http://portal.ddmc.co.uk/ en-gb Devizes and District Motorclub website administrator@nospam.com (admin) administrator@nospam.com (admin) Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:26:37 +0100 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:26:37 +0100 http://backend.userland.com/rss e107 (http://e107.org) 60 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/ddmcimages/button.png http://portal.ddmc.co.uk/ 88 31 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.104.4
Another rally night about to commence, but it didn’t start in a very organised manner. Ending up with only half an hour to prep all three maps (how are we meant to fit three maps into a Mini?), get ready and have my tea, before Chris picked me up. On hearing the Mini turn up I quickly finished off my food and picked everything up. With a quick check that I had at least the three maps we were on our way to the start.
Getting to the start in a decent time was good which meant that we had a bit of time to plot all the information that Amy gave us in the handouts, one part of this information actually made up some of the navigation later on. This also meant that we could enquire as to the format of code board that was to be used (didn’t want to get caught out again this rally). With the start being a little drive away we headed off into the lovely evening sunshine.
As we lined up 7th and last for the start I think that we were both a little nervous of what lay ahead of us. 1st envelope opened and off we went into the lanes. A piece of paper which contained letters, numbers and symbols, took a little bit of working out before I soon got the gist of what was meant by them all, plotting on the move we left Bradford on Avon to the south west towards Westwood. Most of this plotting could be carried out without the need for the big light on in the car as it was still just light enough to see the maps and navigation. On departing from Westwood we came across another rally car going in the opposite direction to us, a little concerned I quickly checked the navigation and was happy that what I had plotted was correct, just confirmed by just after the next left there was a code board. Continuing south towards Frome I continued to plot on the move, nearly finishing just before we came across some slightly less straight and smaller roads. Plotting just finished in time for a long way round triangle which we took slightly on two wheels.
Heading into TC2 we were just on our minute. Opening the next envelope I was faced with a page full of clock faces looking back at me. Plotting on the move again we headed off into the next section, where my first instructions to Chris were to turn left at the end of the road and then right at the first roundabout. Unfortunately the first roundabout we came across was not actually on the map so we ended up going into some back streets in Dilton Marsh with half of the other rally competitors around us, all looking a little bit confused as well. Luckily I soon worked out where we were and how to quickly get back onto the correct route. The clock faces took a little bit of working out but eventually just got there in time to help with navigating through the lanes between Chapmanslade and Lane End. A lot of the way I was only just one junction ahead of where we were on the road. Then with a little bit more plotting of the last line of navigation we found ourselves nearly into Longleat Safari Park as we could not find the left slot near Dertfords. Even on the way back up the same road we still could not find the slot, later we were told that it was a little hole in the hedge, that somehow that we managed to miss twice. Hoping that there was not a code board or two in this little loop we missed it out and headed for TC3 as not to loose too much time.
At TC3 we came across a few other rally cars all parked up obviously plotting the next section. On opening the next envelope I could see why they were all plotting, 5 lines of mainly numbers with no spaces looked back at me. We headed off out of the control while I attempted to plot on the move. This worked almost very well, with only having to get Chris to stop twice so that I could plot some very tricky bits, mainly through Sutton Veny and Norton Bavant, which required a little bit of a steadier map which the Mini doesn’t always provide. Plotting on the move managed to keep our average speed up, but annoyed Chris a little bit as he wanted to drive the lanes properly. Changing maps for the fourth time we headed around Warminster towards TC4.
Arriving at TC4 a little bit early we waited outside till our minute, but before this we had a torch waved at us and then Amy came to the car door for a chat. During our chat a moth wanted to also join in. When leaving the control we thought that we had got it out of the car, but hadn’t because it decided that it wanted to sit on the list of numbers for the navigation, causing a little bit of a problem, but Chris soon disposed of it out of his side of the car so that I could get on plotting the final section without interference. The list of navigation list of numbers contained both grid references and also crossing grid lines clues which took us through to Westbury and then off to the east to Bratton and Eddington, and yet another map change. Just as I had finished plotting this section we caught up with Jack and Dave who very gentlemanly let us past. This bit of the section was pretty open and flowing which Chris had fun in and somehow we pulled away from Jack and Dave!!!! Another two map changes later we arrived at the final TC. Somehow I think that we were the first crew at the finish, not 100% sure how though as we started last on the road.
At the finish in the pub Chris and I were happy that we had had a enjoyable and good night, but not done amazingly well as we had not been able to find one slot in second section. But as we heard how other crews had done, we were amazed to come first.
As usual I would like to take this opportunity to thanks the organisers Amy and Roger for a really good rally which was pretty busy for us navigators, and of course to the marshals who came out on a lovely evening to help make this event run.
Thanks
Rose

[Submitted by Rose]]]> admin@nospam.com (admin) Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:04:16 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.104.4 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.87.1 Plunger Trophy
Bath Verses Devizes

Thanks to all members who turned up- Keith, Janet, Roger, Craig and of course myself. Not a great turn out but we more than made up for it. It was a good night with Devizes hitting down 7 and higher, more than once. We won a couple of legs but unfortunately Bath were the champions overall with 310 to our 271. But many thanks to them for the great night and of course the chips.
Watch out next time Bath!

[Submitted by Amy Fletcher]]]> admin@nospam.com (admin) Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:21:54 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.87.1 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.83.1 Cheers Amy

[Submitted by Amy Fletcher]]]> admin@nospam.com (admin) Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:20:27 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.83.1 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.78.4
All entrants will be receiving a full refund.

[Submitted by JR]]]> http://www.ddmc.co.uk/comment.php?comment.news.78 admin@nospam.com (admin) Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:23:35 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.78.4 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.74.1 [Submitted by Amy Fletcher]]]> mark.spavin@nospam.com (Spav) Sun, 21 Dec 2008 11:26:41 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.74.1 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.68.3
As well as a new look, we have a changed a number of aspects of the site in response to feedback from club members.

It is now easier to to Championship results and future events without the need to log in to the site. This also means that non-members can get more information about things that are happening in the club.
For security reasons, we obviously can't publish everything, so we would still suggest that you log in often and by checking the 'remember me' box it should remember your details for next time.

We will now be making a number changes and tweaks in order to provide extra functionality (re-instating the image Gallery and reviewing the forum for example) and to make minor improvements across the site, so keep checking back for more.

We'll also shortly be enabling comments to be made on this news item so that you can provide us with your feedback on the new site.
In the meantime, we hope you like it!

[Submitted by admin]]]> admin@nospam.com (admin) Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:21:29 +0100 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.68.3 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.66.1 Newbury based 5 piece rock band Bang Out of Order have now confirmed that they will be playing at the DDMC 55th Annual dinner and awards presentation on the 10th January at the Bear Hotel in devizes. Details for the time table of the evening have yet to be arranged.
]]> http://www.ddmc.co.uk/comment.php?comment.news.66 mark.spavin@nospam.com (Spav) Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:40:05 +0100 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.66.1 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.61.5
Helen had kindly offered to put sandwiches up for everyone. With Friday the 13th out of the way and Saturday the 14th now 15 minutes old, we turned in for the evening and Helen popped out to the 24 hour Tesco a few miles away for provisions. The 24 hour Tesco is no longer 24 hours, it closed at midnight, okay maybe Friday the 13th was just trying to have the last laugh.]]> mark.spavin@nospam.com (Spav) Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:08:23 +0100 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.61.5 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.60.5
An event with just 5 stages doesn't seem like value for money, but when you consider SS3 Radnor was 18 miles long, this was from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Determined our rallying was now well and truly based on the social aspects, we would not be interested in how we were doing the next guys time etc.... (yea, right!). We found a fantastic B+B just north of Builth Wells, had curry and beer as part of the pre-event preparation, everything was going to plan.]]> mark.spavin@nospam.com (Spav) Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:29:24 +0100 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.60.5 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.56.5
The car had nearly been out of action for as long as the crew, getting it's first MOT for 3 years just 3 weeks ago. A few easing back into action teething problems surfaced, starter motor would not engage to turn the engine, alternator failed, and the cooling was a bit unknown??

The starter motor, battery and alternator were replaced with new (rare for us) and the week before the event the bits for the MSA changes for the past 3 years, turned up. With all the requirements for MSA complete we even had time to fit a new handbrake lever, one of those posh vertical jobs next to the gear lever (you know that this will all end in tears one day!!). The car had a few squirts up and down the lanes of Staffordshire, to claims of "God that is quick!" (maybe we are getting slow?).

So it with a lick of paint, new engine, some flash bits added, the same old driver and navigator were to be re-installed!!!]]> mark.spavin@nospam.com (Spav) Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:31:50 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.56.5 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.37.4 Submitted by Spav]]> mark.spavin@nospam.com (Spav) Sun, 25 Mar 2007 16:08:25 +0100 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.37.4 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.28.4
Event Details Results

Submitted by Spav]]> admin@nospam.com (admin) Sun, 28 Jan 2007 12:32:39 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.28.4 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.26.3
Where previously 12 points would be shown for an organiser, this is now shown as 'org'. Points allocated to organisers are now shown in a new column. This is to enable the change in the rules for 2007 where, in order to qualify for organisers points in the class championships the member must compete in one qualifying event.

Additional information where 0 points was previously shown will now be shown as 'dnf' or 'otl'. Additionally in the overall table the leaders for the overall titles are now highlighted.

Marshalls should also note that from 2007 marshalls will be scoreing points towards the overall championship, this points will be available in the results tables.

Would organisers please note that club membership cards will be required to score points in the 2007 championship. This will help keep the website tables acurate by making sure that points are awarded correctly.
Submitted by Champ. Sec.]]> mark.spavin@nospam.com (Spav) Mon, 01 Jan 2007 21:22:49 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.26.3 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.25.1 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/comment.php?comment.news.25 mark.spavin@nospam.com (Spav) Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:28:53 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.25.1 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.11.3 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/comment.php?comment.news.11 admin@nospam.com (admin) Thu, 02 Nov 2006 20:23:13 +0000 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.11.3 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.9.1
Driver: "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started."
Navigator: "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"
Driver: "According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster."

The navigator decides to go over and help with the puzzle.
The driver has the puzzle spread all over the table.
The navigator studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to the driver.

Navigator: "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster. Secondly, I want you to relax. Let me get you a beer, and then... ", he said with a deep sigh, "Let's put all these corn flakes back in the box."

[Submitted by admin]]]> http://www.ddmc.co.uk/comment.php?comment.news.9 admin@nospam.com (admin) Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:45:54 +0100 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.9.1 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.1.3 Security has now been added, and club members now need to log in to see everything, but a good chunk of the site is still available to the public.
This change is essentially a framework for ease of future additions and improvements to the site.

Some of the new features for members include:

- event & results management
- regular news updates including meeting minutes
- web articles (user guides etc)

Keep an eye out for for more new features coming soon, including:

- Club Magazine news & articles
- Better Integration of the forum
- Email Newsletters


]]> http://www.ddmc.co.uk/comment.php?comment.news.1 Thu, 08 Jun 2006 23:41:29 +0100 http://www.ddmc.co.uk/news.php?item.1.3