I received an interesting E-Mail from Murray MacDonald. James Lindsay went home to Cornwall and brought back an article about Dennis Greenslade (who Murray and I refer to as "our hero") from the local paper!
It seems that Dennis was navigating for Nigel Barnett in the Imp on the Historic section of the RAC rally. They had a problem at Silverstone when they lost oil. They made it to Millbrook where the engine blew and deposited about 5 litres of oil on "Makinens' Corner". The marshals wouldn't let them out while the historic’s passed so they had to sit it out. Then they couldn't get out before the main rally arrived. So they sat and watched while Makinen destroyed his car (and championship hopes at that time) on their oil! The marshals made no attempt to clear the oil nor to warn him. All of this was reported in the National papers at the time and of course they were featured in the Autosport cartoon.
CLASSIC TRIALS: Dennis menaced by a rock.
From "The West Britton", Thursday 17 December. By
Matt Dixon
Irony works in mysterious ways.
It was just over three weeks ago when Dennis Greenslade, Cornwall’s ace classic car trialist, was being blamed, albeit unfairly, for Tommi Makinen’s sensational crash in the RAC Network Rally.
Remember the Hillman Imp that caused the spill? Just two weeks later, an amazing twist of fate has led to Greenslade suffering heartbreak of his own.The 56-year old. Who lives at St Allen, near Truro, was poised to charter new ground in claiming a fourth Crackington Cup in the Association of Classic Trials Clubs championship, before he befell the same misfortune as Makinen.
On the penultimate stage of the penultimate tral at Bristol. Greenslade’s Reliant Scimitar hit a large rock which broke a rear suspension arm. The wheel went in on an angle, and despite valiant attempts to complete the stage a wheel eventually fell off, as it had done on Maikinen’s car.
"It was so ironic really. We were, in effect, labeled as the cause for Makinen going out of the RAC, and now exactly the same thing has happened to me," said Dennis."I expect he was sticking little pins into a model of me," he laughed.
Greenslade had been leading his class by some distance and was well in control before disaster struck and he was denied a fourth title.
But, as in the case of Makinen, who went on to take the world title, there was some consolation for Greenslade.His misfortune enabled his son, Giles, to win his first Crackington Cup. Dennis eventually finished third.The 25-year-old, in only his second year of classic trials competition, had been lying in third spot, but his fathers disaster ensured he took top spot in the VW Beetle that Dennis had used in his victorious 1992 campaign.
"He’s calling his Dad an OAP now. I’m shattered in one respect and delighted in another."
That was not the end of the Greenslade success story, however. Dennis’ wife Tricia, won the Woolbridge Trophy for the navigators’ championship a record-breaking fourth time.
It’s been quite a year for the family, and the action is sure to continue in January when Dennis attempts to win his ninth triple award. He then heads of to the Continent in a 3.4 litre Jaguar to take part in the Monte Carlo Rally.
This article was originally published on The Classical Gas Web Site in January 1999 and moved here on 29 October 2000