Classical Gas
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Ultra Dry Conditions Mean Plenty of Clean Sheets
Nick Farmer won a bone dry Ilkley Trial with one of many clean sheets. However, a storming first special test gave Nick a decisive victory in his Cannon Alfa. Under the conditions low scores were the order of the day, but many fell foul of being penalised after touching closely space marker poles. Tiff Needell returned, driving Dave Haizeldens Golf and put in a very credible performance.
Unlike last year, when the heavens opened, this years Ilkley was bone dry as competitors gathered at Ilkley Rugby Club. Once again the event was graced by Tiff Needell. Last year Tiff was on a rather strange, and completely uncompetitive, combination. He certainly had a competitive machine this time as Dave Haizelden had lent him his familiar Golf. Dave himself was out in class three driving his Cosworth engined Escort. Running just a few places behind Tiff, Dave would be able to act as chase car should disaster occur.
The first section at Langbar was just a few miles from the start. This is where Dave Haizeldens chase car plan stalled when the engine failed just a few yards into the section. A bolt had come adrift from a cambelt pulley and that was that for the Green Cosworth. Tiff himself cleaned the section and was to go on to record a very credible performance, driving thoughtfully, with respect for his borrowed machine. Tiff, passenger Jonny Smith and their film crew were very friendly, interested in the sport and certainly appeared to enjoy their day. Lets see what the TV program brings!
The familiar sections at Hawpike didn't affect the result but saw the demise of Robin Barlow, driving his ex- Dick Glossop Beetle for the first time. Robin acquired this car hoping for better luck than he has experienced with his Dellow Mk2, which has gobbled a couple of back axles in the short time he has owned it. Unfortunately Robin was not to experience Volkswagen reliability. The engine refused to run cleanly and it appeared the fuel system was well and truly blocked. After some time Robin found the electric petrol pump had packed up and was forced to retire and make the long journey home to Aberdeen. The first special test at Highfield Farm lay a couple of miles across the moors, reached by a farm track that passed numerous gates through stone walls, all manned by marshals. This long blast was to decide the trial, Nick Farmer was fastest by several seconds, crucial when at the end there were nine clean sheets.
There were two sections at Strid Wood. The first was the familiar trip up the gully where there were a couple of traps for the unwary. The first was a peaty hump about half way up. This required good ground clearance, and a bootfull of throttle, before lifting off to negotiate the tightly spaced marker pole defining a 90 right at the top. One of these two obstacles caught out around a third of the entry, including Tony Branson in the EFi Marlin he has recently acquired from Jonathan Toulmin. The section wasn't very Class Four friendly either, only Michael Leete (Beetle) and Nigel Jones (Skoda) going clear. Sam Holmes clipped the one marker in his Beetle but this was the only point he was to loose all day, emerging as the class winner.
Only Seven and Eight had a go at this as the access from the road became impassable once the heavens opened.
The higher classes had a very difficult deviation that proved impassable causing a long queue to develop, later numbers having to wait the best part of a couple of hours. By the time the later numbers had their turn the rain had become persistent making the grass impossibly slippery. Robin Barlow (Dellow Mk2) was amongst the non restarting class 0's to be defeated only by the final bank, which Tony Leedal actually surmounted in his GN.
James Shallcross was the only driver to get to the final bank, doing well to get away from the slippery restart.
Up on top of the moor this short little section saw the demise of Tris White's Imp with a broken diff.
Running towards the front of the cars Dudley Sterry and Nick Farmer both cleaned this one but by now a familiar pattern was developing as the grass became increasingly slippy as the rain came down. Classes 3, 4 and 5 had another wait of an hour and the section was finally cancelled for them when Edward Broom got his Escort stuck on a tree stump. Rather than scrub the section in the results the course closing car scored remaining cars a seven.
It was nearly four in the afternoon when the stragglers arrived at the lunch halt where the caters had kindly waited which was much appreciated. Paul Bartleman was leading the trial overall at this point on 24 with Philip Bovill (Cannon DP) on 27, followed by Simon Woodall and Stuart Lambert on 28
Dean Partington went into the lead of the trial here when he was the only car to go clean. For the rest it was the familiar mud bath and when Thomas Aldrian got well and truly stuck it was abandoned for the remaining cars who accepted an eleven from the course closing car.
Classes Seven and Eight attempted these classic Ilkley sections which were both cleaned by the leading cars. Later they were cancelled for the remaining cars but there was confusion for classes 3, 4 and 5, by now running with more than an hours gap behind the field, as all they found was a closed gate with no notice or marshal to explain what was going on. This even confused the course closing cars who the stragglers were getting to know very well.
Always an Ilkley highlight. Brian Colman did well to be the only class 7 to get off the restart. In class 1 Dave Haizelden, James Shallcross and Adrian Tucker-Peake all went clear, although without a restart of course, as did Alan Smith with his Marlin in Class 0. With ground clearance at a premium the section wasn't particularly Skoda friendly so Alistair Queen was delighted to come so close to a clean, demonstrating he hasn't lost his touch after a long lay-off.
None of the cars could clean this section which had a greasy impossible restart. However, the highlight was the exit track. A wonderful, long, rutted track, worthy of Calton in its prime. Shame that wasn't the section!
Only classes seven and eight had a go at this, later numbers arrived to find the gate closed and the marshals gone. Like the Incline sections it was shame a marshal hadn't stayed on to explain what was going on or at least left a notice.
There were some issues finding these sections as the arrow from the main road was missing. Most competitors managed to find these sections but one or two didn't, including Thomas Aldrian, costing him a win in class four. The overall winner was decided here, when Simon Woodall cleaned the second, grassy section while his rivals dropped eleven or twelve.
This super little section had a restart on a sharp left hand corner. You had to get going of the start line first though, catching out a few but not affecting the results.
Back at the finish their was an excellent pie and peas supper, even for the later numbers who didn't arrive till gone 7pm. Very few competitors waited for the results, understandably preferring to go home and dry out. Despite all the issues it was a very enjoyable trial, despite the weather.
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