East Midlands Off Road Club.

And the little one said roll over

EMORC’s November meeting was held at Stainby Quarry, Lincolnshire.  Ten drivers turned up ready for the fray and as the mist and fog cleared 10 very well laid out sections lay before them.  A big thank you to Chris Waite, Dave Perkins and Simon Lile for setting the sections.

The recent rain had moistened the surface, and created some standing water, which was to make some of the side slips interesting and the steep slopes a little more challenging. Richard Barton-Hanson was Clerk of Course with Dave and James Perkins marshalling.

We welcomed back a member Paul “Streaky” Henderson that we hadn’t seem for a while who was to provide a couple of entertaining moments with antics in his Suzuki SJ.

Sean Robb turned up in his long wheelbase Nissan Patrol following the engine failure in his Suzuki SJ and decided to trial the Patrol. This was greeted by equal amounts of disbelief and amusement.  General opinion was that the Patrol was only slightly shorter and more manoeuvrable than a Thames barge. 

The first section saw him bottom out on a mound and with the Patrol with all four wheels off the ground there were cries of “he’s run aground”. Streaky then wishing to rub salt into the wound rushed to tow him off with his Suzuki SJ. This act of charity was to return to bite him later in the day when trying a similar recovery, he tried a little too hard and his kinetic rope took the strain the Patrol stuck firm which then flipped the SJ onto its side. When Streaky emerged unscathed the laughter erupted.  He saved the best for last though and on the last section of the day was too enthusiastic on the approach to 3,2,1 and managed to roll one and a half times. He was a little dazed but walked away from his tumble.

A trial wouldn’t be a trial without Martin Lusty rolling his Suzuki SJ and he obliged by gently putting it on its side going through a 4 gate, again he was unscathed.  David Brewer also had a heart stopping moment when dropping off a steep ledge in his Defender, he seemed to get his approach wrong and managed to get in such an angle that his rear nearside wheel was several feet off the ground.

Sean Robb continued to drive with a great deal of dexterity and was unperturbed by discussions about Captain Pugwash and Roger the Cabin Boy. He was also asked that rather than listen to traffic reports did he listen to the Shipping Forecast.

All good things must come to an end and the day was concluded as the fog rolled in.

The results saw CCV being won by Paul Henderson (Suzuki SJ) with Pete Newton (Suzuki Vitara) and Paul Clarke (adapted Range Rover) close behind. RTV2 was won by Del Allen (Suzuki Vitara) with David Brewer (Defender 90) coming second.  RTV3 was closely fought, Charlie Newton (G Wagon) came out on top with Simon Lile (Discovery) a creditable second and Captain Sean Robb sailed into an impressive third.

David Brewer