Autotests

Jubilee Autotest

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

With Pirelli doing some engineering on their production line. Neil Varah had looked into and arranged the use of the workers carpark during the shut down. The event was organised for the evening of the bank holiday Tuesday. 6 tests were planned but due to a lower turn out this was expanded to 8 tests.

It was a wet summer evening ( There’s been a few this year!) Barry opened the first test with 1m 06 with Nigel just behind in 1m 13, then Simon on 1m20. For the re-run Barry slightly slower on 1m07 followed by Geoffrey on 1m08 then Nigel on 1m09 then Neil V and Neil T on 1m11.

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Spring Grass Test (22nd of April 2012)

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Barry Lindsay

Round two of the Spadeadam Autotest was held on a grass field at Longpark. After weeks of good dry weather it changed leading up to the event and doubts whether the event would run. Other clubs were cancelling their’s for that day but reports of “Its dry at Longpark”

The Sunday was dry and the field was mainly OK. Ian Robinson had some new routes for this event and after giving his grass track mini a blast of the perimeter he set about setting up the tests in large scale..

Ten entrants turned up and following a little accident on the road & the pickup getting stuck setting up the tests delayed the start slightly. A running order was produced to keep everything running with no cars sitting doing nothing as the two tests ran together.

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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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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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Club Night Autotest (7th of July 2011)

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Barry Lindsay

The July club night was the 2nd Autotest of the year and in new field at Longpark, Scaleby. After some wet weather the event looking doubtfull but after touring the farm the night before, it was agreed that the newly cut silage field was the firmest.

14 entrants arrived and we please to see 5 new competitors and also was good to see others coming back for their 2nd event, along with the ‘regulars’!

Again we had two different tests running side by side one manned by Michael Lindsay the other by Caroline Lodge, with Ian Robinson getting folk organised to keep it running and also doing a bit of navigating.

Test 1 Barry was quickest with 1m 27 ahead of John on 1m 28 then Neil V & Nigel on 1m 31 followed by new competitor Pete Docker on 1m 34.

John Ross

John Ross

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Spring Autotest 2011

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Barry Lindsay

The first Spadeadam Autotest of 2011 was held on a stubble field at Longpark ,Scaleby on Sunday 15th. Ten competitors lined up for 5 different tests and with two goes at each. The three club cars had been brought back from there hibernation for the winter, a little work by myself, Neil & Joe Thomlinson and Ian Robinson in the week running up to it.

With the tests set-up on the Saturday afternoon the field was quite hard and dry, and Neil set about cutting down the Thistles which had thrived over the winter, some were 2ft high hiding the cones!!

The day of the autotest was wet but thankfully faired up as we arrived but left the top of the surface very slippy and clarty.

The first test Jerry was quickest with 1m 34 with Nigel next nearest on 1m 41 closely followed by Barry, Neil V & John on 1m 42. Test two was a repeat and for the later runners got slippier, Jerry again quickest but slower with 1m 40. John only 1 second slower and Barry another second further back.

Jerry Hettrick
Jerry Hettrick

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Autumn Autotest

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Barry Lindsay

The Autumn autotest was again held at Longpark, Scaleby. With use of the large stubble field all ten tests were setup the day before so that competition could follow on. A good entry turned up with several newcomers wishing to take part. John set things off going first on the first test marshalled by Michael, John getting 1m 04 a time that wouldn’t be beat, Neil T and Barry were watching each others times for the autotest championship both got 1m 06 on this one then Nigel on 1m07. On the rerun Barry was quickest with 1m 00 only 1 second ahead of Neil, then  Peter who gave the Megane Sport a demonstration run of 1m 02, James Coulthard a newcomer getting 1m 03.

Nigel Harkness

Nigel Harkness

 

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Summer Autotest & BBQ

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Barry Lindsay

The third autotest of the year was held at Longpark Farm, with a large stubble field at our disposal. The problem was what do we do with such a large area?! With all ten tests set up on the Saturday afternoon, it would ensure non-stop action on the Sunday afternoon. With brilliant weather it was shades and suncream rather than wellies (well, except someone!). 10 competitors took part with 9 tests then a BBQ, then the final test.
Test one, Barry was quickest with 55 seconds followed by Neil Thomlinson on 57 seconds, then Geoffrey Harkness on 59 seconds. On the rerun of this test times tumbled as the stubble scrubbed off to the compact surface. Barry was quickest on 54 seconds, then Neil T. and Phil Jobson on 57 and Geoffrey on 58.

Test Three, Neil T. was quickest with 1m 08s, then Ian Robinson giving the “new” Skoda a thrashing on 1m 09s, along with Phil also on 1m 09s. Simon Jobson and Barry both got wrong directions getting 1m 33s. The re-run Barry started the fight back, quickest with 1m 06s. Phil matched his first run of 1m 09s, then Neil T. on 1m 10s, then John Ross on 1m 11s.

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Spadeadam Summer Autotest & BBQ – Sunday 15th August

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

Sunday Afternoon Autotest

Followed by a BBQ  (if wanted).

Spectators and Friends all welcome for a get-together.

To be held at Longpark, Scaleby. Autotest starts 1 pm.



What is an Autotest?

The aim of these events is to negotiate a planned route around various obstacles (usually traffic cones).

Although the test is timed it is more a test of driving skill than speed. Continue reading →

July Club Night Autotest

/ Spadeadam Motor Club

By Barry Lindsay

The July club night was an evening of autotesting at Longpark, Scaleby. Two tests were set up on the grass field to keep competitors busy with two runs at each. Tests 1 & 2 were marshalled by Michael. Jerry was quickest on the first test with 1m 38, Barry on 1m 41, Nigel on 1m 42 then John on 1m 45. Three crews got a wrong test, Christine, Simon B & Simon J. On the second run Jerry was fastest again with 1m 36, Barry on 1m 37, Simon B on 1m 41 then Neil on 1m 45. Wrong test for Lindsay.

Running at the same time crews tackled tests 3 & 4 which were ran by Caroline. Test 3 Barry was quickest with 55 seconds ahead of John on 56, Jerry on 58 then Geoffrey on 59. Wrong test for Simon J. Test 4 Barry again got 55, Jerry on 58, Simon B on 59 then Simon J & John on 1m. Wrong tests for Christine & Lindsay

Robert Harrison

Robert Harrison

Positions after test 4

1st Barry Lindsay                 5m 08

2nd Jerry Hettrick               5m 10

3rd John Ross                      5m 37

4th Neil Thomlinson          5m 39

5th Nigel Harkness             5m 40

6th Simon Jobson               5m 43

7th Simon Brockbank        6m11

8th Geoffrey Harkness      6m16

9th Robert Harrison          6m42

10th Lindsay Harrison       6m50

11th Christine Ross             6m51

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