Wiscombe - spotted and not
Discussion
In car park - Chimaeras and a blue wedge.
On hillclimb - None. Why did the Speed Championship choose not to run? Other cars were making the best of a bad day and having some fun. Seemed a bit boring to give up completely - even pottering slowly up the hill would at least have given the spectators a show.
On hillclimb - None. Why did the Speed Championship choose not to run? Other cars were making the best of a bad day and having some fun. Seemed a bit boring to give up completely - even pottering slowly up the hill would at least have given the spectators a show.
I'm a bit surprised you thought it was worth staying. The problem was not the hill, although the day before someone suffered an horrific accident so the hill was bad enough. The real problem was the paddock which had turned into a mud bath. Being on a steep slope, cars were moving all by themselves and were bumping into each other. Not too bad if you have a specialist hill climb car but not really much fun if it's your pride and joy.
It was a very sensible decision and not one made through fear of driving up the hill. A couple of TVRs were there the day before so knew exactly what it was like. It was a very disappointing day for me and it took me nearly an hour to make the decision to leave. It was the right decision though.
It was a very sensible decision and not one made through fear of driving up the hill. A couple of TVRs were there the day before so knew exactly what it was like. It was a very disappointing day for me and it took me nearly an hour to make the decision to leave. It was the right decision though.
I'm not really criticising any of the drivers who pulled out and it wasn't just the TVRs. They don't have to run their cars after all.
It was just disappointing that the only time the speed championship comes to the west country and you make the effort to get there and stand in the rain, the whole lot pulls out while many other cars (of which several are probably worth more and are equally the pride and joy of their owners) decided to stay on.
I spent about 2 hours in and around the paddock and it was pretty bad (in fact, I was shocked at first) both there and the paths for spectators, but the other cars seemed to manage ok and the only incident I witnessed was one of the St John ambulances almost backing into a marshal's car at Wis corner.
Ultimately it is the decision of the owner and I can respect that.
At least it was cheap to get in. £5. That's a bargain nowadays. Maybe it was reduced because of the pull-outs - I don't know.
It was just disappointing that the only time the speed championship comes to the west country and you make the effort to get there and stand in the rain, the whole lot pulls out while many other cars (of which several are probably worth more and are equally the pride and joy of their owners) decided to stay on.
I spent about 2 hours in and around the paddock and it was pretty bad (in fact, I was shocked at first) both there and the paths for spectators, but the other cars seemed to manage ok and the only incident I witnessed was one of the St John ambulances almost backing into a marshal's car at Wis corner.
Ultimately it is the decision of the owner and I can respect that.
At least it was cheap to get in. £5. That's a bargain nowadays. Maybe it was reduced because of the pull-outs - I don't know.
I certainly understand your disappointment. I'd spent most of the previous day getting ready for it and arrived there at 7:30 am. It cost me £60 which actually is also cheap but not when you just go home again!
It's likely the reduction in numbers made the day better for those that stayed. If the full 140 or so competitors had stayed it would no doubt have been far worse.
It's likely the reduction in numbers made the day better for those that stayed. If the full 140 or so competitors had stayed it would no doubt have been far worse.
I've been going up to Wiscombe since I was about 8 years old when the family used to compete and it is a fantastic place - in the dry!
The perils don't just stop in the paddock, on the fastest stretch which is the primary climb just after the first 90 left there is a mini-yump, when you are giving it full throttle as you need to on this stretch the weight lifts completely off the driving wheels which in the wet can send you onto the grass. This grass bank decends into the trees with adverse camber - so you hit the brakes and speed up!
I have seen many a car craned out from this area and a lot of broken hearts!
Anyone who makes the difficult decision of withdrawing after all the time and preparation probably made the wise mans choice.
The perils don't just stop in the paddock, on the fastest stretch which is the primary climb just after the first 90 left there is a mini-yump, when you are giving it full throttle as you need to on this stretch the weight lifts completely off the driving wheels which in the wet can send you onto the grass. This grass bank decends into the trees with adverse camber - so you hit the brakes and speed up!
I have seen many a car craned out from this area and a lot of broken hearts!
Anyone who makes the difficult decision of withdrawing after all the time and preparation probably made the wise mans choice.
The Wiscombe weekend was disappointing for all of us that had taken the time and trouble to go along. I had decided to drive both days but it was apparent during Saturday that the paddock was going to worsen as the rain continued to fall. There were a couple of minor collisions in the paddock during Saturday afternoon as the state of the grass deteriorated. After the Saturday night rain it looked like the Somme and we were all given the option to compete or leave. I took the view that the risk was too high for our guys and I aborted this round of our championship. I am hoping to replace it with a round at Prescott where we are already invited for a non qualifying round on 24th July.
I would like to thank all those who did come along to support the sprinters and hope that you will come along to see us again later in the year.
Thanks
Coxy
I would like to thank all those who did come along to support the sprinters and hope that you will come along to see us again later in the year.
Thanks
Coxy
I too was dissapointed not to see any TVRs make the run...but enjoyed watching those drivers that did have a go...and they were not just pootling up the hill either - full marks to them. 
Checking Feb's Sprint I see that Wiscombe is described on Page 41 as "Tricky track that can be slippery until the moss has worn off"
Checking Feb's Sprint I see that Wiscombe is described on Page 41 as "Tricky track that can be slippery until the moss has worn off"
I've never driven Wiscombe but I've crewed there a couple of times. It is one of the few places I consider too dangerous for me to compete. (Those who know me will know that I'm not exactly a timid driver.) All of the soft bits of scenery have been bashed out of the way, and what's left is very hard and unforgiving. It seems that every time I go there one or two cars go home in pieces - this sort of damage is extremely rare at a sprint.
Anyone who competes there has my respect, and no discredit at all if you decide not to compete when the conditions are treacherous.
>> Edited by GreenV8S on Tuesday 26th April 14:19
Anyone who competes there has my respect, and no discredit at all if you decide not to compete when the conditions are treacherous.
>> Edited by GreenV8S on Tuesday 26th April 14:19
GreenV8S said:Time to reconsider the championship venues for 2006 then?
I've never driven Wiscombe but I've crewed there a couple of times. It is one of the few places I consider too dangerous for me to compete.....Anyone who competes there has my respect, and no discredit at all if you decide not to compete when the conditions are treacherous.
>> Edited by GreenV8S on Tuesday 26th April 14:19
GreenV8S said:
All of the soft bits of scenery have been bashed out of the way, and what's left is very hard and unforgiving. It seems that every time I go there one or two cars go home in pieces - this sort of damage is extremely rare at a sprint.
Also, towards the top of the hill, even on sunny days, the tree canopy prevents the track from drying out, the final corner even has moss growing over the edges of the tarmac just waiting to catch out people who get off line.
I can confirm that the Prescott Hillclimb date of 24th July is now a qualifying round of the TVR Speed Championship 2005.
www.prescott-hillclimb.com/main.php
Coxy
www.prescott-hillclimb.com/main.php
Coxy
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