We are holding our first social evening on Thursday 21st April at Launceston Golf Club starting at 7:30pm.
Food at the golf club is now provided by Proper Ansome so if you fancy something to eat it would be nice to support them.
The social evening will of course also be an opportunity to bring new people along to meet our club members.
So here we go again, another month has shot past and I’m back on the keyboard. The recent Launceston Trial was very much a success and credit must go to Nigel and the team, we are very lucky to have members in the club who really do their utmost to put on events that everyone enjoys. This enjoyment is under serious threat though, there is a consultation document out at the moment which if it goes the wrong way ours and many other similar sports will be lost forever , we urge everyone to log on to the Defra site and make their point. Tony Ferrari of the Nomad Byway Project has done an excellent you tube video which can be seen on the MCC news of the week explaining how to fill in the form, we only have until the 9th of this month to respond so please do it NOW. You’ll need to copy and paste the link below into your browser…….
https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbW9fX1pULUdyUWprbTJ
For simple guidance purposes you can fill in the questions as listed below.
Q1 answer No, Q2 Your name, Q3 your email address, Q4 your region, Q5 If you live in a National Park say so or you can just say “member of the public” , Q6 to 12 can be ignored, Q13 if unsure leave blank, Q14 is very important NO Q15 leave blank or ignore, Q16 NO, Q17 to 25 Ignore, you are now almost done add your e mail address for a response and that’s it you’ve done your bit.
If you have more time, instead of completing the questionnaire, you may wish to email your own personal response to landscapesconsultation@defra.gov.uk.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Chairman’s Chat
Since the last newsletter the club AGM has been held. I am pleased to report that Warin Kelly was unanimously appointed as a Vice President. Unfortunately our Club President Robin Moore is still in hospital recovering from his recent stroke so was unable to attend. Warin took the chair as, the officers and committee were re-elected.
If the club is to be sustainable there is still a need to have a number of officers from our younger members in the future. Until then us “old timers” will do our best, supported by a committee with representatives from teenagers upwards. Congratulations to our most senior committee member Warin who recently celebrated his birthday, now he is officially an octogenarian and most definitely our most senior committee member!
Our last event was the Launceston Trial, ably run by Nigel and his team. Following some wild weather the previous day we were fortunate to enjoy a dry day for our sport. There was a good sized entry, particularly in the motorcycle classes, and the day was generally enjoyed by all. Thanks particularly to those who turned out to marshal as without you there would be no sport for the competitors, a special mention of thanks must go to Mr Peter Newman the land owner who over the years has been extremely supportive of our club.
If you haven’t already done so please give your views on the government’s consultation about vehicular rights of way. More details on the website “Another attempt to ban trials and green laning : what@s going on?” – the future of much of our sport will depend on this outcome.
In future we hope to have more news about social events, and as before ideas and offers of help are welcome.
Joe Caudle
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lanson Trial
On the following pages are a few of the photos I took whilst marshalling on the event, It’s a bit tricky marshalling and attempting to photograph a vehicle coming at you particularly when you are unsure of it’s direction ( whether it sticks to the section or heads in your direction). On several occasions I ended up dropping everything hastily in order to move to a safer spot, it’s a wonder my phone survived, then of course I would drop the score sheet in order to give assistance, after which I would be seen walking around the section trying to find the errant paperwork again.
All good fun.
J.T.
Lanson Trial Award winners
Newman Cup (class D) Alan & Patrick Keat
Class award Stephen Kingstone
Novice award Zak Ruby
Class B1 award Sennen Mildren
2nd Class award Ben Benyon
3rd Class award Gavin Hunt
Cycle Bowl Richard Maddern
1st Class award Jon Mildren
Class award Chris Barnicoat
Fulford Cup Ryan Tonkin
Class Award Andrew Martin
1st Class award Philip Thomas
Class award David Haizelden
Class award James Vivian
Class award James Shalcross
<br style=”clear:both;”>
Future Events
On Saturday the 7th of May we have the Northgate Sporting Trial at Ashley Farm Lifton, the regs for this are on the website but you are asked that you send in paper entries (you know that stuff you write on, used to be the thing to do) there will be no online entry for this event. As always marshals are needed so Mike Wevill would love to hear from you 01566 784451.
Werrington Speed Hillclimb. Once again Plymouth Motor Club are hosting this event on Saturday the 30th of April and Sunday 1st of May. They are in need of marshals, no specific marshal licence required and they do give you lunch and a small amount towards fuel costs. Speak to chief marshal Richard Brooks on 07877 004462 or you can e mail him
richbrooks20@gmail.com
They have a full entry list of just under a 100 cars each day ranging from modified production cars to single seat fliers.
Merv’s Lanson Trial Report
After a week of dry weather, we were all set for the 36th Launceston Classic trial. The evening before Richard and I had exchanged the usual texts about where to meet up, as both he and I have to ride to the events as we have no trailer or van. So we agreed at 7:45, plenty of time, and it was a fresh and dry morning, so what could possibly go wrong?
I lead the way and I thought I knew where I was going but unfortunately took a wrong turning and went down to Coryton church before realising we had gone the wrong way, so we turned around. Then I came across an ‘Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles’ Green Lane which I remember from the road trial last year where a couple of local riders were at the bottom of this section and about to go up it but suggested to us that we take the road route as they ‘knew this section. Well, I thought to myself this is a shortcut to the woods and we will go this way …what a mistake that was! I rapidly found myself stuck in a deep gully of broken slate and slurry. With our tyres still at road pressure, and dressed for the early morning commute our only option was to lift the bike out of the rut onto the high ground from where I was able to carry on and get to the top. I waited for Richard, then I waited, and I waited a bit more, and then I thought ‘Ah he must be in trouble!’
I headed off on foot down to the bottom and sure enough he was in the same spot I was. So rinse and repeat, and he went on his way. At this point, I was sweating so much I’ve got my jacket undone, and helmet off, and by the time I walked back to the top I realised I’ve lost a glove, so back down to the bottom once more. By the time I got to the top of the lane for the third time, we both felt we’d already done a day’s trial!
Sweating, flustered even more disorientated, I decided to ask for a drop pin in from my mate Chris, only to find we are about 500 yards from the woods, so we made it down to the yard, signed in, and I got myself a bacon bap.
Good to see loads of riders and lots of familiar faces and I join the queue to start the day chatting away, then Ben suggested my front tire was very low. Oops! I’ve let way too much air out of that one so off back to the van for my pump, back in the queue, and then I realised I’d forgot to protect my
headlight so back to the van again for the foam I usually stick across it as with an older bike these things are hard to find should you break them. So not the start to the morning I had planned, but finally we’re off !!
After a few sections I settled in nicely and hooked up with Chris, just Zach, the youngest entrant, to find now as his Dad, Darren had asked me to look after him Conditions were just absolutely perfect, And all the volunteers and marshals extremely helpful at the beginning of each section. As I wasn’t organised at all and I had forgotten to bring something to attach the map to the front of my bike. Unlike my friend George who was really organised.
Trying to find section 7, we were lost and turned up at 8: the special test; so we had to backtrack quite a way to get to the bottom. The funny thing is Darren had messaged me a week before asking if I wouldn’t mind looking after Zack, as he didn’t want to get lost, but in reality I should’ve been phoning Lisa and Darren to ask if we could ride with him as, once we had found him, he knew where every section was and how to get there without even looking at the map! Although between 7-8 we seem to have lost him probably because he knew where he was going and we didn’t!
The new section 7 Eastcott 1 going up the gully was interesting I like that one.
After completing 8 the special test Mike informed us that Zach hadn’t been through so we decided to wait and at this point it was a good opportunity to strip down and cool off.
Enter the enduro lads.
Not seen these lads before, oh my God they are fast! One amusing thing was the second lad that went through decided to take off at the STOP point and by the time he passed Mike at the START point he was probably doing 40 miles an hour! We were all laughing a lot. That’s a fail then!
Luckily enough Zak appeared next and we had our guide and mentor back. Then Richard turned up, just like us earlier coming up the wrong way looking for section 7
Back to the yard for lunch: coffee and double bacon baps, home-cooked by Chris this time. And a little bit of sunbathing. The section after lunch had the usual queue where many riders were straining their necks to see what
the hold-up was? That will be a deviation then! At this point I then realised I’ve got hardly any fuel left. I’m sure I filled up after the Holsworthy trial, obviously not then.
George kindly offered his services “Go to my van and help yourself Merv. Fill it right up if you want.” Well in today’s money that’s probably about £15! A very generous chap. At the next section Chris said he had some so Zach and I headed off to fill up. I really should be more organised.
If you don’t know me then you might know my bike: it’s an XR400, kickstart only and I could be seen many a time trying to get her started as it’s a bit hit and miss. At section 16 I was trying to fire her up and Chris Barnicoat said that if that was his bike he would be kicking it over the side of the hill. LoL! I think after that comment she actually fired! Although several times that day when at the front of the queue I had to suggest the next in line pass me and take my spot while I kicked away.
Eastcott 2 was interesting I managed to do a bit of filming there and realised hardly anybody got past number two, and looking at the results it even had Richard Maddern. The only person to clear this section was John Mildren. Well done.
On the final section: Up, Over and Beyond; the last-minute decision to change to a deviation caused lots of excitement and was a good move. However this was probably one of the worst episodes of my bike not starting and I was actually getting out of breath, there were various comments coming from behind me from the Enduro lads.
The one stuck in my mind was “You should have a grease nipple fitted to your hip ‘cause you’re gonna wear that out!”
That one got me laughing !! she eventually fired up, I raised my arms to the sky and the lads cheered from behind. This was the last section and I filmed a few of us coming up, but that deviation got a lot of victims.
Well that’s it what a fantastic day we had, the weather was absolutely stunning and I would like to thank land owner, club and all the volunteers for making this a truly awesome day. Time now to head home and make a list of what to bring and do for next time to be more organised. Although you probably guessed it I’ll have forgotten by then.
See you on the next one.
all the best, Mervyn Brown
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Tailpiece
Not too much to report from the garage this month other than that I treated the Dellow to a shiny new Crown Wheel & Pinion as the old one was getting a bit noisy after the Exeter trial so it’s fingers crossed for the Land’s End, and yes I did it by crawling around on the floor instead of using my shiny new scissor lift, Hey ho. All for this month J.T.
Newsletter contributions to billjan299@gmail.com
And the good news is……
I have just been speaking to Robin’s daughter Maria who tells me that he is now home from hospital and making steady progress, he’s still doing a couple of trips to the hospital for therapy etc each week but as with these type of illnesses it’s one step at a time. Give him a few weeks and he’ll be back to his Zumba classes, the man’s a fighter!
Everyone in the club wishes him well. J.T.
For Sale
This is my biggest mistake for some time and a somewhat expensive one at that, but it will make a few people smile.
Automotech Car Scissor lift, allows you to raise the vehicle up to 1300mm high yet lays very flat when not in use lifts 2800kg. I bought this for working on the Dellow but because of the shape of the Dellow chassis (being “A” shaped) it is a struggle, so as yet it hasn’t even had a car on it. I paid just under £1,800 for it a couple of weeks ago will take £1,500 J.T. 07971 249783 More photos are available.
Entries are now open for the Northgate Trial 2022.
The Regs and Entry form for the event are available to download below. We’re not making use of the online entry system for this event, so please send us your paper entries in the post.
<br style=”clear:both;”>
The Trial will take place on Saturday 7th May at Ashley Farm, Lifton (MR201/395842) by kind permission of Paul Webber.
A seemingly innocent Government consultation on the countryside has been hi-jacked by various groups who will use it as an opportunity to stop recreational motoring and motorcycle in in the countryside.
A small but well-funded anti-access organisation supported by large landowners called ‘GLEAM’ says on its website: “The Government is consulting on its response to the review of protected landscapes and has included questions which give the public and organisations the opportunity to call for the prohibition of recreational motor vehicles on green lanes.”
In other words, they are looking to end long-distance trials and green-laning as we know them, and are attempting to get organisations such as the Ramblers to get their members to join in and get us banned from the countryside for good.
Will they succeed?
They could well succeed unless opposed, which is where we come in. The consultation is being managed by a former MP and large landowner (now a Lord) who has a track record of opposing public access to the countryside. We can expect no favours from that direction.
What should we do?
Click on to the consultation using the link below, and fill in the details requested. Remember this is a private response from you as an individual. The Club, along with other motoring organisations, is making its own response, so there is no need to mention that you are a member of the Club or any other motoring organisation:
You don’t have to answer all the questions: Questions 14 to 16 are the important ones and the critical one is Question 16, which reads
Should we legislate to restrict the use of motor vehicles on unsealed unclassified roads for recreational use, subject to appropriate exemptions?
The answer is obviously no!
You can use the space set out to explain that you enjoy motoring/motorcycling in the countryside, that it is good for your mental and physical health, that it constitutes ‘active recreation’ that it brings benefits to struggling rural businesses trying to recover from the economic damage of lockdown, that lanes are kept open for all by the occasional passage of motor vehicles, and any other reasons you can think of. Local authorities already have regulatory powers to restrict motor use where there is a legitimate reason to do so (while a route is being maintained, for example) so there is no need for more legislation from a Government that is supposed to be ‘deregulating’ where possible.
You can also question why this is being asked of recreational motor use only, when there is has been obvious damage caused on ‘honeypot’ routes through overuse by walkers and others? Is it discrimination against you, or is there some other reason that is not clear?
What if I don’t want to take part in the survey?
You can email your own written response to
landscapesconsultation@defra.gov.uk
Making your arguments in a polite and rational way. You could mention the long heritage of long-distance trials in the British landscape: The Motor Cycling Club has run the Edinburgh Trial since 1904 and other clubs including our own have been active for over a century; as well as the points that we have outlined above. Include your real name and postal address.
Can I encourage others to take part?
Yes. Your riding/driving friends are the best people to start with. Then, are there businesses like garages, pubs or hotels that you use when trialling or trail riding? Contact them and explain how a ban could cost them your business.
When do I have to do this by?
The consultation closes on 9 April.
Where can I find out more?
Members of the club are formally invited by the MCC to enter their three-day trial. The trial will take place between the 24th and 26th of June 2022.
Entries close on the 25th of May.
More details and the event regs can be found on the MCC website.
The regulations and entry forms for the Launceston Trial 2022 are now available to download below.
Launceston Trial 2022 Car Regs (1529 downloads) Launceston Trial 2022 Motorcycle Regs (1515 downloads) Launceston Trial 2022 Car Entry Form (1455 downloads) Launceston Trial 2022 Motorcycle Entry Form (1592 downloads)
As with last year, the online entry system is available for this event and can be accessed here www.lncmc.co.uk/online-entry/.
This single venue classic trial for both motorcycles and cars is held in Lew & Eastcott Woods, Near Lewdown (approx. 10 miles from Launceston), and will take place on Sunday the 20th of March.
You can read this month’s newsletter here.
The club has won the award for the best ACTC trial for the Tamar Trial in both 2019 and 2021, so two years consecutively, as of course due to covid it was not run in 2020! Such a great achievement would never of course been possible without all the hard work done by in particular Nigel Cowling, Pete Cooper, Bob Slatter and Simon Riddle together with all the other officials, marshals, land owners etc. I think the club can justly feel very proud, congratulations to all involved.
Best regards
Andy Prosser – General Secretary.
Lawrence House Museum recently received a Highly Commended Award for their Museum Pop-up in the 2022 Cornwall Heritage Awards. The award recognises the efforts by Lawrence House Museum to maintain a presence in Launceston during the time their building is closed for repairs. As the first pop-up exhibition was to mark the Club Centenary we contributed to this recognition.
Our Club Chairman Joe Caudle who also works with Lawrence House Museum was at the ceremony to receive the award.
We would just like to remind our members that there is the club AGM on Thursday 10th March, 7.30 pm at the White Hart Hotel, Launceston.
We will be updating the club rules during that meeting. The updated rule list can be found below.
Club Rules 2022 (1127 downloads)
If anyone has any issues with the proposed rules they can email Andy Prosser at probilt2005@yahoo.co.uk
A 2/3rd majority at the AGM will be required to ratify the new rules.
I’m writing this the day after our very enjoyable awards evening at Trethorne Leisure Centre, organised by Nigel Cowling, it ran like clockwork. So nice for people to be getting back to doing the things we used to take for granted, along with the fact that quite a number of the award winners were there to receive them, not that any of the recipients gave any long agonising speeches just a big smiley face for the camera was enough.
For the first time since I’ve been a member it was noted that our club President Robin Moore was absent due to him suffering a stroke a few weeks ago. Robin was in Derriford Hospital for a couple of weeks and has this week been transferred to Bodmin Hospital where they have a specialist Stroke unit and will be able to assess his condition and treat accordingly. He’s a tough one and despite having difficulty in walking is otherwise making reasonable progress, as his daughter Maria said to me his mental capacity is unaffected and he is certainly keeping up with day to day events and checking all his correspondence, we all wish him a speedy recovery.
There’s lots more photos on the club facebook page and most probably Jonathan Kelly will be putting them on the website, I do have more photos including some of the children receiving their awards but as I forgot to ask the parents for permission I haven’t published them.
**************
And now it’s time for our Chairman Joe Caudle to write a few words
I write this after an enjoyable evening at the club awards presentation event. It was good to see another gathering after 2 years of challenges and restrictions. Most of the silverware went home for temporary custodianship and to be enjoyed by successful competitors. Thanks to Nigel Cowling’s hard work everything went smoothly in a relaxed friendly gathering. It was particularly pleasing to see so many families and young people there this time.
Nigel was the recipient of the inaugural Pete Cooper award to recognise the huge role he has played for our club in keeping our profile high across the local motorsport community and for his leadership and enthusiasm in getting many of our events back up and running in difficult circumstances. In future this award will be presented to the best performance in a car by a club member on the Tamar Trial. A fitting way to remember our friend and a great clubman.
Our club secretary, Andy Prosser, arranged for the proceeds from the raffle and a donations box to raise funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal. Thanks to the generosity of all present a large sum was raised. I quote from Andy’s email to the committee:-
“I have applied for Gift Aid, so this brings it up to £323.75. The £259 which we raised will be matched by the government so in effect we raised £582.75 for Ukraine – a real bonus to what was already a great evening. Thank you to everyone.”
Another high point for me this week was receiving the news that the Tamar Trial has been awarded the ACTC Trial of the Year for 2019 and 2021. A great tribute to Clerk of Course Pete Cooper, Secretary Bob Slatter and Deputy Clerks of Course Simon Riddle and Nigel Cowling. Also, all the committee, club members, marshals and landowners who have made the events so successful.
Our club’s success is due to the commitment and hard work of the committee. There is a lot of work behind the scenes that ensures the bureaucratic requirements and practical challenges are all tackled to ensure we can enjoy our sport. This fine group of individuals will meet next Thursday evening for the AGM to elect the officers and committee for the next year. If you would be interested in joining us or just want to come along and meet us, you would be most welcome.
One notable absentee from the awards evening and unable to attend the AGM this year will be our Club President Robin Moore who is unfortunately in hospital having suffered a stroke. I am sure we all wish him a good recovery.
I hope to see as many as possible of you out on the Launceston Trial on March 20th.
Yours in motorsport
Joe Caudle
Forthcoming events
Club AGM on Thursday the 10th of March 7.30pm at the White Hart Hotel Launceston all welcome.
Launceston Trial on the 20th of March at Eastcott & Lew Woods , the online entry system is open so if you are thinking of entering don’t delay. Marshals needed.
Easter Friday/Saturday MCC Lands End Trial, considered by some as the biggest classic of the year (other trials are available) always good fun to watch.
Tailpiece
When you are an old codger like myself the government like to remind you of it by making you re apply for your driving licence at the age of 70. I started this process last August as my birthday at the end of September would put me in the above mentioned category. I was also aware that as you are deemed by many at this age to be incompetent in as much as the DVLA also see fit to remove certain categories from your licence, mainly the right to drive anything over 3500kg classes C & D unless you make a specific additional application.
I considered this ruling to be somewhat unfair so I started the process of attempting to retain said categories by getting all the appropriate forms, this then leads to you also needing a medical from your GP which is basically a form filling exercise for which I was relieved of £96. Next came a visit to the opticians, another fee, given the all clear and told I met fighter pilot standards despite having a long term Glaucoma condition. With all the forms filled out I sent my application off, about 7 weeks later they send the doctors medical back as an extra section needed filling out, got this done bearing in mind my licence now technically expires in a few days.
Time drifts by October no news November , December likewise. As the new year approaches I get my proof of identity paperwork back and a letter saying my licence will follow in about two weeks, I’m almost excited, unfortunately they come up with another hurdle, they won’t accept my Optician’s eye test I have to attend a test at their approved one. So I make the appointment, do the test and it is sent straight off to DVLA. Roughly two weeks later and due to yet more silence I decide to phone, coffee in one hand phone in the other I am ready for the long drawn out process. I make several attempts to phone them and after about 40 minutes someone actually answers the phone, this person can’t deal with my enquiry so get put on hold for 10 minutes, next person, sorry you’re through to the wrong department, back on hold with the same boring music which I can’t decide if it’s meant to relax you or just irritate me for having interrupted their day, for me it was the latter. New person speaks to me I then have to verify who I am for about the third time and says “Oh yes your case is being looked into but we aren’t able to divulge anything more but you will hear soon.” so that wasted about an hour and a half of my life which there is no retrieval system for.
A couple more weeks go by and I receive a letter to say they have refused my application for classes C & D as my visual field of scope doesn’t match their requirements, so any thoughts of being a fighter pilot are dashed. Today I received a one year driving licence which I am told is standard practice so some consolation I suppose . But after 8 months and much time and considerable cash wasted, codgers be warned life at 70 can be more than a little challenging, particularly where bureaucracy is involved.
All for this month J.T. contributions to billjan299@gmail.com
Greetings all, it’s February and the birds are singing, frogs are spawning and the days are definitely getting longer, coming out of Winter is always a good feeling even if I am being a little optimistic.
The club is actively getting things organised for the Awards evening on the 4th of March, two weeks later we have the Launceston Trial on the 20th of March. In addition to this we are hoping to start a social evening gathering where members can just turn up and chew the fat as it were and maybe occasionally have a guest speaker, if anyone has a preference for a subject/speaker please let one of the committee know.
MSUK Changes as of 22nd January 2022 Fire Extinguishers.
Section T- Trials
T10.2 All vehicles must comply with Construction and Use Regulations and be fitted with safety belts if appropriate. Where fitted, seat belts must be worn on the public highway. Fire extinguishers to a level of safety specified in K.3.2 are mandatory and which are accessible to the crew. (note a 1.75ltr minimum for AFFF or 2x1Kg Powder is permitted).
T11.7.3 Fire extinguishers to safety criteria K.3.2 (note a 1.75ltr minimum for AFFF or 2x2ltr AFFF or 2x1Kg Powder is permitted).
Date of Implementation : Immediate
Reason: To accommodate fire extinguishers in the restricted cockpits common to many trials cars, either through the 2021 capacity requirements for a single AFFF extinguisher or to permit the minimum capacity to be achieved by two physically smaller extinguishers.
And now over to our club President Robin Moore
The Ramblings of RHTM February 2022
Sometimes gremlins appear in my jottings for JT the price to pay for not having a proof reader, or a copy to check before it goes to print. John does a wonderful job in translating my longhand but errors are bound to occur occasionally, especially when a word is very similar for example Continued when it should have been Construed and Mike Cooper when it should have been Mike Couper, as happened in my ramblings of last month. And of the two Hispanos residing at Darley House, it was of course the Vintage H6 model, whilst the V12 a PVT (Post Vintage Thoroughbred) as classified by the VSCC. Please excuse this pre amble, but I felt this needed clarification. (My apologies Robin Ed).
When I started to write to write this piece for my monthly offering, it fitted in quite nicely from my previous narrations on my Graham Paige, as it happened about the same time. Richard Farley had invited me to join him when he planned to join him when he planned to give the H6 Hispano a really good run on his intended visit to the VSCC Prescott Hill Climb meeting in August, an invitation I was more than keen to accept. It’s not often that one has the chance to experience a long distance run in a Hispano Suiza. From memory this particular car was the well known ex Peter Hampton Hispano Sports Saloon with its very attractive blue fabric covered coachwork and polished aluminium bonnet.
And so it was that I drove my Graham Paige to Darley House to meet up with Richard and be ready for an early start at 8.00am. Prescott is near Cleave Hill, Cheltenham and approximately 170 miles from this part of North Cornwall, and it was planned to go up and back in the day,- a round trip of some 350 miles, so an early start was essential and would allow 4 or 5 hours at the meeting. Compared to the congestion on our present day roads , the density of traffic 60 years ago was comparatively light, but the road network had seen little change since pre-war days, so it was quite a challenge.
On my arrival at our point of departure I learnt that we were five in number making this trip of a lifetime. Ensconced in the back seat of this fine motor were the three siblings of Dr Dyke of Rilla Mill , the great steam traction enthusiast: My recollections of the journey are somewhat hazy after so long an interval in time, but I do remember we made good time, and even making a stop at Seavington St Michael where there was a very nice Inn here. Richard very kindly treated us to refreshments and seemingly appeared to be in no great hurry and very relaxed about everything. Obviously a man full of confidence in the capability and performance of this fine vintage motor car. Everything about the day seemed leisurely and unhurried.
It was on the return journey late in the evening after we had made a stop for fuel that I had that never to be forgotten moment. Richard said to me as we approached the Ilchester straight “ let’s see what the old girl will do” . He floored the accelerator and took this great motor car up to 90mph, and this was some impressive I can tell you, and something that remains indelibly printed on my mind.
R.H.T.M.
Footnote from the Ed. Re Robin’s last month’s article in connection with Richard Farley. In my youth I lived in Plymouth for some 10 years in the very house where the Farleys Rusks bakery started, there is now a blue plaque on the property at 41 Bretonside. Like many, we were totally unaware of the notoriety of the property.
Events
The awards evening will take place at Trethorne on Friday 4th of March, we are asked to arrive at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm buffet dinner, although the full cost is £15.45 guests will only pay £10.00, the club is kindly subsidising the meal. Please either let Lisa via Facebook know of your intention to attend or telephone Nigel on 07902 542798 , they will also be able to give you the menu options.
AGM
The date set for the AGM is the10th of March at the White Hart Hotel at 7.30pm , a date not to be missed and your chance to join the committee or alternatively just buy them all a drink in appreciation for all the hard work they put in for you, the members.
Launceston Trial
As mentioned earlier, the venue is as in the past at Eastcott Woods, again Nimble Nigel is in control. The event is open to all the usual car and bike classes so it is an event not to be missed. We are arranging a working party for the clearing of sections on the 13th of February meeting at the Wood yard at 10.00am, anyone wishing to attend and not sure of directions please get in touch with any committee member.
I’m having a sort out of the many books that I have and have put together a collection of Austin 7 books that I no longer have use for, the whole collection would have been quite expensive back in the day, as a job lot I am offering them for £50 either e mail your interest or ring me 07971 249783, somewhat heavy to post so collection preferred. J.T.
BTRDA SPORTING TRIAL GOLD & SILVER STAR FINAL
The pinnacle event of the Sporting Trial world took place on Saturday 22 January 2022 at Crewkerne. This was the furthest south for many years & therefore did not entail a ridiculous very early set off.
After a very cold Friday I was decked out in thermals & many layers but come Saturday morning the temperature wasn’t too bad & conditions under foot were pretty idea. Already signed on & after rudimentary scrutineering & a bacon bap 6 lb tyre pressure was the order of the day.
Through a quirk of qualifying rules, based on average scores, having only done 2 rounds with low entries I ended up in the Gold class (first time ever ).
The entry comprised the top 29 English drivers, 2 from Northern Ireland & one other.
There were 3 rounds of 9 hills on a superb site, mainly on slippery grassy approaches but with thick bracken further up.
At lunch time after 2 rounds Simon Kingsley & Thomas Bricknell both driving Crossles were equal on 19 points with David Webster from Northern Ireland just 2 points adrift. There was close competition throughout the whole field.
Simon managed to just squeeze past Thomas in the final round to win the Gold Star by 2 points (dropping 24 in total). Ian Wright had a good late surge to finish 3rd just 5 points adrift.
In addition to the Gold Star Simon (at his request) was presented with a LNCMC beanie hat to promote the club up North.
In the Silver class Jason Daniel from Camelford, who in days gone by was a regular passenger for me, drove his aged live axle Concord superbly to win the class a clear 12 points ahead of the 2nd placed Boyd Webster in a Crossle. Jason was 15th overall & not many points away from a top ten place.
Personally, I very much enjoyed the day, the car did not miss a beat but I did have a bit of brain fade on the last 2 hills. With in section direction help from Nigel, we did better than I expected beating a few competitors that I would not normally to reach 19th overall.
All in all a very well organised event on a super site & many thanks to the BTRDA officials & marshals & especially to the Veale family for their hard work.
I hope that next year’s final is not too far North & I also hope that I can claim my rightful place in the Silver rather the Gold.
My thanks also to my long suffering passenger Nigel Cowling
Mike Wevill.
Chairman’s Chat……..
Last month, while I was working on the reshelling of an MGB many of you will have been involved in competing, officiating or spectating at the MCC Exeter Trial. I am pleased to see that our editor had a successful transition from Class O back to The main trial. He took advantage of the opportunity provided by being able to run The Dellow in class 2 and achieved a bronze award. Well done JT, the car owed you a good result. Regular readers of this newsletter will know why! A video on YouTube shows them climbing Simms in fine style.
The club committee met recently and are looking forward to running the upcoming events. It is a privilege to be able to chair meetings with such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic group. Hopefully our planned calendar of activities can go ahead this year.
We have the awards presentation evening March 4th and our AGM on Thursday March 10th. Awards officer Nigel Cowling is busy getting the trophies inscribed and ready. Many were on display last summer and autumn in the museum for our delayed centenary exhibition. We are also bringing some older trophies back into use and have a new one to present.
I hope to see as many of you as possible at both events. It would be good to see as many as possible of the trophies going to home with the winners to be admired for the year. You will be welcome at the AGM when apart from electing officers and the committee ideas for future events and activities are sought. It is hoped that as Covid exerts less of an influence on our lives the club can expand our social side. We have some plans but suggestions are always welcome, especially if they come with offers of help.
I hope to see you at one of our events in 2022.
Joe Caudle
Tailpiece
As our chairman reports Phil Hingley and I had an enjoyable Exeter trial, having not driven the car competitively for over two years and coupled with its recent history of mechanical tantrums it was a tentative return with the main objective being to finish without the aid of a recovery vehicle. It took a while to get into the swing of things but our confidence gradually increased throughout the event, climbing Simms is always a bit of icing on the cake, on average I clear it every ten years.
I have always regarded these events as something of a social gathering coupled with motorsport, for quite a bit of the event we were running with Simon Oates and John Werren , they were not having their best of times in the newly acquired Liege, but Simon demonstrated his skill with a big hammer at the top of Fingle where he removed the buckles from the Dellow’s wheel rims , a skilled operative indeed. Simon and John weren’t too impressed at the floods at Lenda Lane though, particularly when the water entered the lower part of the car and filled John’s crib bag.
As always on these events there is an eclectic mix of vehicles, from a strange looking Austin 7 ? to the Reliant Regal as pictured, fortunately entered in the class R road event. The Reliant reminded me of as Robin said “a never forgotten moment” although mine was not nearly as impressive. Some forty years ago I had the misfortune of driving a Reliant in Plymouth, doing about 40mph which is plenty fast enough I was approaching a roundabout and as normal steered into it but momentarily forgetting I was deficit in quantity of wheels to the tune of one. First the nearside rear wheel came up, as I corrected the offside one did the same, it suddenly dawned on me I was in a fragile plastic box, enthusiastically sold to my late stepfather as a “car”. On straightening up the beast regained all three wheels much to my relief, although the pressure on my bicycle clips was at maximum.
All for this month. J.T. billjan299@gmail.com
Motorsport UK has updated their rules on fire extinguishers and has asked that regulations for all future events include these changes. The changes can be found below.
T10.2 All vehicles must comply with Construction and Use Regulations and be fitted with safety belts if appropriate. Where fitted, seat belts must be worn on the public highway. Fire extinguishers to a level of safety specified in K.3.2 are mandatory and which are accessible to the crew (note a 1.75ltr minimum for AFFF or 2x1ltr AFFF or 2x1Kg Powder is permitted).
T11.7.3 Fire extinguishers to safety criteria K.3.2 (note a 1.75ltr minimum for AFFF or 2x1ltr AFFF or 2x1Kg Powder is permitted).
Date of Implementation: Immediate
Reason: To accommodate fire extinguishers in the restricted cockpits common to many trials cars, either through the 2021 capacity requirements for a single AFFF extinguisher or to permit the minimum capacity to be achieved by two physically smaller extinguishers.
We will be holding our annual awards evening on Friday 4th March at Trethorne Leisure Park, 7.00 for 7.30pm with everyone welcome.
There will be a hot buffet and dessert for £10 per person payable on the night.
Please book in advance, either via our Facebook page or Nigel Cowling who can be contacted either by email at stantheman1364@gmail.com or by phone on 07902 542798.
We look forward to seeing you there, not only to recognise our worthy award winners, but also for a friendly chat and thoughts on what events you may like the club to run in 2022.