Above: Tredegar House, with insert...Captain Morgans Anchor found in the garden shed!As the recce heads out from Tredegar House the sun is bright, the air is warm and what a pleasant day it is, as Kenny and Sir Steve head out from Britain's best kept historic house! As our intrepid recce crew head north - well they couldn't head south, cos they'd get their feet wet! - the roads are clear and it is an easy run to the first of the venues.
Cox's Quarry is a 3 mile forest track that has only been used once before, by a local motor club is a good opener. A short narrow uphill section leads to a quarry before a testing, twisty 'baby bottom' surfaced section to an enclosed open hairpin right! A short down hill section in to a devious 90 left bend with a fresh air drop in to Abercarn, 400 feet below!!! The last section of this short sortie in to the south Wales forests ends with a long straight, with 'catch you out' bends that look quicker than they really are! A number of dog walkers encountered while recceing this wood stopped to chat, interested in the Rally Evolution - great, maybe thhe'll marshal!
From here and on to our mysterious Racing Circuit that never was! Only a mile and a half in length but a clean clinical route that will test the best of you with short straights, up-hill twisty bends and tight sharp 90's.
A quick down hill run into a long fast right to turn 90+ left through a gateway...a short uphill sprint into a long left, tightening in to a fork left, over crest flat and bumps, to a series of quick bends which lead to a long sweeping right-hander. This leads to a negative camber series of bends that take us through a middle of a golf course. It is said that Sir Steve plays golf with two pairs of trousers...just in case he gets a hole in one - droll! Leaving the golf course the route heads down hill from a very deceptive 90 left narrowing on the exit and then a series of fast bends - again deceptive - to the finish. As our recce crew completed the test the clouds began to 'fluff up' and rain was on the way!
Along the Heads of the Valley, Monmouth, across the border and in to Herefordshire - cider country. A secret forest here only use once before, tight and twisty with a slippery surface for most of the way. Five years ago when this was last used on the Lombard Rally many slid off trying too hard! So be warned. One competitor said, "You just cannot get the power down, but what fun!"
As our recce crew leave this dark forest the rain clouds burst open, followed by loud claps of thunder! The road becomes a river and aquaplaning is evident as the car heads through this beautiful garden of England. The hop fields are taking a hammering as the recce car meanders its way along this river bed - the A40.
So on to Worcestershire and the Three Counties Showground Selectif. This was last used to great effect in 2007 and many photos have since been used on the event web site showing Owen Turner four wheels in the air over one of the many Yumps! This is a highly safe but fun venue with loads of run off space - I can't wait myself! A short journey back in to Herefordshire before a well earned rest for our recce crew.
See ya tomorrow when Kenny tells 'Tales from Foxley', rumours from Radnor and Sir Steve meets Barbaraaaaa...again!
See ya
The Ed
Cox's Quarry is a 3 mile forest track that has only been used once before, by a local motor club is a good opener. A short narrow uphill section leads to a quarry before a testing, twisty 'baby bottom' surfaced section to an enclosed open hairpin right! A short down hill section in to a devious 90 left bend with a fresh air drop in to Abercarn, 400 feet below!!! The last section of this short sortie in to the south Wales forests ends with a long straight, with 'catch you out' bends that look quicker than they really are! A number of dog walkers encountered while recceing this wood stopped to chat, interested in the Rally Evolution - great, maybe thhe'll marshal!
From here and on to our mysterious Racing Circuit that never was! Only a mile and a half in length but a clean clinical route that will test the best of you with short straights, up-hill twisty bends and tight sharp 90's.
A quick down hill run into a long fast right to turn 90+ left through a gateway...a short uphill sprint into a long left, tightening in to a fork left, over crest flat and bumps, to a series of quick bends which lead to a long sweeping right-hander. This leads to a negative camber series of bends that take us through a middle of a golf course. It is said that Sir Steve plays golf with two pairs of trousers...just in case he gets a hole in one - droll! Leaving the golf course the route heads down hill from a very deceptive 90 left narrowing on the exit and then a series of fast bends - again deceptive - to the finish. As our recce crew completed the test the clouds began to 'fluff up' and rain was on the way!
Along the Heads of the Valley, Monmouth, across the border and in to Herefordshire - cider country. A secret forest here only use once before, tight and twisty with a slippery surface for most of the way. Five years ago when this was last used on the Lombard Rally many slid off trying too hard! So be warned. One competitor said, "You just cannot get the power down, but what fun!"
As our recce crew leave this dark forest the rain clouds burst open, followed by loud claps of thunder! The road becomes a river and aquaplaning is evident as the car heads through this beautiful garden of England. The hop fields are taking a hammering as the recce car meanders its way along this river bed - the A40.
So on to Worcestershire and the Three Counties Showground Selectif. This was last used to great effect in 2007 and many photos have since been used on the event web site showing Owen Turner four wheels in the air over one of the many Yumps! This is a highly safe but fun venue with loads of run off space - I can't wait myself! A short journey back in to Herefordshire before a well earned rest for our recce crew.
See ya tomorrow when Kenny tells 'Tales from Foxley', rumours from Radnor and Sir Steve meets Barbaraaaaa...again!
See ya
The Ed
