Report on the Monty Peters Historic Sporting Trial – 8th December 2018
An excellent entry of 56 competitors was received for the Monty Peters Historic Sporting Trial held at Ashtree Farm, West Malling, Kent on Saturday 8th December 2018.
Following a week of heavy rain the ground was decidedly soggy but fortunately the competitors were greeted to a dry morning for the first two laps of 6 hills. It was first time out for Hans Ciers from Belgium who was sharing Jeremy Deeley’s recently acquired Cranford, a car his father had built in the early 1950’s. There were three lady drivers amongst the competitors, something the organisers want to encourage. Racer Mark Dwyer with wife Gill were having their first outing in a Cannon formerly owned by Frank Lyons. The car suffered a track rod joint issue but not before they had achieved four clean climbs on the first lap.
In view of the conditions the organisers had set out 6 fairly straightforward hills, with the result five Post Historic drivers, Richard Rowe, Mark Howse, Andy Gowen, Grahame White, and James Alexander where on zero at lunch time only separated by their Special Test times. In the Historic class only Mitch Wood, who was driving superbly, managed to retain a clean sheet.
As the competitors were starting the final round it began to drizzle and then, suddenly it poured down. This changed the sections completely. Section 2 in the woods became so difficult it was only Richard Rowe in Post Historic and Tim Kary in Historic who managed clean climbs. The grassy switch back of Section 6 became impossible for the Historic class with the best drives by Eric and Dave Wall in the family Canhi on 4 each whilst in Post Historic Richard Rowe and Westie Mitchell were the only drivers to clean the hill.
The state of some of the competitors when they handed in their score cards was a sight to behold – look on Charlie Wooding’s website to see the mud! Having the use of a large warm room at Ian Wright’s off road centre was greatly appreciated by competitors and marshals alike and the results were soon available.
In the end both classes were won decisively. Not only was Richard Rowe 5 marks clear of Mark Howse in Post Historic he was also fastest of all competitors on the special test. In the Historic class Mitch Wood, in Andy Wolfe’s Cannon, was 6 marks ahead of Mark Busfield but Mitch was one of a few who tried a little too hard on the Special Test and picked up a 20sec penalty for overrunning the line.
There was some friendly HSCC competition in the Post Historic class with Grahame White having a cracking drive finishing 6th overall, 4 marks in front of Westie Mitchell.
It was a good day out. Words Martin Halliday – Photos: Charlie Wooding www.charliewooding.co.uk
