Author: Spadeadam Motor Club

Back to the beginning!

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By Barry Lindsay

The September 12 car was a case of back to the novices for me!. Having done the majority of the Spadeadam 12cars in the last 20 years in both seats I’ve sat with, and drove with various members with various successes. The September one was different though. For this one my nephew Martyn was introduced to night navigation after a very short lesson. Having done orienteering at school knew a bit about maps but when he started calling left 7 maybe and right 9’s was more than I expected of his first event.

Caroline Lodge organized the event starting from Naworth crossroads. The route went round Low Row, The Banks, Lanercost, Milton. After that crews went round Forest Head, Farlam, Brampton Junction, then Talkin, Skellion & the flat and around Faugh. Heading south from Heads Nook, Cumwhitton, Honsby, Armathwaite. Then heading back north via Low Hesket. Cumwhiton, Wetheral, Newby, Irthington to finish at Smithfield. Sadly on 3 finishers as Richard Clark / Paul Hettrick damaged the gearbox on a NAM. Continue reading →

Run To The Sea – September 2015

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By Martyn, Graham & Shaun Petry,

What a better way to end our school summer holidays than have a run to the seaside. Helen & Nigel had organized a great mystery trip to the sea as one of the motor clubs outings. Setting off from Gretna Gateway car park with full instructions & diagrams of sign posts through Scottish villages and lovely scenery.

Half way stop at Glencaple for cake and drink and a kick about until the football disappeared into the sludge. Thank you to Nigel who soon produced a new one. On our way again, over the river Nith. Past Sweetheart Abbey then to arrive at Southerness.

Buckets & spades and a picnic for on the sand. Everyone joined in the fun. Kicking the new ball, Long jump & Curling on the sand.

On our return journey we had a great surprise as the Red Arrows flying past in two sets of five then followed by the Vulcan Bomber.

A Great day to remember, thanks again Helen & Nigel.

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Run to the Sea – September 2015

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By Eric & Linda Ritchie

10am on Sunday morning 6th of September, saw us in our 1960 Austin Healey Sprite on the M74 heading North. Nothing ahead of us on the road, and one car approaching very fast from behind. Mind you when you are 65 in a 55 year old car doing 45, everything around you is fast! Four Eddie Stobbart trucks, one caravan and a car heading South, so clearly the M6 is going to have congestion problems soon. “Gosh, “ said Linda, “the motorway is busy this morning!”.

There is not a cloud in the late summer sky. Certainly the best day of September, and arguably one of the best days of our Cumbrian summer. Helen’s day of prayer yesterday obviously worked a treat. Gretna at 10.20 and we were the first in the car park. A few minutes later, Helen and Nigel arrived, minus Geoffrey (working on his car)……. Followed by Kool Kenton in his Speedo’s……and the entire Lindsay family, sadly minus Barry (also working on his car)……… Rossi minus Christine who was checking out the last of the 100 overnight guests from Surrone House……and finally Clive, who added an amazing “Italian Job” presence with his immaculate and original left hand drive Alfa.

I’m not quite sure why, but Linda and I were chosen to lead away the “Run to the Sea”. Perhaps it was because the following pack wanted to chill on the wafts of Castrol R40 from the Froggie. Helen’s comprehensive road book had the reassuring comment that if you get lost please call her! I don’t think we had mobile reception for more than 300 yards after our Gretna start during the entire journey! We cruised through Rigg, Eastriggs, Annan, Cummertrees, and Bankend and eventually arrived in Glencaple, and our half way halt at the tea room on the harbour. I say harbour, as there was a derelict boat berthed, and apparently being used as a 365 day holiday home by seaside squatters!

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Glencaple

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Rally Results (August & September 2015)

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Pendragon – Geoffrey Harkness & Caroline Lodge finished 20th OA (4th in class), Jon & Kieron Stynes were 25th OA (4th in class), Barry & Michael Lindsay 32nd OA (8th in class). Barrie Thomson & Jerry Hettrick retired on SS1 with a broken driveshaft. Pete Johnson navigating for Peter Ellerby also had driveshaft problems and retired after SS6. James Coxon navigating for Craig Johns also retired after SS6.

Hamsterley – John McIlwraith finished 10th OA (1st in class), Barry Lindsay & Caroline Lodge were 12th OA (1st in class)

 

Tyneside Stages 2015

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By Andy Westgarth

That’s the weekend at the Tyneside stages, held over the Otterburn ranges finished. I would like to start by saying a big thank you to Darren Riley for sitting in with me and giving great directions through the stages. I would also like to say thank you to John Goff and his team for the servicing.

Battle-scarred, extra “go-faster” stripes, but very happy! Andy Westgarth’s Skoda after the Tyneside Stages 2015.

Battle-scarred, extra “go-faster” stripes, but very happy!

I have to say that was the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel of the Skoda Felicia. We started the day with some lucky escapes in stage 1&2. Doing some off road driving, then the clutch started to slip in stage 3, nothing could be done to fix the clutch issue, but managed to drive around the problem for the rest of the day. Stages 4, 5 & 6 went well, beating my own times we had already set earlier. After service we went out to do stages 7, 8 & 9 which again went well until stage 9, when we started getting a knocking noise from the passenger front corner. Then coming into a chicane the brakes went. Continue reading →

Chairman’s Thoughts – Blue Streak Targa Thanks.

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By George Rutherford,

Hi folks,

There really is only one main subject this month and that is the Blue Streak Targa. From an idea brought by filming last year’s Doonhamer to this month’s event all seems surreal but it happened and was a great success.   I had forgotten quite what a lot of work goes into a bigger event so here goes with some thanks.

©Spadeadam MC

Firstly all the Landowners who gave us some great tests together with Brampton Town Council for a great start venue. Jon Stynes Design for their sponsorship I didn’t really appreciate the great variety of work they are more than capable of and I would urge all members to avail themselves of their services – asking costs nothing and I know they would be pleased to help.

Then we have the Officials: Ian Robinson Clark of the Course designed a terrific route, road and test books to the highest standard and arranged most of the tests and basically spent the week prior to the event working fine tuning everything to the most professional standard.

Barry Lindsay the Chief Marshall put everything into organising sufficient marshals for the tests and without all the marshals the event couldn’t run and we will be eternally grateful to them for turning out and it was great to see that most seem to enjoy their day’s sport.   Barry’s reward was the pleasure of running opening car and set some very competitive times

Mark Taylor with help from Richard Thomson did a fine job with results

Helen Gibbon and myself attended to the administration side of the event with Helen doing a great job at signing on and helping with the layout of the programme and signing on packs.   A large amount of my work falls after the event dealing with returns to the

MSA and Reis, email results etc and paying some of the urgent bills the remainder falls on our treasurer, Eric Ritchie, who unfortunately was away on holiday but sorted out the Howard Arms as our HQ.

Finally a big thanks to all our test sponsors who featured in our programme and to Jim McDowell our Scrutineer!

The weather was very kind to us and the great variety of cars competing made for some great nostalgia for me personally the little blue Imp featured on the cover was the car of the event having had the first one registered in Carlisle back in 63 it brought back great memories of how wondrous they were.

Hope I haven’t forgotten to thank anyone?!

“Sorry George.”

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By David Love

Health and Safety policies now affect all aspects of our lives and are very contentious. What makes perfect sense to one person can seem senseless to another. Rallying is receiving a lot of Health and Safety attention at the moment; some would say an excess of attention. Not all policies being implemented are interpreted the same, instructions given on the Scottish Rally stated that no spectators were allowed to enter the stage through the Start or Finish at all. Yet on a previous rally the MSA Safety Delegate said no one to enter after he had passed. The Delegate’s comment made sense to me as within 10 minutes of his passing the first fast car should be on the stage but stopping a seasoned enthusiast 30 minutes before cars are due is overkill. I know we are in a transitional period but the MSA should be producing a clear and concise guide for organisers so that there is a constant standard for all rallies and enthusiasts will not be confused by different rules at each rally.

One new safety regulation is quite clear and that is the mandatory use of F.I.A. approved Frontal Head Restraints from 1st January 2016. I know a lot of competitors will not be happy about this ruling, mainly due to the extra cost, but it is a proven device that can help avoid serious injury. In America, NASCAR made HANS devices compulsory after the death of 7 times Champion Dale Earnhardt when, after extensive investigation, it was concluded that wearing it could have prevented the brain damage that killed him. He had refused to wear a HANS device. Which brings me to George’s comment in the Chairman’s Thoughts in last month’s newsletter. He considers that it should be left to the competitor to decide whether to use them or not, this is when I have to say sorry George I disagree. Most competitors compete to win, whether it is for overall, class or just personal victory, to do that they feel that they need the fastest, best handling car their money can buy. An FRH will not make the car go faster or make them a better driver and as they don’t intend to crash, it is very low on the list of priorities. That’s very understandable as it is very expensive to compete but a brain injury carries a high cost also, not in monetary terms but the emotional cost suffered by their loved ones and family.

I say to competitors, is it not worth a few hundred pounds to safeguard your future and your family’s emotional security?

Rally Results (July 2015)

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Greystoke Stages– Darren Martin / Martin Steele took the Evo to 7th OA (5th in class), Barry Lindsay & Caroline Lodge took the class win in 12th OA. Phil Jobson / Jerry Hettrick were 21st OA (9th in class), Rob Graham / Helen Gibbon were 32nd OA (6th in class). Mike Martin / Kyle Gass were 37th (12th in class), Clive Alcock / Katy Mashiter 42nd (9th in class)

Harry Flatters – Phil Jobson finished 19th Overall, 4th in class.

Tyneside Stages– Barry & Michael Lindsay adapted back to the 106 claiming 10th OA (1st Class – 1st 2wd). Geoffrey Harkness / Caroline Lodge were 40th (5th in class). Andy Westgarth took the Skoda to 51st (8th in class) ahead of Nigel Harkness / Helen Gibbon in 55th (8th in class)

Dmack Carlisle Stages – June 2015

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By Barry Lindsay,

The Dmack Stages was round 7 of the SG Petch ANECCC championship and this year a round of the BTRDA. The event attracted a massive 130 crews. A good turn out of Spadeadam members at the event both competing and marshalling. Members were running the service area controls as well as the finish of stage 1 and instage junctions.

The first stage was GlenDue in Kershope, Late entry Rory Young & Allan Cathers ran with 130 but were running in the top ten. There new R5+ car, 4th fastest time of 7m 20 was a good start. Peter Taylor & Andrew Roughead were first of the Smc crews on the road, seeded at 19 but then on the day moved up to 4th car on the road, loose dusty conditions cost them alittle on the first stage 7m 24. Rob Graham & Helen Gibbon were next quickest of the SMC crews getting 7m 49 in the Mk1 Escort, Darren Martin / Martin Steele got 8m02 in the Evo. Phil & Caroline Jobson got 8m09 in there Mk1 Escort. Barry & Michael Lindsay got 8m13 in the 206 but had opted for soft compound and the hot, dusty conditions they were the wrong choice.

Mark Shaw / James Coxon were next in the Sunbeam getting 8m22, followed by Mike Martin / Kyle Gass in the Evo getting 10m43.

Stage 2 followed straight on. Peter & Andrew were fastest overall with 4m52 on a stage which caught out several top crews all hitting the same rock. Rory & Allan got 5m06. Darren & Martin got 5m24 the same time as Barry & Michael who went better on the stage which was mainly in tree’s and the surface damper. Phil & Caroline were just behind on 5m26, then Mark & James on 5m40. Rob & Helen followed with 5m52 then Mike & Kyle on 6m51.

Barry & Michael Lindsay Image © & Courtesy of Frank Love

A quick road side management service on the way to the Newcastleton Stage. Continue reading →

Grass Autotest – June 2015

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By Barry Lindsay,

Due to weather and lack of entries cancelling the others The Summer Grass Autotest at The Plump Nr Gretna was the first Autotest of the year.

Eight competitors turned up on a Sunny Sunday afternoon for an action packed 12 tests. The test was using a grass field which had been silage a few days earlier so was it excellent condition.

Test 1. Nigel Harkness was quickest with 1m07 just ahead of Helen Gibbon with 1m08, Barry Lindsay on 1m10 then Kenton Pattison & Andrew Graham on 1m10.

Test 2. Was a re run. Barry quickest with 1m05 just ahead of Helen on 1m06, Nigel on 1m08 and Andrew on 1m09.

Test 3. We moved area slightly to avoid cutting up the ground. Kenton was quickest with 52 ahead of Barry on 53 then Helen & Andrew both on 55.

Test 4 was a re-run Nigel, Helen & Andrew were quickest all on 53, John Barber got 54 on his first Autotest and had soon got the hang of it.

Test 5 was a new route and a bit more complicated, Barry getting 1m04 but was fighting back after a previous cone. Kenton got 1m05 but he also had be getting cone penalties. Helen got 1m08 and was leading the event tactically mixing precision and speed (Yep, that was exactly what I was doing…errrr…!! – Helen).

Andrew Graham

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