Results are available to download here:
PCT at Erwin’s
It was all against us today at the Car Trial (PCT) at Erwin’s Potatoes on the Cunningburn Road, Newtownards. There was a date clash with the Laharna targa rally and the weather forecast was not good.
Consequently entries were lower than usual. However, due to an incorrect starting time published in the website, when the organising team arrived at Erwin’s, there was already a welcoming committee of keen competitors ready and waiting to go. What a pleasant sight!
So 3 tests and a slalom course were set up and thereafter continually adjusted to try to make them easier. You see, after the continuous rainfall we have had, not to mention Storm Lorenzo, the ground was saturated even at the top of the hill and the barley stubble was having no effect in helping with the much needed traction. In fact, after the frenetic revving and wheel spinning of just a couple of cars, the hill looked like someone had plastered it with axle grease. And yet, Bailie Thompson in the Corsa managed to produce a seemingly impossible card of 4 penalty free runs on Test 1. Will Thompson also twice managed to clean the test but on his 3rd run touched a marker pole.
Zak Armstrong also drove superbly, keeping the front wheel drive Rover moving forwards when it looked like the run was all but over.
But many thanks are due to the SuperDrive/BADMC contingent for their support today. Jim Crozier with son Cameron, Phil Cherry with daughter Becky, Marshall Kennedy and Alex Agnew came to sample the magic of trialling and the mystery of retaining traction. And in that discipline, young Alex truly stole the show with a stellar drive, taking the BADMC honours and pipping the rally master Jim Crozier at the post. Well done to them all and especially to the young drivers.
Best MG, or rather AH Sprite, was Dermot Johnson in the Frogeye with a very creditable 4th overall. Patrick Johnson’s Midget was however bottoming out and hitting the exhaust and this took the shine off an otherwise excellent drive.
At the end of the day, first place, with no surprise, went to our serial club trial & slalom champion Bailie Thompson with a brilliant performance. Second place overall went to son Will and the final place on the podium was claimed by Zak Armstrong, ably accompanied by grandad Mike, with a remarkable drive, given his shortage of driving experience. We hope for great MG things from Zak in the future.
Unluckiest competitor today was Chris Patterson, his VW engined Beach Buggy unexpectedly spluttered, coughed and blew out plumes of white smoke causing him to retire before turning a wheel. Thanks to Chris for then marshalling at Test 2 instead and clearly thoroughly enjoying the experience. This is what we like to see.
As 3 cars had to be towed out of the mud by a tractor and the rain showed no sign of stopping, we decided it was unsafe to run the slalom, there being a real risk of a car digging in and rolling.
And so came to an end a terrific day’s entertainment despite the poorest of conditions. Many thanks to the marshals Stephen Dawson and Trevor Reid for setting up and standing out in the rain, plus Carol for entries & results and, as already mentioned, Chris Patterson for his help.
Well done everyone and thanks for your entries. Hope to see you all at the next Trial and at the AutoSolo in November.
GB
Results are available to download here: