Britpart MSA British Cross Country Championship.
30-31 July 2011 – Radnor Forest, Wales, UK
Having signed on, I made my way into the forest to post 8. The rain the previous day had turned the forest dirt tracks to mud, although the Frontera in low box had no problems with traction.
Parked up on a bridleway (yes, I know, but as we had rented the forest for the weekend, we had full use of all track ways), I would have to listen as the competitors came past me to my right (the dirt track running parallel to the bridleway), before crossing in front of me and then onto a long right-hand loop before disappearing out of sight.
The 5 mile stage was made up of category 1 forest tracks and these muddy logging tracks – of course, the Chief Marshal knows my abilities and is pleased to offer me the more “interesting” locations (often with a smirk on his face).
With about 1½ hours before the first competitor is due, there is time to brew up and cook/eat a couple of bacon butties.
Just before the event was to get underway, I was joined by the Recovery Crew of Solway Recovery in their Landrover based specialised rally recovery unit. The first hour passed relatively quietly (at our post 8 ), yet there were other incidents reported over the radio. One of which sounded quite nasty as a car had left the track, hit a tree with a branch coming in through the windscreen, breaking the navigator’s nose in the process.
The speed and reaction to this incident was amazing, with our own off-road rally ambulance in attendance within minutes. (These guys are seriously trained up and specialise in motor sport incidents and carry a heck of a lot of equipment). At one point, an air ambulance was called for, but due to the professionalism of our medical crews, was downgraded to the requirement of a County ambulance.
From the time the stage was stopped to the time the Rescue crew returned from handing over the casualty to County was 1 hour and seven minutes – I’m pleased to report that the casualty had no further injury, and after an overnights stay (a routine precaution) was released thereafter.
Once the event continued, it wasn’t long before another missing competitor was found. Needing recovery, Solway left my location to do the honours. I was now left on my own.
Of course, you just settle into a comfortable position, coffee, smokes and microphone at arms reach, when your are startled by a bang… now fully alert, I note car 6 coasting down the track to my right, ignore the corner and drive into the escape route. A quick shout on the radio to inform Control that car 6 is stopped at my location and I set off on foot with the hand-held radio to check on the crew.
As I get to the car (a well mangled Milner Pro Truck), only the driver is out, so I make my way to check on the navigator – a letter D next to the competition number informs me that this is one of the Army’s disabled competitors, in this case Tom of recent BBC Top Gear fame.
Apparently, after hitting a dug out at the brow of the hill some 200 yards down the track, the car somersaulted, landing back on four wheels, allowing them to coast down to their final position.
Information was relayed back to radio control that both crew were ok, the track was clear and that car 6 would require recovery back to the paddock area.
The event continues… there is another bang and the quietness of a stalled engine. I call through to radio control that there is an incident and that I am proceeding on foot to investigate. I grab the hand held radio, run down the bridleway and then back up the dirt road… to find a lot of flattened bracken and another Milner Pro Truck, seemingly parked in the verge facing the wrong way. I inform Control that both crew of car 18 are ok and that the car is clear of the stage but will need to be removed due to it’s dangerous position and broken steering.
The stage is stopped and our old friend Solway Recovery are despatched to move the Pro Truck to a safer location. Once done, the stage is restarted.
It’s probably not more than half an hour before the next bang/silence moment. This time it is “Pug-a-like” number 16, parked at 90 degrees to the track, again with broken steering – blocking the stage. Over the radio, I arrange for the stage to be stopped, but three competitors are known to be bearing down on me. I walk to the top of the hill and in full day-glo safety gear managed to slow down the next competitor (a Freelander) who assists in dragging the Pug back, so that it might then drive down to my location – whilst this is happening, I am back in hi-vis mode flagging down the last two live competitors (another Freelander and a Rangerover classic) – both crews don’t mind the short delay as they admit they’re just out for some fun and would benefit from an average time rather than their actual time.
Back at the cross-roads at junction 8, this latest addition is dragged up my bridle way by the Frontera as the only other option is blocked by a Pro Truck, a dolly crane and a Landrover.
Thankfully, we had no further incidents on Saturday
I was then early to bed for an early start in the morning.
Sunday would again see me posted to the same location. The thought being that the most exuberant competitors had crashed out on Saturday along with the weaker cars – I forgot that the mechanics are allowed to work through the night to effect repairs.
Fortunately, I was only to have two visitors today, a Freelander with a broken front diff:
And another Pug-a-like with broken steering:
Some events you often get to feel like a spare part, with nothing to do but listen to the radio. This weekend was my busiest ever, in doing rally safety radio for a little over seven years.
Lawrence
MSA Safety & Medical Radio Frequency Operator
Call sign "Streetly 1"
