You have stumbled on a delightful box of tricks, Classic Trials & other perverse stuff from Michael Leete. MCC ACTC and other trials. VW Beetles, Dellows, Marlins, or even Suzuki X90's
Wins for Gary Browning, Steve Urell and Andrew Kearns
Steve Urell and Julie Williams were best outfit. Seen here on Birchanger Bank in this VidCap from a Norton Selwood Video
Organisers Dave Haizelden and Keith Sanders believe in tough trials, who will forget 2018 in the snow! This year they were thwarted by the dry conditions but still put on a challenging event.
Last year Covid constraints necessitated started and finishing in Ashcombe Woods, with a simple route, as car drivers were not allowed passengers and had to navigate themselves.
This year the start and finish in the woods was retained, together with the opening and closing sections.
It was the MCC’s Beggars Roost Centenary and the Barbrook Garage Crew made sure it was celebrated in fine style.Under Construction Logo
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After a couple of years off due to Covid the Lands End Trial resumed with multiple starts and a bumper entry dominated by the 173 motorcycles at the front of the field. These were followed by 132 cars. The entry was supplemented by 39 in Class 0 which missed out a couple of the most damaging sections and 17 in the all tarmac Classic Road Trial.
The Cornish C90’s were the Stars of the Show (video by Emma Groves)
The entry included a number of the new Class S for Step-though motorcycles and scooters including a large Cornish group on C90’s whose enthusiasm and commitment were infectious.
Coming on 9pm when the last finisher signed off.
The entry converged on Bridgwater Rugby Club a little later than usual and later numbers found it locked and dark so not only did they miss refreshments but also the all important toilets.
Felons Oak was the appetiser with its rocky restart difficulties enough to shatter a few Gold Medal aspirants dreams while Class 0 tackled the milder Catsash.
What many called “that silly little horseshoe” caused its usual problems this year with a tricky restart for the more competitive classes on the cobbled rise back to the road, followed by a very tight turn. Using the bank to get round this corner proved an issue for some and Lee Peck and Arnold Lane ripped their cars over. Lee had expected to debut his latest Kraken but changed to his Class 4 beetle after some last minute teething issues.
Even without a restart the cobbles and tight turn can catch the unwary as shown in the excellent InCar Video by Simon Lewis.
Into the Sun on Blue Hills 2
Smiles all round the route with the Cornish Step-Through Crew as Dale Tonkin is feet up on Blue Hills 2 (Photo by Sue Stokes)
he sun was very low in the sky for later numbers and anyone without sunglasses was in real trouble to see where to go as they approached the left hander.
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Exmoor Motorcycle Winner Ryan Eamer tells us about his bike and his trial
Ryan concentrates as he sets up the B40 to round a tight bend on Riverton on his way to winning this years Exmoor Trial. Photo by Paul Morris Motorsport Photography. Click Here for more of Pauls work
Ryan Eamer has achieved a unique feat, winning an ACTC round on both four and two wheels. Having won the Cotswold Clouds in his Cannon Ryan has followed this with wins on the last years Tarka and now the Exmoor Trial on his 350cc BSA B40.
More on the bike in a minute. Meanwhile Ryan tells us about his Exmoor.
Trial was really good, first group of 3 sections at Porte farm were a nice start to the trial, nice little Bike deviation on the 2nd one and a tricky little restart and the 3rd which caught a few out. I understand these got a little difficult once the cars arrived!
Simon Jones captures Ryan Eamer working hard to get away from the Bulls Bank restart on his way to winning the 2018 Cotswold CloudsContinue reading “Ryan’s Exmoor Trial”
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This years Exmoor was a challenging event with Class Eight filling the first five places amongst the cars.
Norton Selwood was at High Bray to capture the action.
High Bray was particularly challenging. The right hand side of the track was significantly eroded so there was a considerable camber tending to pull those on three or four wheels towards the bank.
Amongst the restarters all the Class Eight cars were successful but none of the Class Sevens went clean.
Norton Selwood got to Floyds Bank in time to see the lower classes attempt the section. 6, 7 and 8 attempted the deviation to the right just after the start.
Floyds Bank was another tough section. Clerk of the Course Chris Barham found the old section with the ruts had gone so had to mark out a new track. Josh Moss and Paul Merson were the only cleans amongst the 6, 7 and 8’s after which the difficult bit at the bottom was bypassed which allowed the lower classes to at least see section ends even though none of them got there!
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
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This years event was a round of the ACTC Championship for cars and motorcycles and attracted a good entry
With his successful Reliant Scimitar now sold Aaron Haizelden has shifted his attention to Class Eight. Photo by Paul Morris
The car classes were dominated by a Class Eight battle between Paul Merson in his familiar special, Duncan Stephens in his red top powered Sandrail and Aaron Haizelden, who has sold his familiar Scimitar SS, and moved to the specials class in what used to be known as the Deere Special, hence the colour.
Dave Cook was at the top of Sandale to see Dean Partington conquer the deep ruts. Dean and Charlie Knifton in their rear engined Class Eight cars and John Kenny amongst the Motorcycles were the only “cleans”. Link to Dave Cooks Northern Trial photos to follow.
With clubs having problems gaining permission to use Forest England land, together with local issues, it took a lot of work by Myke Pocock and his team to get this years Northern Trial off the ground. Even so they were restricted in what was available and a couple of sections had to be used twice.
Nick Aldridge and Gary Browning were second and third. Local driver Josh Moss came so near to a win in his Fuel injected, Imp engined Canon but the Class Eight restart on Jerrys proved too difficult and took all the specials out of contention. It was the same in Class Seven where Nick Aldridge also saw his chance at a win slip away.
The Cotswold Clouds is one of the most established events in the calendar, this year being its 60th anniversary. Organised by Stroud and District Motor Club, probably the most Classic Trials orientated club in the country, with a great depth of organising talent in its membership. Consequently there is no shortage of experienced Clerks of the Course and this year the event was in the capable hands of Nigel Moss.
Previous winner Nick Deacon was second in his X90. Kev Standard was best Motorcycle.
Paul Merson and Nick Sherrin on their way to a narrow Clee Hills win over Nick Deacon. Photo by Steve Shelley of ssshoot photography
With no Clee last year because of Covid there was an eager bunch of trialers gathered at The Squirrel in Ludlow for the first one day trial of the year.
The organisers set out to simplify this years event and didn’t use the Clee’s well known two loop system this time.
There were also some familiar sections omitted because of forestry issues. This didn’t stop the trial being a first class event with a lot of praise on social media from the competitors.
The Night started Dry but the rain set in during the early hours. The organisers were on the ball, made a few on the fly changes and the weather didn’t dampen the competitors spirits
Competitors experienced rain on the way to the start and some even got a taste of heavy snow but that cleared before the start.
Unsurprisingly with the Covid pandemic still raging there were quite a few non starters at Sparkford, there being no multiple start night run this year.
The route started with its familiar route through Yeovil to the Tarmac Section and test at Windwhistle Hill, the only section shared between the main Trial and Class 0.
Dave Cook pictures John Turner easeing his Dellow out the top of Underdown. John was one of three Dellow owners taking advantage of the recent reclassification, moving standard Dellows from Class 7 to Class 2 . Last time the Exeter ran John entered Class 0, which used Redscrip just across the road.
After Underdown and the Musbury Control the main trial crossed the Seaton tramway tracks and ascended ascended the hill to Gatcombe, a rather innocuous section usually reserved for Class 0.
Next came Hangman’s Stone and Bovey Woods, home of Normans Hump and Clinton, the later in the safe hands of a Falcon Motor Club group led by Keith Oakes.
The teams experienced rain during setup but it was dry when the first competitors arrived. However the rain came back just after four and the section was quite muddy for later numbers.
Classical Gas 