We were pleasantly surprised when Dave Mothersdill, Pete Hiles, Simon Lott and I entered the field on Saturday to set up the tests for the event on Sunday. The field had been used for sheep (they were removed on Friday courtesy of George Atwell, the farmer that owns the field and allows us to come and play) and the grass was very short and quite smooth.
It took a couple of hours to lay out the cones for 4 tests, The long test was first as that takes the most cones, it ran across the bottom of the field down into a dip and out again. Test 2 was a slalom into a ‘garage’ where the competitors had to do a 360 degree turn and then leave the ‘garage’ at the same spot they entered, and then back down the slalom to the finish. The 3rd test was one we had not tried before; nine cones were laid out in a shallow V pattern with the centre cone as a 360-degree turn. After the 360 the cars had to pass between cones 1 & 2 on both sides of the V, then between cones 2 & 3 etc. taking a wider line on each pass. After going around cone 4, the competitor had to do a 270 degree around the centre cone and then through the finish. Test four was the traditional Maltese cross, four cones are placed in the centre as a square, with 4 further cones as outliers. From the start gate, the competitor drove through the centre of the cross and turned right and around the outlier, back through the centre but 90 degrees out from the first crossing, around the outlier and back through the cross but opposite to the first crossing, around the last outlier and through the cross for a last time and through the finish. It is much easier to do than write about it so here are the ‘Course Maps’ drawn by Simon on Saturday evening.
On the Sunday Dave got there early to put out the fire extinguishers and spill mats etc and the competitors started to arrive. Frank Vautier was the first in his MG TA all the way from Central Wales, the other 4 competitors arrived in quick succession. Again, a very low turnout. It did not help that it clashed with ‘National Drive It Day’ but MG car club members don’t know what fun they are missing. Once the Drivers briefing was over the cars started to take on the tests. The grass was slightly damp with dew first thing, which mad the three mid engined MG Fs and TF very tail happy and not a lot of traction either. As the day wore on the grass dried and the times became quicker. However test two caught me out twice! When I excited the ‘Garage’ I went the wrong side of the first slalom cones, on the second run, I checked the ‘Map’ and still got it wrong. Never mind it still great fun. After everyone had had four attempts at each test, Simon collected the score cards and totted up the scores while we had picnic lunches. Only the best three scores were to count. The provisional results were:
1. Mike Angwin MG F 631.
2. Andy Morris, MG TF 634.
3. Pete Hiles MG TD 666.
4. Frank Vautier MG TA 685.
5. Jim Lott MG F 725.
Once lunch was over, it was decided to have one last go starting the stop watch at the start of Test 1, then going straight to test 2 then test 3 and finish at test 4 stopping the watch. Giving one overall time for the run. Again, the provisional results were:
1. Andy Morris, MG TF 3:42.
2. Mike Angwin MG F 3:47.
3. Pete Hiles MG TD 3:49.
4. Frank Vautier MG TA 4:01
5. Jim Lott MG F 4:22
I would like to thank Dave Mothersdill for sorting the entries and setting up the courses, Pete Hiles and Simon Lott again for the helping setting up. Simon Lott, Peter and Victoria Jones, Dave Mothersdill and Kat Boyland for marshalling the tests.
MGOG 2 is on Sunday 10th August in the same field at Claverham. Come and join in, the field is quite smooth and none damaging (you might pick up a bit of sheep poo, but it is easily washed off). We would love to see you.
Jim Lott
Chairman MGCC SW Centre