ANCC ROUND 1

As the Formula 1 teams were all flying their teams round the
other side of the World to Australia for the opening Grand Prix
of the season. A little closer to home the Off road Racing
season kicked off with the first Comp of NORC's calendar and
the first round of the ANCC Off Road Championship, sponsored
by DLS.

Despite an absence of any pit lane babes by the time we'd
arrived the parking/pits area was already chock-a-block.
This was the first time out for the racer since the Hillrally back
in October. A winter re-spray ensured much leg pulling about
how long the shiny new paint would last.
Lots of people had been busy over the winter break with the
appearance of lots of sparkling racers.
Adie Moorhouse was out for the first time in his new (yellow)
racer, no doubt out to beat Brother Greg in his freshly painted
(yellow) ex-Ian Bartram motor. Dave Cookson was trying out
his new (& expensive) Motordrive seats, Size FB... whatever
that means? Dave and navigator Johnny were looking a little
bleary eyed due to a 2.30am finish getting the motor ready.
Glen McKeith had left his Bowler Wildcat at home and was out
in his freshly built 2^nd car (can't be bad). An ARC spec 90 Tdi
with an err... interesting paint job, opaque blue was how I
heard it best described.

We were even joined by the Round Brothers from Huddersfield        i
fresh from their attempt at the Paris-Dakar in their fabulous (if
a little battle scarred) Bowler Wildcat 200.

We were told we were going for ten runs, all to count,
but we all knew this was probably a tad optimistic, due to the
60+ entries, and Tong's narrow tracks ensure that when there
is a problem proceedings always have to be halted.

And... we're off. First run, no problems other than try to work         i
out which way the course went.( not walked it ya see)

Second run ok apart from right at the end there's a motor
blocking the finish which meant a tight scramble between the
trees to get to the finish.

Just time to get one more run in before lunch. As we're giving

it all along the fastest part of the course we notice Tim Morgan

has had "an off" down a steep slope into the trees. He               i

managed to extricate himself and managed to carry on after

removing a cracked screen.

Once again we came round the final bend to find the narrow

track to the finish is blocked. This time by Glen Thompson with

a bust steering-box and consequently no steering. Another

time consuming detour into the vegetation to get to the finish.

Lunch time and no problems to report so fed and watered we
head back off to the start to join the queue for our next run.
As we wait for the course to re-open word starts to fitter back
that we're waiting for the recovery of a vehicle. As time passes
it word spreads that the incident is a serious one. The sight of
two Fire Tenders entering the site confirms everyone's
suspicions.

Sean Wilkinson driving his smart leaf-sprung special had gone
off, rolling his vehicle hard enough to bend the roll cage. Sean

managed to free himself but his trapped passenger required
the services of the Fire crews cutting gear to cut away the
cage to enable them to recover him safely from the wrecked
motor.

Casualty's and dead motors cleared and we're off again, but a
notice on the start line tells us the 10 runs have been cut to 5.

Run 4 and manage to squeezeJohn Carroll into the passenger
seat for a run round. Could've done with a set of Dave's size
FB seats to accommodate Johns "comfortable proportions"
Once again no problems until we get to the final corner. Come
round the bend and slide up to a tree too big to argue with.
Select reverse, then forward... right up to the tree again, try
again, same thing happens...and again... this time reverse
further away from the tree and out of the ruts that'd held us
captive, and on to the finish. Plenty time wasted, but our time
is no slower than lap before, ah well, if only...

Dave Cookson had a similar problem with the offending tree.
Same thing, he comes round the final bend, slides to a halt
just short of the tree. "Pheww, that was close" thinks our
Dave,

Selects reverse and BANG. Greg Moorhouse is coming round
the final bend and is prevented from hitting the tree himself by
Dave's back end. Result, one badly bent cross-member and
back panel for Dave.

Final lap and half way round just about to start crawling over
the motor in front and the damn thing coughs and dies. Coast
to a halt, press the starter and she fires up first time "you
flipping thing" (or words similar!) away we go and on to the
finish without further incident. (Back home, fault traced to a
dodgy fuel pump)
A good day out and nice to be back in the saddle.

End up with tenth overall and a pot for Third in class... which
was nice, and not bad to say I thought I never really got
going.

Sean Wilkinson's passenger Jay suffered damaged vertebrae
and will be out of action for some time but given time should
make a full recovery.

On behalf of Pennine I would like wish Jay a speedy recovery
and hope to see Sean racing again soon.
Luckily serious incidents in our form of motorsport are
extremely rare, which when you consider the speeds and the
type of ground we're racing on i.e. forests, quarry's etc, could
be said to be a small wonder.

Accidents like this serve to highlight the importance of roll-
cage construction, seat belts and seats.
The next time the scrutineer points out some "trivial item like
your belts looking a little frayed, remember, they could save
your life.

Kev

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