October 2014 The Monthly Newsletter of Carlton and District Motor

October 2014
The Monthly Newsletter of Carlton and District Motor Club
A record number of entrants line up for the start of the Sherwood
Restorations Classic Tour.
Editorial and Committee News
Committee has agreed that the following Bulletin be issued for clarification:
“UPDATE FOR THE FOUR RIVERS 12 CAR RALLY 2014
Carlton and District Motor Club Newsletter October 2014
Following a query received from one of the officials I have reviewed the official
instructions and have found that a “typo” occurred in the instructions for NTC5
resulting in the control being operated in the wrong direction but in the correct
location. This did not affect the results as no penalties were applied for this
section, I hope that this information answers any questions that have been raised.
Richard Ogan
Clerk of Course
The Four Rivers Rally 2014”
Event Reports
STAPLEFORD CARNIVAL 6TH SEPTEMBER
Catherine and Robert Stewart, who support many of Carltons events, are the prime movers in
promoting Stapleford Carnival and deserve support from “Stapleford” members for this event.
The Classic vehicle section this year attracted over 85 vehicles including several tractors, classic
buses, cars and motorcycles.
Re-enactment a VIP funeral cortege from the 5o’s?
A well attended and entertaining day out for all the family
VSCC AUTUMN RALLY 6th SEPTEMBER 2014 a report by Anji Martin
A second invitation to navigate for Martin Trentham in his 3.5l Bentley saw me arriving at
Cromford Mill just as he was about to set off to do the mileage check, putting my navigating
equipment in the back I got in and we set off with me looking for the “usual” crossed triangle
to denote the start, however in VSCC there is just an arrow on the map to the road junction
where Martin reset the milometer, over the 6.4 mile loop we were showing 6.2. Part way
round the mileage check it started to rain and given the drizzle all morning forecast we put the
hood up as soon as we got back to Cromford.
Once signed on I read through the full instructions and started to plot the GW’s listed whilst
Martin transferred the speeds to our time card, these ranged from 18 to 25 MPH for the “slow”
class, we then waited for our time to receive the handout for the morning section. The first
section was a series of grid lines then letters (on the road) before “just over a mile of road with
Carlton and District Motor Club Newsletter October 2014
coniferous wood on your left and mixed wood on your right” – this apparently caught a few
crews out before a LWRNAM
which Martin hadn’t come across before. A section of road
colour YYY YyY junctions, distances on main roads leading to a herringbone and the final
morning section of spot heights and junction approaches/departures. A miss plot on the last
section saw us get a code board by chance but then we would have been WD for the loop I had
plotted so took a different route to get back on route only to miss another code board and the
end control!! A lesson for the future, at 30 points for the missed control and 15 for the route
board we should have stopped and rechecked the route before continuing.
Lunch was at the Charles Cotton Hotel in Hartington, with the restart point and the afternoon
route plotted with time to spare we drove just out of Hartingdon to the start. The first section
was just a series of unconnected grid squares and the direction of departure – again intuition
should have got me to double check as we head NW, to Longnor, for over two miles on a
straightish road completely missing a loop, a code board and gaining a fail for being 5 minutes
early!!, Possibly the sun just starting to creep out made me relax and enjoy the scenery too
much. At least we did get the code board in the rough quarry lay-by, unlike a few. The next
section was one of Dos & Don’ts as we headed towards and round Carsington water including
“go through 12 green dots”, through Bradbrook Ford – at least one crew read this as don’t go
through the ford and ended up on a lengthy detour. The final section was a series of approach
or depart from junctions – near the finish I missed calling a right fork with 4 cars behind us but
in the event we all got the same minute just we were at the back of the queue not the front!
Since the last event I had purchased both the Don Barrow speed tables to the 10th of a mile,
plus the set I got from Peter Mellor which is smaller & easier to handle but only to the mile.
Using them for the first time and making allowances for the .1 every 3 miles was a bit easier
than I anticipated and when we got the route right we were more often on time.
After sharing a bottle of “fizzy” wine and chocolate digestives at the finish with Martins friends
we nearly missed the results but were pleasantly surprised to have come 2nd in class, another
brilliant day out but learning all the time.
BEESTON HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 13th September 2014 – BARTONS GARAGE SITE
A static show of locally based cars, buses and motorcycles contributing to another memorable
Beeston Heritage weekend co-ordinated by Richard English. The Barton family took a very
active part in proceedings turning out “Beauty” – a pre-war Riley and an unrestored Frog eyed
Austin Healey Sprite, as well as several coaches and double deckers. Access to the site was
disrupted by the well behind programme tram works but the temporary road through the tram
compound enabled most exhibits to arrive.
Carlton and District Motor Club Newsletter October 2014
Restored Bus rides were planned but the tram works prevented that – maybe next year but
judging by the state of the works in Beeston even that is in doubt!
Lots of other local interest displays were produced by Local History Societies, again with lots of
input from Richard. Another very good effort by Richard and a good day out, with Bar, food, a
chip shop next door, Folk music and Clog dancing – what more could you ask for!
Sherwood Restorations road run 14th September 2014
Richard English
Sherwood Restorations Classic Tour 14th September 2014
This was the ninth Sherwood Classic and many regarded it as the best yet. The organisers were
embarrassed by having to turn entries away as the event is limited to the number of cars that
can be squeezed into the sponsors Southwell premises car park.
Sixty five entries were accepted and this included many new faces as well as lots of our
regulars. Two regulars who were missing were Vince Orme who had navigator problems and
the very poorly Malcolm Stanley who has done most of the Carlton events in his red Triumph
Stag over the last decade and a half but this was to be a challenge he was unable to meet. At
ten o’clock the first car, the Riley of John Beedham and Graham Philpott were flagged away by
Sherwood Restoration’s Charles Smalley. The entry list included many of the cars seen regularly
on this type of event as well as some of the more recent prestigious motors of the sponsors
customers.
This was the year to go east and Richard English had selected a route that once across the Trent
included the gentle lanes of the area to the north of Grantham before heading for the Fens and
Spalding. The early morning comfort break and complimentary drink and bacon bap was taken
at Syston Park Farm Shop and Café. Here the staff worked wonders to provide waitress service
for over 125 participants in just over an hour.
Carlton and District Motor Club Newsletter October 2014
From here the cars went past Belton House and down Long Hollow at the side of Ropsley
Quarry before hitting cabbage country and the straight roads and flat lands of the Fens, Our
destination was Baytree Garden Centre and Nursery just to the east of Spalding. Here cars were
greeted by Eddie Beilby and Ian Jones doing their usual halfway halt duties on the Sherwood. It
was not a busy day at Baytree and people were soon lost amongst the array of retail,
horticultural and nature attractions as well as a variety of eating facilities available to them on
the 16 acre site.
As cars assembled for the return John and Shirley in the opening course car had reported
confusing road closure signs on the A16 but all was well and there was no need for a diversion.
The route crossed the East Coast mainline where Mallard had set the record for the fastest
speed in 1937. The highlight of the return journey was a picturesque ford that Andy and Brian
had found whilst route checking in the village of Little Bytham where one of the residents had
set herself up to take pictures of the event which, with her consent ran nearly across her
doorstep.
A run past the Waltham mast and across the Vale of Belvoir bought the cars over Gunthorpe
Bridge and back to Southwell. The mystery of what was to be the surprise food at the finish
was soon revealed and was enjoyed by all.. Conversation centred on the days event and
Carlton and District Motor Club Newsletter October 2014
everyone said what a great day we had all had. There is a lesson to be learned for 2015 and
that is to get your entry in early or lets hope that Sherwood restorations have built a
multistorey car park by then. By the way if you want to know what the surprise menu was you
will have to ask someone who did the event.
Finally on a sad note. Malcolm Stanley lost his twenty year battle with cancer ten days after the
event. All his classic car friends will join Andy, Brian and Richard in sending their deepest
sympathy to his wife Angela and all their family at this sad time.
The Cadman Construction Woodbridge Stages Rally
Bob Lowe/Stephen Shephard
Report by Stephen Shephard
Prodrive Subaru Group A
Bob and I tackled the Woodbridge Stages near Ipswich for the first time on September 21st.
The event is the "Home" Single venue of the preparation experts Rally Extreme who look after
the car and they suggested we enter as it's a good event to do as a test.
Six ten mile stages were in store and they were a real test of Driver and Navigator with two 5
mile loops up the runway and in and around the various hangers and buildings making me feel
a bit dizzy!
It was Bob's 2nd event in the Subaru and being LHD it was still a case of acclimatisation to the
new office (lots of switches and displays that took a while to get used to along with changing
gear with the wrong hand!), with a first finish in the car being the priority at a venue neither of
us had been to before.
The car is very well screwed together and it was interesting to hear of it's history (ex Kenneth
Ericsson 1996 WRC) and all the tweeks Prodrive did with active diffs, anti lag and water
injection back in the day to make them a world beater. It's a lot more stable and sure footed
than the Metro and it stops very well, inspiring confidence to push, but it lacks the raw power
of the 6R4 ...for now !
Carlton and District Motor Club Newsletter October 2014
The day went well and was a useful test of the car, with no mechanical problems at all. We
finished 11th overall, gaining speed all day, however time lost on the opening couple of stages
with getting used to the car and venue told and combined with the dry weather and very high
grip surface, it was hard to recover. Definitely a day for a lightweight Millington engine Mk11
or a Proton S2000 which were able to use their power/ weight ratio to take time out of the 555
Scooby.
Next time out will be at Fulbeck near Newark on Sunday on the Harold Palin Stages where I'm
vacating the seat for Dad to co-drive as commitments to Jessica's swimming competitions will
be keeping me busy. However I'll be back for the Lynn stages on October 26th at ex RAF
Sculthorpe in Norfolk.
WHATS ON - CARLTON AND DISTRICT MOTOR CLUB EVENTS
Carlton and District Motor Club meets on the first and third Tuesdays of every
month at a new venue - The Star Inn, Middle Street, Beeston.
***Thursday 16th October – Twelve car rally on map 119, further details to follow.***
Tuesday 11th November - Twelve car rally, further details to follow.
Tuesday 9th December - Twelve car rally on map 120/129, further details to follow.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1ST 2014
Practice day at Curborough sprint course [nr Lichfield Staffs]
Carlton and District Motor Club are organising their annual practice day at the international
sprint course at Curborough in the West Midlands.
The number of places for the whole event is limited to enable everyone to get adequate track
time . THE COST IS JUST £35.
This is an ideal opportunity for YOU the ordinary club member [or specially invited guest] to
take your car onto a track ALONE . The car needs no special preparation .
Short drivers briefing at 11.00 am .The day ends about 4.00 pm .
There is a noise test but any normal i.e. unmodified car should pass easily [if in doubt please
contact me beforehand] .[105db @ 0.75m]
Drivers and passengers must have a crash helmet – you may be able to borrow one on the day
but please ask before the day.
Timing devices are permitted only from a point of comparative testing [suspension , tuning
alterations etc.] .
Marshalls , first aid and fire extinguishers are provided. Toilets on site .
The club has again booked an on-site catering wagon ,selling a wide range of food and drink at
sensible prices. Please make use of it so it can be a permanent arrangement for us.
Carlton and District Motor Club Newsletter October 2014
Normal road cars only [no specials or single seaters]. Only one car is permitted on the track at
any time. Three lap sessions [opening lap , one full lap then slowing down lap] .
Competing cars can then go to the pits or rejoin the queue for another go [round robin]
The limited places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Contact Vince Orme by e-mail at vince.cdmc[at]gmail.com or 0115 9720333 [24 hr ansaphone]
or 077 998 02107 initially to find out if places are still available . ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
MARSHALLING OPPORTUNITIES Contact Richard Ogan for details
5th October Harold Palin Memorial Rally, Fulbeck Airfield – Eastwood Motor Club
18th October Cambrian Rally
26th October Lynn Charity Stages Sculthorpe Airfield, website: Kings lynn Motor Club
Sunday 2nd November Malton Forest Rally website: Malton Motor Club
Sunday 23rd November Premier Stages Rally website: Dukeries Motor Club
13th,14th,15th and 16th November Wales Rally GB
More pictures from The Autofest – several cars were multi-abused during the day!
Please note: The views expressed in articles in this Newsletter are those of the person writing the article and not necessarily those of the Editor or
Committee. All rights are reserved
Carlton and District Motor Club Newsletter October 2014