53rd John Pryce Trial - OST8 Sunday 11/8/02

Congratulations to Grant Campbell on another fine win of the prestigious John Pryce Trial. This makes win number 12 for Grant, eclipsing his equal first place with Sidney Hirst last year by a nine point margin to second place getter Steve Mason and eleven point on third placed Tim Jackson. Over the 53 years of competition only Dale Shaw comes close to Grant with 6 wins in the seventies and John Cox with 4 wins in the eighties so it will be quite a while before anyone tilts a hat at his achievement.

Early morning Rob Roy was a brisk affair with clear skies and a cool breeze, however the smell of bacon and eggs cooking on the hotplate summonsed competitors and crews to the cover of the scrutineering bay for the drivers briefing and balloting of running numbers.

A good turnout of sixteen entries were thoroughly briefed by OST Chairman Steve Mason and Event Director John Cox on the ground conditions, do's and don't and the layout of the 12 carefully pegged sections. The assembled crowd then turned their attention to Grant for a chorus of Happy Birthday to You before venturing out to start their engines and line up for the commencement of the days competition at Section 1.

The morning's activities centred around the gully behind the scrutineering shed with section 1 being an engine warmer down the gully, in a half loop and out the other side again. With so many cars running, the firm underfoot at the bottom of the gully gave way to slippy mud once 6 or so cars had been over it which was encouraging to the organisers and peggers as it looked like a quite dry trial when first walked. Most got through to either the 9 or 10, however it was a bad start to the day for Graham Moyle Peter Hill and Lindsay Mercer who all hung on the 4 peg with no further forward motion.

As we worked our way down the gully during the morning, it was important to get into the sections early as the traffic churned up the firm stuff and provided some fairly deep ruts for the followers to navigate. Grant found one such rut on section 3, as did Craig Hansen and Andrew Stitch. Geoff Taylor also ended up falling in one and clipping the three peg on section 4, followed by Keith Mitchell and Joanne Stritch who performed similar stunts on section 5.

Toting up the points with scorer Dot Moyle over lunch we found Grant was sharing the top spot with Tim Jackson on 41 pints, closely followed by Andrew Stritch on 40 and Greg Cox on 39. Tim's results were a real credit given he this was his first trial for the year with a late conscripted passenger (Dad, Graham Jackson), after his more experienced passenger went AWOL. Tim also had made the effort to travel over from South Australia where he is now domiciled to take part in the trial.

During lunch we expected the Austin 7 Treasure Hunt competitors to turn up and put on a display for the crowd, however for some reason this did not eventuate which left John Stevens and a few Club stalwarts to fly the flag with their vehicles which as much appreciated.

The afternoon started with a change of gullies and a change of running direction from previous years as we made our way down the front gully instead of going up it.

First into section 6 was Grant who managed to get his front end through the 10 pegs but not the all important back end which refused to climb out of the sheer sided hole. Next in was Geoff Taylor who blotted his copybook with a lack of forward motion at the 2 peg. Seeing Geoff's faux pas, the rest were able to drive into the section straighter than Geoff for a more respectable score.

Progressing down the gully the peggers had re discovered tyre tracks of old and also had the water dividers out to ensure every last drop of moisture became part of the section courses. It was a case of keep the foot down, fiddling the brakes as little as possible to maintain the car in between the pegs and in the wheel tracks. This was definitely Craig Hansen country and he managed to reel off a couple of successive 10s and put on a good show for the gathered crowd. Tim and Grant kept slogging it out point for point whilst Graham Moyle, Steve Mason and Phil Fitton also found the going more to their liking. Not up at the pointy end but still having a great day out was Don Smith and daughter Merryl, who had once again made the effort to join the regulars for this Sunday drive in the country.

Finishing up the front gully sections we had our first casualty for the day when Andrew Stritch had a rear suspension component come unglued from the rest of the car around the 3-4 peg on section 8. This particular section was causing quite a few challenges due to the washout and tight turn to be negotiated around that area. It also caught out amongst others Tim Jackson whom, until then was only a couple of points adrift of Grant and holding second place to Steve Mason and Andrew.

John Cox directed us back behind the scrutineering hut for the final two sections of the day - lower dam and the dam itself. With final dam section in the past providing a few 10 scores, section11, the lower dam was the crucial place to pick up any runaway points that could make a difference in the final tally. This turned out to be a front engined section with Geoff, Steve and Craig taking away the few extra points with the rear engined brigade only managing to get as far as the 6 peg despite determined efforts from Peter Hill and Greg Cox in particular to consolidate their positions.

The final section of the day at Rob Roy is usually the crowd favourite and this year proved no exception. With everyone rallying around the small dam to get the best possible view of the mud flinging and drenchings, the officials had to politely create a safe path for the cars to enter and exit the dam. First in were Peter, Joanne and Lindsay Mercer who all clipped or stuck at the 3 peg on their initial entry. A slightly different line saw Greg Cox almost make it out of the 10 and Craig Hansen as determined as ever got a great round of applause to coaxing his car up the slippy exit hill. Once the line had been found, quite a few others managed the same feat including Grant and Tim to end their day on a high note and 10 score.

Keith Mitchell and passenger Jenny McMinn demonstrated to the crowd why its undesirable to reverse in water at speed as gallons of muddy cold water cascaded down on them from their spinning wheels - all in the name of fun and a good photo or two!

Once Dot had added up the points it was officially announced that Grant had once again won the Trial on 105 points, Steve Mason had made a fine recovery from the morning to come home second with 96 point and the now resident Crow Eater Tim Jackson had gained a well deserved third place on 94 points.

The bonfire was lit, the snags put on the barby and a good trial was professed by all.

Many thanks to the officials of the day, John Cox, Mark Taylor, Dot Moyle, John Stevens and Peter Sortwell who ensured the trial ran like clockwork and the scoring and observing was consistent and fair. .A special thank you also to Mark, Kim, Erin and Kyle Taylor who kept us and the crowd catered with hot food and drink all day - the early morning bacon and egg butties were especially appreciated.

Ost 9 on the 25th August, switched from Leongatha to Arthurs Creek will have been conducted by the time this Lightshaft arrives, however please note that OST10 on the 8th September which was originally scheduled for Wandin 1 will now be held at the new property at Panton Hills 2. The directions are on the website, however details are: Proceed along Kangaroo Ground - St Andrews Road to Panton Hill. Turn right at Long Gully Road and the property is at Number 35 . Melways ref 272 D2 (Close to Alma Road). - follow the Mud trial signs.

It seems that with the running of the John Pryce Trial now over we are facing the back end of the season, but there are still quite a few trials and trophies still to be concluded. Our final two trials are OST 11 at Gilderoy on the 22nd September and Panton Hill 1 on the 6th October. - See you in the Mud.

Keith Mitchell.