Tour of Cheshire 5th March 2011

[speedsport]

Once again, Knutsford Motor Club has asked us to help with their classic Tour of Cheshire rally that takes place on Saturday 5th March. www.tourofcheshire.co.uk/

This hotly contested event once again starts from Rally HQ at The Wild Boar, Beeston, near Tarporley. Judging by the organisers comments the event is going to be fairly tough on the crews and there will be several big names taking part from the Historic Rally Car Register’s national championship.

We are running two tests at "our" normal site of Chowley Oak (just off the A41 South of Chester) and this time we shall see our first cars just after 2pm.
Therefore, expect signing on to be from 12.30.
As soon as the times are confirmed, I shall post them here.

If you are interested in helping with the Chowley Oak test on this excellent classic event, please contact John Harden (yes, your Chairman gets everywhere!) by posting a message on this forum, or send a message via:- www.liverpoolmotorclub.com/contact-us or phone John on 0161 969 7137 Previous experience is not necessary; our duties are fairly easy, setting up the venue (cones, tape etc), timing the cars through with Liege clocks and checking that everyone follows the correct course, without hitting any cones - just like an AutoSolo! Then it's just a matter of packing up & going home.

Chowley Oak Location:-
Postcode CH3 9GA

From the M53/M56 and Liverpool: Remain on the M53 beyond its terminus, continue onto the A55, and take the first slip road exit for the A51 (signposted Whitchurch).
At the roundabout take the third exit and then immediately first left at the traffic lights onto the A41.
At the next roundabout, turn left and continue on the A41 for approximately 7 miles. Turn right onto Chowley Oak Lane.
Location map:-www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=53.10520352728378~-2.7790904682311867&lvl=15&dir=0&sty=s&eo=0&where1=Chowley%20Oak%20Lane%2C%20Chester%20CH3%209&q=chowley%20oak%20lane

They have 61 confirmed entries already, with more coming in daily.

After the event you are invited back to rally HQ at Beeston to be entertained by a guest speaker while the results are computed; all marshals are most welcome.
Provisional entry list for TOC is now available here:-
www.tourofcheshire.co.uk/entries_to_date.html

[speedsport]

Is anyone coming along? Not a single offer of help on here so far, and we need at least 12 people!
The Chowley Oak site is split into two tests, so we need 2 people for each start, and two for each finish... that's 8.
Then another two (at least) to observe each test to ensure competitors follow the right route and don't touch any cones.

I have the following volunteers for the LMC tests at Chowley so far:- Updated 26/2/2011
Alan Wood +1
Ron Hunt
Colin Flynn
David Mitchell
Jim Bebby
me
Dave Hunt
Don Robinson
Ian Curlett
Ron Huntriss
Pat Loftus + 1
Peter Ibbotson
Ken Wilkinson + 1
Steve Watson
Phil Jagger +2
Rhys Palmer
KDMC crew +3

And that's now looking pretty good. Excellent!
Are you coming along to help too, or even just to watch?


CONFIRMED TIMES:
Signing on from 12.30 to 13.30
Tests set up by 13.40 (Clock Car arrives)
Car 0 14.11
Car 75 15.26
Closing Car 15.57 (latest)

If anyone wants to marshal elsewhere they can always use marshals at Beeston Cattle Market (117/555595),
Signing on for Beeston tests 1/2 by 08.00 (Closing 10.16). Or High Legh Garden Centre - see below

Marshalling at Delamere and Chowley is not possible this year, as Delamere closes at exactly the same time as Chowley opens. With 16 miles between the two, it'll take at least 25 mins to travel between the two. Maybe next year!

K&DMC also have their usual marshal's training evening on Monday 21st February at the Golden Pheasant, Plumley at 8pm if you are interested. Just turn up!

[andymfell]

sorry John

cant do this one
am in grizedale on that day



Andy

[sprintman]

I currently intend to be there BUT if my knee is playing up I may have to be sedantary!

[speedsport]

Thanks guys. Turnout is looking pretty good now, so if everyone turns up, we should have a most pleasant time running the test. I loaded up the equipment trailer at Aintree on Thursday, so it's all ready for me to collect on Saturday morning.

If you would also like to help run a test earlier in the day before Chowley, Bolton-le-Moors CC is running a test at High Legh Garden Centre, on the A50 between Lymm & Knusford.
If you are thinking of helping at High Legh, please contact Peter Sharples (Bolton-le-Moors CC) [e-mail]
High Legh Garden Centre is, on the A50 half way between Lymm (A50/M56 Jct 9) & Mere Corner (A50/A556 jct)
High Legh Details (not an official LMC test)
Signing on 9.00 to 10.00
Car 0 10.43
Car 75 11.58
Closing Car 12.29 (at very latest) which will give you a comfortable hour to get to LMC’s test at Chowley Oak!

[speedsport]

Looks as though we're now standing at 23 marshals (one or two have backed out for various perfectly genuine reasons).
Weather looks as though it's going to be okay, so if anyone else fancies coming along to watch... feel free, though you may need to park 100yds away & walk in as I reckon we shall run out of space on site!

[sprintman]

Feb 23, 2011 10:44:14 GMT sprintman said:

I currently intend to be there BUT if my knee is playing up I may have to be sedantary!

Sorry I couldn't make it but after the trip to hospital on Friday I had difficulty getting round the house let alone wandering round a rally stage!



Thanks anyway Steve - you missed a good event, though it wouldn't have been too good for photos, grey & drizzly (& the weather wasn't up to much either!). Get your knee sorted & maybe we'll see you on the next one.

[speedsport]

Well, apart from the thick drizzle that arrived half an hour before the first car, it was another great LMC appearance at Chowley Oak. OK, so most of the layout of the tests was exactly the same as last year but the competitors really enjoy their run at speed round the cones; it certainly is far better than some of the very short tests that they endure elsewhere!

Many, many thanks to everyone who turned up to help. We were somewhat embarrassed by the number of helpers this year which meant that some of you didn't have a specific role, but I hope that you enjoyed the experience nontheless. Far better to have too many helpers than too few (as we have had in the past).

The test is now becoming well known by followers of the event too. At one point I counted over 40 spectators on site. Though they were very well behaved and kept well back, we will have to keep an eye on spectators in the future, or more particularly the way they park their cars in the lane outside!

Thanks again everyone..... now it's on to planning the Arley Hall Sprint for The Flying Scotsman Trial on 2nd April (see separate post). See you there?