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This year
the Puffer nearly didn’t happen at all as certain events conspired to put
the event in extreme jeopardy. Firstly, a new road which was to be used to
create a one way access system was not completed due to a delay in
permissions. Our alternative one way route was not usable on Friday due to
several inches of thick ice, even after gritting. This meant that traffic
was concentrated on one track and competitors could not get access until the
contractors’ lorries had left. As one lorry had to be pulled from a ditch,
things didn’t start well. This delay was bad enough but then:
The wind got
up and
Then the ice
started to melt, fast! (but not on the access route or the course!)
The first
consequence was the collapse of the large marquee which was to be our event
centre, into a heap of tangled metal and fabric. Its demise was spectacular
and frightening. The sight of a meter long metal tent peg being launched
high in the air is not one to be forgotten. The second problem was the
transformation of a firm field into a boggy morass. Glastonbury meets the
Somme! Whilst we had arranged for cars to enter at the top of the field and
move over it down slope, it soon became obvious that this was optimistic to
say the least. As darkness grew, our spirits sank axle deep.
It is only
due to a huge amount of help from some fantastic people that we could go
ahead. The large barn on site was cleared out by Kenny Stewart the landowner
for the event HQ. Gary, his tractor man swooped into view as if on a white
charger dragging vehicles great and small through foot deep gloop. We
pressed parts of the unfinished new track into use for car parking. So the
hour was saved but a huge thank you is due to all competitors and helpers
for their patience and good humour over the weekend, especially on the
Friday when we were really struggling.
Now all this
is highly dramatic and some folks have been kind enough to compliment us on
turning the situation around. We are rather more conscious that we should
have done better to prevent the crisis arising in the first place and we are
going to give some serious thought as to how we complete our preparations
for ‘next years event’. None of us want to go through the experience
again. We will want to ensure that the site is hardened against normal
winter conditions.
Great was
our joy when the weather calmed down and Saturday turned out to be as good a
day as you could wish. Cars were still coming on site when the race
eventually started an hour late. Gradually riders carved a groove through
the sheet ice and it took a few laps for the now legendary Puffer mud to
reach its usual consistency. Some naturally took it very easy whilst a lucky
few with snow tyres were able to set a faster pace from the start. The
event attracts a wonderfully wide range of riders from the seasoned
endurance ‘pros’ to enthusiastic youngsters watched by anxious parents. They
all share the challenge presented by a tough but fair course and the smiles
shone through muddy faces on their return to the changeover. As the
temperature rose so did the speed and there were many close battles in the
various classes. Others, especially amongst the soloists, were happy grind
out the miles at a survival pace.
However,
daylight soon faded and the darkness brought its own challenges. Such is
the standard of modern lights that some claim to go faster at night due to
the lack of trail side distractions. This may be especially so in
winter. It was interesting to hear the chat amongst riders come morning who
spoke of their shock in realising that they had been riding fast over sheet
ice that had re-formed overnight!
Again the
dawn brought bright conditions much to the delight of the many photographers
that were out in force. We were even blessed with a rainbow to frame the
rocket burst that marked the end of the 24 hours.
So, well
done to you all for getting stuck in. All that drama should make for a
very good programme on BBC2’s The Adventure Show (date TBA). Which is just
as well as the show’s presenter Dougie Vipond competed as a solo. As well
as his TV role, he is also the drummer with legendary band Deacon Blue who
have recently been on tour again. We wondered if the group’s ‘riders’ now
include power bars and a turbo trainer in the dressing room? Dougie follows
Ginger Baker in the line of distinguished cyclist/drummers. Will the new
album be called “Roll-off Gears” (obscure ‘60s joke)? We also understand
that Davina McCall’s partner took part, so we feel entitled to call it the ‘Celebrity
Big Puffer’
Last
chance to win a prize!
Best
photo of the event.
There were loads of cameras and the pro’s certainly thought that the light
was great. It need not be of the race or even bikes! A crushed tent, a
muddy tyre-track or the sunrise over Ben Wvis will all count. Send a
maximum of three jpg’s no bigger than 600X600 and we will put a good
selection on the website with a prize for the best overall. |
