HAGGATE 1

The event started early in the week, trying to sort out somebody to
pick up the trailer and bring it to Haggate as my motor was not up to
pulling the 2 tonnes from and back to Outlane, Keith Tidswell
volunteered (thanks Keith).

Saturday morning soon came along, I arrived at about 10am and
Keith arrived shortly after, I also had another helper Martin from
work, he has just acquired a Series 1 with a V6 ford engine.
We set to and sorted the trailer and went off to the first section. We
thought we'd try something a little different this weekend if we
could, we soon found something different, deep water, 1 of the
pools was deeper than expected, (once I had broken the ice) as I
had gone straight in hoping to turn I ended up with me being stuck
with the water rising rapidly till it was lapping round the bottom of
the seat and the front of my bonnet being out of site. Scott my son
was by now standing on his seat looking decidedly worried. Anyway
I was soon pulled out after Keith and Martin had finished laughing.
The day went on nicely and the Sun was shining quite unusual for
up here at this time of the year. Shortly after Dave McGivern with
Carol turned up and set 3 section out for us THANKS DAVE and
Carol, by the end of the day we had 10 section between us, so I
needed to get a good start for the morning to set out more sections.
I got a reasonable start but it was quite frosty and the ground was
hard, this had changed the sections from the morning before. I
ended up knocking 3 more sections in as the day was going on, and
following a good mornings trial it would have been a shame to spoil
it, by rushing around trying to fit them ail in and pack up before
dark. It worked out quite well as everybody finished and we packed
up just as it was going dark. Even with a slight hiccup with Steve
Vose rolling and ending up perched on a rock.

John Nelson

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
HAGGATE 2

I was hoping for an uneventful day for the Haggate trial, but it wasn't to be.

Firstly, Ivor was having problems with the water pump on his Rangey when
he came to pick me up. Anyway ,we managed to get there without much
trouble putting the signs out as we went.

On arrival, I was unable to open the back door of the trailer despite putting
the correct number into the lock. Hovever help was soon at hand in the form
of the "HEAVY GANG",Stuart and Brian in a Steve Parker 'Sandrover" courtesy car (free ad for you there Steve!) It seems Stuarts car was out of action & at Steve's for repair.

They soon had the door open for me and I then found the next problem,we
had a mouse in the trailer. It had chewed up some old fish & chip papers
which someone had left in there. I turned the trailer inside out and failed to
find it, even though I could here it squeaking. Please set a trap before the
next event Mark!

it was soon time to sign the 17 competitors on. John Nelson was the Clerk of
the course and got the event under way. The weather was fabulous for
January, warm sunshine, no wind or rain, realty spring like.

I decided to go and spectate after the dinner break and was just in time to
see Stephen Vose do a one & a half times roll-over, landing across a targe
flat rock, he had to be jacked out and this delayed the section for a short
white. Roll - over sticker for you Stephen!.

They soon got the result's together, the sticks came in & John did the presenta-
tions.Andrew Darwent got his third novice trophy, you’re in with the big boys
now Andrew!

Everyone said it had been a cracking day.

Ivor & I set off to pay the landowner before we went home & it was then it
happened. The Rangey decided to pack up. lt seems that the water pump
was dodgy, spraying the engine bay with water, causing the engine to
die. Out with the WD40 & off we went for another 300 yards or so. It kept on
doing this until there was no water left & the oil pressure went."! don't think
this Is going to get us home" said Ivor.'Tm sure its not" i replied. In between
all this chaos, a passing motorist stopped to ask us whether we had seen a
black poodle! It was getting more ridiculous by the minute.

We eventually free-wheeled downhill & landed up outside a garage & phone
box in Todmorden.( Not a good place to break down, Bandit
country! ED)

Ivor started to ring round for recovery to Pontefract, but wondered how I was
going to get home to Mirfield. I rang my son who rang his sister Gillian, who
rang me back in the phone box & arranged to pick me up.

Ivor & I then had an hour's very cold wait for help to arrive. Fortunately, the
recovery truck & Gillian both arrived at the same time and we all set off for
home.

Unfortunately my daughter drives so fast that i became travel sick & by the
time I got home all I could do was stagger on to the settee & lie down for an
hour & a half!

Pleased to report that I'm back to normal & I hope Ivor is mobile again.

Many thanks to the landowner, to Clerk of Course, John & all his Helpers
and not forgetting the marshals.

It was a great day... ..honest!

Joy

HAGGATE 3

It was a cold Sunday morning, we'd had no problems until we got to jt

before the first cattle-grid, the back end of my motor slid on some ice.

Penny to press the yellow knob down (I can't reach when strapped in)

would have no more dodgy moments.  

We got through scrutineering OK where Sue warmed his hands on

the top of the radiator. After signing on we took off the door tops,

removed the windscreen and emptied out all the loose bits.

We had a good turn out which makes a nice change, even enough

to make two groups.  

We raced off to our first section. Dave Rogers went first, failing to

get round a right hand gate due to the frosty weather. It was then

our turn,we ended up doing exactly the same thing.The stars in our

group (Nigel, Colin & Robert) managed to get halfway round the

section.  

On the next section we were first on. Down into a hole ,to the right,

then up a slope into a pond where the frosty ground stopped us

short. Wanting to get my money's worth I backed up and had

another go at it. I managed to get my front wheels out of the pond

but was going no further. A Lightweight in our group submerged the

back end of his motor in the pond on this section.  

The next section had a large stone in it, just waiting to squash our

exhaust and chassis. Robert had a word with a Marshall who

agreed to widen a gate, making it driveable for us with road motors.

After all that i still nearly cocked it up but Penny got us back on

track, round a steep side- ways slope for a clear.  

Next one up had a choice of routes at the end of a large ridge. Drive

off the end or turn right down some steep icy ruts. We ended up

sliding off the large ridge but managed to stop before rolling We 're

trying to go a full year without rolling.  

Next section we got stuck on a steep bank, with the motor refusing

to back off so it was down to our new friend in the Lightweight to

pull us clear of the section. Thankyou.  

After dinner we didn't have much luck , with our standard engine

unable to get us up the steep icy banks.  

On our last section we were going well until we turned left round the

side of a mound. We were leant right over to my side but Penny

said "keep it going, we're stilt moving" we eventually found traction

and continued on to the end where Ivor said "he'd never seen a

motor go so slow with the boot down"  

Thanks to John Nelson & Keith Tidswel! for setting out such good

section's, the Marshals, Sue for scrutineering, Joy and the

Landowner

Keith Normanton 108

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