Results

Event: 19-May-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

Last Sunday’s superb weather was much appreciated by the members of the Motor Club who met at Caldale Camp site to contest the fifth Autotest of the 2013 season. The competition comprised two different courses with marker posts and dummy garages for contestants to negotiate as quickly as possible. Both tests were driven twice making a total of four tests and the total time taken in seconds plus any penalty points awarded giving a total score. The driver with the lowest score at the end being the winner.

Regular competitors Andrew and Aaron Moar turned up once again with their monstrous Dutton sports car the engine of which has caused them so much aggravation in recent competitions. Having burnt the midnight oil in attempts to rectify its persistently misfiring engine they arrived with a newfound optimism only to have this dashed on the first test as the problem returned with a new found vigour. Both drivers tried their hand at driving through the problem but it was not to be and the car was consigned to the pits lucky not to have been torched.

Recent new competitor Ella Spence and her first time competitor brother Iain brought a Citroen Saxo to the event which, on the face of it, seemed a good choice. Not so. It transpired that the car had not turned a wheel for two years and had gear selection issues as well as dubious fuel type in the tank. Despite these problems both Ella and Iain struggled through the four tests with admirable determination. Iain was the quicker of the two but Ella picked up no penalty points unlike Iain who mowed down course markers as if his life depended on it. This dropped Iain to seventh spot behind sixth placed Ella.

Driving her road legal Ford Ka was Karen Laughton, putting in another quick and accurate performance to take the award for best performance by a lady driver and fifth place overall.

Aaron and Andrew Moar once more arrived with a second car, this time a Suzuki Swift which Aaron gave a good shakedown. Had he not wrong-routed on the very first test, picking up thirty penalty points, he would have been on the podium for awards and not in his final position of fourth.

Robbie Spence is another competitor who always seems to turn up with a different car each time and this event was no different. On this occasion his ride was a very tidy Rover 25 with an impressive turn of speed and an excellent handbrake so essential for this sport. His reward for driving without penalty but at speed was a first step on the podium in third place.

It was Andrew Moar’s turn to roll out the Suzuki Swift which he did in his usual exuberant style. Although quick, the Swift appeared to be more of a handful than his last car a Suburu Justy and despite his best efforts and a penalty free drive he had to settle for second spot.

It was apparent early on that Trevor Sutherland, driving his regular Ford Ka, would be the man to beat and as tests came and went it was Trevor who posted fastest times on all four tests. This, coupled to a penalty free drive left him to mount the top step of the podium once again.

Competitors now have a four week break until the next event at Caldale on 16th June giving several of them the opportunity for essential maintenance!

JMS