After attracting lots of attention on the motorway (mainly from small boys, I think!) we finally arrived at our B&B, staying with a very welcoming Welsh couple who were so hospitable throughout the weekend, it was lovely. Considering we were paying the same price as you might for a travelodge room, our night included a taxi run down to Tafarn Sinc where we went for an evening meal, and a delicious cooked breakfast at two different times (7am for the men, a more respectable 9am for the women) – excellent value! The view from the B&B was quite impressive too – I meant to get the big camera out for a photo of it but then it rained, so I was left with only the iphone version but you get the idea!
Anyway, we went down to the reservoir on Saturday afternoon so that the guys could drop their trailers and cars off, and walk the course. The friends we were with have been coming to Llys-y-Fran for this hillclimb for the past 10 years, but it was Steve’s first time. After walking the course, I dragged everyone a mile round the reservoir in search of a geocache. We weren’t really dressed for walking and I began to feel a bit guilty about taking our friends (a couple in their late 50s/early 60s) on such a long walk over terrain which wasn’t that easy, but they didn’t want to be left behind! The cache wasn’t an easy find as it had obviously moved from its correct hiding position, but Steve spotted the container out in the open. Having found it, our friends were impressed, thank goodness! I even showed them a couple of trackable geocoins which added to the excitement 
At least having been out for a good walk meant we felt justified in eating a huge meal at the pub later; we managed to meet some other hillclimbers (also old enough to be our parents!) so had dinner with them as well – pleasant company – although I have said to Steve that if we’re still doing this when we’re that age, well, just ARGH, really!
Sunday itself dawned with brooding skies that looked threatening, and in fact most of the day was scattered with long, heavy downpours. Rain is good for Steve, as his car is ok in the wet, while some of the single seater racing cars that are usually faster than him, simply can’t grip, so if it had carried on raining he might have managed a fastest time of the day – but that wasn’t to be.
Practices went well, at one point Steve was in the lead overall but as the track dried at lunchtime one of the single seaters ran faster than him in the second practice.
After lunch came the timed runs. Usually, competitors get two timed runs but they had problems with the timing equipment (something got wet) so because of delays they decided to stop after one timed run. In fact, because the timer broke on Steve’s run, Steve actually ended up with a couple of extra practice runs! He eventually got a time, beating his rival subaru (our friend!) by 0.2s!
The track did dry up, so one racing car beat Steve’s time, but to be honest a lot of the single seaters were still slower than him! I am glad that Steve is good at this, I don’t think I could bear it if he was spending all this time and money on it and just being average!! My competitive streak is being satisfied by proxy which is brilliant, as far as I’m concerned. I am very proud of him!!
Unfortunately, just before the end of the timed runs one of the cars went off the track, and the driver knocked himself out, apparently. He took a turn for the worse while waiting for the ambulance that they called, so the medical officer onsite decided not to wait any longer and took him in the ambulance that was onsite. Of course, then without a medical officer the racing couldn’t continue. There were 12 cars who didn’t even get a timed run, and so without a complete set of times, the whole event had to be aborted, everyone simply loaded up and went home. A bit of a shame really, but that’s motor racing. No-one is bothered, as everyone knows that if they had been the one with a need to get to hospital, they would want the same call to be made. No news about the driver I’m afraid, perhaps Steve will find out on forums over the next couple of days.
Anyway, despite the disappointment of the end of the day, it was a lovely weekend. Nice to go away with Steve and make new friends along the way. Llys-y-Fran seemed like a challenging hill to drive but it was also a great place for spectators, as there is a proper cafe in the visitors’ centre which stays open for us, so we didn’t mind the rain! I read chick-lit from the library and chatted to my companion, and when it was dry we went out to watch the racing. My feet did get soaked though – I should have thought to take wellies! I’m sure we will go back next year, tempted to take the kids too. Beginning to build up a bank of memories at this place now, I will still think of Violet Portico’s brave mountain biking every time we go there!
Back down to earth with a bump for the last few days of term here, kids are coming back from Grandma & Grandpa’s around 7.30am … I may blog again later!
