Marshalling Chimney on The Allen Trial 27 November 2011

Chris & Michael waiting for the cars to come

Having decided to concentrate on PCT's with the Austin Seven before Christmas we decided to marshal on The Allen. We left Chaos Manor at 6.15, dropping of nephew Dominic's birthday present at Letchworth and filling up with Diesel before picking up Mike in Stevenage at 7.15.

We were due to be at our section (Chimney in the Lakeside complex) at 11.30. No motoring outing is complete without an English breakfast and I had found a Little Chef on the internet only a few miles away. Suitably fuelled we arrived to be briefed by Colin Biles. Our job was to operate the diversion and restart, deep in the woods which had grown up on the site of what we discovered was an old coal mine. Colin and his wife kindly fed us and it was soon time to be in position.

Classes 7&8 had to surmount the new bank Pete Hart had created. 1 to 6 turned left before taking a circuitous route round a tree on a considerable adverse camber. A lot of the early runners in the lower classes struggled until Carl Talbot came along in his supercharged BMW to show it could be done. After that there were quite a few 1 to 6 cleans. This involved staying high with the front wheels, letting the back slide down and powering out once the car was straight.

The higher classes struggled to get up, made more difficult for the class 8's who had a restart as well. Dean Partington proved it could be done but the next car, Mike Chatwin in a similar DP Wasp, couldn't keep the front down and was rescued by a spectating Paul Bartleman. We had two more cleans but few hairy incidents as well and Clerk of the Course Pete Hart decided to close the section for 7 & 8.

We were on our way around 4pm and home just after 8 after stopping for a couple of tea on the M4. All in all a very enjoyable day.

Motor Cycle Live NEC 23 November

This Royal Enfield was one of many retro machines on display

Nice day out with Neil, stopping at Willoughby on the way of course. Plan had been for Neil to get a new Bike Jacket & Boots. However, we came away empty handed as the right ones couldn't be found :-)

Farnborough & DMC Trial at Hungry Hill 13 November 2011

There was only a week since Kensworth so no time to investigate what is wrong in the NS Kingpin area. At Kensworth I had found that I could tighten the cotter two flats every 8 hills! We had a clear run down to Farnborough where we breakfasted at McDonalds before continuing to Hungry Hill on the outskirts of Farnborough.

There was plenty of room in the paddock for competitors and trailers. We parked next to Mike Westbook so plenty of opportunity for Dellow talk! While we unloading we though we were next to a rally special stage but soon realised it was the locals warming up!

There were five hills and we thought they were very good, using the natural tracks of the venue to give a nice classic trial feel. Some of the sections were a bit tight. We managed to get round the tight bits OK in our little car but Mike and some of the others in bigger cars struggled and notched up penalties. It was great to see the Clerk of the Course going round talking to competitors and he gave more room for subsequent rounds.

Matt Johnson had his Austin Seven and that was an interesting comparison. Although in a different class Matt had the lowest overall score, dropping 13. In our class Geoff Hodge and Keith Pettit had 19 and we finished on 25, 4th lowest score from 38 starters so well pleased. The official results were based on index, which I have never understood, but I think we may have won a 3rd in class award!

The king pin held up, with frequent cotter pin tightening but we noticed some water leaking when we loaded up so some work to do before Wattisfield on 11 December.

We stopped off near Guilford on the way home, picking up an EBay find Bowden front end so I hope that will help fix the king pin issue. This looks like the Kingpin is slopping about in the upright rather than the bushes so I hope the Bowden bits are going to help.

Click Here for Full Results
More Pictures
Report on Farnborough & DMC Site

NEC Classic Car Show Friday 11 November 2011

Nice day out with Chris, Don and Mike. We stopped at Willoughby on the way of course. My regular now is what they call Bacon & Eggs but with extra toast and mushrooms. For that you get two big pieces of bacon, 2 eggs, a piece of toast and a mug of tea. Thats what they call Bacon & Eggs. To that you add the extra toast and some mushrooms. Perfect.

We arrived at the show around 10.15, took about 10 minutes to get in with our "print at home" tickets and we didn't leave till around 4 so I think we got our moneys worth. The layout was different this year, spread over 2 halls in the Atrium and 3 in the main halls. We met quite a few people we knew, starting with David Alderson who was running the motorcycle hall. Then straight away Stuart Harrold and Richard Andrews and quite a few others during the day.

As soon as we got in the door we met up with David Alderson (on right) and Stuart Harrold & Richard Andrews who were visiting like us.

It's a really popular show, positively heaving in places. I'm not so sure it was as interesting as the last couple of years, perhaps because we were used to it and in all honesty there can't be that much new stuff at a Classic car Show! Not much too interest triallers or other motorsport enthusiasts but nice to poke about. Neil's Model C was on the Ford Y and C stand where I had a nice chat with Sam Roberts about his updates to his book.

I got a few bits and pieces in the autojumble, including some dies. I had taken the rather strange trackrod ends up to see if they could be identified and a nice Mr Jones from Lincolnshire told me they were 100E and supplied me with a new set, although they will have to be modified to fit the A7. Only problem is that I have been thinking about the A7 steering and think I will go the rose joint route. At least that way I won't have to worry if the tapers fit!

Seeking inspiration for the A7 front end. This one was independent but I think it was a Speedex rather than a Bowden

Hi Res Pictures on my SmugMug Site

Class win on Falcons Guy Fawkes Trial at Kensworth in the A7

With the new U bolts clearly visible the Suspension stayed in place for the Guy  Fawkes Trial

The Bowden front suspension removed from the car for repair before the Guy  Fawkes

The weather was nice and dry for Kensworth on 6th November and the sections were pretty dry apart from under the trees. I had entered class 4 as usual but peter manning phoned a few days before  the event to say he had moved us into the RWD class for standard cars. This put us in with three Suzuki X90's and Howard Blackwells Mk2 Escort.

There was a tyre pressure limit of 16psi and as it would turn out this really suited the car. The conditions suited the low power of the car as trickling was very much the order of the day. I am starting to get used to it now and there were only a couple of hills where I didn't do well. Same problem in both cases, too much lock at low speed. This makes the front wheels dig in and the result is wheelspin.

We were delighted to get a class win.

201111 Guy Fawkes Trial

Mike Haywards Pictures of the event
Don Stringers Pictures of the event
Results