Llangollen 2000

Friday morning and Robert turned up at 09.30; I'd still not finished
loading up my motor. Robert had made me a list of the all the roads I
had to look out for as I was going to be lead driver this year. He also
told me not to slow him down on the hills as he was towing his new
SAT's in his trailer. 1 was driving in some new boots with brass plates
on the soles and steel heels; they were great to drive in.

We'd no problems with the route this year. After waiting for Robert by

the gate we went to find Nigel, Julie, Colin and Jordan already setting

up camp.

We pitched camp in the same place as last year, if anyone wanted to set

up camp near to us we told them there was likely to be noise until

about 4am, however they were quite welcome to join us.

That night we had a good light show in the sky and June over did it

again on the drink.

Saturday morning we got scrutinised, then headed off to set out some

sections.

My motor stalled in the bottom of a gully and refused to start. Ryan got

a driver to try and pull me backwards, but he just sprayed me with

slate. Mark Barnes put another rope on rolled on its wheels and fired

up. Thanks lads.

I was not too sure whether to enter the trial because my motor was not
running too well going down hills, but in the end I paid my money to
play.

On one section I got stuck lining my motor up for the 12 stick. My
motor stalled in the bottom, I fired it up just to get my moneys worth.
In the process I ran over a large lump whipping the steering wheel out
of my hand causing me/us to ram into a large lump of sharp slate with
my front tyre and wing. BIG OUCH!

On another section I missed a gate but kept on going and found a pond
that was deeper in the middle than I thought, but I managed to keep
going.

I'd been eating 'Iced Gems' biscuits between sections. After walking a
section I sat on one-point up... Ouch I then went and cocked up the
section. Col in and Jordan got to the end of this section but Col in gave
his motor some boot, snapping the front prop-shaft on the splines.
Colin did the next section in two-wheel drive OK, while Andy Bury got
caught out on a mound.

Later on in the day Andy drove a section that had been badly set out
and ended up having to be lowered down a steep bank on the end of a
rope attached to Dave Rogers motor.

Dave and Phil's section in the pond caused me some grief, whipping
the steering wheel out of my hands twice, ouch! but at least I managed
to clear it. Unlike Mark Barnes whose motor died in the pond.

After tea we were asked to turn round a section or set out a fresh
section. Robert and I drove to the top of the site where Andrew and
Mark were just finishing setting out a section. We had the honour of
trying it and did OK. We drove down to watch Steve, Dave and Brian
all trying to roll their motors.

We then went to try and drive Niles section. We did the first part OK
but then while trying to drive up a small bank my motor began to lean,
I panicked and put my boot to the floor. I thought I was over, Robert
said I'd was up on two wheels for ages.

That night the first drink went very well. While walking over to the
campfire with my torch and a pocket full of Jammy Wagon Wheels, I
tripped over a guy rope. I hit the ground hard, my torch fell in bits but
was still working, making it easy for me to find all the bits. The Wagon
Wheels had all broken in my pocket but they were still eatable. I told

the gang the story about the sitting on the Iced Gem biscuit... they all

laughed. (1 bet they did)

Nigel had lent Jordan and Ryan his umbrella but they had left it
unattended leaving it to blow onto the fire, melting one side of it.
Dave Rogers and Steve Wilkinson cooked the baked potatoes in a wire
basket. To retrieve the basket from the fire they used a long wire hook.
Unfortunately Ashley Nelson got hold of the wire hook and began
branding his name into some wood.

Sunday morning and the trial was to start an hour earlier so we could
have 14/15 sections. I loaded up my motor with a bottle of pop and a
big packet of biscuits and an umbrella, We had 5 motors in our group
with Mark Crossley as our Marshal

Nigel went first on the section and got halfway round. Colin got a little
bit further, then it was my turn. 1 managed to get a 'one'. Penny would
have been proud of me.

After that thing went down hill. I had a dodgy moment driving down a
slippery bank, ending up having to drive the wrong side of the gate at
the bottom. We went to do Andrew and Mark's section where it had
just started raining. Steve and Ryan got one point but the rest were
getting stuck on some wet heather up a steep bank. I found first gear
was best for my motor, with some of the sections having very steep ups
and downs. The wet heather was catching out most of the V8's.

On one section I was to go up a very slight hill before turning between
two sandy mounds. I got as far as 9. Nigel only managed a 10 "Ouch"
Colin did best nearly clearing the section. Colin had borrowed a front
prop off Andy Bury but this came apart at least 4 times on Sunday.

On another section I "tinned out" and took an 11. Robert went down
the steep bank. At the bottom his steering wheel was whipped out of
his hands. Nigel and Colin used a four-wheel steering technique to get
clears down the bank.

We had decided to continue through dinner so we could finish sooner. I
was eating a Twix between sections. Julie asked if she asked if I had
anything to eat. so I gave her half my Twix. (Would you have given her
your last Rolo though Keith)

In the afternoon the sun came out so after the trial had finished I
thought I'd drive onto the cafe to ring my Mother and Father. I drove
onto the cafe with no windscreen what a cool dude. (Eyes streaming
and fly splattered hut nonetheless a cool dude)

Got to the phone and it wouldn't take my money, So I thought I'd try

and find another, but realised I hadn't got a spare wheel so decided to

turn back and head back to the site.

Robert and I went to watch the other slower groups and collected in the

sticks.

After tea 1 was feeling dead on my feet so I put my ear pugs in and
went to bed. At about 11.45 I was waken by Colin rattling my tent
saying "get up-the gang are missing you"

I went down to the fire for a pint. I was looking for the BUM sat in my
chair it was Julie. I went and got another chair. (Took your Twix AND
your chair, Tchh, women!)

Monday morning we all went up to watch the motors race round.

BODKIN. OXENHOPE

We arrived at the site bright and early on Saturday morning having
already collected the club's trailer from Hebden Bridge. The site was
very wet, damp and misty. After we'd sited the box trailer and started
to load up my Land Rover with sticks, Keith Normanton and Andrew
Feather turned up to give us a lift with setting out some sections. (Was
I glad to see them)

Off we went onto the hills, waterproofs and all, to set you water and
mud loving people some easy to drive sections... not! We were in luck
and managed to find some mud on the first section. It's a good job 1
had the tow rope at hand.

After we'd set out two sections, Robert Isles turned up to help.

Brilliant!

We set out another two sections then retired for some dinner. After

dinner we all went off again with plenty of sticks and enthusiasm to

find the water. Well what d'ya know it was everywhere.

We managed to set up another five sections in the afternoon to make a

total of nine. The land available or useable due to the weather was full

of sticks so we would have to reverse three sections on the Sunday.

Sunday morning, we arrived at the site at Sam to put out all the section
boards and the numbers on the sticks. Mutt was already their waiting to
scrutineer some motors. This was a lonely place but at least it wasn't
raining. Off we went to put out the boards, by the time we'd got back
Mutt said only two motors had turned up for scrutineering.

The butty van arrived and with it, more motors, which meant Mutt
could put away his jigsaw. By this time it was 9.30, but as if by magic
Mutt managed to race through all the motors and we ready to start the
trial.

We had 13 entries with 2 double entered, so we split into 2 groups. I
marshalled the leaf sprung motors and Ivor and Dave marshalled the
coilers along with Carol.

Our group set off to find the sections furthest away so we could work

our way hack. The land was very wet and churned up really easily,

there was plenty of mud to get stuck in and some people,.. did!

The first five sections before dinner went without too much trouble,

however Martin Carter broke a diff which he shot off to change and it

wasn't too long before he'd re-joined the group.

During the dinner break Robert turned three of the sections round.

Well done Robert and "thanks".

After dinner we all set off again to the water holes where three more

sections were placed. Everyone seemed to have great fun, bent

bumpers an'all,

Onto section 9 with even more mud and more water and broken diff
number 2.

Sections 10, 11 and 12 included more mud a fifteen minute downpour
and broken diff number 3.

In general I think everybody had a good days trialling and hopefully
you all had some fun too.

I'd like to thank Robert, Keith, Andrew and Michael for helping us to
set out the trial. Mutt for the speedy scrutineering. Joy for her signing
on and results services and to Dave McGivern for the use of his 90 for
Joy to use as a mobile office.

Big thanks to David Feather for the use of his land and finally to you
lot for turning up and enjoying it all.

Steve and Ryan Wilkinson. (592, 603)

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