A Skoda up Black Harry

No I am not being rude or racist. The hill is called Black Harry and thats a Skoda going up it in front of us. We made it to the top with some major crashing and banging of rocks on the floor and sump guard.

We Finished!

And we probably have an award! We will have to wait for the official results but at the moment it looks like we have an award. We cleared everything, but we were late finishing. The travelling marshall who was supposed to finish 3 minutes in front of us finished about 40 minutes behind us so the timings will probably be reviewed and as we were only about 7 minutes late we should get a medal.

Excelsior was hilarious, Lauren really doesn't like hills that bang on the floor and we came off of the rock slab with both front wheels in the air. Earlier Black Harry had done a great job of trying to smash the sump, but the sumpguard did its job. Must have a look in the morning and see how much damage was sustained.

Safely home now having come back as far as Tamworth in a convoy of 2 Estelles. People kept looking at us. I suppose its like buses, you don't see an estelle for years and then two come along


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Its a skoda thing.

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Going well so far.

First section was a case of picking the right line off of the start. We went left as it was very cut up on the right and it paid off.

Second section was easy once Lauren reminded me that we didn't have to do the restart and to keep going.

Just done the third section and first special test. All going OK.
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Ahead of schedule

Sat waiting in a layby so we don't get penalised for early arrival. Trying to average 30 mph with so much dual carriageway is hard.
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Preparation for the Edinburgh

Lauren is starting the day with a healthy breakfast of coffee sponge cake and chocolate.
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Burton dasset Last Week and The Edinburgh next week.

Lauren and I were out on the MGCC Autumn Trial last weekend. We double drove, so the Skoda did 48 competitive runs in the day and everything held up. I finished on 83 points, the winner scored 22. That put me about half way down the field. It was very dry and there was plenty of grip, but the Weber carb was suffering from fuel frothing and we kept losing power on the steeper hills. Evidently a Weber won't run at angles steeper than 22 degrees without frothing its fuel and dying. Recommended solution is a Nikki carb, trying to find one to fit.

Next weekend is the Edinburgh, we start at 5:50 am on Saturday, penultimate car in Class O so we will need to keep moving. Did the spanner check today as I won't get much chance in the week. Found a hose that had split by the jubilee clip so that has had to be 'circumcised'. Will try to get a replacement but don't hold out much hope as it has 3 bends in two planes!

Lunch at Widemouth Bay

Chips 3 days running. Must be on holiday. Well not anymore we are on the way home.
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On the way home

Have come up the A39 and called in at Widemouth Bay. The road at one point has a 30% gradient. Going up fully laden required low box on the Land Rover.
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A walk on the beach

Just taken Andy,Lauren and Lois for a walk along the tide line. It is on its way out and the Perranporth dumpy waves are building up. Might put the wetsuit on later and go in for a while.
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Trevaunance Cove

Looking out to sea past Blue hills to Perranporth. We stopped at the tin mine to buy ear rings. Sharon has sea horses and Lauren has sea shells. Both made from Cornish tin from the Bluehills stream.
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Weather is looking better today

Suns shining and the heat is building up for another scorcher. Off to St Agnes and bluehills later. The girls are planning to go rock pooling.
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Gosh is that the time?

The girls are in Newquay watching the fish we are on top of the cliffs watching the surf. Have to pick Lauren and Lois up at 5:00 and then I think I will get the wetsuit on and go and try the waves. The thunder storm has whipped it up a bit.
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It's a grey day

Walked the dog in pouring rain this morning and it still hasn't cleared up. Lauren and Lois are planning to go to the sealife centre in Newquay, not sure if it is a bus expedition or if I am taling them

At the moment we are reading books and lazing around.
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Not our dog

But a South African Fur Seal.
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Watching the sea lions

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Seals

Goonhilly was great fun. We have moved up the road now to the seal sanctuary but they wouldn't let us bring the Segways


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Now off to find out what the big dish is for

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Segway Safarist

Just spent 2 hours riding Segways. Great fun. The highlight was the off road assualt course
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Gone to Goonhilly

Hoping to do the Segway Safari.
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Surfing again

Lauren and I have just been in for an hour. The waves were coming in in sets of 4 or 5 when they came in but there were some big gaps in between and Lauren got cold.

Got a few good rides and wiped out a couple of times. Great fun.
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Bluehills

Not only a fantastic trials section bit also a fantastic beach and stream to explore.
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Cyder

Been to the cyder farm this morning. It is owned by Donald Healy's grandson. Didn't realise until I read the display that Donald Healy was born in Perranporth and owned the first garage in the town.

Stocked up on Strawberry and chilli jam and bought some cyder to try later. Had a tour of the manufacturing process and visited the bonded warehouse where they keep their apple brandy and are maturing the first ever batch of Cornish whiskey.

Not sure what is happening this afternoon as it is now a bit grey and muggy. The girls were going to walk to Bluehills but have changed their minds now. I am going to walk down and see what the surf is like and maybe go in if it is any good.
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Dog walking

Came back down on the beach with the dog.
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All day on the beach

We went to the beach about 11 and we came back about 4:30. The surf was great at low tide with Perranporth producing its consistent waves and the off shore wind keeping them stood up.

I went in 3 times and caught some great waves. Lauren and Lois came in with me late afternoon and the waves were so strong we broke a board!

Andy has been sleeping in the flat all day and is full of energy now wanting a walk. The girls are on a campaign to eat out so I suppose we will. Pretty sure there will be a spectacular sunset as it is still clear and sunny. So we will be back on the beach later.
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Castles in the sand

After lunch entertainment. The castle is almost finished and the next item is a hole to trap a lifeguard.
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Surf

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Lifes a Beach

And we are on it. Surf is up sun is shining nd the sand is hot.
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The Bright Lights

Just exercising the dog before bed.
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Wheal Coates

Taken the dog for a walk.
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Mermaids?

No just Banbury girls on holiday.
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Just a paddle

Surf isn't worth putting a wetsuit on for so we are having a paddle and playing catch.


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Brightened up a bit

Well a grey start has started to clear and the sun is warming things up.

The girls gave been on a grand tour of Perranporth and done some shopping. Sharon and I took Andy on the beach for a walk.
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Bit grey to start

Sharon and Lauren walked the dog on the beach. He loved it and forgot how old he is.

Surf is rubbish a foot of swell at the most. So we will have to find something else to do today.
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Sunset in Perranporth

Got here about 8:00 pm. Roof rack wouldn't fit under the arch so we had to unload up the road and take the rack off to get in.

Uneventful trip down but a bit longer than usual as we rarely got above 70 in the Land Rover.
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Wading

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Fingle Bridge

Just stoppedd for a break and to walk and feed the dog. The girls are paddling in the river and we have had a walk up the trials section we drive on The Exeter.
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Dog Tired

Andy asleep in the Land Rover. Just stopped for fuel at Exeter.
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A holiday from Skodas.

Loaded up and ready for the west country. Decided to take the land rover to overcome the traumas of packing the Subaru or Skoda. I have taken 2 seats out of the back to give the girls more room and put everything (including Lois's kitchen sink) on the roof.

Lauren is just on her way home from dancing and then we are off.
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Recovered with 11 hours sleep and playing on the beach.
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We finished!

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Disappointing end to the day

We didn't even manage to get to the start of bluehills! A big rock step had developed about 10 metres up from the gate and we just couldn't get up it. We had enough power until the sills and jacking points bottomed out on the edge of the step.
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Perranporth holding control.
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Just finished in the woods

Went from widemouth south throgh oozes water which we cleared and onto the breakfast stop. Struggled with the restart on ruses mill but eventually found some grip by wiggling the steering. Just cleared the three hills in the woods at cardinham. The right hander on mays is scarey, lift off and you fail, keep it nailed and you bounce off the bank. Managed to get just between the two. On now to perranporth and blue hills.............
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Widemouth Bay time control
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Roundswell control

Away from roundswell on time. First section was very wet and muddy, but we cleared it. The special test role back at the restart was steep but we got away from it. Barton steep was a disaster missed first gear in the restart box but might get away with it. Molland rise start had moved round the hairpin we bounced in the big hole at the beginning and then steamed to the top.
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Signed on and ready to go.

Arrived in Bridgwater about 11:00 pm. Scrutineered and signed on no problem. Just had some chips and trying to get 40 winks before the start. Lauren is reading her book by the light of a wind up torch.
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In Dorset in preparation

Well the Skoda is ready to go after an uneventful trip down here. Got lost round Shaftsbury as the road was closed and the sat nav overidden by the driver. We plan to get a good nights sleep tonight in preparation for the big day. We start at 12:37 am saturday from bridgwater and should be finishing around 5:00 on saturday afternoon if all goes well. We will be posting live updates and pictures along the way.
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Well the brakes are not going as planned. Removal of the shoes revealed that the offside cylinder was leaking so I ordered a new one from Jorily. That arrived and I put it on. Went to bleed the brakes to discover that the nearside burtst its seals with the increased pressure now the offside wasn't leaking! So another new cylinder has been ordered and once it arrives I'll get it on and get an MOT. Lets hope the front callipers are OK.

Started to put the rear shoes on only to find that one of the wheel cylinders has a leak. So more parts ordered from Jorily and a slight delay before we put the whole lot together and get an MOT.

Serviced her today and fitted new brake pads. Borrowed the lift in Andy's workshop and he gave me a hand. Seemed like a nostalgia trip for him back to when he was rallying his SkodaFord. Had a quick look at the rear brakes and as a result have ordered new shoes from Jorily this evening.

Andy was telling me that the SkodaFord was so reliable when rallying that often all they had to do in service was adjust the rear brakes. Eventually he cured this by fitting rear disks using disks and calipers the same as the front ones so they only had to carry one lot of spares in the van.

From the blackberry

Have just converted to blackberry so I am testing if I can post from it. Saffie's mot expired yesterday, I need to sort out the brakes before I present her for inspection.

Worked as an instructor at vision yesterday in the snow
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The video is edited and on you tube at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-TVWpgQOCLE

Be careful though as I swear when we fail to get up the very icey Windout. We finished and we had a good time, but still no medal on The Exeter!

Beetle

Posted this for elliot . Not herbie but similar !

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Failed

Just failed to get up windout . Got out of the restart box but couldnt make it up the rest of the hill. Im so annoyed !

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Breakfast in exeter

It's warmed up a bit and we have cleared everything so far

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Cold !

Sat at the haynes museum 20 minutes from starting & its freezing!


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Gradually getting set up for the Exeter at the weekend. Bit of a panic this afternoon as the Saffie hasn't been used since we got back from the Hardy and I went out to start her up and warm her through incase anything didn't work before we set off. ran the engine for a couple of minutes and noticed fuel dripping from the carb onto the exhaust manifold! A brief investigation showed a fuel pipe leaking where it had split at it's join with the carb. Stanley knife and screwdriver soon had it repaired and we are up and running without the dramatic smoke of petrol dripping onto a hot exhaust.

Our start time is 2:07 am on Saturday and we are the penultimate car on the road in Class 0. As usual we will post some pictures from the mobile as we travel.