Author: Spadeadam Motor Club

Been a bit busy lately

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By Caroline Lodge

After a slow start to 2012, I’ve spectated at a couple of events and done a bit of rescue work, however,  things seem to have kicked off since the end of March.

A surprise phone call one evening, lead to me sitting in the hot seat, next to Ivor Clark at Charterhall for the PJ Hunter Plant Hire and Groundworks Stages. (AKA the day Ivor lost his underpants) The couple of days leading up to the rally were entertaining. After a call from Ivor inviting me to come and see if my bum would fit in the rally car seat, I ventured up to his place – yes my bum did fit in the seat. Driving through Gretna with the roof down and Ivor in the passenger seat of my Mazda I felt a bit like the guy who drives the Pope-mobile, Ivor’s head was sticking out of the top of the car as he waved and called ‘Hellooooooo’ to every person we passed. He’d also told folk that I was a masseuse!

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Foolsday Autotest

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Barry Lindsay

Sunday the 1st April saw the first autotest of the year at Longtown Auction mart thanks to Phil Jobson who managed to arrange the venue. Two tests were setup, one mainly on tar while the other all on compact gravel but due to the recent warm dry spell it was very dusty.

The first two cars had just started test 1&2 when an articulated cattle wagon arrived. So, some quick cone moving got him in, and the test able to run. The two cars got a re-run over the test which was a big gain for Nigel who had wrong tested, but got this run correct. Not sure what he’s going to do with a wagon load of sheep if he arranged it just to get out of the wrong test!!

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Another Opinion

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By David Love

 As the winner of this year’s editors Award for Newsletter contributions I feel duty bound to submit some waffle for this months’ Newsletter.

I suppose I should feel honoured to win but amazed would be more accurate followed by relief.  Why relief? Well, when I saw in the February Newsletter that I was going to receive an award I was concerned it might be the Old Farts one but thankfully that went to a more deserving recipient, John Ross.  You might think that I won this award for my razor sharp wit and creative writing abilities, if that’s the case then you’ve never read any of my previous contributions.  You must remember that most of the time I don’t know what I’m talking about but that has never stopped me in the past so why should it now!

I’d like to comment on the Chairman’s Thoughts for March.  I’m sure George would like a response to his column, even if it were just to confirm somebody reads it.  I always read it first and was interested in his views on the BRC especially as I’m entering the disturbed nights’ sleep section of my involvement in helping to organise the Pirelli International Rally, our local round of the BRC.  The rallies that George mentioned did have great entries but not all rallies of that type are prospering with full entries, the Border Counties had way less entries than in previous years, the Bulldog’s National Rally which is normally well supported was down by about 20 entries.  So opening up the BRC to a less restricted range of cars won’t necessarily result in 100+ entries.  I was told that the organisers of the BRC tried to initiate a secondary championship for which WRC cars were eligible, but that didn’t get of the ground due to lack of interest.  I think that for several unfathomable reasons some rallies just appeal more than others.  Granted the cost of entering a BRC event doesn’t help but with the recent increase in forest charges no rally is cheap to enter.  I’m sure the organisers of the BRC don’t sit down and discuss ways of keeping the entry below 30.  It is the British Championship and also an International one so it should be different from other championships, it would be even better if it were well supported but if the competition is tight and the drivers are trying they will still be good to watch.  I wouldn’t call Barry Lindsay, in a small engine 2 wheel drive car, boring to watch, would you?

Finally, I have to correct George on “little interest in showing the BRC on TV’.  All rounds will get a one-hour report on Sky Sports the week after it runs.  The Pirelli will be shown on 6 occasions and will also be seen in Asia, USA & Europe.  The BRC might not have quantity but their reports have quality presentation and footage.  I found last years BRC reports a lot more watchable than the WRC ones.  I felt the WRC used too much in-car footage, which was boring, I prefer to see the cars from the outside, weaving on the straights and sliding round corners.

Well my head’s hurting now so I’m going to stop rambling.

Rally Results (March 2012)

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

Malcolm Wilson Rally-  Peter Taylor 24th  O/a (6th in class) Darren Martin / Martin Steele 54th O/a (5th in class) David Coleman / Jonathan Fowler 77th (4th in class)

Sunseeker –  Peter Taylor on the first round of the British Championship 5th O/a (4th in class).

Border Counties –  Rory Young & Allan Cathers had a good run to 5th O/a (1st in class) in the GpN Evo. Phil Jobson & Jerry Hettrick finished 44th O/a (7th in class) despite gear selection trouble. Peter Taylor  retired the Focus with propshaft failure at first service. Darren Martin & Martin Steele retired (something pretty rare to them) when a front damper broke. David Coleman & Kyle Gass rolled out on the first stage.

Bulldog-  Peter Taylor back out in the Clio had to adapt back to 2wd and finished 10th O/a (7th in class).

Rally Results (January & February 2012)

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Jonathan Lodge on his first event of the year navigated his way to 25th OA (1st in Class) on the Roger Albert Clark. Caroline Lodge finished 2nd in class, 27th OA on same, main event. On the Sunday Clubman event on the RAC Phil Jobson & Jerry Hettrick were setting good times until the gearbox locked solid and retired on the spot. David Coleman and Josh Davidson had an “off” in the snow of Ae, on the first stage missing SS2, but then rejoined for the remaining mileage but were classified as DNF.

The Snowman saw Peter Taylor get 3rd Overall (3rd in class), just behind was Rory Young & Allan Cathers in 4th Overall (1st in class).

(I see you wondering if Peter was 3rd & Rory was 4th, How has Rory got more points??? Well it’s to do with Peter being 3rd in class & Rory Winning his class… It’s complicated but my computer seems to know what its doing!!! And the fact that Peter’s class had more cars in was also in the equation…..)

RAC (Part 3)

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Jonathan Lodge

Pulling into Newcastleton arrival control with 3 seconds to spare to book in on our minute
Jim’s desire not to drop penalty free lateness has worked again. At this point we realise the
Lancia has got ahead of us on the road section & is on the start line. We have been consistently quicker in stage so there is the concern of catching it, checking that there are no other cars in the queue behind us the navigator commits the equivalent to a professional foul by accidentally catching his seat belt buckle so cannot start on next minute.

After making the right tyre choice for the Monte Carlo (Steel Road) Stage Section we were
left with completely the wrong tyres for the Newcastleton Stage as it was gravel all the way
through. Then to Carlisle aqua mud service & back to Newcastleton now with a full set of
working candles bolted to the front, & back on forest tyres. Second run through was more
interesting as it was freezing quite hard now, but this is proper rallying – forest in the dark
on maps after being on the go for about 14 hours. This was until we got to the last 2 miles
where the stage runs along the river to Kershope Foot. Continue reading →

Please Take A Moment To Read & Sign

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

Hi all,
As keen motorists and competitors we are often thankful for the services of the Air Ambulance and it would be great if you could support them by signing this petition requesting that they do not pay VAT this would give them a great boost and we need at least 100,000 signatures to make the government do something the online petition is at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29349  
please sign and pass this link to all you know. 

If you wish further info go to John Fife’s blog at Jaggybunnet.co.uk

George

RAC 2011 (Part 2)

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By Jonathan Lodge

After an interesting road rally/road section to Hamsterley we were put straight into the stage.  It was at this point I learned that Jim does not give up penalty free lateness easily.  It was dusk / dark at Croft, now in the trees it was black dark.  With additional bumper spots not fit, the headcandles & main spots were going to earn their keep.

We got the 10 seconds call from the start marshal & put main candle power on – I see very little change in illumination (but I am the person who has promoted the benefits of HID’s for several years), as I ensure the varifocals & potti are tuned in I hear switches being abused & the immortal words ‘the spot lights will not work’.  Muttered reply was along lines of – ‘better listen to me & hope the stage is as per map.’

After a very caution start – OK very slow, even for a Saab we find some sort of rhythm / system to send Jim into the darkness with a minute bit of confidence I might be calling the next corner the right way.  This was working well until Jim decided to boost my confidence by stating how he was relying entirely on my calls to guestimate where the road may disappear to next.  By now this was with a reasonable level of commitment.  All I can remember is telling myself not to look up, (not because of the velocity we dream of travelling at in a Saab) but so I did not lose my place on the map.  It would be seriously embarrassing to be blamed for an accident due to a wrong call at that speed!!

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New Year Tar Test.

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Barry Lindsay

After some negotiations between Neil Varah and the Pirelli management it was agreed that we could run a club auto test on the last day of the year. So with tarmac available, the tests were set up avoiding the few cars that were in the car park, we were ready to run. The tests were to be quite tight to keep the speed down.

The first test turned out to be harder than thought and marshalled by Michael Lindsay. I had to prove that it could be done without reversing and got a time of 1m 34. Neil T was next with 1m53 then Geoffrey on 2m31. On the repeat run I was again quickest with 1m 39; Neil Varah got 2m04 then Neil T on 2m 12.

Neil Varah

Neil Varah

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Rally Results (December 2011)

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

Jonathan Lodge on his first event of the year navigated his way to 25th Overall (1st in class) on the Roger Albert Clark. Caroline Lodge finished 2nd in class/27th O/A on the same, main event. On the Sunday Clubman event on the RAC Phil Jobson & Jerry Hettrick were setting good times until the gearbox locked solid and retired on the spot. David Coleman & Josh Davison had a ‘off’ in the snow of Ae the first stage missing SS2 but then rejoined for the remaining mileage but were classified as DNF.