Tag: Dave Middleditch

Tarka first Timer in a Chair

Dave Middleditch reports on his first experience as a Sidecar Passenger

Photo by Peter Browne

Last year we spent the week of October half term visiting sections for the Land’s End. As my services were no longer required, it was a full week of surfing at Croyde, but I noticed that the Tarka Trial takes place on the last Sunday. As a car driver, that’s not an option…. or is it? I passengered for Andy Abraham in a very last minute pairing for the Edinburgh ’22, so gave him a call to see if he’d like to come all the way down for the Tarka and I’d passenger for him on the KTM 660 Outfit. He agreed, so after a Saturday spent mostly in the pub avoiding the rain, so arrived at the start in Bideford as first bike away, and with me having had precisely zero experience of riding a Chair! £20 ACU licence obtained and a borrowed set of boots and helmet from Andy, and we were on our way.

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Charlie Merson wins Close Mechanics

Held in dry conditions Charlie only dropped two and the top ten were only spanned by a further four marks.

Charlie Merson is a picture of concentration on his way to an overall win on The Mechanics Trial. Photo by Calvin Samuel

This years Mechanics Trial was earlier this year and held on a dry, sunny day. It was a low scoring, but very close battle between the leading contenders. However, unlike the Exmoor Clouds last week Class Eight dominated the leader board.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1Q0x71OG7XY%3Fsi%3Dk8r5xPBi5vQg3YSN
Wood Lane was early in the event and traction was at a premium at the top. (Video by Bultaco Boy)

Mackhouse was back on the agenda this year, there were only a couple of failures but it was considered a bit rough by some competitors.

Dave Sargeant was out in his new VW Buggy but had the misfortue to damage the bodywork early in the trial and retired shortly afterwards when the transmission cried enough.

The trial was decided in the Catswood complex where Charlie Merson dropped his only marks of the trial on Sapseds Surprise in his Ford Special. Charlie got to the two followed by Mark Hobbs in his trial on a three.

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A Different Lands End with an Unhappy Ending

Sadly a well known competitor passed away during the event after a medical emergency.

Organiser Dave Middleditch celebrating with Daniel Sauter and his passenger who came all the way from Switzerland to compete and finish the Lands End Trial in their Chevrolet. Sadly things were to turn sour for Dave when the MCC hierarchy informed him they were not happy with the event. Dave explains what happened and provided an update with the Motorsport UK feedback

Dave Middleditch had promised a different Lands End and delivered with more sections than usual, four special tests, a handbrake test and passage checks to ensure competitors followed the correct route.

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Charlie Knifton Best Mechanic

Charlie had the only clean sheet on what is now an ACTC Championship Event

Mechanics Trial winner Charlie Knifton blasting up Viaduct at the end of the day in the Subaru powered Scorpion. Photo by Calvin Samuel. For more of Calvins work goto https://www.facebook.com/calvinsamuelphotos

Forty Four cars assembled at Froombridge Mill for the Mechanics Trial, round 11 of this years ACTC championship as clubs are now allowed two scoring rounds. There had been torrential rain overnight but this slowly cleared during the day.

Charlie Knifton came down from Derbyshire, cleaned every section and won the event in his rear engined, Subaru powered, Scorpion. Locals Joshua Moss (Cannon) and Mark Hobbs (Troll) both dropped marks in the wooded complex before Merves Swerve to complete the podium.

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