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Post by vanny on Sept 1, 2008 9:17:49 GMT
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Post by speedsport on Sept 1, 2008 22:17:17 GMT
Welcome back Vanny. Great video, just a glimpse of a great day! ;D Summer fun.... and it didn't really rain! The next one is Knutsford's AutoSolo & Autotest at Booths Hall, Knutsford on 26th October. See www.knutsfordmotorclub.co.uk or www.ANWCC.org for details
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Post by moke on Sept 3, 2008 23:23:33 GMT
I had to pull out of the previous AMSC autosolo at Darwen because of last minute work commitments so I was really looking forward to the event at Lymm Truck Stop. Having managed to locate a complete set of 10" rims, two donated by Howie some time ago (thanks Howie) and the other two by another mysterious benefactor ( the old LMC trailer! -ed)only last week, I was able to use some old rubber lurking in the garage and confirm an entry in the Moke (it's normally shod with knobblies). A text from Speedsport on the Friday evening had me worried at one point as he suggested I may have to be in the sports car class (definitely not a good idea ) as the standard saloon class demands that all seats and trim have to be fitted. My Moke only has two front seats! In fact ex-works for a Moke was driver's seat, hood and no trim! I decided to check with the secretary of the meeting and got the OK for standard saloon class with the prosaic words "It sounds to me like it has all its seats and all its trim – just not as much as most other productions cars!". So that was OK. Checking the weather on the BBC on Saturday night showed heavy rain over Cheshire for the whole of Sunday and Metcheck wasn't much better. Hmmmmmmm! Did I really want to spend a Sunday getting soaked to the skin..............emphatically no! So Sunday morning saw a last minute change of plan and I trundled off to Lymm in the Cooper S. Just before the M62 I decided to test the handbrake with a couple of turns. A resounding clunk followed the yank & turn.............. oh no, no drive! Something in the box or a drive shaft had cried enough! A hasty phone call to the trouble and strife soon had me back home on the tow rope for a quick swap back to the Moke and off again. Scrutineering was relaxed.............looks alright to me.............where's the turbo on one of these!................has it got a battery............have you checked your fluid levels recently...............how many bhp..............ha ha!...........ok you'll do. Having completed the formalities of signing on it was time to walk the test. Met up with Speedsport who had already started his Sunday morning constitutional and was busy mine sweeping for nails, lumps of metal, flattened tin cans and any other detritus he could find. First walk round has one scratching the bonce but once the clerk of the course had finalised the cone positions, after many had been repositioned by the competitors in an attempt to make it easier , a couple more quick laps hopefully had the route embedded in the grey cells. After a quick drivers briefing.............the toilets are over there and don't do anything silly............it was down to the action. I think pleasantly surprised best sums up my first four runs in the first session, which got even better in the second session before the lunch halt. Once into 2nd gear it was a case of drive round as tidily as possible miss all the cones and apply handbrake sparingly. Only real problem came on the last run of the morning session when the handbrake momentarily stayed on after the turn round the pallets because the duck tape had stretched and allowed the button to move. Lost momentum and back down to 1st gear saw a drop of 3 secs over the previous run. The afternoon session saw the morning course extended so that a timed run was taking approx 70 secs (see the video). No real dramas on the three runs we were allowed and so with everyone done it was time to pick up all the cones and wait for the results. I should just mention at this point that an autotest was running along side our event and once we had finished the autotesters came for a play on our course. Phew!........... and we thought we were good. It's a pity that Vanny didn't take some video and post that as well cos they can literally make a car dance! Couldn't believe the results at the end.........1st in class and 6th overall! Pleased?............you bet. Thanks to Vanny for turning up with the video and also thanks to Speedsport for posting your comments on the youtube video. Thanks mate. The Cooper S is now cowering in the corner of the garage waiting to be disemboweled and as for weather forecasters...........it didn't rain until I was half way home!! ;D
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Post by moke on Oct 31, 2008 0:56:24 GMT
It was left to Ian Mather and I to uphold LMC honors (under the disguise of Accrington Motor Sport Club) at last weekends autosolo organised by KDMC. Speedsport was absent, still nursing a sprained wrist, and, despite being sorely tempted, decided that for once in his life he would heed the medical professions' advice and continue to rest it or suffer the consequences. The venue, Booths Hall, is just outside Knutsford, on the Macclesfield road and provides several large car parks with a very slightly gravelly surface, which is ideal for autosolo and autotesting events. I had entered the Moke once again after the satisfying result at the last event at Lymm. Well it was either that or the road car as the Mini is still out of action with a snapped drive shaft. The final instructions arrived a few days before and on close examination there was a total entry of 32 of which 19 were in the Clubsport event and the balance in the Nat B event. In my class in the Clubsport there was a field of 12 with an upper engine limit of 1600cc! It was going to be a tough contest with only 34hp to play with. Listening to the rain hammering on the bedroom window through the night had me thinking that I would be abandoning the Moke for the road car and when the alarm went it was still pouring. Moking is incredible fun, but not when it's cats a dogs when you tend to get more water on the inside of the windscreen than the outside. Why not 'A' frame it, I hear you say, well to be strictly compliant with the regs you are supposed to drive to the event. It was only when I turned the TV on for the early weather forecast that I realised I had been caught out by the hour change and was a trifle early. But every dark cloud has a silver lining and it soon started to change for the better and by the time it came to leave it had brightened up considerably. Having passed scrutineering..................they still don't know where the battery compartment is, it was time to walk the first test. The heavy overnight rain had left many puddles, patches of silt and fallen leaves in many parts so it was going to be softly softly on the first run with little or no use of the handbrake. The morning test was almost the same as last year but one or two gates were very tight and on my third run having got two good times under my belt I fluffed the last gate and had to reverse slightly dropping about 5 secs. After three tests the lunch halt was called and the heavens opened just to keep the surface nice and moist for the afternoon run. The afternoon test was not as tight and once again I managed three consistent good times. ;D Because of the hour change results were finalised by 4 pm and out of six runs the best five were counted. Considering the tough competition I was well pleased to get 3rd in class and 5th overall in the clubsport event and 13th overall if the results from both events were combined. Had I not dropped the 5 secs on the third test I reckon I could have secured 10th overall. Another great day but slightly frustrating that because of the larger than usual entry we only managed six timed runs. With autosoloing becoming more and more popular this could become a bit of a problem. KDMC had on this occasion provided marshals so competitors had no duties to fulfill. With such a large entry and, therefore, plenty of bodies they could, in theory, have run two tests at the same time giving everyone an even better days motor sport. The next event in the N/West is organised by AMSC on the 30th of November at Blackburn. Regs are available at the ANWCC site so why not join Speedsport and Ian for a fun day out. Regretably I will be trialling in Bristol that weekend.
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Post by speedsport on Nov 6, 2008 18:30:53 GMT
Thanks for the report Moke, & well done getting 3rd in your 34hp flying machine! I was sorry to miss this one as I had been really looking forward to the venue. As Moke says, the slightly gravelly surface is just right for AutoTests & AutoSolos and, to be honest, makes even my efforts look good! Reckon the wrist will be ok by the end of the month, so I guess I'd better get my entry in for Accrington's Blackburn Services A/Solo. Anyone going to join us? It's great fun - though I guess that if you've read this far, you'll already realise that!
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Post by speedsport on Nov 22, 2008 18:42:47 GMT
Well. it really is winter now, & the next AutoSolo in our region is another of the well organised events hosted by Accrington Motor Sport Club at the M65 Blackburn with Darwen services, on Sunday 30th November. Competitors will find that the event HQ is in the main building of the MacDonalds run services - it has to be the best appointed event HQ in the North West! Competitors even get a discount voucher for food bought during the event too. Although the venue tends to be a bit wild & windy, this is a great, friendly event as you will see if you look back on previous posts. Interested? See www.anwcc.org/regs-081130as.pdf for details
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Post by sprintman on Nov 28, 2008 20:23:30 GMT
What time on Sunday does it kick-off? Thought I might just pop along and see what it is all about!!!
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Post by speedsport on Nov 29, 2008 22:53:13 GMT
Drivers' briefing 9.50, 1st car starts at 10am. Sorry for late reply, I'd got so used to no-one posting anything that I forgot to look! I dont need to tell you to bring warm clothing, but do! When you get to M65 services, head for MacDonalds, event control will be inside on the right just beyond the main catering area, whilst the event location will be obvious (outside )
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Post by speedsport on Dec 30, 2008 22:19:14 GMT
The next AutoSolo in our area is Knutsford MC's event at Demon Tweeks, Wrexham on Sunday 18th January. It's a great venue using the car parks & loading bay area, with event control inside the showroom. An interesting mixture of surfaces, from grippy smooth concrete to slippery, mossy Tarmac to catch the unwary. See www.knutsfordmotorclub.co.uk/New_Year_AutoSOLO_2009.doc for regs
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Post by speedsport on Feb 5, 2009 23:36:11 GMT
Sorry if you've been waiting in vein for my blow by blow account of the Blackburn AutoSolo in December and the Demon Tweeks Solo in January. It may be the quiet season for LMC, but behind the scenes, it is actually one of the busiest times of the year for us as event organisers. Now for the first instalment, better late than never! The Blackburn event was held on yet another typically cold & fresh day at the M65 services. Is it ever warm & dry there? Although the day began bright & clear, there had been a sharp overnight frost and although initially most of the test was ok, by the time we were ready to roll, the lower part of the test was covered in ice. Liberal spreading of grit followed, which in my view, made it even more slippery! An excellent turnout for the event, which was run with Accrington MSC's usual efficiency. The test used basically the same layout as previous events there and proved to be quite quick once the ice thawed and the grit swept off the course by the passing cars. A substantial crowd of spectators marveled at the antics of Gordon Holmes who had hurriedly taxed & MOT'd his Dutton for the event and proceeded to give a demonstration of car control that would have won an award on Strictly Ballroom! Gordon needed to win the event in order to secure the ANWCC All- Rounders Championship you see, so he left his venerable VW Golf at home this time hoping (correctly as it turned out) that the Dutton would get him FTD. Your Chairman managed to avoid the kerbs and all the cones to register a 2nd in Class in the Clubsport category. Once again it was precision, not speed, that made the difference. LMC's Ian Mather was enjoying himself in his MG ZR once again. Though no prizes yet, I'm pleased to say that he is getting quicker event by event. Well done Ian. Fellow member Steve (Tigger) Price was trying incredibly hard in his Volvo 440, but a too close encounter with one of the kerbs modified his steering and he eventually had to withdraw after a sprint in his 4x4 back to his workshop in Bolton failed to produce parts to effect a repair. A great event once again....... New of January's Autosolo at Demon Tweeks will follow here when I get a chance to type it!
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Post by speedsport on Mar 13, 2009 23:13:10 GMT
Sorry, readers, but I've run out of time to record a blow by blow account of Knutsford & Dist MC's Demon Tweeks Wrexham AutoSolo that took place on 18th January. The best i can do is to say that it was a great event, well supported and impeccably run. The venue (Demon Tweeks head office & retail centre) was ideal, despite the questionable surface in the staff car park. It wasn't rough, just incredibly slippery. Those competitors with Traction Control & ABS had a destinct advantage over the rest of us as was revealed by the results. Well done Knutsford, & well done fellow competitors. I finished 4th in class (just) behind two Vauxhall Novas, one of which was a shared drive. My only criticism of the event is actually a criticism of AutoSolos generally. Whilst the use of a knob on the steering wheel is not prohibited by the regs, I don't feel that it accords with the spirit of AutoSolos. The sport is intended to be an ultra low-cost sport for standard road cars, the idea being that you compete in your shopping car on the Sunday & go to work, or do the school run in it the next day. I dont really think that the addition of a steering wheel knob should be allowed, indeed, it could be considered dangerous if the car has an airbag, and I'm not sure it would pass an MOT test unless the driver was disabled. Ah well, maybe it will be looked at eventually by Autotest committee at Head Office! Or not!!
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Post by speedsport on Mar 13, 2009 23:18:02 GMT
The next AutoSolo in our area is on 22nd March at Blackburn with Darwen services just off the M65 Motorway. A very friendly, well run event (as those of you who have followed these jottings from way back will already know) located at the McDonalds service area. Interested? There's still time to enter if you are quick. I sent my entry in the post this morning!
Maybe I'll see you there?
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Post by speedsport on Mar 27, 2009 19:02:20 GMT
Well, another event run efficiently by Steve Johnson & his CSMA/AMSC colleagues, with over 35 competitors taking part. Though sunny, the traditional Blackburn with Darwen cold wind was ever present producing temperatures which felt well below freezing. Not that it put off the spectator who lined the barrier to watch what turned out to be a very slick event. (Actually there were several spectators who stayed for much of the day. This is one venue where spectators can sit in their cars and still see much of the event - in the warm!) It was the usual story, those drivers who kept things neat & tidy, didn't clip any cones & therefore escaped penalties, did particularly well. The spectacular performers dropped valuable seconds by collecting cones & lost out in the results. Because there were so many first time competitors, the morning test was somewhat tighter than previously which didn't really appeal to the regulars (me included) as it didn't flow properly. Some easing was applied in the afternoon, but it was still tight in places. FTD in the Nat B event went to Steve Dolby in his "family" Micra; how he gets that virtually standard road car around the tests so quickly is a mystery to me! He won by just 4 secs from Russ Smith in a slightly tatty but quick 1380cc Mini, who in turn was 4 secs ahead of David Robinson (occasional Aintree competitor) in a slightly better looking example! In the Clubsport event, Sam Williams took FTD in his 1600cc Saxo, 16 secs ahead of Steve Kettle in his similar car, with your Chairman (ie me) taking 3rd spot another 12 secs behind in my trusty 1250cc Fiesta, giving me first in the up to 1400cc class. 2nd in my class was LMC member Ian Mather 42 secs behind in his MGZR. A creditable performance in this rather wider car. I'll start getting worried soon when he starts competing in the Metro he's preparing! Well done Ian. The competition featured all sorts of cars, including a Mitsubishi Evo which was incredibly quick off the line, but was just too unwieldy for the tight course. Power isn't everything! A great event... we even got in the papers! www.thisislancashire.co.uk/sport/4234367.VIDEO__Autosolo_in_entry_boost/
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Post by speedsport on Apr 30, 2009 23:18:24 GMT
The next AutoSolo will be on May 17th at Lymm TruckStop (A.K.A. Lymm Services at the Jct of the M6 & M56). It's a great venue, nice and smooth & no kerbs! I'll not be there as I shall be travelling back from Mull, but it will be a great event for anyone having a go for the first time. See www.anwcc.org/regs-090517.htm for details
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Post by speedsport on May 21, 2009 20:47:14 GMT
The next AutoSolo will be on June 28th at Lymm TruckStop (A.K.A. Lymm Services) at the Jct of the M6 & M56. It's a great venue, nice and smooth & no kerbs close to the tests! There'll be an Autotest taking place next to the Solo too if that's your interest. See www.anwcc.org/regs-090628-as.pdf for AutoSolo regs & details or the links from www.anwcc.org for the Autotest & PCA The Nat B Autosolo is a round of the ANWCC and SD34 championships. The Clubsport Autosolo is a round of the BTRDA Newcomers Challenge Championship. The Nat B Autotest is a round of the ANWCC, SD34 & WAMC Championships. Please see the regs for more details. Organiser, Graham Maxwell (on behalf of CSMA/AMSC) has promised to find some better weather for this one! What a fun day out!
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