Category: Ilkley

James Wins Ilkley

James Shallcross won a closely contested Ilkley Trial in his Peugeot 205, with the top six coming from four different classes.

John Bell took over the C of C role from Stan Peel and continued to improve the route and sections. Unfortunately the event will be remembered by controversy at scruitineering, an issue that will have to resolved if the event is to continue.

Dragging water up the section after fording  the small stream Class 5 winner Chris Maries tackles Hawpike 1 in his Suzuki X90 while overall winner James Shallcross waits his turn in his Peugeot 205
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After many years moulding the Ilkley into an ACTC event Stan Peel handed over Clerk of the Course duties to John Bell. During his custody of the event Stan had changed the event from a series of PCT sections into a real Classic Trial, albeit still betraying its PCT legacy. John had some route authorisation issues which denied access to some traditional sections. His hard work payed off though and the way he used the restarts meant the overall winner could have come from anywhere in the field.

Scruitineering was a strange affair 

With John Blakeley in charge, assisted by June and Alex, the formal part of car scruitineering went smoothly. However competitors then had to endure further scrutiny by a local official who found fault with by far the majority of visiting cars. Visitors had been forewarned this would happen, and assured it would be resolved, which it was. However, this will need sorting if the event is to continue. 

Changes at Hawpike

It was dry when cars arrived at the familiar Hawpike 1. John Bell had introduced a restart on grass towards the end of the section and the majority didn’t get away. A few performance markers were laid down here. James Shallcross went clear, as did Julian Lack (Liege) and Chris Maries (Suzuki), the only clears in their respective classes. 

Section 2 was a new one at Hawpike Farm before the long track over the moor to the Special test where there was a compressor available for competitors to pump up afterwards. Barry and Graham Redmayne weren’t able to take advantage of this facility having retired their Liege with a sick Suzuki engine. 

Strid was a Stopper 

Strid Wood was just down the road from Bolton Abbey for the usual two sections. Both stopped all the four wheeled brigade. Nobody could get over the huge step halfway up the Strid Wood 1 gully which has dug out very deep before the slab. Strid Wood 2 was very muddy and the lower classes struggled to get to the top track. Outside of Class 8 only Julian Lack got to spitting distance of section end, scoring a two. 

Problems at Peels

Later numbers were delayed at Peels Wood 1 where Class 8 deviated left before attempting the very steep bank. Only Mike Chatwin was able to surmount this obstacle with Carl Talbot next best dropping six. Some of the less competitive cars in the lower classes had problems getting to the start of the section but the section itself didn’t produce to many problems for those that didn’t have to deviate. 

Restart at Wilsons Wood 

Wilsons Wood is an interesting section in a nice setting. Its all about a tight, near hairpin, left-hander with a restart for Class Four and above. The restart area has really dug out over the years but there is plenty of grip. It wasn’t Suzuki X90 friendly but Chris Maries continued his good day and joined Nigel Jones in his Mazda MX5 as the only class fives to get away. 

Brimham Lodge was Difficult

The club had repositioned the burger van to the farmyard near Brimham Lodge so there was opportunity to get some hot food and drink to counteract the cold wind. The section is grassy and quite damp. The corner just before the steep bank was pretty slippy and the challenge was to get round without under-steering into the trees. Outside of Class Eight only three cars succeeded, James Shallcross (Peugeot 205), David Golightly (Ford Model A) and Julian Lack (Liege). All were to head their class at the end of the event. 

Coppy was Rough

With no Incline on the agenda Patley Bridge was bypassed on the way to Coppy alongside Gouthwaite Reservoir. There isn’t much gradient here, the section is all about picking your way over some very greasy rocks. This is the roughest section on the trial, in the opinion of some to rough, but in fairness to IDMC its nowhere near as rough as Putwell or Tipley. 

The 7’s and 8’s had a restart and Liam Rafferty was the only class eight to get away. The six Mike Chatwin dropped put his score up to twelve, one more than James Shallcross who went clear here. Julian Lack also went clear and was now overall leader of the trial with only six marks lost. 

The section took its toll on tyres and Nigel Jones ripped the sidewalls out of both rears on the way to going clear. Nigel continued but was to break the MX5’s diff on the next section. 

New exit track from Longside Wood

This was the third year the Ilkley has used Longside Wood, a long, steepening track through a Bluebell Wood. In previous years clears have had to come back down but John Bell had secured the use of an exit track for those lucky enough to reach the summit. The track was a lot drier this year and most competitors got to the twisty steep bit at the top, many for the first time. Few in the lower classes managed to get through this part of the hill so hats off to Jonathan Toulmin who stormed out the top in his X90. 

Rain at Watergate

It had started to drizzle by the time the later numbers arrived at Watergate 1, another excellent Ilkley Hill. 6, 7 & 8 all had a restart but there was plenty of grip. It is a bit rough though and despite not having to restart many in the lower classes were defeated by the greasy rocks. Michael Leete conquered the rocky part but running almost at the back fell foul of the grassy bit at the top which had become very greasy now it was raining. 

Peels Wood 2 Cancelled

The rain had turned the approach to Peels Wood 2 into a quagmire and the section had to be cancelled when some of the later numbers couldn’t get to the start, even with the help of a Land Rover tow. Charlotte Arrowsmith had retired her 1600 Beetle with a variety of small issues that made the car difficult to drive. 

Julian lost his win at Sword Point 

There were two sections at Sword Point. The first had a remarkable amount of grip this year and very few didn’t make the tight right hand turn onto the exit track at the summit. 

Sword Point 2 weaves amongst some pine trees and is all about a leaf mouldy restart on a left hand bend for all but class 0. Most got away OK but Julian Lack was judged to have failed and his hopes of an overall win slipped away. 

Dob Park Watersplash returns

Browns Wood was the last section, which was nice as it was approached through the Dob Park Watersplash. The restart on this nice little section was quite tight but it was nice to see it return to the event. 

Back at the Finish

So the 2013 Ilkley saw James Shallcross take an overall win in his Class 1 Peugeot 205 with Mike Chatwin 2nd in his DP Wasp followed by a disappointed Julian Lack in his Liege. John Bell is to be congratulated on getting a spread of classes in the top 10. It will be interesting to see how the Ilkley evolves in the future.

ClassDriver/ClassMarks
Overall WinnerJames Shallcross (Peugeot 205)11
0Odgie Danaan (Austin 7)32
1Dave Oliver (Peugeot 205)38
2David Golightly (Ford Model A)19
4Michael Leete (VW Beetle)33
5Chris Maries (Suzuki X90)31
6Adrian Tucker-Peake (MGF)31
7Julian Lack (Liege)13
8Mike Chatwin (DP Wasp)12

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Idiosyncratic Ilkley

Dean Partington and Duncan Stephens drop 12 marks, but Best Overall awarded to a competitor in Class 0

The Ilkley continues to be an enjoyable and developing event, despite things being done very differently to the other championship rounds. A couple of the regular sections had to be cancelled because of the wet weather but this was more than compensated for by Stan Peels new find, a section called Coppy alongside Gouthwaite Reservoir although this proved damaging for some in Class 0.

With little regard for 4.1.11 Ilkley winner Mark Busfield  guns his special as he charges the rock pile at the top of Watergate 1. (Picture by Unknown)
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Clerk of the Course Stan Peel had been very worried about the weather building up to the weekend as some of the roads on the route were flooded. Come the day the water had receded but it was still necessary to cancel a couple of sections, including the popular Incline on the outskirts of Pateley Bridge. To compensate a couple of familiar sections at Sword Point were drafted back into use. 

The event attracted quite a good entry of 38 bikes, 14 cars in Class 0 and 33 in the main classes. Most of the events regulars were present, but noticeably only a handle of championship contenders. The main car classes had quite high pressure restrictions of 15psi for Seven and Eight and 12 psi for the others. Class 0 had neither pressure restrictions or restarts

Big Hole at Strid Wood 

With the first Hawpike section being cancelled the picturesque Hawpike 2 was first on the agenda. Quite a few drivers were caught out by the steep bank at the start, including Paul Clay and Nigel Hilling with their 1172 sidevalves and Graham Redmayne in his Liege in Class 0. Graham didn’t make many more errors and went on to an excellent second in Class 0. 

The familiar sections at Strid Wood came next. The first wasn’t too bad for the early cars in class 0, but soon developed a huge hole in the soft surface which only Dean Partington and Stuart Lambert of the later numbers could surmount. The second hill here had a very difficult 90 right onto a track which proved too much for most cars. The few that did get round were trapped by the tight PCT markers higher up and two was the best anyone could do. David Golightly had a good try in his wonderful Model A but got rather crossed up in the process and had a rather alarming unplanned descent through the undergrowth. 

Suburb Green Laning across Pock Stones Moor 

There was a new section called Ellers Edge on Pock Stones Moor. The section was fine but even better was mile after mile of green laning to get to the section and more afterwards, finally emerging at the Hey Slack Section. Ellers Edge was a slippery bank which stopped a surprising number of the entry including all the Lieges apart from Graham Redmayne in Class 0. 

There were the usual two sections at a cold and windy Hey Slack, attempted according to Class. They were very wet at the bottom which prevented competitors attacking the short sharp banks. Nobody climbed the easier one and in 7 and 8 only Duncan Stephens in Class 7 and Dean Partington and Charlie Knifton in Class 8 came out the top. 

The weather was better at the sheltered Peels Wood 1 where the routes were split, class 8 having to descend to the bottom before attacking a steep grassy bank. Only one competitor surmounted this bank and nobody will be surprised that was Dean Partington. The other classes had a much easier route and there were few marks lost. 

Only the higher Classes tackle Wilson Wood 

Wilsons Wood was only attempted by Classes 7 & 8 and didn’t take too many scalps this year. The only two retirements occurred here. Steve Lister had problems with his blown Dellow and there was no Charlie Knifton as his Subaru powered Scorpion had stuck in gear leaving Peels Wood. 

There was a lunch break in the farmyard before Brimham Lodge, with a much appreciated refreshment wagon and toilets. The Brimham Lodge section was in fine form. Cleanable, but it wasn’t easy and about half the cars didn’t succeed in getting up without a tow. David Golightly in the Model A was penalised 50 marks here, presumably for tyre pressures and this cost him a class win. Incidentally the tyre pressure check was at the top of the section, so no chance to adjust them if they didn’t satisfy the marshals gauge. (1)

New Section at Coppy was Rough 

With the Incline Sections cancelled due to the wet ground the route went through Pateley Bridge and alongside Gouthwaite Reservoir to a new section called Coppy. This had a relatively gentle gradient, the challenge was the ruts, rocks and mud. The majority of the Class 0’s running at the front of the field had problems and had to back out. Before long pretty much the entire field were queued on the main road. Fortunately some of the senior competitors stepped in and marshalled the cars onto the adjoining grassy field otherwise there could have been a nasty accident. 

The main classes were not without their problems, but even those that cleared the section had a struggle with the hairy drop into the stream on the exit track. 

After Coppy the route continued to follow the reservoir road to Longside Wood, introduced for last years event. Stan Peel had taken pity on the lower classes and allowed them to start after the tight hairpin at the bottom. The section is a magnificent long blast up a track through a Bluebell Wood, finishing with some tight corners. These were the downfall of the few competitors who got that far, all except Mike Chatwin who was the only clear in his DP Wasp. 

On the Moors above Pateley Bridge

Watergate lay back down the reservoir road, through Pateley Bridge and up onto the moors. Watergate 1 is one of the jewels of the Ilkley Trial, a real classic section in a picturesque setting, such a shame about the car damaging unnecessary artificial bit at the top. There were no restarts for the lower classes but even so it the section claimed scalps on the lower reaches. 

Watergate 2 was a dive into and out of a quarry, cleaned by all but one competitor. 

The Cock Hill Mine section was higher on the moor. Bleak and exposed it was a new variation for most classes, marked PCT style and routed over some big rocks before a tight 90 left onto the exit track. This was quite tricky but competitors in most of the classes managed a clean, including three in Class 2, John Bell (MG TB) and Richard Parker and Sebastian Welch in their Austin Seven’s. David Child did some damage to his Pop here and he missed the remaining sections. 

Back to Peels Wood

There was a second run at Peels Wood on the way back to Otley, with a relatively straightforward restart for those who didn’t have to deviate. The Class 8’s had their deviation again and once again it was only cleaned by a DP Wasp, but it was Mike Chatwin this time. Dean dropped seven, loosing the overall win in the process. 

Two familiar sections at Sword Point weren’t included originally but were drafted in a few days before to replace those lost to the wet ground. The first one had a more attainable route through the trees before the step up to the track. Very few in the lower classes could surmount that so well done to Sam Holmes (beetle), David Golighltly (Ford Model A) and Paul Clay (Ford 10 powered A7) who crested the summit. 

Sword Point 2 was another weave though the trees with a tricky restart on some soft peat thrown in for good measure. This proved a real challenge and only John Bell and Sam Holmes got away. The higher classes didn’t fare much better, most of them failing to get away. 

Finish and Reflections

With so many sections and some substantial delays, later numbers were still trickling into the finish for their supper past 6pm, which was shame for those who had a long journey home followed by work on Monday morning. For those that had the time to enjoy it there was a nice supper, included in the entry fee. 

On reflection the trial was much rougher than usual in places and Class 0 had no respite from these sections on this event. The overall winner came from this class but considering they had no restarts, free tyre pressures and were in a road going Sporting Trials car this attracted quite a bit of comment. 

Having made these comments The Ilkley has never fitted into the mould of the other championship events. Those who come back each year know what to expect and enjoy the event for what it offers. Just a shame it was rough for those who choose Class 0 to avoid damage to their cars.

ClassDriver/CarMarks
OverallMark Busfield (CWB Trident Ford Special)11
0Graham Redmayne (Liege)35
1James Shallcross (Peugeot 205)32
2John Bell (MG TB)34
3Nigel Hilling (Ford Anglia)71
4Sam Holmes (VW Beetle)23
5Kraig Mycock (Riley Nine)62
6No Starters
7Duncan Stephens (Dutton Melos)12
8Dean Partington (DP Wasp)12

We have been publishing stuff about Classic Trials on the Web since 1995 and always appreciate feedback. Comments, Corrections, Criticism & Concerns are all welcome. You can leave a comment to have your say here on this web site or our Social Media

Nick Farmer wins Ilkley

The seemingly invincible Nick Farmer won the Ilkley Trial in his Cannon Alfa, dropping three marks on the new section at Longside Wood. Dean Partington was second, loosing five on the new hill.

Dry weather leading up to the trial caused the organisers to make some of the sections very tight, especially the first Swordpoint section where it was barely possible to squeeze between the ten marker and a substantial tree. Conditions certainly suited the Lieges with Kevin Barnes winning class seven on his way to third overall.

Nick Farmer blasting his way through the Bluebells on the new section at Longside Wood on his way to winning The Ilkley.Picture by Dave Cook.
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After some disappointing entries for recent events the Ilkley organisers were delighted to have 55 cars, plus 30 bikes for their unique event. 14 of the cars were in Class 0 but this was mainly for competition licence reason as they did the same sections as the other cars. 

It was cold and windy at the Otley Rugby Club start and this was to continue for the rest of the day with the added bonus of a little drizzle later in the day. However, with the possible exception of Brimham Lodge this didn’t have much impact on the dry sections. Tyre pressure limits were specified as 12 psi for the lower and 15 psi for the higher classes. Unfortunately these were not checked during the event which is wrong for a championship event. 

Langbar was Narrow

The first section at Langbar set the scene for many of the sections, a very narrow, tight route through the markers, with penalties for touching them throughout the event. The majority of competitors went clean apart from Class 4 where Class Winner Sam Holmes was the only car to see the exit track, the others loosing grip on the first tight turn. 

Early Retirements

The mornings route followed the usual pattern but this year only Class 8 had to tackle the alternative route at Peels Wood where Mike Chatwin dropped out of contention when he stopped at the seven. Three cars didn’t make it this far. Stuart Bartlett and multiple MSA Car Trial Champion, Dave Oliver retired at the rough special test at Highfield Farm. Dave broke the diff on his Peugeot 205 and Stuart put the fan through the radiator trying to get over the hillock on the first turn. Last year Dave Haizelden retired his Escort on the first hill. He managed five this time before the push rod popped out of the slave cylinder. 

New Section at Longside Wood Decides Result

There was a new section after lunch, north of Pateley Bridge and the Gouthwaite Reservoir. Called Longside Wood it was a long, bluebell edged, track, starting and ending with acute hairpin bends. The bottom one caused a few problems and Charlie Knifton was one of those who didn’t succeed, letting James Shallcross into the lead of their tight class one battle.

Nobody cleaned the section. Robert Hodgkinson, passengered by local man John Rhodes were shown as dropping two in their Marlin, the reality is that they gave the section a miss when they saw the queue! Of the clean sheets so far Nick Farmer came dropped three in his Cannon Alfa, Simon Woodall (VW Buggy) and Kevin Barnes (Leige) four, Dean Patington (DP Wasp) and Duncan Stephens (Melos) five. 

Kevin and James fall foul of the Markers

Unfortunately Kevin fell foul of some of the Ilkleys tightly spaced markers on Watergate 2 in his supercharged Leige, but so did Duncan Stephens cementing Kevins Class 7 win. 

Nick Farmer kept his clean sheet to the end of the trial to win by two marks from Dean Partington. Simon Woodall dropped from contention when he had a spring plate break on his VW Buggy but still managed to limp to the finish. 

The drizzle set in during the afternoon making things unpleasant for James Shallcross as he struggled with no less than four punctures. He should have been rewarded by a class win but was caught out by the impossible gap between the ten marker and a substantial tree on Swordpoint one so Charlie Knifton won Class 1.

ClassDriver/CarMarks
OverallNick Farmer (Cannon Alfa)3
0Chris Maries (Suzuki X90)31
1Charlie Knifton (Peugeot 205)29
2Bill Bennett (MG J2)18
3Nigel Hilling (Ford Anglia 1172)46
4Sam Holmes (VW Beetle)32
5Brian Alexander (Suzuki X90)34
7Kevin Barnes (Liege)9
8Dean Partington (DP Wasp)5

We have been publishing stuff about Classic Trials on the Web since 1995 and always appreciate feedback. Comments, Corrections, Criticism & Concerns are all welcome. You can leave a comment to have your say here on this web site or our Social Media

Simons Wet Ilkley

Simon Woodall Won a Very Wet and Muddy Ilkley Trial on 17 May

Simon Woodall and Barbara Selkirk are very happy after cleaning Sword Point 3. They were the only car to clean the hill before, Sword Point 2 and this won them the trial. (Picture by Dave Cook)
 

After a couple of years of good fortune The Ilkley Club were un-lucky with the weather this year. It started raining during the late morning and it stayed all through the afternoon, turning some of the sections into mud baths that had to be cancelled for the later numbers.

Running at the front of the field Classes Seven and Eight had the most favourable conditions but more restarts and some tricky alternative routes to even things out. Overall victory went to Simon Woodall in his VW Buggy when he was the only car to clean the muddy Sword Point 2 at the end of the event.

Earlier Simon was challenged not only by his Class 8 rivals but also James Shallcross and Dave Haizelden from Class 1. James was leading the class at the lunch break before dropping 11 on Brimham Lodge.

Riding a Ural Combination was none other than Fifth Gears Tiff Needell so its eyes glued to the telly in June.

With the benefit of hindsight the club were a bit ambitious trying to stick to their original plan and would have been better to simplify some of the sections to fit in with the conditions on the day.

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The start was back at the excellent Ilkley Rugby club, with plenty of space and an official OK to camp overnight. Lots of attention on Tiff Needell who was competing on a Ural combination, followed everywhere by a Channel Five film crew.

It was dry at the start but there had been rain leading up to the event and more was forecast later in the day.

These two grassy sections are down in a valley. They were cancelled before the start as there would have been problems getting back to the surfaced road.

Only a couple of cars managed to clean the grassy first section and they were early numbers. The rain started after class seven and eight passed through, by this time the grass had gone and most endured the fate of understeering into the 12 marker.

The second section was the usual blast up the gully. This developed a horrendous hole which stopped almost everyone that managed to get that far. However, it was possible to come out the top without a tow and Paul Bartleman (Troll) and Stuart Lambert (Cannon Austin) both went clear.

The first Hawpike section was pure grass PCT, cleanable for the early numbers but impossible for later runners as the mud bath developed.

The second section is in very picturesque surroundings, starting with a small ford before going through a gate, up a bank and following a grassy gully. Unfortunately the conditions made the bank impassable for most outside class eight and the best class one cars. In class four Skoda drivers Thomas Aldrian and Alistair Queen proved it was on. Unfortunately Alistair stopped at the four but Thomas went on to clear the hill.

After the picturesque Hawpike 2 there were some wonderful views from the green lanes that led to the special test at Highfield Farm.

Only Seven and Eight had a go at this as the access from the road became impassable once the heavens opened.

The higher classes had a very difficult deviation that proved impassable causing a long queue to develop, later numbers having to wait the best part of a couple of hours. By the time the later numbers had their turn the rain had become persistent making the grass impossibly slippery. Robin Barlow (Dellow Mk2) was amongst the non restarting class 0’s to be defeated only by the final bank, which Tony Leedal actually surmounted in his GN.

James Shallcross was the only driver to get to the final bank, doing well to get away from the slippery restart.

Up on top of the moor this short little section saw the demise of Tris White’s Imp with a broken diff.

Running towards the front of the cars Dudley Sterry and Nick Farmer both cleaned this one but by now a familiar pattern was developing as the grass became increasingly slippy as the rain came down. Classes 3, 4 and 5 had another wait of an hour and the section was finally cancelled for them when Edward Broom got his Escort stuck on a tree stump. Rather than scrub the section in the results the course closing car scored remaining cars a seven.

It was nearly four in the afternoon when the stragglers arrived at the lunch halt where the caters had kindly waited which was much appreciated. Paul Bartleman was leading the trial overall at this point on 24 with Philip Bovill (Cannon DP) on 27, followed by Simon Woodall and  Stuart Lambert on 28

Dean Partington went into the lead of the trial here when he was the only car to go clean. For the rest it was the familiar mud bath and when Thomas Aldrian got well and truly stuck it was abandoned for the remaining cars who accepted an eleven from the course closing car.

Classes Seven and Eight attempted these classic Ilkley sections which were both cleaned by the leading cars. Later they were cancelled for the remaining cars but there was confusion for classes 3, 4 and 5, by now running with more than an hours gap behind the field, as all they found was a closed gate with no notice or marshal to explain what was going on. This even confused the course closing cars who the stragglers were getting to know very well.

Always an Ilkley highlight. Brian Colman did well to be the only class 7 to get off the restart. In class 1 Dave Haizelden, James Shallcross and Adrian Tucker-Peake all went clear, although without a restart of course, as did Alan Smith with his Marlin in Class 0. With ground clearance at a premium the section wasn’t particularly Skoda friendly so Alistair Queen was delighted to come so close to a clean, demonstrating he hasn’t lost his touch after a long lay-off.

None of the cars could clean this section which had a greasy impossible restart. However, the highlight was the exit track. A wonderful, long, rutted track, worthy of Calton in its prime. Shame that wasn’t the section!

Only classes seven and eight had a go at this, later numbers arrived to find the gate closed and the marshals gone. Like the Incline sections it was shame a marshal hadn’t stayed on to explain what was going on or at least left a notice.

There were some issues finding these sections as the arrow from the main road was missing. Most competitors managed to find these sections but one or two didn’t, including Thomas Aldrian, costing him a win in class four.

The overall winner was decided here, when Simon Woodall cleaned the second, grassy section while his rivals dropped eleven or twelve.

This super little section had a restart on a sharp left hand corner. You had to get going of the start line first though, catching out a few but not affecting the results.

Back at the finish their was an excellent pie and peas supper, even for the later numbers who didn’t arrive till gone 7pm. Very few competitors waited for the results, understandably  preferring to go home and dry out.

Despite all the issues it was a very enjoyable trial, despite the weather.

Best OverallSimon Woodall (VW Buggy) – Class 847
Best IDMCStuart Lambert (Austin – Cannon) – Class 868
Class Winners
0Alan Smith (Marlin)80
1David Haizelden (VW Golf)53
2Bill Bennett (MG J2)94
3Edward Broom (Ford Escort)120
4Michael Leete (VW Beetle)104
5Stephen Kingstone (MG Midget)125
7Brian Colman (Dutton Phaeton)91
8Paul Bartleman (Troll)50

We have been publishing stuff about Classic Trials on the Web since 1995 and always appreciate feedback. Comments, Corrections, Criticism & Concerns are all welcome. You can leave a comment to have your say here on this web site or our Social Media

Ilkley Trial 08

Boyd Webster Wins with a Clean Sheet

The Ilkley Club were lucky with the weather again. It was a nice early summer day for the event, but wet weather during the week spiced the sections up a bit. Local man Boyd Webster was the winner in his Ford Special with a clean sheet, taking his victory over Jon Robilliard in his 1300 Beetle on the basis of special test times. 

The club were rewarded with an excellent entry for their first ACTC Championship Event, attracting a sizeable camel vale contingent who came all the way from Cornwall.

Boyd Webster and Robin Jeager navigate their Ford Special through the undergrowth at Hey Slack on their way to winning The Ilkley Trial (Picture by Dave Cook)
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This super little section had a restart on a sharp left hand corner. You had to get going of the start line first though and eventual winner Boyd Webster must have been wary of this as he didn’t last year! The restart itself was on a tight corner and Greg Thomas couldn’t coax his rather long Capri away. neither could the Northumbian Marlins of Fred Mills and Hal Branson.

The first section was a bit tight which was a problem for some of the bigger cars and Nigel Jones came to grief at the four marker in his Skoda.

The second was pure PCT on grass with a tougher start for the yellows and reds. There were very few clears but Jon Robilliard was on, establishing a firm grip on class four. Most of the failures were between the eleven and nine, including class eight exponents Simon Woodall and Stuart Harold. Harvey Waters was amongst the unfortunate group who couldn’t pass the twelve. Richard Hoskin retired here, knocking the steering of his Morgan F4 out of shape on the entrance to the venue.

The third Sword Point section was a rather rough weave through the trees, needing a lot of attention from those going clear to avoid clouting the wall at the summit. Its not clear if Dean Partington did this but he retired soon afterwards. We had already lost Duncan Walsh with a broken rear suspension mounting.

A pleasant, but not difficult section, although a handful of cars in the higher classes were caught out by their restart.

In class seven Tris White was the only competitor to succeed, putting him in front of Brian Colman who failed at the seven. The lower classes bypassed the 6, 7 & 8 deviation but had a tricky restart on a camber instead. This caught out quite a few experienced drivers, including last years winner Bill Bennett, Dick Bolt and Simon Groves in Class Three and Nicola Wainwright in Class Four. Getting of the restart wasn’t the only problem as the turn off the track up the bank at the end awaited and trapped the unwary.

Up on top of the moor this short little section didn’t prove too much of a problem, although Brian Colman dropped an un-expected six, destroying his chances to challenge Tris White for the Class Seven win.

With the deviation for the higher classes scrapped as there wasn’t sufficient recovery this gentle slope shouldn’t have presented to many problems. However, local knowledge counted here as the PCT markers took the section off the track at the two marker. About a third of the entry didn’t spot this and went straight on dropping two. They should have read last years Classical Gas Report!

No problems for the main trial here, although quite a few in Class 0 struggled to find grip on the first bank.

After years PR problems with the neighbours the section was approached across a kindly farmers field. Inline 1 started with a 90 left through a delightful dry stone wall to get onto the grassy track with its Crackington style muddy patch around 100 yards ahead. This was another section requiring a steady trickling nerve to build speed on the grass before blasting through the mud. This caught out quite a few experienced drivers, including Harvey Waters, Nicola Wainwright, Martin Willis, Myke Pocock and Keith Oakes. This was a particular problem for Keith Oakes as he couldn’t get to Incline Two as there was no recovery vehicle to give him a tow.

Incline 2 came shortly after and was attempted only by the higher classes with quite a few making clean climbs this year. These didn’t include Tris White in his Imp, the class seven winner dropping his only mark of the day.

For many Watergate was the best hill of the event, a real classic section. There was a ford at the start and it needed plenty of welly to climb the stony bank the other side. After this the track got a bit rocky and ground clearance became an issue, defeating Graham Whitings Skoda.

Strid Wood 1 was a nice friendly little affair through a peaty gully, but you did have to keep the power on as it was quite slippery. This caught out quite a few of the Ilkley first timers and in Class Three both Kelly Thomas and Sticker Martin dropped their only marks of the event.

Rob Wells retired after Strid Wood 2 in his unusual RWD Fiat Panda.

Hawpike 1 was a pure grassy PCT section. There was plenty of grip but about half of class seven were penalised, presumably for clipping markers. After the picturesque Hawpike 2 there were some wonderful views from the green lanes that led to the special test at Highfield Farm.

Their was only one special test and commendably it was a nice straightforward affair. Boyd Webster won the trial here, clocking a time 1.2 seconds quicker than Jon Robilliard, both of whom had clean sheets at the end of the trial.

Their was a long descent through a farmyard and down a newly surfaced track to the two Langbar sections. They were both bumpy grass affairs that would have been totally impossible in anything other than bone dry conditions. outside of class two neither presented many problems.

Back at the finish their was an excellent pie and peas supper to entertain competitors while they waited for the results which showed Boyd Webster as the overall winner on special test times over Jon Robilliard, the other driver with a clean sheet.  Everyone seemed to enjoy their Ilkley Trial. Its different to its southern counterparts but accept it for what it is and its a super day out, not just for the sections but the route through the Yorkshire countryside as well. It’s a nice time of year to hold the event as well as the club would have had problems with all the grassy sections in the winter.

Best OverallBoyd Webster (Ford Special) – Class 80
Best IDMCPaul Clay (Austin/Ford Special) – Class 525
Class Winners
0aRyan Gians (Cannon)20
0bDavid Child (Ford Special)59
 2Bill Bennett (MG J2)17
 3Kelly Thomas (Ford Escort)7
 4Jon Robilliard (VW Beetle)0
 5Colin Biles (MG Midget)17
 7Tris White (Hillman Imp)1
 8Mike Chatwin (Troll)2

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Ilkley Trial

Bill Bennett Best Car

The Ilkley Club were lucky with the weather. It was a nice early summer day for the event, but wet weather during the week spiced the sections up a bit. Bill Bennett was a decisive winner, dropping only two marks after the second slippery PCT section. The higher classes had some extra challenges, including an “impossible” section at Peel’s Wood. However, even without these Bill would still have won.

The competitors all enjoyed this unique event which, incorporating a lot of grassy sections, PCT marking and stopping to have score cards marked on each section, falls somewhere between a conventional Classic and a Production Car Trial.

Bill Bennett picks his way through the rocks at the Dob Park Watersplash on his way to winning The Ilkley Trial (Picture by Dave Cook)
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Dave Cooks Photos

The grounds of Ilkley Rugby Club provided ample room for parking and formalities although one wondered if the club should have been there as the burglar alarm was in full song for quite a while!

The first two section sections were pure PCT affairs in a grassy field and any doubts if there were penalties for hitting the markers were dismissed when Nigel Jones was penalised for brushing the seven marker on the first one. This was cleanable though, with a gentle foot, and about half the entry managed this. The second section was similar in nature but a sharp right hander got the diffs working and John Rhodes was the only car to go clean. No other car got further than the six. Bill Bennett dropped nine here in his MG J2, his biggest loss as he was to drop only two more during the rest of the event.

This super little section had a restart on a sharp left hand corner. You had to get going of the start line first though and two didn’t, including Boyd Webster from the organising club who couldn’t coax his Canon away, dropping 12 marks that would hand the class award to Dean Partington at the finish.

There were quite a few unique aspects to The Ilkley and the special tests were one of them. You had to go as slowly as possible, incurring a fail for stopping. Times ranged from 6.3 seconds to the 53.9 of John Rhodes.

The two grassy PCT sections required a very delicate foot on the throttle, especially the second one where the higher classes had a more difficult alternative start, they were possible though, unless you were in a front wheel drive car! The third one was completely different in nature, a muddy, bumpy blast through the trees and there were only three cars, all in class eight got to the top.

There were a couple of retirements here, neither Richard Parker (Austin Seven) or Derek Reynolds (DAF 66) going any further.

Both of these sections severely penalised the higher classes and only three cars reached the summit of Fewston 2, these included Dudley Sterry who achieved notoriety the previous year when he nearly went sideways over the steep bank.

Any hopes anyone in classes six, seven or eight had of beating Bill Bennett were dashed here. While the lower classes had a gentle poodle up a gentle grass track the yellows and reds had a horrendous deviation down into a gulley where they had to assault a steep, slippery grass bank after which they had to make sure they kept straight while reversing down to make sure they didn’t turn over!

Looking through the results only Falcons Ed Nikel (Dellow Mk2 Replica) conquered the bank and even he dropped three.

The final section of the morning was on Moorland on top of a hill that would have been very windy had the wind been blowing. Inspection was permitted and the higher classes could see they had to fight their way through a bog before tackling a steep bank. The lower classes skipped the bog but everyone had to start by going over a steep bump where you could ground out if you weren’t careful and this is what happened to Falcon’s Nicolas Cross, Ted Holloway and Michael Leete. The club had moved their chuck wagon giving those who weren’t running late a chance to grab a bite to eat.

After the lunch break the route passed the mushroom globes at Mentwith Hill Station, complete with machine gun totting police at the gate. Wilsons Wood was off quite a busy road. The section was a grassy track, starting with a couple of sharp corners then a gentle climb. Unfortunately there was a big snag in so much as the official route deviated off the left to run through the undergrowth parallel to the track. This caught out nearly half the entry who followed the track itself.

The special test was another “go slow” affair through a puddle. The section was a nice challenge however, making excellent use of the venue and ending with a steep bank as a sting in the tail. The results show three of the FWD cars clearing the section which is surprising as most of the other cars in the lower classes failed apart from the on-form Bill Bennett.

The club had some PR problems here and some of the later runners were delayed for half and hour while the officials sorted out some irate locals. Once that drama was over there was a shallow deceptively slippery grass track between stone walls too climb. No problem if you were gentle on the throttle but if you gave it to  much welly and the wheels started to spin there was no hope, as Ted Holloway, Michael Leete and a few others discovered.

Incline 2 came shortly after and was attempted only by the higher classes with quite a few making clean climbs this year.

For many Watergate was the best hill of the event, a real classic section. There was a ford at the start and it needed plenty of welly to climb the stony bank the other side. After this the track got a bit rocky and ground clearance became an issue, defeating the Skodas of Ted Holloway, Nigel Jones and Myke Pocock.

Like Wilsons Wood there was trap if you didn’t look out carefully for the markers half the cars missed the “gate” at the nine marker, including Ilkley member and well know rally driver Tony Fall who was driving a Nissan Micra and appeared to be enjoying every minute of it judged by the smile on his face.

Tony wasn’t the only one to miss the nine marker as class eight contenders Dean Partington and Dudley Sterry did the same thing. Nigel Jones ended his trial here. Nigel and David Hunt had been struggling with the clutch on their Skoda for sometime and having used up all the adjustment decided to call it a day.

Strid Wood 1 was a nice friendly little affair but Strid Wood 2 was pure PCT and required considerable agility from car and driver. It was certainly a problem for long wheel base cars and Keith Oakes and Dudley Sterry dropped marks here.

Hawpike 1 was another pure PCT section. There wasn’t much space between the markers and the marshals were watching out for the slightest touch, even penalising Bill Bennett for his only lost mark of the afternoon. 

The final competitive section was a very strange affair. Another “go slow” special test on a grassy bank. The problem was that the marshals didn’t impose the “four wheels out” rule so some cars deviated a long way off route without penalty. John Rhodes had the longest time of 167 seconds but somehow incurred a six point penalty, although he was sufficiently in front of Stephen Kenny to keep his class lead. 

Back at the finish their was an excellent pie and peas supper to entertain competitors while they waited for the results which showed Bill Bennett a conclusive winner. Everyone seemed to enjoy their Ilkley Trial. Its different to its southern counterparts but accept it for what it is and its a super day out, not just for the sections but the route through the Yorkshire countryside as well. It’s a nice time of year to hold the event as well as the club would have had problems with all the grassy sections in the winter.

Best OverallBill Bennett (MGJ2) – Class 211
Best IDMCBoyd Webster (Cannon) – Class 836
Class Winners
 1Nick Pullen (Nissan Micra)60
 2Don Griffiths (Austin 7)33
 3Nigel Hilling (Ford Pop)64
 4Jim Welsh (VW Beetle)25
 5John Bradshaw (Morgan 4/4)63
 7John Rhodes (Dutton Phaeton)29
 8Dean Partington (D. P. Wasp)25

We have been publishing stuff about Classic Trials on the Web since 1995 and always appreciate feedback. Comments, Corrections, Criticism & Concerns are all welcome. You can leave a comment to have your say here on this web site or our Social Media

Ilkley 2006

Robin Preedy won The Ilkley trial on 21st May. Falcon’s Keith and Claire Oakes won Class Seven.

Drought, what Drought!
By Claire Oakes

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Dave Cooks Photos

Off we go at 3am to Yorkshire for the Ilkley Classic Trial. We had just got off the M1, to take the ring road round Leeds, when the Dutton started to splutter, then stall. We thought it might be the carburettor, as it plays up in very cold conditions, but this couldn’t be the case as it was a DRY and warm night. I never knew how many roundabouts and traffic lights there were as we did a kangaroo hop to get round Leeds.

We coughed and wheezed and limped into Ilkley Rugger Club. The marshal who directed us where to park said “there’s water coming from your car, no, hang on, its petrol”! It was pumping out like a cut artery, and I’d been puffing on ciggies for the last ten miles!! Keith set to and dismantled the carburettor as he thought the float was sticking. (While I had another cig in the clubhouse to clam myself at thought of being blown up). Ian Cairns arrived to say he was lucky to be a starter too. His Marlin Roadster hydraulic clutch pipe broke, on the Friday, fluid everywhere. 

Our kick off time was 09.05. The sun had been out since dawn and it continued to shine until just before the lunch break. Then it rained & rained & rained. On the tulip route card two sections, 3 and 4, had been deleted due to the rotten weather of the past week at Browns Wood and the crossing over Dob Park Splash. 

Sections 1 & 2 Carr Side, we approached the start line sideward like a crab, as did the other trialers. This was the format of the day, a second trial getting to the start lines! Cricket scores end of the day of 155 for Reg Salway VW Golf was not alone with 21 other cars collecting triple points, we toted up 96. The star for the cars was best overall Robin Preedy VW Scorpion with 27. How did he do it? Well-done Robin. 

This is the only trial apart from the MCC. “Big Three” where we see bikes. Ian Thompson (Beta Alpa) got nil points, what a man. We had to laugh when Graham Makepiece (Honda XR) said he was annoyed with himself for dropping six on Wilson’s Wood. He should have had a look at the book Keith purchased the club; entitled “So this is Yorkshire” by Janet E. Kitchens. A compulsive read crammed full of photographs of bikes and some cars from 1910 to 1939. Men had to men and women tough as nails to endure the elements and conditions of harder trialing than today. They just got on with it and land owners joined in. No DEFA, Health & Safety, PC. The only “street cred” these lads needed to look cool was, Brylcream hair slicked back parted on top, carbolic soap and to finish the manliness was a Woodbine sticking out of the corner of their mouth. Not the pasty sickly faced tattooed baseball caps hoodies of today trying to pass themselves off as humans. 

Can`t write what these trialers got up to in the “days of yore” as I might be breaking copyright, but every steep hill or water they could find they drove up it or through it and there’s plenty of both on “Bar Tat”. No 4×4, or tractor to pull you out, but a horse or a dozen or so men. I will let you know that for solo bikers, by 1927 the penalty for zigzagging was six and wobbling or swerving badly five! Sorry, I`m digressing, back to 2006. Sections 5/6/7 Sword Point 1, 2&3. We got as far as 12 on one, told to reverse into a gateway as this was now the new start line, opposite to the gate entrance for section 2, to have a longer run up to the section (across the tarmac public road) which we did a bit better and wow got to 10. At Sword Point 3 we sat and watched Bill Foreshew, Golden Valley Special MK II, get to the eight. Keith didn’t think he could do any better, but hey, the Dutton found grip and flew up to the one! We were towed out onto a very narrow track, but still had to do a 6-point manoeuvre to clear the bank opposite, the track for it is only the depth of a car on the “T” section ends exit. Good place for spectators as all three are within a few hundred yards. 

Sections 8 & 9 Fewston 1 / 2 Our first clear on one. We straddled a tree root on 2 for eight points. 

Section 10 Peels Wood As we slowed to turn into the gate a voice shouted from a group of bikers “Do you want a passenger?” “What’s up, I said to the rider, has your passenger thrown there Teddy out of the pram?” “No, he replied, I have!” “OK, I’ll swap”, but Keith drove on into the field before his wife made more of a fool of herself. Classes “A” & eight diverted on this hill, others went straight up this year, and we reached the one, and were dragged out to exit the hill. 

Section 11 Hey Slack next to the lunch halt on Pock Stone Moor we got as far as the three. It started to rain at the break, ever the optimists we didn’t put the roof on, but after a hour or so we had to relent to the elements as the wet stuff was now coming down like stair rods and Keith’s glasses were beginning to rust. 

Section 12 Wilson’s Wood we arrived at post eleven and the Dutton sat posing on a large hump of mud for Dave Cook the photographer while we thought which was best way to reverse out. 

Sections 13/14 Brimham Lodge, the marshal told us drivers had trouble getting to the eleven. We said we would try to do better; we did, just made it to the twelve! The timed test on section 14 last year was to go slow, yes, you’ve guessed it, this year you had to go as fast as you can through the sea of mud. 

Sections 15/16 Incline 1&2 at Bruce House Farm, David Child Ford Pop was up to his oxters in mud and was towed to the start line! Guess what, he got to the twelve. We surprised ourselves with five. Incline 2 was cancelled. 

Section 17 Watergate, Colin Perryman was pleased with his BMW 2002 as it cleared the hill. He told us this hill was used for “Scrap Heap Challenge” and none of the vehicles climb it in the T.V. programme. We got to broom handle eight. 

Section 18 Cock Hill Mine, with the rain, now mist swirling around, bounced back with a dream restart and shot up the hill. When we arrived at Sections 19/20/21 Strid Wood the last 3 sections were also cancelled. So, straight to the finish for a early free meal, lovely food and warm hospitality from the organisers and helpers, but the accolade goes to the course setters on the wet day before and the marshals who stayed cheerful in such miserable conditions. The Ilkley is a delightful event and not damaging to vehicles. The only gripe from some of the competitors was the 12/ 15 psi limits. Personally I think it should have been 10 psi or, with the adverse conditions free tyre pressure, except for Robin Preedy who should have been 30 psi, only kidding Robin. We stayed at the Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley, very nice place and recommend it. 

We travelled south on the A1 & because of the heavy rain. Went wrong at a roundabout and inadvertently was now driving south on the M1. Grief, it was a nightmare like driving in a car wash! Spray every where, with side screens off, water was coming in by the buckets onto our laps, buttock clenching experience, exit to get back to “A” roads. With motorways road works, why can’t pipe be laid to move water round the country where it is needed in droughts? Or as a friend text me with this question, isn’t it a good job we have a drought, where else would we store the water? 

Cars
 Overall WinnerRobin Preedy  (VW Scorpion)27
 Class Winners
 1Nigel Sykes (Mini Moke)89
 2Richard Parker (Austin Seven)94
 3Colin Perryman (BMW 2002)106
 5Paul Clay (Austin 7/Ford Special)130
 6Richard Peck (VW Beetle)120
 7Keith Oakes (Dutton Phaeton)96
 8Boyd Webster (Ford Special)74
 Bikes
 Overall WinnerIan Thompson (Beta Alp)0
 Class Winners
 AGraham Makepiece (Hona XR)6
 CMalcom Brown (Triumph T110)41
 CombinationJohn Hind (Triumph 7T)18

We have been publishing stuff about Classic Trials on the Web since 1995 and always appreciate feedback. Comments, Corrections, Criticism & Concerns are all welcome. You can leave a comment to have your say here on this web site or our Social Media