Ding Quarry 1995

Saturday, another drive down the A1 to our second home, the "Chaloner's".
Over the past 12 years they've put up with the Urwin family invading their home nearly every month; thanks also to anybody else who have put up with us.

Quick cup of tea then along to Russell's to watch Michael put his V8 back
together. "Watch where you stand," was my greeting, an absent bung from the oil
pump was stopping Russell's floor from going rusty with about two litres of oil. Michael scratching his head wondering why the oil warning light would not go out.

Back to base for a relaxing evening and the appointment of an unofficial
scrutineering secretary — Fiona got the job unopposed.

Sunday, slow drive up the track with stops to let the fell racers past. Parked up
to watch Michael playing the Pied Piper, scrutineering board in hand followed by
half a dozen Landrovers. Spot chosen we went into action, drive up that hill and put your handbrake on, yes, and take your foot off the brake, a spring at each corner, towing attachments and rope. All going well until we checked the steering. Half the motors had lose or worn trackrod ends due to be changed or corrected on site. Why don't you get the missus or girlfriend to give it a waggle the day beforehand? . . . the steering!!! Everybody passed in the end.

Rest of the day spent as a lazy spectator — six sections before lunch then off
again in the afternoon. Kept coming across Michael with his camera saying: "I've
got to use this film today." He'll never get 'Piccy of the Year', it was pointed
everywhere but at the Landrovers. He was nowhere to be seen in the afternoon when Glen was teaching everybody how not to do a Team Recovery — Nice one Glen; how are the nerves? It showed what can happen if the rope snaps. Good job they had not used a shackle.

Off we went to find Claire playing with the rest of the gang, as usual they were
all extremely dirty. Said our goodbyes and set off on another A1 pilgrimage home.
We're going to ask for the most travelled Pennine Member's Award.

Peter Urwin

I had been worrying about that long steep drop into the quarry (section 6), so
we walked the section. I said to Penny, "I think we will have 12 points here and not
drive the section". Penny said: "We are going down there, if you don't do this section
I will not navigate for the rest of the day." So I lined up behind Graham's motor.
Penny said: "Brent, get behind Keith so he cannot back off." So there was no turning back! We were third to go on the section and only got halfway round and nearly fell over. It did not seem so bad after all. After lunch we came to a section with a difficult crossing from one ridge to another. One Series I got stuck between the ridges so Glen Thompson had to try and pull it out. Unfortunately the rope snapped and Glen shot off the top of a large banking like a rocket! The clerk of the course threatened to close the section but Brent and I teamed up for a double pull on the dead motor but it still would not come out. Someone said to Brent: "Drag him down there out of the way". So he did! Brent tried turning left at the bottom and up the other banking,
I was behind him on a short rope and got showered in mud, I had to lower my head
to avoid it! I went to line up for the next section. Penny said; "There is mud on my
seat" so I blamed Brent!

On the next section Penny said; "Turn left at the stick on the ridge."
I said it looks a bit difficult. We nearly made it but the front of the motor slid
to the right and we rolled over into the hole (see photograph?). I said to Penny: "Are you all right?" "Yes" she said and got out of the motor. Graham asked if I was getting out, I said "No" as I could not smell any petrol, but something was spraying my head!
It was a can of COKE we had flattened. Oil started dripping out of the steering box.

The good recovery team pulled me on my side, then on to my wheels. The motor
took ages to fire up and when it did there were clouds of smoke! Thanks to all the
people who helped to recover me!

Keith Normanton

Ding Quarry CCV

With my regular chauffeur Andy at a Northern rescue training day and Ivor
disposed, I hitched a lift to Ding with Keith Normanton.

I left my car at Keith's house and off we went, canvass top flapping in the wind
as we climbed over Blackstone Edge, but the heater was great and I never felt cold
at all.

We arrived to find a few people already there and I began signing on while Keith got his motor to scrutineering ready to enter the CCV. Not all the trial had been set out due to Chairman Philip breaking his Rangey gearbox whilst towing the horsebox there on the Saturday. He had to go and find a replacement towing vehicle and get the RAC to take the Rangey to lan Bartram's Landrover hospital at Accrington.

Gareth Almond and family meanwhile thought that the event had been changed,
as there was no-one on site so they went home. Another couple of helpers blew their engine on the way there — Colin and Kathryn Hancock — so that was five less helpers than usual. In the end, Philip and Andy Bury had to set up on their own and do what they could in the torrential rain and high winds. As signing on progressed, Lee Brindle arrived in a fluster saying that he had broken down in his brand new County TDi, with the trailer on, just before the site. He'd abandoned the County and driven his comp motor up to the site, decided to let the AA recover the lot at the end of the day. He also wanted to pay with 1994 vouchers which had expired. I had to explain to him that the vouchers had to be redeemed in the year in which they were won otherwise everyone would be saving them up for years and cashing them in for new Rangeys, Discoveries, etc. At this remark, Duncan Smith (he of beard, solemn face and beige 80) fell about laughing — never seen him do that before!

Another casualty was John Brindle who had had two punctures on the motorway
and had to go and look for a trailer. He never did arrive at the event. Perhaps he's
still on the M62.

Eventually 21 members signed on and the trial began. Several motors were seen
to be repaired. Keith Tidswell bent a spring and Rob Carter had fuel problems. Peter

England broke his dumb irons, so retired and went marshalling instead. The
Cumberland brothers did about four sections in their Rangey and then retired. Time passed and I did a lot of membership renewals and learned the intricacies of Michael Chaloner's stainless steel whilst waiting to do the results.

During this time I heard that Keith was upside down in the gully. Thoughts of
my lift home began to fade into the distance. However, a little while later he appeared with a slightly modified motor, i.e. broken track rod and a large gap at the passenger side door. Navigator Penny took the blame for the incident as she'd told him to go the wrong way.

While I got the results together, the sticks were being brought in very rapidly.
This was due to a new system devised by Andy Bury. He took six names from the
signing on sheet and read them out at drivers' briefing. This will be a regular occurance so watch out all you competitors who sneak off home and leave it to everyone else.

After prize-giving it was pile all my stuff into Keith's motor and off we went. Thanks to all who helped in any way to make it a good day's sport and a special thanks to Keith for my safe and draughty journey home.

Latest news on Phil's Rangey — It was the clutch and not the gearbox so he's
breathing a sigh of relief at not having to pay £2,000 for a new gearbox.

Joy Holland

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