It might be April but the weather gods still think it’s November so if nothing else it’s stay in the dry and start the newsletter. It has to be said that your editor is a very worried man, it’s four days to go before the Lands End trial and as far as I can see the car is ready, that’s just not normal at the lead up to any event there’s always the last minute prep, maybe I’m just failing to spot the obvious.

Club AGM Thursday 7^th March

The Fox and Grapes kindly gave us the use of their hall for our AGM, the meeting was quite well attended as AGM’s go, our Chairman Simon Riddle went through all the usual procedures and once again all the officer vacancies were filled, we even got two new committee members, Adrian Booth after a short spell away has rejoined and new man Andy Beveridge has joined as our new Motorcycle representative so we have a pretty full house, at a time when some clubs are struggling we are extremely lucky to have such a large and active committee. The Treasurer’s report confirmed we we’re still solvent, although as the treasurer was on holiday on a nice sunny foreign  getaway we’re not sure how long for. Andy and Lorraine Rippon reported that club Regalia was doing well and it was noted our Beany hats can often be spotted on various other club events.

Following the AGM we had our usual committee meeting, Andrew and Lorraine Rippon were thanked for procuring the new club gazebo which looks very smart with the club logo emblazoned upon it, and somewhere to stand at signing on when the Cornish liquid sunshine is doing its best to thwart our efforts. The club has committed itself in attending the 40th Launceston Steam Rally again this year, if anyone is able to spare a day and help out on the stand we would be very grateful, that way we can create a rota rather than putting too much pressure on a few committee members to run it.

From our Chairman

I’m led to believe it’s supposed to be spring?! I think it has rained every minute of daylight today, hopefully it’s the clouds getting rid of it all ahead of the 100th Lands End Trial over the Easter weekend. Plenty of club and committee members will be involved either officiating or competing, good luck to all. The clubs ‘official’ section is Crackington but we will also have members present at various other points – look out for the maroon beanies!

Early in the month we held the popular Launceston Trial in Lew and Eastcott Woods, a strong entry and challenging ground conditions for all but luckily overhead was dry in the main. A good mixture of newcomers, juniors, seasoned trailers and some long distance entrants. The catering wagon did a roaring trade boosted by a gathering of a group riding by, by chance on bicycles who seized the opportunity to refuel too! It seemed the day was very well received and we managed to get all packed away in daylight. Also, the club gazebo was present and looked very smart. Thanks to all that helped make the event a success and well done to all those that gained an award.

The AGM followed, nothing too major to report, the majority continuing in post with Andy Beveridge and Adrian Booth welcomed and both joining/rejoining the committee with Andy also taking over the role of motorcycle secretary. With that in mind, we are seriously looking into running a multi venue classic trial for motorcycles covering a small amount of road mileage, if we can drum up the interest and a suitable date.

All for now.
Simon R
                                  

Launceston Trial Sunday 3^rd March

Once again we  thank the Newman family for their kind permission for the club to hold the trial in what can be best described as a huge expanse of woods and tracks which are a “triallers” delight. We had entry of some 64 vehicles the owners of which all competing to see who could collect the most mud, and in the case of the bikers maybe even stay upright. (several failed in this).

Motorcycle Awards

Alan and Patrick Keat won the Newman Cup
Matt Tilley  won the Cycle Bowl
William Pixley won a Class award, James Stephens 1st class award
Stephen James won a 1st Class award
Simon Tilley 2nd class award
John Jago 3^rd class award
Callum Torres Novice award 
Zak Ruby won the Junior class
Oliver Jay Trial Bike class.

Car Awards

Dean Vowden & Paul Jones won The Fulford Cup
John Moores & Alan Ede won the Class award
Roger Ashby & Sian Davis also won a Class Award
Ryan Tonkin/ Claire & Charlie Tonkin won a 1st Class award
Dave Ball & Ed Wagner won a Class award
Dan Keat & Mitchell Keat won a 1^st Class award.

Photos of Launceston Trial Woodyard Mayhem

Showing off the new Club Gazebo

Once again Mr Oates has been out and about.

Torbay TrialSunday 17^th March 2024

The night before the trial, I trekked up to Cullompton for the ACTC evening bash celebrating 40 years of their championship and presentations to those lucky enough to have done well throughout the 2023 year. A cracking evening’s company and entertainment with our club unlucky not to win the best Trial of the year (Tamar Trial). It was deservedly won by Minehead with the Exmoor Clouds which I had thoroughly enjoyed at the beginning of September 2023. The biggest win of the night was Jack Selwood (the little whippersnapper) 2023 ACTC champion and youngest ever to date, who deservedly scraped through on the last trial of the season, but boy wasn’t it tight! I was also lucky enough to be called to the front to unexpectedly receive the Dellow Trophy and the Bennett Engineering Cup. Both times I sped to the front in case they realised their mistake and gave them to someone else. It then dawned on me that I had legitimately won them both after all! As I went to sit down there was also a box on my seat with a lovely glass bowl from ASWMC for 2nd place in Classic Trials for 2023. Wow, quite a night for me to then go back home around 1.00am and up again around 6.00am to feed the dog and take him for a walk before loading the car on a trailer and off to Exbourne for 7.30am with Steve Moir as wingman for the day’s entertainment.

We unloaded down the road from the start as it was very congested at the Exeter Court Hotel and queued for the scrutineering which we passed with no issues. We had been advised the previous day about a few amendments to the route (thanks Keith) and modified the instructions. As we parked up, John Cox parked next to us in his fresh to trialling purple Lotus Elan. Nicely prepared and ably navigated by Dee Champion again. Unfortunately the duo only managed a 3 on the first section before having to retire for the day. The first 3 sections in the woods at the top of Telegraph Hill were tough with several big rocks hidden until we hit them. All the cars (except JohnC) seemed to survive the initial baptism of fire and worked their way onward to the two Coombehead sections. Approached through a slurry of mud which no one seemed keen to get out and do tyre pressures, we had 4 or 5 cars at a time let through to the start where it was safe to put your feet outside the car! We watched Joe & Paige Browning fire up Coombehead Creek to the restart and off to clear the section. Clearly a Blue Baja Bug with a Subaru engine in the back with clanking metal weights is the way to goJJ Challenge on and off we went to do the same but not quite with the same style that they managed (definitely no clanking metal). The next section was mud and ruts, so just put your foot to the metal (glass fibre really) and go for it, dropping a point on the Baja.

On to Nicks Nip and Gale Gorse where I dropped a further 3 points when I hit a hole that stopped us on a sixpence. Off towards Ilsington where we watched the Baja attempt Penhale Climb to a 6 which resulted with 1^st and 2^nd gear being lost. So so disappointed for them as they were romping clear of the rest of class 7 and had to retire back to Stroud. My attempt at the hill was pathetic at best with the weight in the back virtually making it impossible to follow the course and ending with a 7. Simms followed and I planned to ease off the restart, find the grip and off up the hill. I should have powered off the line to then ‘feel’ the grip, but only managed a 6 after making the wrong choice. Over the top of the hill and down to Tipley where we had another restart off the Red Boards. A good position helped us clear the restart and drive on to Narracombe for another clear. From the top we drove on towards Bovey Tracey where we found a garage with sandwiches, drink and maybe a few mini eggs!

Refreshed, we followed the route through a couple of byways (have been sections in the past) and into HecklandFarm for the special timed test through and around some wrapped bales. Last years ACTC champion, Jack Selwood & Abbie Jeffery managed the fastest time of the course with 19.47 sec with me way behind on 22.72. Once completed we travelled over the hill towards Fingle Glen to Kingswell Lane and a queue of class 8 cars waiting to be the next victim. Less than half of the class 8 cars managed to clear the lane so I decided to put my tyre pressures up to 30psi in an attempt to gain ground clearance. It worked a bit but not enough to clear the last marker, so we reversed back down the yellow clay ruts to howls of laughter, so I reminded them all that they now had to have a go – Ha Ha. Matt Facey in his Class 3 praying mantis BMW was the only one to get through the brickworks clay. Tyre pressures were dropped for the penultimate section and cleared with a restart. Up into the farm yard where we were met with 6 – 8 inches of slurry and mud between some of the cattle sheds.

A special little section had been crafted at the end of one shed out of a spoil heap of soily clay. If it was completed successfully you exited under the arm of a swing shovel. We didn’t quite make the exit but grabbed 3 points to finish with and another Class 7 win. Considering the weather conditions we have had, it’s amazing how well the trial went. A few hold ups, but only to be expected. The smiles on everyone’s faces told the story of what a great day’s trialling we had all had. There were a few mileage irregularities but generally the instructions were great. Another year there is little chance we will encounter the same conditions again but great memories of this year will last a long time. As Max Boyce would say – “I was there”.

As soon as I got home the pressure washer was on overtime getting all the clay out of places I didn’t know existed before it all set like concrete. It took the best part of an hour including washing off the drive. Since the trial I have removed all the weight from the back of the car to regain more direct steering in the car. I had taken about 15Kg out after lending the car out on the Launceston Trial as I thought it might help on the Torbay Trial but there were still places that I couldn’t control the cars direction properly. Any suggestions anyone?

Simon Oates

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New Regalia

I mentioned earlier regalia sales, and that since Andrew and Lorraine had taken it on it has certainly increased and now we can reveal the latest brainwave from the Rippon “think tank”. To be honest I think Lorraine needs to be credited with this new addition , when she puts her mind to it she can be quite creative.

Prices have not yet been finalised for either the ladies or men’s garments and hopefully I can bring you the full expos’e next month, one thing is for sure this is a real first for the club, and probably any other clubs  for that matter, personally I think these will sell well. Well done Lorraine.

Tailpiece

As we are all aware Simon Oates has made his mark on the trialling circuit with the little Liege but I’m not completely convinced his next motorsport aspirations are going quite to plan. Rumour has it he wants to have a go at Sprinting & Hillclimbing with the liege, yes joining the speedy brigade. He was told he needs to fit some sort of aerofoil to improve the car’s aerodynamics and cut down wind resistance, that’s sensible advice but I think he’s missed the point slightly, most race cars have these units fitted to the rear of the car not the front as seen here, secondly if the device is definitely to be fitted to the front shouldn’t iy be on wheels rather than “skids” ?

Ok so it’s early days and probably as with all plans they will be modified but perhaps someone out there with a bit of experience of the sport could have a friendly word with him, save him the embarrassment.

All for this month folks, please keep the contributions coming  billjan299@gmail.com

August is obviously monsoon time as we all know the rain from last month is persisting, feels more like October, it will be interesting to see how the ground is for our Invitation Trophy Trial later this month, if it’s anything like it is now “mud” will be the order of the day. Let’s hope things improve, not much fun for the holiday makers when it’s like this although cafés etc should be busy with families wanting to find shelter. A good time to hide away in the garage and tinker with those jobs that need doing before the serious events start in a month or so.

**********

From our Chairman

A comparatively quiet month in July for club events compared to June. After the dryness of spring and early summer the weather has recently turned however other than one or two downpours the Motor Traders ran in reasonable conditions. An entry of 20 assembled including some double drives and pleasingly we welcomed a handful of ASWMC competitors from the Somerset/Dorset area. A range of scores came through – congratulations to Gareth White who managed to maintain a clean sheet over the 24 hills to take the Motor Traders Trophy. He was closely followed by the double driven Citroen of Tim Dovey (with son Charlie) dropping just 3 points in a superbly well set up front wheel drive but it does show that the class 8 type machines can be pushed by a cheap productions car on the grassy fields. 

The Launceston show was last Thursday on a fairly unseasonable day, a drastic change from the heat of last year’s show. A nice range of vehicles on show, unfortunately as it’s on a working day I was unable to attend. 

Looking ahead, the second of our Testing Trial’s on 20^th August at Trevilla, again Lisa is on entries so if you would like to give it a go send an entry in, these events are always relaxed and in good spirit and you don’t need an expensively prepared car or bike to do it.

Then we will be into the autumn for our flagship sporting trial the David Ayres, and flagship classic trial, the Tamar. We are working hard on some new additions for the Tamar and securing other venues and sections, so as they say…watch this space. 

Hope to see you on an event soon.
Simon R.

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From Mike Wevill – Part 2 of “The Old Git Cycling Scotland”.

Sunday, set off for run to Blair Atholl via Pitlochry. Drizzle for less than 2 hours (the only rain for whole trip) Stopped at Dunkeld, a really attractive little city with a Cathedral, for coffee. Another stop at Pitlochry, a rather dull tourist resort . There were outdoor shops so I was able to buy windproof cycling gloves as I had lost one   (always just one ) of my heavy gloves in Perth asking directions. Actually, I had been suffering from numb and cold hands for some time and  as I travelled north it was getting worse. Next time I will invest in battery operated electric motorcycle gloves.

Arrived at Blair Atholl  (gateway to the Cairngorms) at the very smart Blair Atholl Arms before Ben who had deviated to take in a guided tour of the famous Royal & Ancient (home of golf) golf course at St Andrews on the east coast near Dundee. Next was likely to be a testing day, initially climbing for 20 miles up the Drumochler Pass to the highest point of whole ride at 462 metres above sea level. However, the climb was gradual but at  the peak it was many degrees cooler. Then a steady drop down to Dalwhinnie  a visit to the famous Distillery where I bought a bottle of Malt Whisky as a present for Pam. A pleasant run into Aviemore (a fairly soulless tourist town)  there was still snow on the surrounding Mountains.

Tuesday was the longest day in the saddle all the way from Aviemore to Alness on the coast (68 miles but still 15% left in the battery). Luckily more downhill than up. Negotiating Inverness was again not straight forward as I was taken straight in the centre of the city. Nevertheless, all went well. Ben played his second round at the Spey Valley Championship course.  Wednesday was planned to be my rest day but there was not much to see at Alness apart from the Dalmore Distillery (a really nice whisky) so I decided to do a short 25 miler to reduce the mileage on the last two days. It was so windy that I could hardly stand on the bridge over Dornoch Firth and was forced to walk and push the length of the bridge (almost ½ mile). Ben picked me up before lunch, we did a tour of the Glenmorangie Distillery at Tain. This included a few wee drams & we were now beginning to acquire a taste. Ben bought a bottle for Richard.

Thusday. The route from Tain involved 50 miles on the dreaded A9. I had been told stories of cyclist & walkers being run over & killed because of inconsiderate drivers. I was very anxious but it was not too bad & the further North I got the traffic got lighter. However, I was very grateful that I had fitted a handle bar mirror (best investment on trip) and I wore a very yellow Hi Vis jacket. On Route I stopped to assist a Swiss guy called Frank (cycling the North Coast 500) who had a puncture & was having trouble refitting the tyre. Easier as a two man job, my apprenticeship with Murt came in handy. I continued well beyond Helmsdale (with some very steep climbs) which left a short ride for the final day.

The final day was a simple 35 miles across very quiet straight rural roads. Mile after mile of rough scrub land & hardly even any sheep. Little habitation and what must be a very        hostile environment in winter. On pulling into the car park at John O Groats before lunch I noticed that Ben had already arrived. He had deviated to Duncansby Head  and spotted whales, dolphins and puffins. Took the appropriate photos by the signpost & phoned home to announce job done.  After coffee and cake started the 100 mile car return to Alness for the night. The coastal route was also desolate but included many fabulous quiet beaches.

Early start next morning for a whistle stop tour through the middle of the country along Loch Ness (no sighting of Nessy but probably not enough whisky!) to Fort William with Ben Nevis to the left. Then through the pass of Glen Coe with fabulous wild scenery and on along the banks of Loch Lomond. Good Trialling country but a bit far to take our poles, The outskirts of Glasgow were uninteresting and very busy with heavy Bank Holiday traffic going in the opposite direction to the Lochs and hills. By mid-afternoon back in Moffat (just 40 miles over the border into Scotland). Bought some Bowmore Islay Malt in case Pam didn’t like the Dalwhinnies.

Sunday & last day of the trip involved a relatively early start as we had 440 miles to cover & it was Bank Holiday. Quiet for the first couple of hours and then very heavy traffic around Manchester with trippers for the coast and Lakes. Got home by mid afternoon (7 hours including stops) to meet Pam & Richard for a family meal.

As an aside I would mention I did buy expensive padded shorts and a padded seat cover which worked fairly well but there were parts of my anatomy that were less than comfortable on the longer days.  This may be attributed to the fact that I later discovered the shorts were actually Ladies (not padded in the right places?) In the modern world I frequently hear the term Ba**s  Ac** and I now understand the true meaning. Again on returning home and catching up on my emails I came across a technical article from Cycling UK explaining how to measure pelvic bones to get optimum saddle size & comfort (all too late).

IN CONCLUSION

The bike performed superbly. I performed OK (406 miles in 9 days) but the challenge was nothing compared to my niece’s partner’s walk from Lands End to John O Groats carrying his tent (Tarp actually) on his back unsupported over two months and he is now well into Scotland but he is young.

I did not suffer the fate of a Lifton resident who in the early 1960’s did the Billy Butlin Challenge Walk John O Groats to Lands End. He was delayed in Scotland for a few weeks due to sickness & when he eventually reached Lifton towards the end of the walk he was met by his wife who famously shouted ‘ when you get to Lands End Bill V****R you keep walking’.

I am pleased to report I raised £500.28 plus Gift Aid for RNIB, many thanks to Sooty  and all donors. I did meet many very nice walkers and cyclists having a vast variety of itineraries. Special thanks to Ben as without his support the trip would not have been possible and to Pam for being so understanding.

The big question still remains-     ‘WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NEXT THEN ?’
Watch this Space   
Mike Wevill

********* As mentioned by our chairman the Motor Traders Trial had a good entry, interestingly a good amount of front wheel drive cars, we don’t always manage to attract the FWD entries, one in particular, the Renault Clio was extremely impressive, no matter what I did with my hill (marshalling) it kept on clearing it, don’t think the engine ever went above tickover. As always we are grateful to those who turn out to marshal and in particular a big thanks to the organising team, without you, no event!

The ladies are in charge & didn’t they do well.   Yes it got a little damp at times but not too bad.

The Blues Brothers made a guest appearance in their virtually unstoppable Renault Clio. I think my favourite car of the day was Brian Alexander’s beautiful little blue Fiat. 

That’s odd, the sun is shining on the Dellow, but it’s raining on the Liege, I suppose he could be hiding from the glare of the sun, tricky to see where you’re going though.

Once again our band of brilliant committee members were out in force at the Launceston Show , reminding the locals that the area has a fantastic Motor Club. Great show of vehicles to get the public’s interest . Unfortunately I was unable to make it as my day went slightly askew but well done everyone.

Yes it was a bit damp on the day but they’re used to that.

**************

Forthcoming Events.

Sunday the 20^th August is the Invitation Testing Trial to be held at Trevilla Farm, Marshgate , Camelford  by kind permission of Mr David Langley.  Please note this event will be a paper entry, you can download the entry form from the club website.

Sunday the 10^th of September is our David Ayers Sporting trial which is a round of the MSUK, ASWMC & BTRDA championships, this will also be held at Trevilla Farm, Marshgate, Camelford. This is a brilliant chance to see the top Sporting Trials cars in action.

Holsworthy Motor Club will be having a two day event at Tatson Farm on the 26^th/27^th August, see their website for more information.

Camel Vale MC have an Autotest on the 3^rd of September, more details on their website.

Tailpiece

Most of us over the years have bought one or two Haynes Manuals, for many it was the “go to“ book when you had a change of wheels and needed to know it’s technical merits, I was discussing this last week with Andy Bunt at LanesAuto Repairs, he said yes we’ve got a few……..

Not only the entire length of the shelf but more below.

Ironically a message popped up on my phone yesterday which read : If you think you are smarterthan the previous generation….. 50 years ago an owners manual of a carshowed you how to adjust the valves. Today it warns you not to drink the contents of the battery.


All for this month  J.T.        contributions to    billjan299@gmail.com