The regulations for the Motor Traders Car Trial 2021 are now available to download below. Please use the online entry section of the website to submit your entry. We aren’t accepting paper entries for this event.
The trial will take place on Sunday 11th July 2021 by kind permission of John Werren and family at Waterloo Farm, North Petherwin, Nr. Launceston, PL15 8LL (MR 190/285880).
We hope you enjoyed the day; it was certainly different conditions than we are used to running in. It was good to see so many of you out competing and observing.
A little surprising was the number of non-starters but we still had over 50 of you turn out to compete on the day.
There were 3 clean sheets in the motorcycle classes – Leon Torres & Mark Courtney on their outfit along with Leon Youlton and Richard Maddern in Class B2. Richard Maddern taking the overall, Cycle Bowl, by virtue of a faster special test time.
In the cars, Ryan Tonkin took the overall award, the Fulford Cup, dropping 3 marks (crucially the only restarter to clear section 8 – Tunnel Run) just piping Roger Ashby who had a brilliant day in his 1172cc Coates Orthoptera on 5. Andrew Rippon rounding off the top 3 dropping 8 points.
We did have to do some juggling in amalgamating for award purposes, congratulations to the award winners and thanks again to all competitors and in particular the marshals who turned out in good numbers in the sunshine.
As with last year, the online entry system is available for this event and can be accessed here www.lncmc.co.uk/online-entry/. Due to Covid 19 restrictions, we can’t accept postal entries for this event.
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 30th of May.
We’re pleased to announce the return of our events after a year-long hiatus due to a certain virus that you may or may not have heard of.
The first event we’re putting on is the Northgate Trial 2021. The Trial will take place on Saturday 8th May at Ashley Farm, Lifton (MR201/395842) by kind permission of Paul Webber.
The Regs and Entry form for the event are available to download below.
Yes we are well into December and only just getting this newsletter out to you, apologies but I felt I ought to wait until the committee had a Zoom meeting so as I could report all the exciting news to you. First, there is a change in the position of Chairman, Pete Cooper has done sterling work over the years to keep the club active where possible, but the last nine months as we all know has been a bit of a test for everyone. Unlike a lot of people Pete has been working all through the two lockdowns meaning he has had little time for things outside of work and has therefore decided to stand down as chair of the Club. We are all appreciative of the efforts he (and Jan) have put in over the years, he will still be an active member of the committee.
This left our club without a chairman so a metaphoric box of straws was passed around containing one short straw, yes I managed to pull the short one so I am now Acting Chairman as well as newsletter gatherer/editor. Those of you with long memories will remember I used to do this job many years ago and to be honest I was not expecting to be doing it again, but hey ho, as I have absolutely nothing else to do why not. I did say I would only do it as a temporary stop gap but I’m not convinced anyone was listening at that point.
Amongst the items discussed at committee was the topic of the Launceston Trial, it was decided we should do our utmost to run the event, the date of March the 7th is set for it, at the usual venue of Lew Woods, obviously this is on the grounds that the Covid pandemic eases and that Mr Newman is happy for us to use his land. Entries for it will be online and all paperwork is kept to the absolute minimum, Darren Ruby has volunteered to act as Covid officer, fingers crossed for a good event.
The centenary celebration is still very much on the cards, in addition to a display in the Launceston Museum we are planning to take over the square on Saturday the 7th of August for a display of bikes and cars, we are also looking at getting a book published on the history of the club, we have a large amount of memorabilia, photographs etc. which will definitely prove interesting.
I have to remind everyone that it’s that time of year when your subs are due , online payments are preferred via the website but if you are unable to do this a cheque for £10 handed to any of the committee members will find its way to the treasurer whereupon a new membership card will be issued. **************************** It’s now time to hand you over to our club President Robin Moore. Although I do have a correction to make concerning last months article. First paragraph line 7 should read Harry Lauder’s recording, not Lander.
Alvis and the other lady in my life part 7
The focal point the next day was Stoneleigh in Warwickshire close to the home of Alvis in Coventry, where everyone was brought together prior to going to the final venue at the Alvis Works. Stoneleigh was later to become the National Agricultural Centre and home to the Royal Show. Close by was the Massey Ferguson Training and Development Centre which provided the ideal location and required space to assemble the largest gathering of Alvis cars ever, for by this time we were over 400 strong. In addition there was an area close to the “Rally Field” where the works had laid out a demonstration of some of the armoured fighting vehicles, Saracen and the Saladin.
The weather continued to hold good, as it had been throughout the tour, and this was a bonus for everyone as they made sure their steeds were looking their best for the grand cavalcade under police escort when we departed for the short journey to the Alvis premises in Holyhead Road in Coventry. Here once again the vast car park was able to accommodate all the cars. We were ushered into the large works canteen and given a warm welcome as we enjoyed the afternoon tea provided for us. Lovely individual fancy cakes topped with fondant icing and with the Alvis triangle in red.
It was with mixed emotions that we came to the end of this once in a lifetime event. On a “high” that we had been part of this great experience, but tinged with slight morose that it was all over and could not, and would not ever be repeated. As a dear friend often reminded me –“Everything Comes to Go”. We had made many new friendships that remained with us always, although over the last 50 years numbers have inevitably reduced. Those of us that are left are “Playing in extra time”
However, it was also inevitable that reunions would be held so we could all meet up again to celebrate this major event in Alvis history. And so it was, that for a number of years following whilst the memories remained strong and advancing years took their toll we got together annually. I will recall some of the highlights of these reunions in the final part of my Alvis story next month.
RHTM to be continued
The Inside Line Book Review by Richard Simpson
When two-strokes ruled the earth…….
It could be argued that there has never been a tougher sport than 500cc world championship motocross racing. And there certainly has never been a tougher motorsport than 500cc world championship motocross racing.
Unlike most motorsports, it was one where you could not buy your way to success: every rider was there on merit. And unlike virtually every other sport you can think of, each round consisted of almost 45 minutes of maximum physical and mental exertion, followed by a brief period in which machine and rider had to be repaired and readied, before the whole process was repeated with another race just as long, and even tougher given the track would now be rutted out of all recognition, than the first. Relax, even for a moment, physically or mentally, and you would be overtaken, or fall, or both.
Just how tough?
Like riding a bucking bronco, while other competitors throw rocks at you.
No F1-style starting grid, just 40 riders all lined up in a row, and all aiming at the narrow inside line of the first corner 200 metres away. Fail to be first to arrive there and the rear wheels of every machine in front will be firing dirt and rocks at you until you can pass it. And The Inside Line is former racer Rob Andrews’ new book, which details what it was like behind the handlebars of a 500cc two-stroke monster motocross bike, with a 60 + bhp engine, a foot of suspension travel at each end and an all-up weight of just 220 lb or so. For the record, that makes it lighter and far more powerful than any of today’s motocross machines, and the races themselves were substantially longer and on far tougher tracks than today’s.
Andrews admits that he was never the best of the world championship’s riders, but, as one of the most dedicated, he raced against the best, including a second-place finish in a field containing seven past and present world champions.
He was beset by a variety of problems including the inevitable mechanical failures, manufacturer team ‘politics’, and a bizarre and horrendous injury sustained when he came off second-best in an argument with a plate-glass window in the Tewkesbury branch of Tesco!
Andrews writes vividly of both the raw excitement of the races and the contrasting hard grind of training, travel and machine preparation that it took to get there, all unfiltered by any ghost writer. The days of the ‘wild men’ of motocross were over by the time he reached the top, so sex and drugs and rock & roll are in short supply (although he hints that his first child may have been conceived on honeymoon in the parking lot of a suspension factory in Holland), but the gut-wrenching thrills of the greatest circuit of all: The Citadel, Namur, Belgium; are described in graphic detail.
Injuries and bad luck combined against Andrews, but ultimately the entire sport was doomed. At anything less than the highest professional levels, the average rider would go faster on a cheaper and less-powerful 250 cc machine than a 500. Anyone good enough to ride a 500 faster than they could a 250 would also be good enough to command a sponsorship deal, so in the end there was no-one prepared to hand over their own cash for a 500, and the class went the way of the dinosaurs. From the top of the mountain, the only way forward is downhill.
However, Andrews’ lucid prose and a wealth of spectacular contemporary photography combine to take the reader back to a never-to-be-forgotten, or repeated, era, when dinosaurs, in the form of 500cc two-stroke bikes, really did rule the earth, or at least the track. You won’t find The Inside Line in bookshops or on Amazon, but you can order it direct from https://theinsidelinebook.com/products/the-inside-line-racing-the-500cc-world-motocross-championship
At £40, it’s not cheap, but I’d defy anyone to name a better sports biography. **************************************** Ignominious Rescue !!
It’s amazing how the simplest of ideas can all of a sudden turn badly wrong. Last Monday was a beautiful frosty day so I thought what better day to take the Dellow for a spin, after all it needs to get miles on the clock to get it run in. I had an early lunch and set off into town to do a quick bit of shopping, then headed out of town on the road in the direction of Bude, the car was sounding lovely as we climbed the hill from Yeolmbridge , as I entered Ladycross approaching the school there was an extremely loud bang from the back of the car followed by the rear wheels completely locking up, sending the car into a full 360,then 180 spin coming to a halt in the middle of the road straddling the white line facing the direction I had just come from.
For a moment I was in a bit of a daze trying to comprehend what had happened and at the same time being grateful that the car hadn’t turned over or hit someone coming in the opposite direction. I’m now sat there holding up two rows of traffic, I get out, but the car will not move, it’s all a bit surreal, first try to direct traffic, then in the lull try to push the car but it refuses to move. After a few minutes a couple of guys stop their cars and come to offer assistance, between the three of us we spend the next ten minutes slowly pushing/dragging a reluctant Dellow, if it were a donkey a carrot would have worked miracles, eventually it is moved to the side of the road, I’m now hoping no one drives into it. I thank the two good Samaritans and they trundle off. Club Sec and stalwart Andy Prosser lives some 400 yards back the road so it’s on the phone to him, he’s in town but says “I’ll be there in ten” and he is, farmer Julian is just around the corner so Andy commandeers him and his tractor to get the road cleared (hence photo) which is done by lifting the back end of the car and taking it to his yard. Fortunately Andy also has a trailer in his drive so the car is loaded onto it and taken back to my place where it is now undergoing axle surgery.
In a nutshell the whole diff/planet gears and pin shattered, and no it wasn’t low on oil, it’s all a bit of a mystery, but as Andy says “it’s nothing that can’t be fixed if you throw enough money at it” . As they say you never know what’s around the corner ! As you have probably guessed I am very grateful to those who assisted me, in particular Andy, always the man who can!
Before I sign off I would just like to say get well soon to Alan Merton who is having a bit of NHS TLC at the moment.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year, let’s all hope it’s a better one than 2020.
All for this month. J.T. Please feel free to send your contributions billjan299@gmail.com
We’re sorry to announce that we’ve had to cancel the David Ayers and Tamar Trials due to the Covid-19 related restrictions on running events. We will update you in due course when the government reviews the legislation in October. At the very least we hope to back with a bang for new events in 2021.
“Flaming June” has certainly been living up to its name with high temperatures and a real shortage of rain, for those lucky enough to have gardens to enjoy the “lockdown” has possibly been easier to endure than if it had rained every day. With the gradual easing of the lockdown there has been much talk by Motorsports UK and the AMCA as to how things will proceed in order for us all to get back to doing things in a sort of “almost” normal fashion.
Make no mistake about it, it is going to be a real challenge, once you think of getting groups of people together it becomes a big headache for the organisers on top of the social distancing issues there are challenges like signing on, scrutineering, provision of toilets, maybe even self certifying that you are free of the virus, the list is endless, then of course who is going to take responsibility for this if something goes wrong?
A lot of the issues could be overcome by doing things electronically, whilst a lot of clubs now do on line entries this could be extended to certifying that your vehicle is compliant with all the requirements to enter your chosen event, this would certainly sort the scrutineering issue, things like diff testing could possibly be done, although if you declare your diff to be compliant that shouldn’t be a problem. Motorcyclists on solo machines would at least not have to worry about the distancing from ones passenger as in cars and outfits, perhaps we could all wear face masks, full face crash helmets with the visor fixed down ! It will be interesting to see how things go at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, no passenger to consider so that’s a start.
My apologies to Robin in last month’s offering when I wrongly named the Horstmann car as a Hurstmann. One letter can make quite a difference, I recently saw a car advertised that might be suitable for trialling, one comment was that it would need a bugger engine, I pondered on this for a few seconds and then realised it should have been a “bigger” engine, but it did make me chuckle.
So now it’s over to our Club President Robin Moore.
Historical notes – on hold. For the last eight months my contributions to the newsletter have been centred to the centenary of our club and its history, and many interesting facts have come to light. The research is on-going and the story incomplete. The present “lockdown” has presented problems of personal contact with some of those I have contacted for help in verifying facts. So for the moment I am having to put the final instalments on hold. John Turner has kindly agreed that for the time being my contributions will be of another subject.
Alvis, and the other lady in my life. This year is also the centenary of the Alvis Company and plans were well advanced for a major celebration to commemorate the marque and the company’s engineering achievements. Like us , this is now on hold, and these milestones will have to be celebrated at a later date.
The Alvis car and engineering history is well documented, and their reputation for quality in all spheres of testing, in advanced design and manufacture of everything from motor cars to aviation engines and armoured fighting vehicles for the M.O.D., is without question of the highest order. During World War 2 Alvis produced major components for the Rolls Royce Merlin aero engines, also being involved with overhaul and testing of these units.
Car production ranged from 1920 to 1967 with the last car completed on the 29th of September of that year. My Alvis story starts in the 1950’s when a young couple came to Trefrew, Camelford on holiday, driving their 12/50 Alvis. I expressed an interest in the car and it wasn’t long before I was offered a demonstration run: The performance and roadholding impressed me, and has remained with me ever since. At around the same time another holiday maker had ventured to Cornwall driving an older model, the 10/50 with its side valve engine. Unfortunately, a big end had given up the challenge when reaching Camelford and the car had been left with my local garage to get it fixed, whilst the owner made other on-going arrangements, planning to collect the car, duly sorted, and return home the following week. I had a good look at this early model Alvis whilst it was at the garage , and I could appreciate the quality of this vintage car and its general appeal.
It was not until 1966, some ten years later that I was to purchase my first Alvis, a post war 1954 3 litre. At the time it was considered , that when a motor car was 12 years old and a model of merit, its market value would be at its lowest, after which it would slowly rise in value, and this may have come into the equation at the time, but from memory it was more by co-incidence that I made the purchase of KDL 892 , an Isle of Wight registration. I had read the road test reports of this model, and the style of the coachwork appealed. To my eye it looks right from any angle, so when I spied this motor for sale locally I was tempted to take the plunge, and thus entered another phase of my motoring life. RHTM to be continued.
Now it’s over to our chairman Pete Cooper
I hope you are all safe and well, the Lockdown has certainly decimated our beloved sport. I expect the lockdown is beginning to be a real bore as all those jobs around the garden have now been completed, the house painted three times and finally you can get the car in the garage. I’ve been busy working for Cornwall Council at Launceston and Saltash recycling centres, at least I am getting some of my council tax back!!
Motorsport UK along with the AMCA seem to have woken up. MSUK intends to start issuing permits soon. Unfortunately some of the paperwork they are proposing is way over the top, the club will need to employ a document manager to keep on top of it.
I hope to finish my work next week and then hopefully we will be able to have a virtual committee meeting via Zoom and discuss how we can proceed in the hope to get our sport back on track, so any committee members reading this can start thinking of any items they wish to discuss. The two main events needing discussion will be the David Ayers sporting trial in September and the Tamar Classic road trial in October. With regard to the David Ayers our first concern is that the land owner is happy for us to return, the land owner David Langley has without question been extremely supportive of our club but these are difficult times and nothing should be taken for granted, assuming he is happy we then need to contact the majority of competitors for their thoughts, we certainly won’t be able to provide food as in past years.
The Tamar Trial will have plenty of problems, as the regulations stand at the moment there are several issues to consider:- passengers can only be from the same family or household; will marshals over the age of 70 want to travel; can buildings be used for signing on and off and will we be able to control the spectating public on the sections ?? We may also may be restricted to a “clubman “ event.
Torbay MC are hoping to run a few events with a hill climb at Wiscombe but they will all be clubman events. In the foreseeable future I do not see any chance of meetings other than that by Zoom, this will be the way forward. As our governing bodies send us more details of the new regulations we will endeavour to get them out to all committee members.
Please all stay safe and enjoy any good weather.
Best regards to all.
Pete
If anyone wishes to contribute ideas and suggestions as to how the club can move forward with its future events under the Covid-19 restrictions we would be very pleased to hear from you.
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At the time of writing this I should technically have made a two wheel excursion to Belgium for the Euro Lambretta weekend along with several thousand like minded enthusiasts/ lunatics but hey ho maybe next year. I did manage to take the Dellow out for a short run last week, but alas the engine despite having had a more than modest amount of tlc is still not completely happy, so it was back under the dust sheets for the time being (car not me). Fortunately, the other engine should be back in a couple of weeks, I can then do the rebuild and engine swap, it’s a pity Google don’t do an app for it, it would save all that tiresome spannering, but then I wouldn’t be able to hide away in the garage for hours on end, I’d miss all that oil and grease under the finger nails too.
All for this month
J.T. Please, Please send contributions to billjan299@gmail.com
Life seems to be going by at quite a pace at the moment, first, we had Brexit which seemed to go on forever we then moved into the storm season, each consecutive one seems to have a more indecipherable name than the last one, then before you know it we have a virus sweeping the world, I’m finding it a bit difficult to keep up. So what’s all this got to do with motorsport? Well the Launceston trial and a few others became victim of the storms and unless the current virus is containable it too will possibly have an effect, it’s a case of keep your fingers crossed and be prepared to adapt, I’m supposedly going on a two wheeled foray to Belgium at the beginning of June but to be honest it’s not looking good, it may end up with a tour of the Southwest, not all bad, we have pasties the Belgian’s don’t.
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Friday the 28th of February saw the club and supporters converging on Trethorne Leisure Centre for our annual sit down buffet and presentation of awards, thanks go to Nigel in particular for the organising of the event which went very well and the meal seemed to be very good value for money. We seemed to have more than the usual amount of speeches this year but that’s probably because as we are celebrating our centenary we feel we have something to shout about.
Lots of awards were given out, in particular it was good to see a couple of junior awards being presented to Ashley and Zak Ruby, always good to encourage youngsters into the sport. After the formalities footage was shown of club events gone by in the fifties and sixties, it was interesting to see the dress code of that period, with the ladies wearing a good variety of head scarves, many of the men in flat caps and wearing a tie, one of my favourite bits of the film was seeing a Messerschmit “Bubble Car” attempting Sims hill, not something you are likely to see again.
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And now it’s time to hand over to our Club President Robin Moore Historical notes part 6
I’m sure that in the fullness of time the complete history of Cornish Motor Clubs will be chronicled, for it’s a story that needs recording for posterity. The fact that our Lanson club is now involved with celebrating it’s centenary has rather galvanised the mind on these matters. Our Launceston Club has always been to the fore in promoting a variety of motorsport competition and has produced some outstanding drivers wearing the club colours, competing nationally as well as in local events. Before the second World War , mainly as a form of advertising car manufacturers were keen for their products to do well in competition, especially so as a team,- sometimes formally entered as a works team, whilst others had generous works support. There was great rivalry between teams such as Austin, MG and Singer. To a lesser extent this practice continued post war. Entering as a team adds a new dimension with the team captain requiring a certain discipline & tact at times to keep things together, but also the determination to do well. I personally found myself in a different “mindset” when team effort was required and a greater determination to succeed. It adds another dimension, for one doesn’t want to let team mates down.
The “Shades of Crackers” team that I was involved with for a number of years was always a mixed team of different makes of car, but one constant was Norman McKee’s ex Toulmin Cream Cracker car, the MGTA reg ABL 962, it was always part of the team. Norman was the “joker” in the team and could do a wonderful impersonation of Benny Hill. On the MCC Norman was always “ hell bent” on our team beating the Morgan works team on Times in the Special tests . I seem to recall we usually did come out on top! From time to time some of our club members formed teams of one make cars. In the early 1930’s it was Phil Uglow and the Biscombe brothers of Callington who ran a team of Hillman Aero Minx, whilst post war the team of Dellows ,- George Edwards, Bob and Mary Parsons were very successful. The team who called themselves the “ Union Jacks” was the formidable Morgans of George Edwards, Alin Penhale and Ted Dennis. Painted Red, White and Blue respectively. Ted’s car – the Blue one, was a four seater, a plus 4 with the
Standard Vanguard 2 Litre engine and with his 16 stone ex Navy mechanic and navigator astern they would take some stopping. Happy days and a lot of fun with many wonderful memories. (to be continued) RHTM
Club Regalia. At the awards evening, the committee members were all wearing the new club Regalia in colours to reflect our centenary.
Items available :
Beanie Hat – £4.95 + vat Tee Shirt – £8.95 = vat Polo Shirt – £12.95 + vat Sweatshirt – £13.95 + vat
These are all available from the suppliers, Protekt Safety Wear.
Telephone 07894 057498 Speak to Mark Doey
Email protect_safetywear@gmail.com
Once ordered you can either collect from their premises at Callington, or delivered by courier for £7.95 (this fee might possibly include more than one item) speak to Mark.
Forthcoming Events
Launceston Trial 15th of March As mentioned in last month’s edition, the team will be out there next week ensuring all is well for the event, if you haven’t entered you really need to get in quick.
The Northgate Sporting Trial is on the 29th of March at Ashleigh Lifton.
Both of these events need Marshals or they will not run so please contact Mike Wevill on 01566 784451 or email j.wevill@btconnect.com
On the 2nd of April, we have our club AGM which will be held at the Blue Lion, Lewdown at 8.00pm. Please make an effort to attend, you never know it might actually be interesting especially if our 3 months of centenary plans are divulged.
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I have often wondered what is the first thing that people see when they arrive at a motorsport event. Most probably it’s an interesting vehicle, or maybe they see someone they haven’t seen for a while and a chance to catch up. How many of you see the Motorsport is Dangerous sign, let alone give it a second thought, after all it isn’t for you is it! Very few people taking part in our chosen sport give it much thought, most thoughts are either achieving fastest time of the day, or being the only one to clear a particular hill.
Unfortunately, accidents do actually happen and it’s at that particular moment the mind is suddenly focused on the less attractive side of the sport. Over the years that I have been involved I have been close to or even witnessed an incident when someone has been injured (ok so you are now making a mental
note to avoid me), I know accidents happen in all sports but most likely few people consider it, if they did there would probably be less of us taking part.
This leads me on to wondering how many of you are blood donors, yes the dreaded needle, I can see some of you fainting now. Be honest lots of us need an extra drop of it at some time in our lives, yes the head is burying deeper in the sand. Some people not only donate blood, but platelets and plasma, you know the sort of thing that is sometimes required during transplants, or when blue babies are born. Dare I even mention carrying a donor card, yes morbid isn’t it, but real ! I would love to get some feedback but probably I won’t, but if you managed to read this to the end it might just set you thinking.
All for this month J.T. e mail billjan299@gmail.com
The Trial will take place on Sunday 29th of March at Ashley Farm, Lifton (MR201/395842) by kind permission of Paul Webber.
Launceston Trial 2020 Marshalls needed
We are in need of Marshalls for this years Launceston Trial 2020 which takes place on Sunday 15th March. If you would like to Marshall please contact Mike Wevill by calling 01566 784451 or send an email to j.wevill@btinternet.com.
We’re sorry to say that the Launceston Trial 2020 has been postponed until the 15th of March. This is due to the forecast bad weather on the 9th of February.
If you have entered using the online entry system and can’t compete on the new date then please email info@lncmc.co.uk and we will refund your entry.
We will be reopening the online entry again shortly for new entries. We’re also happy to start recieving entries by post again too.
