RTV Review:

EASTNOR CASTLE 22^nd March 2008 – Report by: MIKE HAYES

For me, Eastnor Castle provides all the sights, sounds & smells which remind me of the end of winter and the onset of spring when we trial here during the Easter Bank Holiday. The sights and sounds are epitomised by bright yellow daffodils and lambs on coil springs in the fields, coupled with the sounds of wonderful, fruity rumbling V8 Rover engines. As for smells, well, you certainly cannot ignore the stench of wild garlic which lingers amongst the woods like a Singapore sumo wrestler’s sweaty armpits in summer.

This year, the Eastnor RTV Trial seemed a bit odd, because this event normally attracts many competitors from far and wide, to the spiritual home of Land Rover Trials. The event had to be closed to other clubs, as we were running the trial sections in preparation for the ALRC National Rally in May. With this in mind, I’m not saying anything about the trial sections, other than to thank all the MROC members who have put in weekend after weekend of hard work. Since before last Christmas, the MROC RTV boys & girls have been scouting to find new areas of land, combined with modified, former CCV sections, creating a mixed bag of RTV territory to test novices and veterans alike. The Trial ran well, with lots of learning points to remember for the big day in May, when all the Easter competitors will be mucking-in to Marshal the Nationals RTV Trial.

The increasingly prestigious ‘SPANNER OF THE MONTH’ trophy was mine to award, after my high speed “shunt” reverse manoeuvre into a tree, whilst laying out at Cannock Chase. Trees were to feature in the spanner award yet again. Mark Downes, a keen and confident novice to RTV trialing, discovered that our RTV courses are indeed non-damaging…. provided that you don’t wander off the correct line… then think you can get away with it by “nudging” a whippy little sapling out of the way with the front bumper……… only to find that sometimes, whippy little saplings don’t like being nudged that hard…… so they fight back and rip your wing to shreds!!! Bad luck Mark. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!

Be careful out there folks, Eastnor scenery bites!!! You have been warned!

Mike Hayes.

AVON DASSETT RESULTS:

Also, well done to Richard Smith for winning the RTV LWB class for 2006

Well done to Martin Barnes for winning the RTV SWB LEAF class for 2006

And well done to myself for winning the RTV SWB COIL class for 2006

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