Thanks to the marshals on another cold and damp night; in no particular order they were: Glynis Langford, Dave Gregory and Rich Clayton, Paul Batting & Elaine Ward. Special thanks to Jeremy Cooper for his help with the route and putting the boards out, along with his partner Nicole manning controls.

Due to flooding we had a last-minute change to the route between TC4 and TC5 which would have gone via Roel Gate and through the Lower Harford Ford. Re-writing the Novice card was simple but the Expert card, which had the Ford as a ‘via’ changed to ‘avoid’ and SH176 changed from avoid to via meant that there was then a shorter route that missed the code-boards through Naunton. These boards have been deleted from expert results. A code-board in Cutsdean had been removed by a resident.

First overall, Rich Smith and David Evans had a fine run and dropped just 2 minutes into TC4 whilst Dave and Emily Evans were 4 minutes late into the same control, arriving just behind Rich and Dave as the minute rolled over.

Craig Owen and Tim Bell, from Ross-on-Wye, missed the board at Didbrook and another on the final triangle on the herringbone through Shipton Gorge. Jeff and Josh Wheeler missed the boards at Notgrove and the Shipton triangle. Newcomers Adam and Holly Lister did well to get all the time controls without a pre-marked map, albeit missing five code-boards. Kev Smith retired at TC5 following an argument with a bank that damaged the radiator.

Bob Blackstock & Jeremy Cooper

All

Sad news: Relayed from an announcement on the Forresters Car Club page…

“For anyone who hasn’t heard We have lost Alun “Lofty” Thompson. Our thoughts are with the family and friends.”
For those who are unfamiliar with his considerable contribution to Motorsport, Alun, known as Lofty Revovery, has been there to rescue many stricken rallyists over the years. Many Cheltenham Motor Club, Cirecnester Car Club & EMCOS members will remember seeing Lofty recovery at all the Down Ampney & Wyedean rallies. He was also very often spotted out at classic car events.

The family have now made the arrangements for Alun’s funeral. It is on Wednesday 27th November 2019, 3pm at Langstone Crematorium.

The family ask that bright colours are worn to celebrate his life but if you wish to black that’s fine.

RIP Lofty

Out running finish time control

12 Car Nav-Ex – Friday 18th October 2019

Thanks to everyone who turned up last Friday and thanks for your kind words at the finish and received in various emails, it really makes it worthwhile with positive feedback.

Thanks to the marshals that were often out in the rain, in no particular order they were: Dave Gregory, Rich Burdett, Dave Evans & Martin Ford. Also thanks to Phil Cork for driving me round the route to put the boards out.

I tried to make it a varied route which proved to be even more challenging given the weather, Guiting Wood offered its usual and I don’t think I’ve seen Hilcot quite as wet & muddy. One codeboard had been removed by someone or something which I have excluded from the results.

Kev & Ted had a faultless event with Dave & Emily close behind with one board missing, this may have also been removed but by the time they went through as Phil & Nick were the only other crew to spot it. Phil & Nick missed a different board, the last one, and would have pipped Dave & emily in to second otherwise. Craig & Tim, Bob & Jez finished with the same penalties but on count back Bob & Jez had dropped 1 more minute at TC2, very close.

The results are attached:

Thanks to you all for coming out to the autotest last night, and what a turn out, I hope enjoyed it.

Thanks to the marshals Glynis & Paul.

The results are as below: