2 Cracking Autotests this month

[Trickie Dickie]

The 1st in Leeds on Wednesday 21st August starting at 7pm
near the Barn Bow Tank factory, Manston Lane in Crossgates

The 2nd at Goldsborough near Knaresboro on Saturday 31st August start at 5pm
(with food available afterwards in a local pub)

I hope to do both in my S type Jaguar - but don't expect to be competitive
so come along in whatever you can beg, steal or borrow and have a go

Full details on the IDMC website
http://www.ilkleymotorclub.org.uk/home/index.html

Cheers
Trickie

[YorkshirePudding]

I'll can do the first one, lets see how many I get wrong,

[snotrag]

Bookmarked!

[velocemitch]

Might give 'Normans Do' on the 21st a go, it's Grass I beleive which would suit me better than a high grip tarmac test.

Could have a problem with Tyres though, I'm not sure mine comply.

[Trickie Dickie]

velocemitch said:

Might give 'Normans Do' on the 21st a go, it's Grass I beleive which would suit me better than a high grip tarmac test.

Could have a problem with Tyres though, I'm not sure mine comply.

Both these events are grass (or stubble) and therefore non damaging

I certainly wouldn't put my Jag in for a tarmac autotest

There are details of what tyres are accepted in the regs
that you can download off the website

Trickie

[benjj]

Arschloch unt sheisse, the Porsche is in pieces and I'm in France those dates.

Have fun.

[velocemitch]

I don't really want to use up Brownie points at weekends doing Autotests as I need them for Rallying, Evenings aren't a problem though, unless I'm delayed at work.

The problem I have with Tyres is that I run Vredestein Quatrac's, which do not have an aggressive tread pattern, but are technically M&S's, so they sort of fall between the rules.

I might have to check with the Scrut.

Could always borrow the Daughters Panda I suppose, that would be a laugh.

[velocemitch]

So... Tyres then, the Scrutineers decision is that a Tyre with an Agressive tread pattern is one where the gap between the lateral tread Blocks is 11mm or more. It doesn't matter what it says on the side, as long as it doesn't have larger gaps.

So I'm in, for the Wednesday Evening 'Normans Do'

First time I've done an Autotest, though I've done hundreds of Special Tests on Rallies so I guess I'm hardly a Novice, not sure what to put on the entry form though.....

[Trickie Dickie]

velocemitch said:

So... Tyres then, the Scrutineers decision is that a Tyre with an Agressive tread pattern is one where the gap between the lateral tread Blocks is 11mm or more. It doesn't matter what it says on the side, as long as it doesn't have larger gaps.

So I'm in, for the Wednesday Evening 'Normans Do'

First time I've done an Autotest, though I've done hundreds of Special Tests on Rallies so I guess I'm hardly a Novice, not sure what to put on the entry form though.....

I would say that as you haven't done this type of event before - then you are a Novice

I have won many of these autotests 25+ years ago, but was put back to Novice a few years ago when I returned
as I hadn't done them for more than 5 years

Consequently, (and despite only having an S type Jag to do them in) I won all 4 grass autotests Novice Awards
that I entered within the next 12 months!!!

I am sure I won't be winning anything this year!!! haha

HTH & see you there on the 16th

Trickie

Edited by Trickie Dickie on Tuesday 6th August 09:00

[velocemitch]

Well I haven't done an Autotest, but like I said I've done loads of special tests many of which were of the Autotest style. I'd feel pretty guilty if I collected a Novice trophy. Mind you I'm still a Novice in the Skipton Trophy, despite winning Ilkley's Road Rally championship!, nothings logical is it.

[YorkshirePudding]

Entry filled in and ready to be sent,

[velocemitch]

Yup mine went in the postbox this afternoon. I've gone in as an expert, might get re-classed yet though.
Car went through the MOT Friday, no advisories, not bad for a 41 year old!.

Mind you he doesn't what I do about the sills....

[moribund]

Hope you don't mind, but I have some really dumb questions...

- how rough/bumpy/muddy is the surface likely to be? I've done Autosolos before on tarmac but nothing on grass. I'm actually concerned that a bumpy rutted field could be more damaging than a car park but I guess I'm wrong? How trashed will my car be afterwards?

- how intricate are the tests likely to be? I assume there will be reverse moves? I've seen Autotests run alongside the solos I've done in Lancashire and to be honest they looked bloody complicated. I've got lost on solos before now...

I'm sort of tempted to have a go in my ZT because I think it could be a laugh on a slippy surface.

Cheers!

[velocemitch]

To be honest I don't know, I don't expect there will be much reversing. As for the surface, again can't say some of the tests I've done on rallies have been very rough, but I don't think the field being used on the Wednesday night is too bad. I think it can get muddy though, people have been known to get stuck in the past.

Don't know about the Goldsborough one either, it's not clear exactly where that one is.

I think the damage issue on tarmac ones is more about transmission than anything else, at least on grass your Tyres will let go before your clutch.

[Trickie Dickie]

I don't do tarmac autotests firstly as my car isn't suitable and also
as I feel it is generally more strain on the car

Generally the fields for the grass autotests are picked and suitable
and I haven't seen anyone damage their car at all for a very long time

The last damage was a new competitor, who watched myself and then a friend do a run
then tried too hard and went too fast and therefore straight on into a grass bank
as his tyres wouldn't grip and turn on the wet grass

"Normans Do" on the 21st didn't have any reversing last time I did it
- only when my car was too big to get round a corner in 1 go on full lock

If I can do this in my S Type Jag then it is certainly suitable for a ZT

Come on it is great fun

HTH

Trickie

[moribund]

Cheers guys. Am seriously tempted. It looks like it's possible to join and enter on the night so I think I'll come along and have a look at the very least.

[wildoliver]

I think we will be too, must admit slightly surprised as I sent an email asking about joining up but didn't hear anything back.

So who's off? Anyone I know?

[Trickie Dickie]

wildoliver said:

So who's off? Anyone I know?

Happy to start the list

Trickie Dickie Richard Jaguar S Type Auto (with Elec Handbrake ie useless!!!!)

[Trickie Dickie]

velocemitch said:

Don't know about the Goldsborough one either, it's not clear exactly where that one is.

IDMC probably don't know yet - it is usually only once the crop has been harvested
that they know which field is suitable to use

"Normans Do" is a smaller farm and usually uses the same general areas
I believe it was only so muddy last year as it rained for 2 days before and it wasn't cancelled
I must admit it was so wet that I didn't even set off from home!!!!

Cheers
Trickie

[YorkshirePudding]

Trickie Dickie - Richard - Jaguar S Type Auto (with Elec Handbrake ie useless!!!!)
YorkshirePudding - Jez - MX5