I always think Folkstone Lea Cliff Hall takes some beating for a load in that can make a grown man cry. As the name might suggest, its built into the cliff side and the trucks get to the loadin door via a narrow path, not much wider than a truck with a small bend to make life interesting, ohh not to mention on the right a sheer drop down the cliff. We time from the first time the reversing lights come on and these photos are from a couple of years ago were Becky from Stardes got the record. She did it in 15 mins and one stratch to the nearside mirror. She had already been there a few times which helped.
I was there last week with a Leas Cliff virgin and poor old Roy from Stardes took 1 hour 15 mins to get the back doors open, not the worst time so I am told by the local crew. The week before a Motorhead driver had got it down in 40 mins at night, very brave.
For a newly built stadium, the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff gets my vote.
Entry is gained by dropping down underneath the stands, turning right and driing along a tunnel with very limited room due to pipes and electrics, hard right into a dead end, which rises at the end giving even less head room, you will see dents in the pipes where trailers have ■■■ them , then its a reverse up hill blind onto the pitch area right in the corner. To me it looks as if the desiner forgot about access and this route was an after thought.
i
From the entrance tunnel to the 2ft concrete plinth on which the pitch is laid, is 67ft giving almost no room for screwing the trailer round, the over hang is right over the pitch by the time the cab is clear of the tunnel.
BTW, the pitch is only ever there when its needed. When not in use it is taken away on pallets and replanted in a field by Cardiff airport!
tramper, i have to agree with you, i was on take that there, and once we were in, they wanted to erect a large steel arch over the stage, but once it would be up the cranes would not be able to get out and the truck in!!
also the b.i.c is a nightmare, not as bad in a rhd, but lhd is a nightmare, but the first one in the thread wins!!
Have you had the pleasure of Leas Cliff yet euromat? I think the desent is made worse by the crowd that always seems to gather as a truck mounts the prom before backing down.
In the late 80’s I was doing Saxon there and a Transam Tucking driver got out of his cab forgetting where he was and took a roll down the cliff, missed his spot call, LD was livid
Other class gigs are the ones where its not possible to get trucks near and you cross load it all into vans.
I did one at a ski slope and few years ago, the band gear went up in a few cable cars to the top and a couple of snow cats picked it up and delivered it down the valley where a stage had been built. Daylight show, so us lighting folk had a day off. It took 3 days to get the stage and sound system there so we were told.
Its a famous one in the rock “n” roll UK touring dates. Once the truck goes down its not possible to get past it, so trust me its tight. There is a flower bed at the top, so its not possible to line up before coming down, so I guess getting the right line is a bit hit and miss. Becky cheated by driving over the flowers, so she had a good line to start with.
There was a very large pothole at the top which would tip the trailer towards the cliff, always good to see the drivers face. I have not gone down in anything bigger than a 7.5 myself, but as a humble lampey I will walk down and fold the wing mirrors in when needed and watch the left hand side.
I do agree anything over an hour is is bit lame, most do it in 30 - 40 mins. The local crew do time all the attempts and have a book with all those times in.
A good story from many years ago about a Transam Trucking driver who forgetting where he was got out the cab and fell down the cliff.
drew128:
Its a famous one in the rock “n” roll UK touring dates. Once the truck goes down its not possible to get past it, so trust me its tight. There is a flower bed at the top, so its not possible to line up before coming down, so I guess getting the right line is a bit hit and miss. Becky cheated by driving over the flowers, so she had a good line to start with.
There was a very large pothole at the top which would tip the trailer towards the cliff, always good to see the drivers face. I have not gone down in anything bigger than a 7.5 myself, but as a humble lampey I will walk down and fold the wing mirrors in when needed and watch the left hand side.
I do agree anything over an hour is is bit lame, most do it in 30 - 40 mins. The local crew do time all the attempts and have a book with all those times in.
A good story from many years ago about a Transam Trucking driver who forgetting where he was got out the cab and fell down the cliff.
Andy
i will try and find out which driver fell down the cliff!!!, typical transam driver!!!
, then its a reverse up hill blind onto the pitch area right in the corner. To me it looks as if the desiner forgot about access and this route was an after thought.
