Mechanics Trial
Hat Trick of ACTC wins for Duncan Stephens who pipped Philip Thomas on Test Times
Edinburgh
Writers Note – This years Edinburgh was a controversial trial. While developing this report I would be grateful for any factual additions or corrections so it is as accurate account as possible. You can make these in the comments here on this page or by any of the many other ways you can get in touch with me – Michael
This years Edinburgh Trial was heavily promoted in all the available Social Media channels, emphasising a significantly different route avoiding main roads and the inclusion of some of the challenging classic sections for more classes.
Come the day the event was beset by bad weather which particularly affected the later numbers resulting in many cancelled sections including what many regarded as the “best” ones. The second half of the event also presented a navigational challenge and many missed sections. All these issues contributed to a significant number of retirements.
A Different Start
The Ladies missed the usual Loo
Special Test was an Autotest on a Kart Track
Test diagram at the start showed the various lines lettered but unlike the other tests the lines had no letter boards when you got there, adding to the confusion.
The considerable number of wrong courses justified the dissatisfaction of many competitors.
The Finish was not COVID secure
Up until this point all the controls were in the open air so competitors concerned about COVID security could choose not to go inside at the meal stops and minimise their infection risk.
This was not so at the finish and competitors were expected to walk through a crowded bar to hand in their numbers and inform the officials they had finished. Initially those competitors that did not do this were deemed to be non-finishers but this was changed after objections.
Summary
This years Edinburgh Trial was a controversial event. It was ambitious with its routing and attempts to find new sections. Although interesting these were generally non competitive and in the case of XXX necessitated a lot of extra road mileage and a potentially damaging exit track. The trial route mainly achieved its objective of staying off main roads but at the expense of difficult navigation and many who choose to rely on the road book had difficulty following the route.
Duncan Doubles Up on T and T
Duncan Stephens followed up his win on the Exmoor Clouds with a dominating drive on the Taw and Torridge
With Stuart Bartlett in the passengers seat of his UVA Fugitive Duncan had a day long battle Keith Sanders in his Reliant Scimitar SS. At the end of the day these were the only cars with single digit scores, the win going to Duncan on six with Keith on nine.
Apart from Duncan and Keith the remainder of the entry attracted some high scores on what was reckoned to be a tough event with some very steep sections.
The motorcycles had a strong class X entry. Ian Thompson was the best Solo amongst the regular classes
Continue reading “Duncan Doubles Up on T and T”Exmoor Clouds Restarts Season
Wins for Tristan Barnicoat and Duncan Stephens
Run last year as a Single Venue Event Minehead Motor Club had planned to run a road trial this year. Unfortunately there were problems a few weeks before the event and the route had to be confined to the extensive Headon Woods. Tristan Barnicoat dominated the Motorcycles while Duncan Stephens had a hard fight with Charlie Merson and Stewart Green to win the cars.
Continue reading “Exmoor Clouds Restarts Season”Tamar Trial Regs
John Aley Trial
Links:-
- Rough/Tough Poll on the Classic Trials FB Group
- John Aley Trial on FB
Launceston wins for Richard Maddern and Ryan Tonkin
The Event was notable for scores being well spread out amongst the classes
Kofi Farley debuted his newly acquired MX5. (Vidcap from a Norton Selwood Video)
Launceston and North Cornwall MC had a surprising number of non starters for their single venue Classic Trial in Lew and Eastcott Woods. It was still a good entry though. The organisers had made good use of the land and the 20 sections went down very well with the competitors.
Continue reading “Launceston wins for Richard Maddern and Ryan Tonkin”Bovey Down 2021
Links:-
Our Exmoor Adventure
By Winston & Patrick Teague & Tarka Daal the Curry Coloured MGB
Our journey to Sunday’s Exmoor began with a chance encounter on the Classic Trials Facebook. Brian Osbourn mentioned a decaying MGB in Tenbury Wells. We are outside Tenbury so Patrick (15) and I were intrigued….a question on the post, a bit of wondering, and a clumsy answerphone message at home from Simon Woodhall, and we were in the doghouse (again). We arrived home after a school run to ‘have you something to tell me?’ From the ever tolerant and (usually) forgiving Mrs T…….
We bought it, of course, though it didn’t seem to include sills……a few weeks of frantic bursts of fettling, in between bouts of outsourced welding with a target of Exeter-Clee Hills-Lands End.
Continue reading “Our Exmoor Adventure”Merson Victorious on the Exmoor Trial
It was Charlie Merson in his Ford Special doing the winning this time, not Paul in the Shopland, who had to settle for second
Chris Barham and his team worked hard to get this years Exmoor Trial on the road, rescheduling because of Covid and having to battle all the issues running an event at this difficult time involves. They were rewarded by an excellent entry of 60 to do battle with the dry sections in North Devon.
Continue reading “Merson Victorious on the Exmoor Trial”
