The birds were cheeping, well the jackdaws were squawking, the sun shining in through the bedroom window, 6.38am, far toooo early to get ready for the TYRO and the mistake was turning the alarm off so guess what, the duck rolled up, as per usual, almost last.
Quite a selection of vehicles awaited us, from the regulars in their modified vehicles to those driving their daily road cars, there were new faces and first time drivers and a few who’ve turned up for some practice. 21 entrants in all – an excellent turn out.
The first section seemed a lot more challenging than the sections at Berrier (which was mostly flat) and Edenhall was definitely not flat! I wondered what I was doing there, but thought I’d give it a go and although there was a tricky bit at the beginning of the first section, the gates seemed to be wide enough for the duck to fit through and a I got a clear first section, oh well I’ll try another one I thought, as once I got going I found it was quite good fun driving the landrover through the trees and over humps going into places that a GTI driver never knew or thought a vehicle could go, and I seemed to be able to handle the land rover a little more easily second time out.
I can never remember the sections in the right order but the sections that stick out most from the day the one in the bracken, the flags were hiding and foxed a few of us, (I mean why don’t they put these things on the sat nav)? I managed the winding course much better than a similar section at the last tyro and really enjoyed the bit going down through the trees and up the other side. Another section I enjoyed was the one where we went down the steep inclines, scary stuff but after I took my foot off the clutch the duck went down quietly which seemed to be the order of the day, quiet and steady. Then there was the one starting up the hill on loose dry soil, with tight corners and an uphill finish, now if it had been wet I think we’d have had trouble but as it was dry almost, if not, everyone had a clear round.
The rumours had started by then that the course was too easy, but who knew when they set out the course that we’d have such lovely weather and as it was dry it was almost like driving on tarmac, (use your imagination), so Brian Fitz set out the last section tightening the gates, making them a little more challenging for those entrants with low scores, this’ll really sort out the ‘men from the boys’ I thought, and sure enough it did, I think only three people managed to get round past the tricky 11,10 ,9 gate selection and I messed up and so did a few of the others so it’s obvious us newby’s need more bits like that to practice at the tyro’s. I mean however will we compete against those already doing the RTV’s if we don’t learn these skills?
I even got a quick razz in the pork pie between sections, good stuff, thanks Caroline (and Tommy)!
Someone decided it would be a good idea to have a ladies and mens class as there were 6 of us lasses having a go today, and I managed to clip less posts than the other drivers so hence you get my written version of the day. First time I’ve won anything in my life, so thanks you guys, it really means something and it’ll probably be the only one I’m lucky enough to get!
My appreciation to Dave Young for organising us all the to the marshalls and everyone else who helps set up to make these events run smoothly, it was a great day not least of all because of the weather.
And last but not least for the biggest thanks of the day which goes to Hilton, who lets me drive his vehicle!
Elaine