[Allan Martin]

I have owned & used a set of these chocks for many years for recovery duties, they are Very Good!, very heavy & provide an excellent
anchor in almost any conditions. I would suggest you always wear thick leather or equivalent gloves & count your fingers when the job is done, I got mine with an Electricity Board L/R I bought. The L/R is long gone but I still have the chocks! The price is up to you.

[Allan Martin]

Hi
As previously discussed I intend to attend on my own, my crew members are unavailable. I will not be bringing my unit but will assist in any capacity you wish or blister onto another crew if required. I would appreciate a grid ref for the location. I intend to be at Knockhill in December for assessment fully crewed etc.
Please confirm if the above is acceptable.
Regards
Allan Martin
Stag Recovery

[Allan Martin]

I would suggest the answer is in your own hands ie tell the event organisers what your terms are & if they are not happy then
Tango Sierra, walk away! If things go wrong it is down to the C o C to carry the can. He has a duty of care to all participants & should be reminded of that.
Allan

[Allan Martin]

Hi Ian
Many thanks for your prompt reply ref. AGM Minutes, I look forward to reading them.
Regards
Allan

[Allan Martin]

Sounds like “sloping shoulders” ie nothing sticks from the CoC or otherwise an abdication of responsibility.
It is a reminder to all of us to be alert to the presence & potential of mobile phone cameras. It will be interesting to know what view the MSA Safety Delegate has on the specific incident & the whole event.

[Allan Martin]

Very difficult to comment constructively on this incident as I have not had the advantage of viewing the relevant video. Having read Helen’s input it would appear that the incident has been widely viewed so could it be made available on this site?. I hope the CoC is taking the responsibility on this one.
As a generality I too would be very reluctant to undertake “Live Recoveries”, I have done on it on hill rallies & one certainly needed eyes in your rear to keep safe. At the end of the day we are all our own safety officers so if in doubt don’t would appear to be the motto.

Allan

[Allan Martin]

Fraser the compliments of AMRO colleagues are sufficient reward! :mail:

[Allan Martin]

Hi Ian
I accept with good grace the implied compliment, I believe imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
The only difference with mine is that the tow attachment end of mine is a triangular metal eye which should withstand being dragged over rough ground better than the soft eye. I have used it on a number of towing jobs with no problems being found.

Allan (Stag Recovery)

[Allan Martin]

I will have my snow chains in my vehicle as well as I am starting @ SS1 on the Snowman & sweeping through the rest.
Fraser,s stage is the highest & has a history of snow issues in previous years, if my memory serves me well we had 17 “offs” in that stage 5 years ago so it can happen. We only had 16 off in SS1 that year.
Personally I hope to need the T shirt & not the snow chains.

Allan

[Allan Martin]

Hi John
Yes that is my E mail address. You appear to have an issue with looking after your kit! I hope the bolt in your neck is tight in case you loose something important.

Regards
Allan

[Allan Martin]

Hi John
Hope you enjoyed your time as a crewman on Stag Recovery plus the social exchange on Saturday Evening.Both Russell & I enjoyed the company. You left a bag with hats, gloves, a torch etc in my L/Rover. Send me your address & I will arrange to get them back to you (if they don’t fit me), I would hate to think of you being cold on your next event.
Regards
Allan

[Allan Martin]

I thoroughly recommend the presence & use of Rescue Units with casualty simulation etc, it is the format that Richard & co use on our Scottish training W/E @ Knockhill. It adds realism to the training & aids working together with Rescue Units on events.
Allan

[Allan Martin]

I use these T hooks for my suspend tow chains, the boom-head of my crane has suitable holes/slots which the T hooks fit into, they are inserted/removed by turning through 90 degrees fitting through the slots, turned through the 90 D & dropped into register with the slot. They therefore can’t come out while the load is on them, I also have shortening clutch hooks fitted on the end ring of the chains so that I can make the the chains the length I want, lower the load onto the chains in order that the travelling load is taken by the chains & not the winch/hoist rope plus the sway bar takes some of the towing/travelling load bearing in mind that the sway bar should always be parallel to the ground when travelling. This reduces the likely-hood of the suspended load pivoting vertically on the sway bar under braking.
(Well you did ask)
Allan Stag Recovery

[Allan Martin]

I fully concur with Richard’s view on the issue, I do not believe plasma rope or fittings are robust enough for our purposes. I also believe that the soft/flexible tow eyes favoured by some competitors are not acceptable for our job, they are obviously not appropriate for rigid towing so therefore are not acceptable for towing vehicles with brake failure. Despite repeated attempts to influence the MSA on the issue they persist in allowing soft tow eyes to be accepted. Will it take an injury or worse to make them take the issue seriously or will they persist to “slope shoulders” & say not our problem!

[Allan Martin]

I suggest that you contact Rupert Hinds of Castle Rescue, he is the moving spirit behind these sessions & should be able to guide you ref dates etc.

Regards
Allan

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