Robert KB… a not so "bitter" experience

[bamfordsgarage]

From an earlier thread:

 

RobertKB, on 03 Oct 2013 - 9:04 PM, said:

_{...By the way, did you have a pint of London Pride or other bitter for me when you were in the UK?? I just want to know if you followed orders.}

 

Robert, I just felt so bad about not following your orders in September that I came back to the UK last week and had a pint of Timothy Taylor's Bitter yesterday (first photo below, with our friends Guy & Eunice at left).

 

The eccentric Guy and ever-tolerant Eunice recently  drove their 1936 Austin 7 750 cc "Chummy" from Baltimore to Alaska and down to South America — solo — covering 18,500 miles (all but 100 under their own steam) in 8-1/2 months, finishing in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina last March. Most remarkably, even after all that time sharing a 37" wide cockpit they are still together as a happy couple.

 

Anyway, Guy offered me the wheel of the mighty Austin in the 2014 MCC Exeter Trial last weekend with him as navigator and I jumped at the chance.  For those unfamiliar with the quirky English motor sport of trialing, it involves driving motorcycles and two-wheel drive stock-tired motorcars, ranging from ancient to recent home-builts, up a series of steep rough muddy tracks, often in the rain and under the cover of darkness. 

 

We were one of 350 entrants in this 85th Exeter Trial (first run in 1910) and our start time was 01:51 Saturday morning. We successfully conquered nine of the 11 hills, got towed up one and couldn't find another, and rolled into the finish about 3:00 Saturday afternoon.  Second photo below is our little rig fording a stream on a very pretty road between two competitive sections.

 

There are two groups of competitors, the regular trialists and those like us in Class O, which is intended for rookies and/or elderly machinery, with hills not quite as steep and punishing as the regular class. Still, we did have sections with 28% grades, plenty tough enough in the rain and darkness with only 25 HP under the bonnet.

 

The link below is well worth a look — high-quality footage of regular-class vehicles attempting the infamous "Simms Hill" in the 2013 Exeter.  The first bit is shot on the approach to the hill and the real action starts around the 5 minute mark. Motorcyclists may not put a foot down, forward motion must be maintained at all times, and vehicle passengers will bounce up and down to maximize grip. In addition to just climbing the hills, there are several "driving tests" where competitors must stop at a particular point on the hill and restart without the slightest rollback.

 

Great fun indeed and another one ticked off the bucket list!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rg3rBIJeDQ

[Don Coatney]

Sorry but I felt compelled to report you to the league of too much fun cops for disciplinary actions.

 

Where and how do you find this fun stuff to do?

[1940plymouth]

Thanks Chris

[Frank Elder]

I think Chris makes his own fun........not too many opportunities get by him.

[55 Fargo]

Chris you Da Man, and nobody has old car adventures like you. Well maybe Guy and Eunice, Best Regards to them, and they are also truly modern day explorers.

As I have mentioned to you personally if I do 1% of what you have done, that will a dream for ME. in the mean time will live vicariously through your adventures.  

have a great time, and as mentioned before, looking forward to your Northern expedition in February............

[RobertKB]

Hi Chris. Well it is about time! You could have saved yourself a lot of trouble and expense if you had followed my instructions the first time!! Glad you had a pint and it sounds like you had a great time there. The Brits do love their cars but in a slightly different way than most North Americans. Survivors, originality, and using them as they should be used are much more common in the UK than here. You are a shining example of how we should view our cars! Thanks for posting.

[Oldguy48]

Chris,

Thanks for posting that. That was great !!

Wayne

[greg g]

noticeable lack of beverages among the spectators except for the chap with the thermos of tea.............other than that looks like fun. 

[bamfordsgarage]

Sorry but I felt compelled to report you to the league of too much fun cops for disciplinary actions...

 

Well, they came around last night but when I told them about the rain and the mud and the greasy food and being up all night without decent coffee, they figured out the only person having too much fun was some guy in Tennessee filing false reports.

 

Don't be in any hurry to answer the door when you hear a knock.

[Don Coatney]

Knock, Knock..Best laugh I have had in a while