Author: Spadeadam Motor Club

Duckhams Jan 12 Car (13th of January 2011)

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Paul Allen

7 or so crews gathered at the Miltonrigg Wood car park for Jerry’s 12 car which was originally planned for October 2010. Our first expert clues were simple, but crafty, if we crossed grid line 56, were given 11 (5+6) and if we crossed GL 62, the clue was 8 (6+2). Fortunately we had a good couple of miles of A-road to work this out and Jerry had avoided using an area where the sum of the northing digits matched the sum of the eastings.

The route weaved around south of Brampton and reached TC1 at Castle Carrock. From here we passed through some spot heights around Talkin Tarn and passing quietly through Farlam before reaching TC2 over at Forest Head. TC3 was then a quick 5 mins back to the start, approaching from the south where Jerry still was waiting for us.

Next was a bespoke Jerry instruction that looked like a herring bone but was actually more grid line trickery. We headed up from Banks to Gilsland where there was remains of a massive wall on the south side of the road. Tom mentioned something about Adrian, but I was busy deciphering Jerry’s work of art. We located a NAM on the 15th coloured junction and found a codeboard, so far so good.

From TC4 we headed up anti-clockwise round the big Bewcastle loop. The clue was an innocent looking circular herring bone which fitted ok, but the fog came up on high ground and slowed us somewhat. This allowed local man Geoff with Caroline to reel us in as we floundered about with the blind crests and bendy road. We were late at TC5 and even later at TC6 just north of Walton.

The final leg headed towards Smithfield via Gillbank and Hethersgill. We were given 6 grid refs to pass through, but they were presented reading from top to bottom and were disguised as something else entirely.

It was a nice event with the usual Jerry devious presentation, I was grateful for Tom’s input for interpreting route instructions on a couple of occasions. Two heads are better than one, even if they are sheep heads…..! Thanks must be given to Jerry for keeping us on our toes and the usual slick organisation. Gratefulness too for the marshals for all turning out and being where they should. There was a minor diversion around a closed road near Kirkcambeck for which there was a brief re-route. Everything worked perfectly.

White bits, Grey bits, Brown bits & Munchkins

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Phil Jobson

There’s always a fine line between going as quick as possible and exceeding the limit of adhesion ie going off! The fact is, though, that on the 2010 Roger Albert Clark Rally, 16 of the 22 stages were covered in snow with ice beneath, but with an occasional patch of gravel showing through. In those circumstances, that limit of adhesion is constantly altering. It’s like playing a game of tennis with two people moving the net up and down all the time.

Above: En route through the Scottish Forests

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Christmas Stages 2010

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Barry Lindsay

The Christmas holidays annually mean time for a freezing at Croft. True to form this year had been colder than ever, severe frosts, and a few inches of snow met the crews for Scrutineering. Pre event checks were done on the bank holiday Monday and the track had a couple of inches of snow on it, and more was forecast overnight. The Tuesday morning dawned wet; the snow had turned to slush but with ice below.

Jemma Bellingham was the highest seeded of the Spadeadam Crews, sitting in with Ryan Champion in the Subaru at 3. Barry & Michael Lindsay were at 17, Geoffrey Harkness & Caroline Lodge at 31. Barrie Thomson & Jerry Hettrick were on there first event together and were a late entry at 98.

Jemma Bellingham & Ryan ChampionAbove: Jemma Bellingham & Ryan Champion

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Rally Results this month (December 2010).

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

Phil Jobson finished 4th OA in the RAC Open section. David Rutherford & Gary Russell finished 38th OA (10th in class) on the Galloway Hills Rally in the Nova despite a few spins on the treacherous roads. On the same event James McWhir navigated Michael Hunter to 39th OA (11th in class) in the Lada Samara despite an engine problem which hindered them all day. The Christmas Stages saw Barry & Michael Lindsay finish 10th Overall (3rd in class), Geoffrey Harkness & Caroline Lodge were 39th (9th in class). Barrie Thomson & Jerry Hettrick suffering engine trouble on stage 2 and withdrew after 4 stages

A Different side to rallying.

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By David Love

Most if not all of us will have been at a Spectator Special Stage in the grounds of a stately house at one time or another and have seen people being dropped off at the house. They then disappear inside only to reappear, glass in hand, to take their seat in the grandstand that’s blocking your view of the stage 5 minutes before the first car. These lucky souls are hospitality guests who are being wined, dined and getting the best views free of charge. On the Rally of Scotland I was one of them, in a fashion.

It all started with a phone call from Brian Kinghorn who, when he discovered I wasn’t marshaling on the rally asked if I fancied a couple of days driving Skoda guests around. He was working with John Parker setting up forest testing locations for Skoda and arranging transportation for their media and dealer guests during the rally.  He said he needed capable drivers with a good knowledge of rallying but as he couldn’t find any more I would do.   As the local contingent included Chris Walker, Allan Blake, Eric Ritchie, Rob Grant & Alan Cathers it sounded interesting.  Skoda had invited approximately 140 Dealer guests and 30 Media guests so Brian and John had recruited 20 drivers for the weekend.

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Spadeadam Motor Club 2011 Calendars

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2011 Spadeadam Calendar. Featuring 12 Photo’s of club members in action.

Limited Edition. £ 7.50

Members are :- Phil Jobson, Caroline Lodge, Barry & Michael Lindsay, Geoffrey Harkness, Barrie Thomson, David Rutherford, Keith Taylor, Nigel Harkness, David Hope, Fiona Gourlay, Neil & Joe Thomlinson, Peter Taylor, Allan Cathers, Tim Finch, Chris Taylor.

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Galloway Hills 2010

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By George Rutherford

This year I was enrolled for management car duties as son David and Garry Russell in their Nova and it was interesting to hear the various comments regarding the weather and the cancellation of the Grizedale Stages.

David Rutherford & Gary Russell

Above: David Rutherford & Garry Russell

Most amusing was the tale of a local competitor who was hiring a car for both events – he told the organisers and the rest of us his car was stuck at the Garage it was being hired from but told the hirer’s that the event was cancelled – they in turn had the car on the trailer ready to travel to Castle Douglas so they told the specialist petrol co the event was cancelled causing a lot of grief when the petrol didn’t turn up – moral always tell the truth! Continue reading →

Chairman’s Comments

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By George Rutherford

Another year passes and we look back on a successful year for the Club.   December should have been a very active month for the members but the weather curtailed many of the activities but looking at what did happen we had a hard weekend marshalling at the racecourse for the RAC which ran some 5 hours late on the Saturday night while we endured temperatures of minus 6 however we were warmed with the news that Phil was running in the top 4. Sunday morning and night ran more to time as did Monday am.   It was most heartening to see the attitude of the competitors who were all smiling and thoroughly enjoying themselves despite the horrendous weather.   As for the organisers they were amazing re routing the event, obtaining new stages within 24 hours and producing the necessary paperwork – pity the authorities are unable to respond to such conditions so speedily.   Our thanks to all the people who gave up their time and froze for the love of the sport congratulations to Phil for a tremendous result coming in 4th in the open event.

The following weekend saw the cancellation of Grizedale with several days to go which seemed strange when the RAC could run while the conditions were at their worst – one would have thought that a few 4 x 4’s could have made the stages goers and given the competitors the chance to hone their skills on such tricky conditions.   When you recall the Monte starting from Glasgow with more or less standard cars on road tyre albeit using chains on their tyres and similar road conditions and the latest technology was a flask of coffee you wonder where it has all gone.

The Galloway Hills ran but more of that elsewhere and unfortunately we had to cancel the 12 car due to the weather forecast.   So now we look forward to 2011 and the forthcoming AGM where you can air your views and elect your new officials and committee.   At present we are trying to evaluate what format you would like the annual prize giving to take.

I would also appreciate if anyone interested in a test day early in the new year at a venue near you could let either myself or Barry know and we can let you know possible costs.

Finally we still have a few Club Calendars for sale for only £7.50 available from myself or Barry.

May you all have a prosperous and successful 2011.

George

 

S.M.C Gifts

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

With Christmas just around the corner, why not get treat that special someone…..

Spadeadam Hats £ 5.00

Stylish hats with a choice of 3 styles .

All embroidered with the SMC Logo.

Spadeadam Polo T Shirt £ 12.50

All sizes available to order.

In stock  1  size XL

Spadeadam 2011 Calendars Limited Edition. £ 7.50

Featuring 12 Photo’s of club members in action.

Members featured are :- Phil Jobson, Caroline Lodge, Barry & Michael Lindsay, Geoffrey Harkness, Barrie Thomson, David Rutherford, Keith Taylor, Nigel Harkness, David Hope, Fiona Gourlay, Neil & Joe Thomlinson, Peter Taylor, Allan Cathers, Tim Finch and Chris Taylor.

South Tyne 12 Car

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Neil Thomlinson

Jerry asked me to navigate for him on this event if I was available, which I was and was more than happy to. This event ran at the back of the Hexham Historic and John Robson road rallies held by the Hexham and District motor club. Off we went in Jerry’s 309 with me making some final marks on the map, and testing the spotlights on the way. After realising that the spotlights were fine on the way there, they didn’t work when tried in scrutineering. We realised as the event went on that this was due to a faulty relay, as between time controls they would suddenly come on, but not far from either the next time control or a quiet zone meaning they had to be knocked off again!

The event was good with some cracking roads; as far as the navigation went it was a tulip road book for both halves which I enjoyed. We dropped time in the first section, booking in 3 minutes late at TC1, and also at the 2 secret regularity sections we dropped time, apart from those no time was dropped, and all the route checks were correct.

There was even a pair of competitors with no roof! Which I’m sure they loved the coloured rain which we experienced in the last section.

Results

Total Time         Route Checks      Pos. O/A

Jerry Hettrick/ Neil Thomlinson     7.17                    0                              2nd