you'll wake up the whole bloody street", he muffled
Huh, just cos he has a headache, he thinks everyone else has.
So we burbled round to the cop shop complete with big hairy coats,
woolly glubs, and silly woolly hats to meet Squirrel and Pound Puppy.
They arrived in good time.
"Where's Pete?" enquired Squirrel.

"Oh, he's not coming, he said he wasn't going to stand on top of a hill
covered in snow all day for anyone", I replied.
"What", retorted Squirrel, "he was probably running about in shorts and
a tee-shirt yesterday playing football".

"No he wasn't" I consoled him, "he's pulled a hamstring or something,
so he's grounded".

Thing is really he's getting too old for that silly game, but he won't
give up. Anyway, he wasn't coming, so off we went to Scout Moor.

As we climbed our way out of Accrington, the snow became thicker
and thicker, and by the time we hit Turn village we were nearly down
to snow ploughs. Anyway we unhooked the motors and fought our way
up to the site.

When we got to the top it was virtually blizzard conditions. 1 Amp
and myself parked the old bus behind a hut and sat there waiting for
someone, anyone to arrive in conditions that one could only describe as
something out of Dr Zhivago. "I'm going to tape a roof on" said 1 Amp.
"Oh yeh"

"Come on, give us a lift".
"Yeh"

Apparently he had some of that foil sheeting and some all singing danc-
ing tape. Well we tried, but after about ten minutes of wrestling with
this damn thing a decision was made.
"B—-ks to it, let's go back to your motor".
"Yeh"

By this time Squirrel and PP had arrived and parked squarely in front
of us complete with a nice hot flask of coffee.
1 Amp enquired, "I'll give you a quid for a cup of coffee".
"No"
"I'll give vou a fiver" he pleaded.

“I’ll think about it”

“Up Yours!”

Anyway they compromised and gave us a hold of a warm cup for
Free. Gradually more bodies arrived. It was too cold for a beer, so we
sat where we were. Eventually human beings started to arrive and it
was suggested that we all go out and set a section each if the day was
going to happen. So in the True Pennine spirit we all said "Sod off.
Eventually this is what we did though, and in no time at all we had
about ten sections set, so off we went.

Lea was supposed to be sitting in with me, but at this point I
hadn't seen her. Huh, I thought, chickened out, eh? Just then I espied
her, huddled up to her beloved, complete with waterproofs, silly hat,
goosebumps and dithering knees.
"Are you playing?" I enquired.
"Y-y-y-y-yes".
"Come on then".

So off we went, PP with Squirrel, Lea with me and an increasingly
popular duo, 1 Amp and Will.

I wish I could remember all of the sections, but I can't. I know
there was a lot of snowball fighting and even some sledging. One of
the sections I have to remember is the one somewhere in the middle.
I set off and seemed to be doing alright until about the five or six stick
The old girl just slid into the stick."Ah well, it's a fun day, you have
a go, just for the fun" I said to Lea. So off she went, and with expert
guidance and second time experience she drove a clear. Course I took
the usual flak from the gang.
"That's it Lea, show him how to do it!"
"Shows what that motor can do with a proper driver in it" etc etc.

Anyway every credit Lea, don't forget I'm signing you on for the
expert/novice next year, or this year as it probably is now.

So on we went. The only other section I can recall was the one
we set. We were all there waiting for the marshal to arrive, so another
snowball fight started. Just then. Squirrel set off. I lobbed a snowball
aimlessly in his direction. Bingo! Right in the eye. - B-—D" he snarled.

I said "Come on Lea, let's get going before that rabble have chance to
re-group".

We set off, bear in mind this is the one we set, and promptly I squared
myself up to the ten stick. Ah well, I drove out through the section,
because it was the only way to go.

Unknown to me though, this failure had foiled the gang's ambush
but they did come flying down the hill  like a pack of Apaches. Snowballs

hit us from all directions. Only one way out. Foot Down. WOOM!!

Well, that was that. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and the best

was made out of a bad day.

I don't think I can thank anyone in particular because everyone
contributed to making it a good day's fun and sport.

My thanks of course to the landowner and congratulations to all
the winners, whoever they were, and once again, all the best to every-
one for the New Year.

See you at the do, or if it's too late, didn't we have a good do.
 

See you all soon

Clive Cocks

TONG 90

Dear Mr Depledge,

I was sorry to read in Bottom Box No 127 that there was a great lack
of stories and photos. So, 1 have put pen to paper to tell the other
Pennine lads and lasses of our first competitive event at Tong '90.

We first wanted to "christen" the Landy at the Trial at Mount
Tabor, so we rushed around to get the motor to scrutineering standard'
The day arrived, and I must point out that neither of us had done any
off-roading whatsoever. We arrived at Tabor in time for the kick-off. I
looked at the set out sections. Alison (my Navigator) looked at the
sections, we looked at each other. "Sod this" said I, as 1 hid under the
Landy, the bottle completely gone.

After Tabor, I recovered my pride, recovered my navigator, and
announced to all and everybody that Alison and I would be taking old
first off-roading in the R.T.V. at Tong. (Amazing what you can do
after six cans of Carlsberg!)

The day arrived, the Landy broke down. My mechanic rushed
round and dived into the murky engine bay, and after much wailing,
swearing and breaking of wind (the morning after much curry the night

before) the fault was pinpointed to a crack in the rotor arm.

Nobody has ever seen a 25 year old 2 1/4 rattle bucket shift as
that motor did to Tong. I was sure that Scrutin' would be over, but
when I arrived at the field there was Graham's happy looking face.
What a relief, I've made it! With scrutin' over, and with my head full
of helpful suggestions on the motor (Thanks Graham) I paid my dosh
got me card, tanked up with gas from Alison's back-up motor, we
were ready!!

Although we cannot remember all the sections, I shall comment
about the ones that bring back the good memories. We started on
section three, with the river at the bottom. "Here we go" I said, and
tlien went down the steep hill screaming all the way into the river (mi
not the motor). We clambered out the other side shaken, bruised and
swearing, when a marshal told me we had missed a 'gate' totally during
my uncontrolled descent. "You've got a 10, and keep your feet away
from your brakes." (This was a common fault during the R.T.V. I
kept braking going downhill and also slipping the clutch too much.)
After a couple more sections my confidence built up, and a lot of
Pennine members gave us a lot of advice and help, especially Richard
Pilling.

One section was through some woods and was quite flat. "Easy
this one" I said to Alison. We were chugging around the section in
bottom box second when Alison said "Watch that tree, - Will you
watch that tree!" "What bloody tree" I said as 1 hit it. Navigator
10 points, driver 'Hee-Haw!'

Another section started with a very steep descent. I looked down
the hill. The hill looked up at me. "Bloody hell, 1 don't have to go
down there, do I?" said I. "What are you? A man or a Suzuki owner'
came the reply. It was alright for Alison, she wasn't driving! Determi-
nation came flooding back as I cranked the engine, selected gear, and
went crashing down the hill straight to the bottom and stalled. Some-
one had left the handbrake on, hadn't they, and what praise did he
get? "You silly sod" came from the deep recess of the footwell, when
I saw two feet sticking out. (No, we had our seatbelts on, honest!)

By the time the last section arrived, we were both muddy,
exhausted and yet thrilled by the event. I went around this section,
glad it was the last, but yet sad that the day was nearly over, and, lo
and behold, a 'clear', my first one of the day! We had come close to
it before, but it ended the trial off superbly.

After the points were added up, we had got 4^th in class C. We were both

chuffed, the lads and lasses of the supporters, club were chuffed. All in

all a brilliant days sport, and one that I will certainly continue.

Mount Tabor, I will look upon you as a walk in the park!!!  (Ha Ha)

Thanks must go to Alison for putting up with my driving, John
Terry, my mechanic, who got us to Tong, the Supporters Club, Land-
owner, Marshals, people who set the sections up, and the people who
gave advice and help (nearly all Pennine L.R.C.)

If you are thinking of having a go in an R.T.V. - Go on! You
won't be disappointed.

P.S. Sorry if this letter is too long, all I wanted to say is my own
accounts and feelings we had up to and during this trial.
Thank you, and we'll see you around.

Steve Brown 155 and Alison Taylor 156

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