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Post by speedsport on Oct 24, 2007 21:07:09 GMT
I've entered my trusty Fiesta for this one... and had finals so it looks like I'm in! So is Moke.
It looks interersting as there's an Autotest and an Autosolo at the same time at the same venue on the same day. Quite a good entry for the Autotest, just 4 for the Solo, as the organisers point out, there could be more entries delayed in the post.
Venue: Booth's Hall, Chelford Road, Knutsford (5 mins by car from Knutsford town centre). Event starts at 10.15am. Come along & have a laugh!
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Post by caterman on Oct 28, 2007 19:35:15 GMT
Well.....How did it go today? Come on, don't keep us in suspense.
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Post by speedsport on Oct 28, 2007 23:45:09 GMT
Well, you asked for this........ Oh what fun !!! ;D I really enjoyed this one. OK, the deluge on the way to Knutsford was not altogether pleasant, as the driver of the "roofless" Westfield who followed me into the venue would undoubtedly agree. Knusford & Dist MC decided, as an experiment, to divide the large car park into two. The left half hosted the AutoSOLO, whilst the right half hosted an Autotest. So we had the great spectacle of production cars tackling the solo to the sound-track of Autotest specials on the other half. Our tests were reasonably open so that a good number of us were doing most of it in 2nd gear and, thanks to the slightly gravely / mossy surface that didn't dry all day, we were having a great time with four wheel drifts etc. ;D The layout was only changed once during the day, the afternoon course basically being a reversal of the morning test with one or two cones removed and proved to be even more fun. There now seems to be a good bunch of regular competitors doing the SOLOs and the events have a wonderful atmosphere; everyone seems quite happy to exchange suggestions on how to go quicker - not that the help necessarily works every time of course. Moke had problems with his Mini Cooper the day before.... it must have known that Sunday was going to be wet & decided it wanted a day off. So rather than risk it on 3 cylinders, he used his Mondeo Estate tow car instead. It was by far the longest car in the event, but Dave proved that he can do handbrake turns most effectively in it. The competition was very close, and despite me having a severe argument with myself on one test and not being able to agree which side of one particular cone to pass until too late, I pulled off yet another 2nd in class to add to my growing collection of similar trophies. One day..... maybe one day... that elusive 1st may just come my way, but I need to find another 6 seconds or so over the course of the day to get there. Given how hard I was trying today, that target is somewhat daunting! Anyway..... another great days fun motorsport was had by all. To finish off the day, they let around 10 of the autotesters have a go at our afternoon's SOLO test. WOW! The guys in the specials were terrfic..... although it was also interesting to see that they were only knocking 3 or 4 seconds off our best times and most of the testers in "normal" cars were actually slower than us. Well, we had been practicing all afternoon! Looks like the next local AutoSOLO will be at Accrington/Darwen on 2nd December though I think Chester may be intending to run one before that. No regs for either on ANWCC site yet. The BTRDA AutoSOLO finals are at Curborough on 11th November, though Bolton-le-Moors is running an Autotest on the same day at Bolton Services on the M61. Everyone will be relieved (well my wife will anyway) that I'm not going to Curborough & I'm not going to start doing Autotests either! Winter fun? Seems to be catching on all year! See you at Accrington/Darwen? (But where was Accrington & D MC's Steve Johnston? Hope he had a good excuse for not competing at Knutsford!)
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Post by moke on Oct 29, 2007 22:40:08 GMT
Three cylinders on my wagon late Saturday afternoon meant I wouldn't be rolling along to KDMC's autoSOLO on Sunday morning. I think the Min had been listening to the weather forecast and didn't fancy leaving the warm garage. Not wishing to forgo the entry fee there was only one thing for it, use the company hack!! , the alternative being the wife's shopper i.e. Megane Scenic with electronic hand brake. A no brainer really. With some trepidation, I arrived in a downpour to find Speedsport in scrutineering with a puzzled look on his face when I rolled up in the TDCI Mondeo barge. A change of class took me into the over 1600cc category along side a diesel Passat saloon and some other big fish. Well if they can do it then so can I! Wet, moss, gravel and leaves all added to the slippery excitement of the morning run. A fairly open test with a slight sting half way thro, a 90 left down a ramp to a very very tight 180 (handbrake job or three pointer to get round) and back up the ramp. Clipped a bollard first time . Surprisingly the barge was not the handful that I expected and responded well to liberal use of the handbrake. Seems as though once it had stepped out of line the momentum of the back end just kept it drifting, even at relatively low speed. However, it was a frustrating morning run and too many errors left me trailing Speedsport, who had got his act together quicker than I. After the lunch halt the sun arrived on the scene to dry things up a bit. By then I had got the measure of the beast, and along with tighter lines and a bit less use of the handbrake (old autotest habits die hard) I started to get much closer to John's times. At final results, guess who picked up his 2nd in class, well done John. At least I wasn't last in class but as I've said before, "Hey it's a bit of fun". A really sociable day out with plenty of swapping of tips and ideas between competitors to improve one's technique and those all important times. In fact too much use of the handbrake on a slippery day can be quite detrimental to your times, sometimes a tight line with little or no drifting is just as quick So what are you waiting for, have a go. As I found out engine type or size of car has little to do with having a b****y good thrash round a car park. Beats ASDA's car park on a Sunday every time!! John has posted the details of the next two events and if I can finish the date with the paint brush by the time of the next one I'll see you there! ;D
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Post by speedsport on Oct 30, 2007 23:39:28 GMT
;DYou're too kind Moke.... you make it sound as though I knew what I was doing! I seem to recall it's a certain other person who is the past master at throwing cars around car parks!! No mention of the puncture then? Wonder how that happened 'eh ? Seriously though, your exploits in the "barge" impressed several of your fellow competitors. It was long car to get round some of those sections, well done & thanks for the entertainment ;D
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Post by moke on Nov 1, 2007 22:45:22 GMT
Thanks Speedsport, glad you and others enjoyed the entertainment, wish someone had taken a video as would quite like to see what the barge looks like sideways! Thinking of times and driving technique etc Nigel Raeburn won my class in the MX5 and I reckon he just drove as tight a line as possible with no use of handbrake; remember how wide he was on the morning test coming from the last gate to the finish line! The puncture was on the last test of the day when I decided not to handbrake round the second lampost but to pass as close as possible. Must have knicked the sidewall with the corner of the kerb. Rapid deflation of tyre but only put a second on the timed run
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Post by moke on Nov 6, 2007 21:23:16 GMT
The Accrington Autosolo regs are not on ANWCC site yet but I do have a copy if anybody wants to enter. Only £20 for a fun day out.! ;D Their Autosolo events for 2008 are 16 March, 29 June (day after our sprint), 30 November.
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Post by speedsport on Nov 8, 2007 23:27:08 GMT
just sent off my entry for Accrington MSC Solo. Anyone else going to join me?
Watch the capacity splits for the Clubsport Solo when filling in your entry though. Accrington put in extra splits to give those in small cc cars a fighting chance.
It will be a great day.... though if last year is anything to go by cccccold.
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Post by moke on Nov 9, 2007 0:21:08 GMT
I shall put in an entry in the hope that I am ahead of schedule on the home decorating front, that has to be finished by Christmas or else, and can sneak away for a fun day out. ;D Hope to C U there.
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Post by speedsport on Nov 9, 2007 22:11:02 GMT
I heard that Ian Mather is intending joining us, in his Mini. Is that still correct Ian? Anybody else? It is seriously good fun & is a close to non damaging as you can get in motorsport. All you are likely to do is scrub a little rubber off the tyres, unless you are really silly & hit a kerb or something
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Post by moke on Nov 10, 2007 0:51:40 GMT
Ouch!!
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Post by speedsport on Nov 17, 2007 17:40:06 GMT
Regs for the Accrington AutoSolo on 2nd December are now available on line at www.anwcc.org/regs-071202x.htm This is a very friendly event, located at the Blackburn with Darwen services just off Jct 4 of the M65. The services are run by MacDonald's so there is food/drink available on site all day and AMSC have even negotiated discounts for competitors & marshals. Nice warm seating area, proper facilities - it must be the most comfortable motor sport event "office" I've ever seen! Come along & have some fun (
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Post by speedsport on Nov 27, 2007 21:55:00 GMT
[glow=red,2,300] STOP PRESS! [/glow] HELP! MORE CARS REQUIRED. HELP! MORE CARS REQUIRED. HELP! MORE CARS REQUIRED. [/b] Very few entries received so far for this event at Blackburn. The event will go ahead, but if anyone is wondering whether or not to have a go, take the plunge as this looks like being a great event especially for first time competitors. As a concession, the "early bird" reduced entry fee of £20 is being held right up to Sunday morning. No MSA competition licence required for the Club AutoSolo, but you do need to be a member of Accrington MSC, or one of the invited clubs. To join AMSC just £7 gets you membership until Dec 2008.Come on, join in the fun. Any road legal car will do! It really will be a great fun day out!The regs are at www.anwcc.org/regs-071202x.htm Or for more info ring Entries Secretary: Steve Butler on 01254 389059
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Post by vanny on Nov 28, 2007 0:04:36 GMT
in addition to my email, how long does the event last?
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Post by speedsport on Nov 28, 2007 23:44:10 GMT
Signing on from 8.45am, event starts 10am. Finishes about 3.30 - 4pm (depends if anyone has any petrol (or energy left)!
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