2 weeks Ago
Despite recent rain the ground conditions were decidedly good to firm, in horse racing parlance, which presented the course designers with a few challenges as they strived to provide four-wheel-drive trial competitors with an event that would test man, woman and machine. With a number of regular drivers absent from the Woolbridge Motor Club event, the door of opportunity was well and truly open for new names to come to the fore. One such person was Will Hull who was level headed across the twelve sections in his Suzuki SJ.
Equipped with a 1600 cc Vitara engine, a Rocklobster transfer box (to provide super low gear ratios), and Kam locking differentials, the Class One legal vehicle was also equipped with fiddle brakes which provided a very competitive trials machine which when allied to Hull’s driving skills was unbeatable. With a total of a mere nine penalty points prior to the addition of ten handicap marks to level the playing field for those without such a full specification Hull was simply invincible. Barbie livery for the Suzuki of Roxanne Hill.
(Image: Stafford Associates) Shaftesbury driver Toby Cameron and Roxanne Hill were unable to challenge Hull but did tie for the class win some nineteen points in arrears. Cameron driving his V8 motivated Land Rover went up against Roxanne at the wheel of her short wheelbase Suzuki which was garishly finished in bright pink with Barbie logos and motifs. Simon Baxter finished just two points shy of the class winners after a troubled day which saw the Bridport driver barrel roll his turbo-diesel powered machine prior to suffering a universal joint failure on the propellor shaft of his mount.
Standard looking Land Rover with Roger Pardy at the wheel. (Image: Stafford Associates) The battle for superiority in Class Two, which catered for vehicles with a more modest specification, saw a closer duel with Roger Pardy taking his standard-looking Land Rover up against the off-road special of Dave Butterfield. The duo traded scores across the first two tests but ten penalties for Pardy on the third section saw Butterfield break for lunch with a five point advantage.
A roll during the afternoon hindered the Weymouth driver’s progress and allowed Pardy to turn-the-tables on his adversary to accumulate a five point advantage of the close of play. Blandford’s Graeme Wills finished just two points down on Butterfield with his turbo-diesel powered special to claim third place in the class..
