Words by Martyn Halliday – Photos by www.charliewooding.co.uk
The latest HSCC historic sporting trial was held on Saturday 19th August in Hertfordshire attracting 50 competitors.
Six sections had been laid out for competitors to tackle twice in the morning and once after the lunch break. Exceedingly heavy rain in the previous week and a shower during the night before the trial ensured that there was plenty of mud particularly at sections 2, 3 and 5.
Section 2 included a steep muddy climb and a sharp left turn which defeated most of the Historic class on the first lap except Frank Lyons, Nigel Bennett and the father and son team of Mark and Oliver Busfield. The final part of Section 3 included crossing a muddy ditch followed by a short climb. After a few attempts the ditch dug out with the result any failure was very difficult to extract and it was wisely decided to abandon the section for that lap.
Section 5 included a very slippery muddy climb around the 7 and 8 markers onto a plateau with an adverse camber and a tight left turn. Only two drivers cleaned the section on the first lap, Nigel Bennett in the Historic class and Mark Howse in Post Historic. It was on this section the Post Historic class winner, Mike Storrar, lost his only mark all day.
Minor section alterations were made for lap 2 but the completely revised Section 3 continued to give competitors trouble where it crossed the ditch. Richard Poole damaged the front axle on his Concord which he shares with Richard Rowe. The steering arm broke on Mike Bletsoe-Brown’s car whilst descending a steep bank on Section 4 and he had to retire.
The muddy hump at Section 5 continued to extract high marks from all in the Historic class and it was on this section that Mark Howse lost his second mark of the day. Scores on the third lap dropped as the mud dried out.
Best Overall was HSCC Chairman Frank Lyons who had a super drive to lose only 19 marks some 5 marks ahead of Nigel Bennett who won the Historic class trophy. In the separate Post Historic class Mike Storrar had a brilliant drive losing 1 mark ahead of Mark Howse on 2; it does not get much closer than that.
