Results

Event: 7-Apr-2013

Note: BPLD = Best Performance by a Lady Driver, BPYD = Best Performance by a Young Driver, Max = Maximum penalty for incomplete test(s), DNF = Did Not Finish

Report

Almost ideal conditions, if a bit chilly, greeted competitors for the second event of the 2013 season at the Caldale Camp site. The club was delighted to welcome two new competitors to their ranks, particularly as they were girls for whom an additional championship trophy is awarded.

The first of these to go out to compete was Ella Spence driving a Ford Ka borrowed from friend Karen Laughton. Her approach was cautious at first but became more rapid throughout the afternoon and her eventual position at the tail end of the field did not reflect the fact that she was one of only two competitors not to pick up any penalty points on the demanding test routes.

The brothers Moar , renowned for entering the more odd-ball cars, came out with two cars the most distinctive being a Dutton Phaeton. This Lotus 7 look alike is what would most kindly be called ‘a work in progress’. For this event Aaron and Andrew had consigned the Dutton’s original engine to duty as a boat anchor and substituted it for a 2.8 litre Ford V6 liberated from the bowels of Aaron’s Ford Capri. Unfortunately the car was then much like the Curate’s egg --- good in parts! Despite their best efforts the brothers could not resolve the engines misfire and despite its power the best they could manage with it was seventh for Andrew and fifth for Aaron.

Splitting the brothers in sixth place was Robbie Spence in his highly distinctive bright green 1.6 Vauxhall Astra. With its limited rearward vision and overall size Robbie did well to bring it home only shredding one course marker.

Karen Laughton impressed on her first event with the club and it soon became apparent that she was not going to be intimidated by her fellow male competitors. Had she not been penalised for a wrong route mistake she would have made the first step of the podium and not had to settle for a creditable fourth place. This was however enough to get an award trophy for the best performance by a lady driver.

By his usual standards Trevor Sutherland’s final position of third was a bit disappointing although he was none the less very entertaining to watch. Trevor also made a very uncharacteristic route mistake on the first test that cost him thirty points and isolated him to the third podium step.

The two competitors challenging for the top two slots were those Moar brothers again! They had double entered an unusual Subaru Justy that, in the hands of the brothers, showed an impressive turn of speed and handling ability. The strain on the car showed at one stage when a wheel trim flew off and managed to beat the car to the end of the course before bouncing back underneath it and surviving being run over in the process. Aaron was driving well but Andrew was even better and even allowing for Aarons ten penalties it was the fastest time on three of the four test routes that sealed the top slot for Andrew.

The next event will be on April 21st , once more at the Caldale Camp site and things look promising for more hard competition.

JMS