EASTER IN THE WOODS

The chance of returning to Trentham Gardens, the scene of the 1988 and
1990 Nationals, was too much for Team Turtle and some of its groupies.
It meant that we missed the Sowerby Trial but the lure of all those acres
of excellent trialling ground within the woods was too much. We arrived
mid-afternoon on Good Friday, after a very steady run over the moors, to
be greeted by a very busy and wet caravanning area. Peter. Fiona and Clare
Urwin were already pitched on some high ground with enough room to take
our two units and the President's party as well.

No sooner were we on the site when the kids disappeared to the fairground

and all its attractions. They seemed to spend an awful lot of time down there
throughout the weekend.

Friday evening saw round one of who can empty a bottle quickest. I won!
Saturday was RTV. Lynne had entered and James was to be her navigator
having just passed his 14th birthday.

Unfortunately the event which was advertised as "back to the woods" but
actually took place in the quarry and moorland area near to the M6. The
organising clubs were not allowed to use the woods and would have been
charged for any trees that were damaged. Lynne said she had a good day
and barring a couple of mistakes would have been in line for a pot.

I had to make a return journey home on Saturday afternoon to pick up my
driving licence just in case Steve's motor passed scrutineering and we could
play in the trial on Sunday. I had taken my club card and RAC licence but
I had forgotten my driving licence — silly me!
Saturday evening was a jolly affair. Steve's motor had passed scrutineering
so a celebration was in order and the Urwins put on a cheese and tit-bits
spread whilst gluttonous amounts of alcohol were consumed.

Sunday morning came round very quickly as a 9 o'clock start time was called
for. Six groups of motors set out for the various starting points. Ours was
up where Graham Miles was victorious in the Nationals winch recovery. No
one in our team was looking forward to getting to the end bit of the section
as it was a steep drop with a nasty dip on the near side. Peter was my passenger
and deemed it necessary to have his full harness on. Wise move he thought
— Wrong!

On reaching the drop the nearside wheels drop into the dip and up on to two
wheels we go. It won't go over thinks I. Wrong — over she goes with a
resounding crash.

When we are back on four wheels Peter announces that I had head-butted
him — he gains a lump and a headache whilst I felt nothing — no sense feeling.

Steve started wittering about his wing — don't know why — his windscreen
frame is in far worse condition than the wing.

The day turned out to be a mixture of some excellent sections and some very
tight and silly. Looping out and going over your own tracks is very foreign
to us and seemed to cause more arguments and disagreements than enough.
How the rules differ between clubs.

The 12 sections were completed by 2.30 and we were back in the caravan
watching the Grand Prix before 3 o'clock.

The results were posted and on inspection showed I was second in class on
equal points with the 1st place man; same clears but less 1's. Now if the
bit of rubber door trim, which stuck out from the bottom of the passenger
door, had not stroked the 6 stick on a section I could have been first — never
mind.

Sunday evening and the serious part of the weekend undertaken — filling
in the quiz. Unfortunately we did not know many correct answers so we went
for the alternative answers — we came last.

There was a great deal of thought, by all party members, put into the answers
— which are printed elsewhere.

Monday was sunny and was spent watching the comp. Quite a few motors
laid down as deep ruts were formed on the bends.

John Firth went like a rocket and left everyone in his wake — including the
coilers — how does he do it.

Steve and Lynne departed at tea-time whilst the few lucky ones, who were
on holiday until Wednesday, were treated to a thunderstorm. Tuesday morning
saw Peter and Fiona off early on their long journey back to the North-East.
Myself and the kids followed soon after — thanks to the fat boys for towing
my caravan on to some solid ground, leaving Michael with a family still giving
it big zzzzzz's.

It seems that Easter '93 will have been the last 4wd event at Trentham as
they are going more on to the horsey side of sport with cross-country events.

ROB

FOXHILLS MAY DAY WEEKEND WITH LINCS.

A very good weekend with plenty of entries in the R.T.V. and Trial.

I arrived on the Friday night to discover I'd lost a tent pole since it was last
used — nothing to do but beg a space in a caravan! I'd got everything including
the kitchen sink and enough food to feed an army — needless to say I brought
most of it home as the standard of catering there was excellent.

Saturday morning saw a smart Ainsworth arrive to passenger me complete
with his trailer and workshop on wheels (A new tent pole was manufactured
out of copper piping that evening so I had no excuse not to use the tent and
try to hold it down /up with rocks as the ground there is impossible to get
a tent peg into. Thanks Stuart). My motor passed scrutineering after having
a pinchbolt tightened and the tyres pumped up to 221b pressure. After signing -
on breakfast was a must before a lovely sunny day's R.T.V. trialling.

It was gloriously sunny and just enough breeze to make it pleasant. Sections
were long and one committee member of Lines said that it was 4 1/2 miles
of walking if you walked the sections both ways! It really was necessary to
have a navigator. There were two groups of about 24 motors in each and
about six travelling marshals with each group. The 80 behaved very well
and I felt very much better about entering the C.C.V. after gaining a second
in Class 1.

Saturday night saw no point-to-point due to a lack of entries and so a large
party was held round the barbeque of Dave Foster.

Stuart got his motor through scrutineering and so I had no excuse to back
out. I had to enter for practice for the expert/novice/Ladies Trial at Mount
Tabor and to recover from the roll in February when I went 180° in my Fiesta
(not recommended without a crash helmet as I had a 4-day headache
afterwards).

The sections were good but extremely long so again a navigator was required
but I've sacked Stuart as 10 of my 65 points were due to his bad memory.
He was very good about the lie down I made his motor have on section 3
— he said it gave him a different perspective on his motor!

After the trial ended I entertained Gary Docherty to a war dance when I
dropped the spare wheel I was endeavouring to put on the bonnet of the 80.
The St. John Ambulance people bandaged me up and it did not stop me eating
an excellent tea before supervising others (thanks to Dave Foster's daughter
and Stuart) packing and loading me up to go home. (The idea of marshalling
the comp night and day runs just didn't compare to a hot bath and my own bed).

Thanks to Lines for a good event — pity there were not more Pennine members

there — you missed a good "do" and participating in helping to drink the
beer tent dry!

SARAH
P.S. — Thanks to Stuart for his navigation, repairs and motor!

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