The Monthly Newsletter of Carlton and District Motor Club- March 2014

Transcription

1 The Monthly Newsletter of Carlton and District Motor Club- March 2014 Photo: Vince Orme Member of the month for February was agreed by the Committee on February 7 th as John Thornhill who has resigned from his post of Route Liaison Officer for both Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, to give himself enough time to complete a Law Degree at Nottingham University. John has been a member of Carlton and District Motor Club since 1976 and, soon after joining, his tremendous organisational and motivation skills were put to use when he became Chief Marshall, raising the Clubs profile and reputation for providing reliable marshalling teams for all the major East Midlands Road and Stage rallies, along with the old Mintex, National Breakdown and Lombard RAC Rallies. His intellect was confirmed by his winning of John Watsons challenging Brain of Carlton quiz series, (how many hours did we spend researching for that without Google?).

2 When the Motor Sports Association was looking for a replacement for Gerry Gardner to become Nottinghamshire RLO in 1985, John was encouraged by the CDMC East Midlands Road Rally Champions, Simon Chippington and Bob Taylor to apply and John was appointed. This was a challenging time to take on this position with the countries International RAC Rally coming to Nottingham for the first time. This baptism of fire was successfully achieved despite forcefully ejecting the head of a major sports car manufacturing company from Scrutineering at Nottingham University! ( I believe a headlock was involved). His career was being mentored during this period by Jim Porter and John went on to be involved at the highest level in many national and international Rallies. John also took on the difficult post of Derbyshire RLO following the death of George Jenkins, this was a difficult time for road rallying and the MSA imposed many restrictions in an attempt to sanitise the events which had become road races with organisers flouting the rules on timing, using unauthorised routes and competitors using several sets of racing slicks on their BDA Escorts! There were also a lot of interclub rivalries and even threats of violence following scrutineering refusals, followed inevitably by the need to attend disciplinary Tribunals. John was on the MSA Committee which, somewhat reluctantly, accepted Philip Youngs introduction of Endurance Road Rallying in the shape of the short lived Lombard Revival Rally where Special stages were renamed Selectifs timed to the second with minimal safety provisions. John encountered many characters and celebrities, including the Mayor of Wrexham while acting as Assistant Clerk of the Course for The Norwich Union Classic. Louise Aitken Walker and Ian Scott Watson (the man who started Jim Clark s racing career) lent a hand with John on time controls in Jim Clark s home town of Duns on the FIVA World Rally John was Assistant Clerk of the Course for important events such as the Euro Classic and played a major role in the Inaugural Norwich Union Classic which involved over 400 crews starting from Bath, Epsom and Newstead Abbey with all cars converging on Silverstone for a mass start Race around the Grand Prix circuit!. The event grew and in 1989 over 1000 cars started from 7 locations including Nottinghams Old Market Square and finishing at Donington. At this time there was plenty of interest from Sponsors and the Media in the spectacle of rallying and John managed to obtain the use of The American Adventure Theme Park for an RAC Rally stage in There were also many calls on Johns time from MSA Headquarters and he was a regular visitor to Belgrave Square for Committee meetings. He became Deputy Regional Organiser for the RAC Rally in 1986 with stages at Donington, Chatsworth, Silverstone and for The National Breakdown International Rally in Yorkshire.

3 Could be Juha Kankkunen at The American Adventure in 1990! Venue Courtesy of John Thornhill! Police liaison and Public relations were also major time consuming activities especially trying to explain rallying to John Brunton - an Evening Post reporter without the remotest previous knowledge! John dealt with over 50 events a years as RLO and will continue to be involved with the Nottingham Classic. He still has rallies queued up seeking authorisation while the MSA concludes the appointment of his replacement. The Club wholeheartedly thanks John for his outstanding contribution to motorsport and for maintaining Carlton and District Motor Clubs reputation with the Midlands Associations of Motor Clubs Although I mentioned the cancellation of this year s Huntsman Rally in the February newsletter, I was corrected in Committee by Vince Orme to the effect that the event is

4 actually postponed. Vince has sent additional information to all members which is included below:- HUNTSMAN RALLY Saturday June 28th To all club members Although last year s event ran with a full entry the Organising team were to find out after the event that a large part of the test mileage would no longer be available to us. After exploring alternatives both locally and towards Lincolnshire the conclusion reached at club night [Tuesday 21st Jan] was that a combination of various factors means the event has to be postponed. If any member wishes further information, knows of alternative venues, wants to be involved please get in touch Vince Orme [Secretary of the Meeting]. A resolution to the MSA Liaison Officer vacancy is likely to be announced soon... Congratulations again to BT Vision on their coverage of the Swedish rally: - live stage action with British drivers again figuring in the results at the highest level of the sport. Shame Gwyndaf did not warn Elfyn how easy it is to roll in the thawing snow but he set some impressive times and was inside the top ten when he rolled on the final (televised) stage. Also great to see Latvala challenging Ogier and leading the WRC championship.. The milder winter must have helped anyone in the Club preparing their cars for the new season, my concentration has been on rebuilding Stephens Manta engine following his Barkeston Heath dropped valve the damage was worse than first thought, requiring a new piston, sleeving the damaged bore and a new cylinder head. The car is now running and will be out during the summer. The RS2000 now sports 3J (the company previously known as TranX) driveshafts following the breakage on the RAC and will be out for the Dukeries in June. The Riley is ready to go for Drive It Day in april. The only snag is the need for new seats and belts but we will share a set between the RS and the Manta to cut costs! Clive is very

5 busy with his Harrier which I believe is destined for use on a Continental rally later in the year. Event reports HRCR Table top rally TABLE TOP RALLY: STANHOPE ARMS : 13 JANUARY 2014 This table top rally was organised by HRCR to suit both beginners and experts, and six entrants took the challenge including Clive and Anji Martin, I have summarised below a report from HRCR s newsletter to emphasise the scale of Anji s achievement the task looks horrendous!. The first test was titled Farmyard Adventure, as indeed it was since eight farms had to be visited by the shortest route on OS Map 170. An answer was needed as to how many hills steeper than 1 in 5 had been encountered. The Spotify test was a route defined by 24 spot heights on Map 128 after the start in Ashbourne. The question to be solved was which letters were crossed / passed through en route. The third exercise took competitors to Stowmarket where CRO (coloured roads only) were to be used. The first part of the route was defined by no less than 30 BBB, YYYY, YGG etc junction descriptions and then NWNSWNNENWSNWS, finally ending at a railway station that had to be named. The NWNS denoted grid square entries and departures, the clue being in the title Colour Cross. Test No.4 was again on Map 155, being the Timely Meander. The start was at 12:00, after which each coloured road junction had to be left at the new time. Then came etc, being 12:10, 12:16, 12:12 etc md denoted the A1141, B1115, B1078 and Semer Lodge before returning to the A1141 and B1115. The first spot height met thereafter was the answer to the question. The final test was Drenewydd on Map 136 near Newtown, Powys and so was perhaps a chance to simulate some classic Welsh road-rallying. Five black spots were to be avoided and al Roads were to beused. Eight-figure map references required very precise plotting indeed. The precision required hinted that some triangular road junctions would be used and prove critical and they were. The question to be answered was how many steep hills were climbed or descended. Results Clive and Anj Martin David Yorke Neil and Matt Roma and Paul Peter Mellor Peter Haynes

6 CDMC Table Top Tuesday 18 th February Report by Clive and Anji Martin With no 12 car this month we decided to put on a table top for a change, five teams entered with Don and John pairing up with Glynn and Les as neither of them had ever had a go at plotting a route before despite marshalling on events for years. There were six handouts starting at Diseworth and finishing near Sutton Bonnington, a herringbone, roman numerals relating to clock face directions exiting junctions, a table of grid lines with the order in which passed in the first column, simple tulips, grid squares with a line denoting the angle of the road leaving each square and colours of roads making up each junction. Richard commented that even he had not come across two of the route methods before. Each section also had a trivia question for instance the number of phone boxes passed. Also it became apparent how much OS maps can vary from one edition to another in what you can or can t see especially at junctions, so it is worth remembering if all the route works apart from one little bit and you map is not the edition specified by the organisers then you are probably right anyway. 1 st Emma & Jacob mins 2 nd Richard & Rowan mins 3 rd Don & Glynn mins 4 th John & Les mins 5 th David & James mins Anji & Clive Whats on? Please remember that Carlton and District Motor Club meets on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at The Commercial Inn, Wollaton Road, Beeston. Depending on numbers, we occupy the Lounge Bar or the larger upstairs bar. CDMC events Saturday 8 th March Alfreton Chinese Night - meal organised by Don Cameron.

7 Tuesday 11 th March Twelve car (Flyer will be circulated) Tuesday 18 th March Annual General Meeting to be held at The Commercial Inn, Beeston start 8.00 (prompt!) CDMC and associates Historic Events in 2014 SUNDAY 27th APRIL 2014 NATIONAL DRIVE IT DAY CLASSIC TOUR. ( 15.00) SUNDAY 18 TH MAY 2014 BARLBOROUGH HALL CLASSIC RUN SUNDAY 15 TH JUNE 2014 PARKSIDE RUN (Both Crooked Spire events) SUNDAY 27th JULY 2014 NOTTINGHAM CLASSIC TOUR. Thornhill ) ( details to follow by John SUNDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 2014 SHERWOOD RESTORATION CLASSIC TOUR. ( 30.00) Other events Saturday 8 th March Another chance to try the Coalville Car Club Winterseries Autosolo at Donington Park. All road cars are eligible with various classes to suit all abilities/ equipment. Only 20 and cars may be shared. Be there 8.30 finish by Details on Coalville, Loughborough or Mid-Derbyshire websites. Monday 10 th March - Roger Marriot, who s Volvo is well known on CDMC Classic events and now 12 cars, will be speaking to HRCR members at The Stanhope Arms about his colourful rallying career I have spoken to him in the past about his experiences and I am sure this will be an interesting evening. Starts 8.00, guests welcomed!