Welcome to the merry month of May newsletter, there seems to be a lot going on this month, not just within the club, for those who enjoy it there’s a large dose of pomp and pageantry to keep the masses entertained. My tailpiece last month did apparently catch a few of you out, well it was April the 1st, whilst I did get a phone call to congratulate me on my winnings fortunately I didn’t receive any begging letters from long lost and otherwise unknown relatives hoping to relieve me of my financial gain and promising to always be with me during their hour of greed. My bank has confirmed that there has not been a large influx of ready cash for me to spend, life goes on as normal.

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Chairmans Chat

I start this month’s edition with some very sad news. I was both shocked and saddened to learn during the recent Land’s End Trial that Nigel Martin-Oakley had sadly passed away during the event. I had known Nigel through our own events (he had been a regular club member over the last decade or so) and was synonymous to us with his Saab. We had chatted in the queue shortly before, where he had told me of his numerous gearbox rebuilds on the Saab and of the new power steering Adrian Booth has manufactured for him. His character will be sorely missed. I’m sure I speak for all of the committee in sending our heartfelt condolences to Nigel’s wife and all the family at such a difficult time.

Land’s End Trial 2023 – Having just got the Dutton back on the road, the only pre event Land’s End run ended up being a bit of a scoot around the woods setting up for the Launceston. A couple of small mods to do with the help of Adrian then a snag a couple of days before, loaded on the trailer and down to Adrian’s workshop, job complete with 24 hours to spare. Duncan Stephens had kindly offered to drop me down on the Thursday to collect. Back for a quick tidy up and the rest of the day spent loading and fingers crossed. I’m sure Simon O will provide his report of the event so I won’t go into great detail.

The car ran well pleasingly, some very familiar sections and several new. I did have the hump a bit before breakfast with a few things I must admit but we perked up a bit after refuelling ourselves, it was dry and the sun was showing through after all. The trial ran pretty smoothly after that although behind schedule, we didn’t get too much further behind, signing off at about 6.30pm. Club attire and personnel on show at various points, namely Pinch Hill (a good new special test) Crackington, Wilsey and

Blue Hills. It appears there have been a few internal issues within the MCC since but from my point of view I must offer many thanks to all those that give up their time to make it happen, in any capacity. Also, the enthusiasm to find and bring in some new (and old) hills is definitely to be applauded, freshen ups keep us on our toes and I’m all for that. All being well we’ll be back for the 100th edition next year.

Warin Kelly’s Low Cost Motorsport Talk – On 20th April, Warin provided an interesting slideshow and talk to several club members at Tresmeer, I for one didn’t realise quite how active he had been in motorsport circles, certainly around the race tracks in the 1970s. Many thanks go to Warin for taking the time to put it all together and for hosting the evening.

A busy time coming up with plenty of club events being run over the spring and summer.

Simon Riddle

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The club has a vacancy for a safeguarding officer to join the committee, if you think this might be a role you could fulfil please contact Simon Riddle or any committee member (details on the website) The following description has been downloaded from MSUK to outline the tasks of the role:-

Safeguarding Officer

The Safeguarding Officer is the first point of contact for all safeguarding enquiries within your Club. This role helps to ensure that the welfare of all children, young people, and adults at risk is promoted in the Club’s activities. They should develop a positive culture that encourages both children and adults to share any concerns they have and be confident that they will be listened to. It is mandatory to have a safeguarding officer within your Club.

Responsibilities and Duties

It is the role of the safeguarding officer to promote the welfare of all Club members. This can include:

• Ensuring you are familiar with Motorsport UK Safeguarding policies, procedures, and guidance. • Actively maintain and promote Club Safeguarding policies.
• Ensuring that you (or a nominated other) are in attendance and/or contactable at all events. • Be the first point of contact for Club members if they have an issue or concern regarding someone’s welfare.
• Being aware of resources that can help support club members.
• Undergo safeguarding training when requested by Motorsport UK.

One of the main responsibilities of a safeguarding officer is managing incidents concerning the welfare of children and adults at risk. This can involve:

• Reporting safeguarding concerns to the Motorsport UK Safeguarding Team within 24 hours of becoming aware or notified.
  • Maintaining accurate records of safeguarding incidents.
  • Promoting and ensuring that confidentiality is maintained.
  • Sharing information on a need to know basis.
  • Liaising with statutory authorities as required/requested. As a participating member of motorsport, they should uphold the values of the Race With Respect code. Skills and Qualities A safeguarding officer should:
  • Demonstrate good communication skills
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of equality and diversity issues
  • Actively display and encourage the behaviours expected in the Race with Respect code of conduct • Maintain a professional boundary with children, young people, and adults at risk • Be approachable and friendly
  • Have knowledge of safeguarding resources and legislation
  • Be willing to learn about safeguarding
  • Have ability to handle emotionally distressing matters and/or seek support if required • Have administration and systems (records) management skills

For more information guides visit the Motorsport UK Club Toolkit.

For guidance and suggestions of further guides, email the Motorsport UK Club & Community Development Team at club.development@motorsportuk.org

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We can be heroes, just for one day………

Richard Simpson rides the Lands End Trial, the easy way

The narrow road veers left, and heads steeply down into a valley. Ahead and to the right, the Atlantic Ocean shimmers in holiday-brochure blue. Directly in front across the valley, a steep white path rises up the hillside, lined on each side with the tiny figures of on-lookers.

I have seen this sight twice before: and each time get a feeling that is 90 per cent excitement and 10 per cent sickness. Pulling over to the side, I kill the engine of my 300 cc Beta X-Trainer motorcycle and, faintly over the sound of wind and waves, can hear the distant sound of cheering and an engine’s roar. A small dark speck is climbing the steep path, with a plume of dust behind it.

This is the Lands End Trial. Welcome to Blue Hills. It’s the journey that counts, not the destination. For most competitors, this began the previous night, and has carried them across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to here, travelling mostly on unclassified roads and taking in a series of observed sections on rough tracks, much of which must be ridden or driven unseen in the dark.

Not for me though. I’ve navigated vehicles with three and four wheels through the night on this event before, but for my first attempt on a motorbike, I’ve ticked a little-used box on the Motor Cycling Club’s entry form that gives me a start from Wilsey Down Hotel at a very civilised 9 am on day two of the event. Conveniently, this is just a few miles from my house, and happily it serves a generous cooked breakfast (my wife is convinced that ‘trials’ are actually a sort of perverse gastronomic tour of the West Country in which the participants compete to consume large quantities of fried food and pasties). I will be navigating as well as riding, but I won’t have to contend with picking signposts out in the black of night or mists of Exmoor’s early morning. Nor will horrible obstacles, real or imagined, loom suddenly into my light on the off-road sections.

Doing the day-only trial is as stress-free as it could be. You don’t even get given a final score, so it’s really just an organised trail-ride. After breakfasting with two Triumph riders fresh from the all-nighter (I find out one has, like me, had the honour of navigating for John Turner in his Dellow trials car). I go to the start and meet the one other entrant in the daytime class…who is riding a Royal Enfield Himalayan festooned with soft luggage. I wonder at the wisdom of adding more weight to an already very heavy motorcycle, but each to their own.

He in turn wonders at my roadbook. It was constructed by John Turner himself, from one of those sleeves that up-market whisky bottles come in. Two plastic waterpipes, each with a whisky-bottletop glued in one end, comprise the roller mechanism. A window is covered in clear plastic. As the event progresses, I realise what a genius invention this device is. My fellow- competitor says he has just made a trace of the route and downloaded it onto his smartphone.

We set off down the A road towards Launceston, then veer towards Liskeard. The first ‘event’ is the special test at Ruses Mill, and getting there involves negotiating a complex of ever-more minor roads. I let the Himalayan man pass as I’m still sorting out the best method of using JT’s roadbook. Following the Enfield is an interesting experience. Its long-stroke engine has an exhaust note straight out of the 1930s. I can hear the charm, even if I can’t see the attraction. Passing through the half- restored and now seemingly abandoned and heartbreakingly beautiful buildings of Ruses Mill, we come to the special test itself, which is a start, stop- and-restart, and- stop-again, conducted on an incredibly steep and dirty tarmac hill. I actually know the layout quite well because I was a marshal on it during last year’s Three- Day Trial. Accelerate, brake, stop, accelerate, brake, stop…and breathe!

No real drama, and no real point in pushing too hard as my time won’t count towards anything. Exit through a little village, then a ride across Bodmin Moor to the first proper observed section for us daytime wimps: Water Main Lane.

Himalayan man is ahead of me, and I am joined by some competitors from the full event. I decide to let them go ahead while I adjust my tyre pressures, given that they look tired, and I’m fresh and well-fed.
 

This section starts off easy, but there’s a bit in the middle that has suffered from water erosion…hopefully not from a burst watermain. I stand up for this part, and the back wheel promptly slips sideways. It takes a couple of ferocious ‘dabs’ to get the Beta back on course. There goes my (imaginary) Gold medal. I kick myself…what’s wrong with me?

At the end of the section, I make a worrying discovery. The trip-meter on the Beta has stopped working, so has the clock, and speed is now showing in Km/h. I know what’s happened: the connection for the instrument’s internal battery has failed and the thing is running on electrical power from the bike’s loom and can’t be reset. Last night I went through the roadbook and carefully highlighted all the distances between the various waypoints, planning to reset the trip as I passed each one. None of that is any good to me now: I’ll just have to guess the distances and relate them to the directions as best I can.

Unsurprisingly, I overshoot a turn off a major road. I encounter a sidecar outfit which has done the same and is about to repeat the mistake in the other direction. Frantic waving and shouting gets them back on course. We set off on one of the best bits of the trial: tarmac lanes which deteriorate into greenlanes around St Neot: one part is a steep and rough downhill which would make a great section in its own right if the trial ran in the other direction. Lovely scenery, no traffic, can this really be Easter Saturday in Cornwall? Next stop is the Panters Bridge Time Control. I’m not sure if I’m actually supposed to attempt the Warleggan section up the lane here as it’s not clear what route the daytimers should follow, but the marshals send me up anyway. Again, it starts easy with a soft, grippy surface. Then there’s a part that has been scoured by heavy rain, exposing tortured longitudinal ribbons of igneous rock. I stand. I fall. I restart. I stand. I fall again. The marshals pick me up. I realise where I’m going wrong, drag the bike over to the side of the lane and climb what’s left in the gutter with my bum firmly in the seat. This is going just as badly as I anticipated. The route takes us past Bodmin. I managed to get John Turner lost at a roundabout here: taking us and a few followers off to the right and down into the traffic-calmed nightmare that is the town last year. The routebook is ambiguous about the roundabout this year too.

I’m not going to go wrong again. I go straight on. This is wrong. There’s a new section, and I should have gone right. I explain my error to the sidecar boys who have followed me. They wish me luck (I think that’s what was said, but can’t be sure).

The route skirts the southern suburbs of Bodmin. I encounter two more competitors stopped by the side of the road with a technical problem. One is on an ancient rigid Norton, the other a modern GasGas enduro two-stroke. The technical problem is the GasGas has run out of petrol! They are planning on transferring some fuel out of the Norton and into the GasGas with a plastic bag and assure me they will be alright. I leave them to it, find the next section, and with it my mojo!

Imagine a Scalectrix track made life-sized, surfaced with mud and imposed on the topography of an abandoned railway cutting. This is Eddy’s Branch Line.

I cut my trail-riding teeth in the thick mud of Northamptonshire. I can do this. What a section! Start, hairpin bend, down into the cutting, along the cutting, up and out and over a bridge across the cutting, right-angle corner, flatout undulating blast to the end. Stand for the tight corners, sit for everything else.

And done, and done clean. Waiting at the end is the section chief marshal (and farmer) Eddy himself.

We thank marshals on each section as a matter of course, but this is an opportunity to thank the landowner too. I tell him it’s the best section so far.

He tells me that other competitors have complained about how difficult it was and that the mud has cost them Gold, which boosts my confidence no end. I’ve done better than some! Great Grogley, Withielgoose, and Trevithic sections are found and dispatched without difficulty. I remember at least some of them from last year. At this point I’m riding in a bubble. There is no one ahead of or behind me, and marshals are enjoying lunch as I approach. The quiet is unreal. It doesn’t last. The route spits us onto the A39, jammed with holiday traffic and lined with tacky attractions. It’s like another (nightmarish) world. I take a wrong turn off a roundabout, and find myself up by Newquay airport. Giving modern technology a chance, I pull out my mobile and open the map app. There’s no signal, and no map.

Waste of time. Just go back to the roundabout and pay more attention.

But I take the opportunity to fill the Beta’s long-range tank at a nearby Gulf station. It’s not on reserve, but it might be soon. I check the engine oil tank. It’s used all of an egg-cup full of lube. It looks like I can do the whole event and ride home without using the extra oil I’ve stashed on the bike. Amazing! Back on route, I pull into the Peranporth time control. While I’m enjoying a nutritious snack of three Lidl energy bars and a can of Red Bull, the Norton and GasGas pull in. Glad to see the plastic bag exercise has left them unscathed. There’s one more section to go before Blue Hills. I ride past the entrance to Lambriggan twice, thanks to my non-functioning trip meter.Having found it, I’m up it like a rat up a drainpipe, and on to Blue Hills. I’m not sure if I’m actually supposed to do Blue Hills One, but it would be rude not to. Down around, up, out and stop at the line. Now on to Blue Hills Two. The access to this is a challenge in itself, but I make it there without drama, largely because I keep my bum on the seat. At the Section Start, I’m instructed to wait. The Chief Marshal wants a word. Perhaps news of my lack of skill has preceded me, and he’s going to tell me to wait until the air ambulance arrives before I launch myself into the rocks?

Here he comes down the hill like a mountain goat. It has been decided, he tells me ominously, that daytime riders need only get as far as the A-board and then I will be dragged to the top of the hill if necessary. Oh, dear…there’s only one other ontestant in the class…what the hell happened to him that this guy has come down to tell me this? And I can’t see the A-board.

No matter. He’s away to the top of the hill, the start marshal is telling me I can proceed, and someone is pointing a video camera in my face while an expectant buzz comes from the crowd. This is it. First or second gear?

Well we got up here so far in first without traction issues, so my left foot clicks the pedal down while my right foot hold the back brake on.

Clutch to biting point, throttle open progressively. The ring-ding from the Beta’s exhaust deepens into a growl, and the Mitas rear tyre miraculously finds traction as the back brake is released. And we are off. I remind myself not to stand up, and just let the front wheel pick its way up the path. Steady throttle, feather the clutch if it feels like it’ll wheelie or spin (it doesn’t). Marshals are blocking the point where the ‘proper’ contestants turn left so I just carry on up the hill. Somewhere, back there, I passed the A-board. And suddenly, I’m up top, at the back of the queue for the tea- stall! I haven’t fallen, I didn’t foot. Familiar voices shout my name…it’s brother Ben and sister Chris who have gone to get refreshment anticipating that it will be hours before I arrive at the foot of the hill, if indeed I arrive at all. I’m buzzing!

My siblings are incredulous. I try to explain, incoherently, that I was a mere passenger on the Beta on that last climb, and I didn’t do the really difficult bit after the left-hand turn (where John’s Dellow destroyed its clutch and our Gold medals last year) but they are having none of it. You’d think I’d won the Scottish Six Days Trial.

A cuppa and two cakes later (sorry Ben, was that your cake?), and I’m off to sign- off at theMiners’ Arms. A brief chat with Richard and Claire Griffin (KTM 990 and Freeride) and I wobble home on a distinctly soft back tyre after I fail to get any air into it with the mini MTB pump I’m carrying.…it’s no worse than riding on a Yokohoma ‘whispering death’ tyre in the rain was back in the 1970s, or so I tell myself.
 

Later, I view the video taken by Diptheclutch, which is on YouTube. I see my fellow dayrider Himalaya Man being dragged up Blue Hills Two by three marshals. So little power, and so much weight. And horrible ‘chevron’ tyres, too. Fair play to him. But the real hero is rider number 116, riding a Yamaha XJR1300. This is a slightly updated pastiche of the superbikes of the 1970s…an air-cooled 220 kg (dry) transverse-four roadbike with twin-shock suspension. He appears to have ridden all night and cleaned every section (results provisional at going to press), beating all the proper ‘Adventure’ bikes and most of the lightweights too. Chris Curtis, your name is Legend!

Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iShNtzx-LE0

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During the Lands End your editor did a spell of marshalling at Wilsey Down, bit of a lay in really as I didn’t need to be there until just after 4.00am, managed to take a few pictures of the competitors, the big Chevvy was an unusual entry, but fair dues they travelled all the way from Switzerland to compete.

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99th Lands End Trial 7/8th April 2023 An emotional day out

Firstly, the sad news of the unexpected death of Nigel Martin-Oakley after ascending Darracott Hill on the Trial in his much loved Saab 96 with his wife Nicola. I’m sure all competitors, Marshals and friends send their best wishes and condolences to his wife and family after this tragic event.

Memories of him and his cars will be fondly remembered for years to come.

The Trial started with 4 regional starts which was nice after none were used in the previous Exeter Trial. During conversation, it appeared that Plusha and Exeter starts hadn’t been told about the date until a few day before, this was also true at the Breakfast stop at Wilsey Down, so we were quite lucky the breakfast was there in the morning! Myself and navigator John Warren started at Plusha and had the honour (?) of being the first car throughout the event. Off we went at 18.49 on the back roads to the official start at Bridgwater Rugby Club. The biggest event was as we entered Taunton, a car pulled out from the left in front of us with no lights and across on to the other side of the road. He continued the wrong side of the road at speed for 400m and as a car approached him/her head on, he veered right between bollards never to be seen again! Nothing further of note happened on the trip and we saw no other cars apart from the two following cars of Simon Riddle and Rob Haworth. A splash and dash of fuel before entering the rugby club for scrutineering which went smoothly.

The start time for cars was 10.54 and we had all been told that we could go 20 minutes early if we wanted to. We decided to go once the bikes had all gone so that we wouldn’t hold them up. This resulted with several cars leaving in front of motorbikes and our leading position long gone.
 

Following the route book, we turned right at the first roundabout (opposite direction to last year) and left at lights onto the A39 and Minehead.

No signpost was present, so at the next roundabout we retraced our route and picked up signage to Minehead and A39 in the opposite direction (left at first roundabout), not a brilliant start. We progressed to the first section Felons Oak where we queued with 10+ cars in front and eventually they moved to one side to let the trailing bikes through to do the section in front of us (20mins leaving early didn’t work). We wondered if ‘Mr Mazola’ had left an oil deposit at the restart, if he had, we still managed to clear the hill. Better luck next time! On to Porlockford for the second section and restart for most classes.

A total lack of direction signs in to the hill and none on the way in the dark where the track split. Tyre marks both ways told the story resulting in lost cars and bikes (some may still be there?) One of the marshals even said that he got lost trying to get to his position earlier. We arrived at Barbrook Control already late, so I filled up with fuel while John signed us in. He came out and said that we didn’t have to stop and could carry straight on to the next section, no sign out necessary. Simon Riddle had picked up a puncture previously, so we waited for him and his Dutton to arrive and top the car up.

I suggested that John checked at control about signing out and it turned out that we had to – lucky! As we were about to leave a marshal said they were trying to get the cars in correct order and told us to overtake cars in front to get to our correct numeric position (impossible task). I said we were officially the first three cars, so would do the best we could. As we approached the queue for Beggars Roost we pulled out to go to the front and stopped at the main marshal at the bottom. A very abusive response with no intension of listening to the explanation. He told us to go up the road and turn around, so I saw there was plenty of room to turn at the hill entrance and as I moved forward, he stepped in front and said ‘you’re not going up the hill’ to which I said ‘I am turning here, please move’.

The three of us turned around and re-joined the queue. I got out of the car, went to the marshal and suggested the earlier marshal should be told not to tell the competitors to get in ‘correct order’, there was no response (2 marshals). I then asked if he would like me to go back and tell him (which I did) but I only got a grunt. I understand that it’s dark, less than half vehicles are through, it’s running late, people are tired and it’s a car and noise sensitive area but there is no excuse for the attitude I received – end of story. We cleared Beggars Roost, Barton Steep OT1, Riverton and Yollacombe OT2.

Next was a new section Orange which had a restart for all classes. All simple and completed, we followed the route instructions ‘L at grass triangle and shortly R downhill and over bridge’ which led us 100m to a private property where we turned as quietly as possible.

We were not alone with this mistake as many, many competitors did the same. We commented about how to give the sport a bad name at the time. Subsequently the owner blocked the section with a car and the section had to be abandoned. I hope an apology and gift from the MCC will later find the property owner. The word ‘shortly’ should not be used in my opinion. A distance (400 or 600m) or coloured direction markers etc would help in high risk, new or sensitive areas. We moved on to Sutcombe and completed the section and decided not to stop for refreshments at the top due to us being so far behind our correct position. This led to Gooseham Holding area where bikes were still attempting the next section Darracott. We waited for an hour and 3 cars at a time were let through to attempt the hill. The restart for classes A,B,C,3,4,5,6 & 90 proved very sticky and difficult and caused considerable delays.
 

The marshals worked their socks off picking bikes up off the ground due to the conditions. We were the 10th car on the section now and already 2 cars were waiting to be pulled to the top. Once cleared (no restart for class 7 or 8) we moved on to see the unfortunate Richard Nixon (broken leg) was being made comfortable after falling off his bike on the road section. As he was being looked after we went on to Wargery Wood for a restart and another clear. Cutcliffe Lane proved stony and slippery but cleared. By now the new exhaust system I had fabricated and fitted on Thursday had a massive hole in the silencer and John had resorted to putting Blue Tack in his ears! I don’t know what to say but clearly he won’t hear me. We then had an excursion around the beautiful countryside and about the 4th stop by Class R marshals (route check for the rest as well?) to see if we needed to do their restart! Class R cars used to all be 700 numbers I thought.

Eventually we arrived at Pinch Hill, Bude (arrows off the main road) for Observed Test 3, only to find 3 sections we had already done were cancelled (correct call by Phillip Tucker in his gorgeous TR as no sensible linking alternative route was available) and loads of cars were now in front of us, even the Swiss Chevrolet which had started over 2 hours after us was ahead! The test, which was different to the others, woke everyone up I’m sure. Definitely a more interesting timed observed test, well done the Ruby family. Another splash and dash in Bude before moving on to Crackington for a clear blast up the hill without a restart and on to Wilsey Down Hotel and breakfast stop / time control.

It would be fair to say that at this point I felt it was one of the worst trials I had ever entered (the marshal incident totally buggered it for me) and would quite happily have quit and gone home. Certainly John had been grumbling for the last 2 hours but after a couple of full Cornish Breakfasts, we were feeling a bit more positive and left after an hour to Ruses Mill for the last Observed Test. Once completed we progressed over Bodmin Moor to Water Main Lane with a restart for most competitors and then West to Warleggan and a tricky restart. Further delays now made us nearly 3 hours late and definitely not the first car. A stop high on the restart was good enough to get off up the rough lane and on towards Wadebridge for another new section Eddy’s Branch Line. A tight first muddy bend, up to another tight bend and over a bridge through more sticky stuff to a finish 150m away. A shunt was allowed on the second corner if needed! Longer wheelbase and poor steering lock cars would suffer, but that’s trialling.

Great Grogley, Withielgoose and Trevithick followed with restarts for most classes with few problems. Classes A,B,C,D,6,7&8 all went to Zelah to a steep old clay lane which would be virtually impassable when wet, but today it was dry. On to Perranporth Filling Station for time control and fuel if needed before moving on to Lambriggan again with restarts for most classes. A bit rough but it is a trial and we managed to clear it. Blue Hills1 was looking tricky as usual with a bit of a shine on the slab. We burnt a lot of rubber (@12psi) to clear the section and stopped astride the finish line. Blue Hills 2 had been updated with a double (or was it triple) bend up the lane made with granite.

Tight for long wheelbase and wide cars, it clearly favoured the smaller more agile cars like ours. After clearing the section, we saw many dented front ends of cars that had tried to clear the lower part of the section. Nice to see the winch regularly working at the top though! After spectating for half an hour we left for the finish at Mithian and signed off at the Miners Arms.

The Lands End Trial was certainly ambitiously changed from the previous year’s event. Many new personnel took charge and we must applaud their ‘can do’ attitude. Hopefully most of the issues mentioned will be addressed and corrected because realistically, if this had been a wet year and no sections cancelled, it would have taken much, much longer to complete the trial (provided the last sections would still be open). Please also be aware that if the MCC upset local occupants or land owners, it is the local motor clubs that will lose sections and subsequently suffer the most. The use of

direction markers in the new sections and, or sensitive areas would help, volunteers had offered to do them. I hope the comments at Wilsey Down convey the emotional ups and downs of a trial which some of us go through. A massive THANK YOU to all marshals, land owners, local clubs and organisers for putting the trial together and I look forward to the 100th Lands End next year after further fettling.

Simon Oates.

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Old Git Cycles Scotland for RNIB

Our club treasurer and Comp secretary is bored, so bored he came up with a silly idea which he is now having to see through. He is planning to cycle 400 miles in eight days from Gretna to John O’Groats starting on May 18th. This would be a daunting enough challenge for many young people but as Mike is (not being rude) no longer young and the wrong side of 70 it’s an impressive target. His son Ben will be accompanying him, not literally, he’s booked up a load of golfing along the route that Mike’s cycling in a sort of “with you in spirit” approach.

Mike has been a staunch committee member of our club for more years than he or I care to remember, it would be nice as a thank you for everyone to put their hands in their pockets and support him through his just giving page for what is a very worthy cause.

www.justgiving.com/page/mike-wevill-1681058469541

Future Events

13th May. Northgate Sporting Trial at Ashleigh, Lifton this is an all day event and any offers of marshals will be gladly accepted, please contact Mike Wevill 01566 784451 or email j.wevill@btconnect.com.

27th – 29th June Launceston Steam Rally at Altarnun , we have a presence at the event for all three days if anyone is willing to help out on our stand or wants to bring an interesting vehicle to display please get in touch with Andrew Rippon 07974 390797. All things being well this should gain you free entry.

Testing Trial we currently have two dates in June earmarked, we would like to run it on the 11th although it may be on the 4th it really depends on the landowner and when they cut the grass. The venue will be at Kelly again and as soon as we can confirm the date it will be on out fb page and the website.

June 17th Spry Sporting Trial this will be at Broadwoodwidger, more details to follow in next month’s newsletter.

June 25th Social Run Joe Caudle assisted by Andy Prosser has mapped out a nice 50 mile social run covering a scenic route around East Cornwall and West Devon (with toilet stops) . The start will be in Launceston at around 2.00pm and finishing somewhere suitable for a nice cream tea (jam first) Joe would appreciate it if people wishing to participate could declare their interest by mailing him joecaudlework56@gmail.com

Our next committee meeting is on 1st June at Tresmeer Village Hall, all welcome

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Anyone down West may wish to visit the Truro Classic Car Show at Lemon Quay on July 30th

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It was mentioned at our last committee meeting that our governing body the MSUK are ceasing the print of the “Blue Book” all reg’s & rules will now be available on their website.

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Tailpiece

Things have moved on at a bit of a pace (slow pace) with the Dellow going to it’s new home in mid Cornwall and the new chassis having arrived for the 2cv I feel as if things are moving forward. But alas all is not straight forward, I ordered and received a nice box of go faster goodies for the 2CV and then something hit me. With the bodyshell hanging in the breeze of what has become known as the Giraffe house I had room to park the tractor under it, albeit once having removed the exhaust.

This then gave me a brilliant idea for a class 8 special, with the body lowered I reckon it could be made to fit around the Fergie tractor, this would make an awesome trials machine and I would also gain in having a covered in tractor. As with all ideas they need a bit of thinking through in terms of what are the drawbacks. Obviously I’d need to incorporate a second seat, for the navigator. Problem number 1 is probably the tyres, the latest rules is no more than an 8mm gap between the tread pattern, I’ve got around 80mm. Problem 2 is also tricky, the normal calculated road speed for a classic trial is worked out at about 30mph overall, whereas anything over 8mph in the Fergie is stretching things, I think the closing vehicle would soon be overtaking me resulting in an early retirement. Perhaps I need to think things over before going too far with it.

That’s all for this month folks, thanks to all this month’s contributors, and as always all contributions are gratefully received J.T.

billjan299@gmail.com

For once I’ve got it right, the winds outside are gusting at 50-60 mph and despite there being a hosepipe ban in force the rain is lashing down. Me, I’m sat in a nice warm kitchen, cup of coffee, tin of biscuits and all is good. There’s been a lot going on since the last newsletter, AGM, committee meeting, and the Lanson Trial.

We held our AGM at Tresmeer Village Hall on the 9^th of March, very good turnout (nothing to do with the table of free sandwiches and nibbles , thank you Vivien) and a change around in some of the top jobs on offer :

Chairman, Simon Riddle,             Vice Chair John Turner,
Treasurer, Pam Wevill ably assisted by Mike Wevill,
Secretary, Richard Simpson,        Competition Secretary Mike Wevill,
Membership Secretary, Simon Oates,    ACTC Representative Andrew Rippon,
Awards Officer, Nigel Cowling,       Motorcycle Secretary, Richard Simpson
Newsletter Editor, John Turner.

Our President Robin Moore has now stood down due to health issues and the difficulty of being able to attend events, Warin Kelly has taken over as President therefore no longer acting as Vice president, Pat Gomm has now become vice president. These changes were voted for unanimously.

The position of Safeguarding Officer is still vacant at present but we are hopeful that this vacancy can soon be filled. In addition to the above committee members are : Joe Caudle, Andy Prosser, Lisa Gregory, Lorraine Rippon, Jan Cooper, Darren Ruby, Ashley Ruby, Zac Ruby, Phil Thomas, Pat Gomm, Alan Murton.
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From the Chair

My first ‘chairman’s chat’, I’ll try not to ramble on for too long….so somehow I have ended up in the hot seat. Seriously though, at a previous committee meeting it had been muted to me about the position having served the committee for several years (think I was a teenager, just, when I first joined). I did it give it consideration as other commitments do take over at times and I’m a believer that if you’re going to take something on then you must be prepared to commit. I think our club and committee is in a very strong place at the moment, we have a great blend of youth, the middle and experience with a number of committee members also active competitors. Our membership last year was well over 100 and along with our traditional classics and sporting trials we are providing events which are encouraging the younger generation to compete – vital to the future of our sport. Thanks are due to Joe Caudle our outgoing chairman for his second spell over the past few years and Andy Prosser similarly, as a very efficient secretary, both hugely valued stalwarts of the club and its pleasing that, even though stepping back from official titles they remain on the committee.

We’ve just had the Launceston Trial on Sunday 26^th March, Nigel again being CoC and myself Sec of the meeting. I think by now Nige has covered every yard of those woods on foot! Hands on deck also from Andrew R, Andy P, Simon O and Mike W in the setting up and arrowing and John T on trailer transport.  

55 entries, down a little on the bikes from last year, I think largely due to a clash with a couple of other events taking away some potential entrants. (really good to see 6 outfits back out though). Always tricky to avoid clashing with something. Nonetheless, a very wet spell in the lead up but thankfully a dry (give or take the odd quick shower) day on the Sunday. Challenging ground conditions meant for a generally high scoring day but as a club event the emphasis is on an enjoyable day out with some friendly competition in a relaxed atmosphere. The catering van seemed popular and doing well. Great to see an increasing number of youngsters, so much so we had enough for a very tightly contested junior class in the trial bikes – well done Zak. Well done also to the overall award winners, Steve Kingstone taking the Cycle Bowl for motorcycles, Alan & Patrick Keat the Newman Cup for outfits and Dean Vowden the Fulford Cup for cars. Huge thanks to Nigel, Mr Newman for his continued support in us using the woods, all helpers, entrants and of course the marshals who make it all possible.

The Lands End up next over the Easter weekend, with again a good club representation in the programme both on officiating duties and competing. Simon O and Mr Toad will lead the car field away and I hope the Dutton will be ready to go to follow behind for my first venture back on to the hills for 6 years. 

A little break in our own events now until the Northgate Sporting Trial in May. 
Simon R

The Launceston Trial Pic’s

Tuck Box was popular !

Launceston Trial summary of results.
Fulford Cup:-Dean Vowden, Patrick Warren       Cycle Bowl :- Stephen Kingstone
Newman Cup :- Alan & Patrick Keat
Class awards:- Jon Moores/Jason Procter; Dave Haizelden / Dee Champion;  
Ashley Ruby / Mike Holden;        Rob Holden / Paul Nevitt;    Simon Tilley
Novice Award:-       Samuel Teagle / Roger Teagle;    Jack Tilley
Junior Class Award:-  Zak Ruby.    1^st Class Award:-   Andy Seward

                                                Calendar of Events
20^th April Social Evening  Warin Kelly will be giving a talk with photos on his years in motorsport, from early inspiration from his father at building specials, racing and trialling the various cars he built to all the frustration that goes with it. A nice relaxing evening, Tresmeer Village Hall 7.30pm. Bar open.

27^th April  Committee meeting at Tresmeer Village Hall,  all welcome.

13^th May Northgate sporting Trial at Ashleigh, Lifton come and enjoy watching or even marshal.

Around the clubs

Easter Good Friday/Saturday it’s the MCC Lands End Trial, Mineshop at Crackington is always a favourite with spectators, or if you don’t want to get up too early there’s always Blue Hills, St Agnes.

27^th April Camel Vale MC have their Presidents Trial at Bonyalva Woods, Liskeard. Run on classic trial reg’s
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Simon Oates and Mr Toad have been out and about again.

 Stroud & District Motor Clubs Cotswold Clouds Trial 2023 on 5^th February 2023

Dry conditions and a sharp frost greeted us early in the morning at signing on for the Cotswold Clouds trial. Great organisation and facilities at Fromebridge Mill with breakfast if you wanted plus a first view of the route card for the days trialing. I normally print off a few days before a trial, mark the restarts and any other important details, but these were handed out at signing on. I thought it brilliant to give a bit of history of the sections in the route book – well thought out. We left the start at the allotted time (8.23am) and followed the route card to Crawley OS 1 with a drive up a woodland track with first sun beaming through the trees.

A lovely way to ease into the trial. Crooked Mustard OS 2 followed after a short wait at holding control. Plenty of cars returning to the bottom and past us having failed the hill. The plan was to hit the second corner high, then go across the hill and high on the next corner around the slab and bish, bosh hill conquered. The first bit went to plan but I didn’t get enough speed or get high enough to clear the slab. A little smoke and quickly stopped by a marshal. The car then slewed sideways across the slab on to 3 wheels. Eventually a marshal put some weight on the front passenger mudguard and we manager to do the ‘drive of shame’ back down the hill, 5 points dropped already.

Nice clear instructions of where to go brought us the Nailsworth Ladder OS 3 which had a lower restart for us. The start of the section was a sharp right onto a pretty rough stoney track with a wall on the left before the restart. No problem with a gentle restart but the engine was struggling a little for power and got there eventually. We followed the route past The Bear Hotel and right into holding control where we waited for 30 mins under a hedge shadow that was a bit chilly. Local Ice creams were available in the shop – brrrrr. When it was our time we followed the route to the bottom of Ham Mill OS 4 where we blasted up the lane with a kink in the middle to come out opposite the holding control. Tyres were pumped up and on to Bryan’s OS 5 where there was only a restart for class 8 which only stopped two of them. The hill when wet could be tricky, but today it was lovely with beech leaves covering the ground – quite a picture! Once down the hill we were presented with Rogers Observed Test 1 ably manned by fellow Liege owner Dick Glossop.

A simple timed start on A and stop astride line B made more difficult on a downhill lie and unknown stopping distances for the track! All went OK with a time of 7.78sec and a quick chat with Dick. Along the road to Wicked Juniper OS6 and a restart for us in class 7. Can be very slippery especially when wet but luckily for us the conditions were dry and the restart successful. Merves Swerve OS 7 again can be nasty when wet and tree roots above the class 7 & 8 restart. I planned to stop just over the restart and blast up the roots, all of which worked to get clear to the top. The next section was Climperwell OS 8 where there was a short run up through the trees with a restart for class 8 which claimed no cars. A different story if it had been wet.

We then moved on to Bull Banks OS 9 where a restart waited for everyone. The section looks innocent enough but the restart was very short of grip. Tyre pressures were 15 psi for classes 6, 7 & 8. Luckily we eased the car gently off the line and went on to the top of the hill. We carried along the main roads for a few miles to Station Lane Special Test 2 which was a similar format to the previous one and was completed in 14.85 secs. We carried along the route to Jerrys OS 10 with a restart for 5, 6, 7 & 8 on a higher restart line. Once at the line I tried to feed the power in progressively but only got to the 3 and the tree roots too slippery for me. On reflection I should have gunned it to the top. Then again, that might not have worked. Further along we got to Talbot’s Terror OS 11 with a higher start line which we blasted off to the top and back down to Hyde Bank OS 12 with a restart for 7 & 8. A short section which is easy to forget and didn’t stop a single car. Different if it had been wet though!  Rick’s Revenge OS 13 was a little further along and had a tricky restart for class 8 with a tight corner before the finish. The car climbed well with no problem to the finish.

With conditions dry and firm under foot there was every opportunity for a clean sheet for someone. I managed to drop 8 points and was 2^nd in class 7. If only I’d cleared Crooked Mustard it would have been good enough for a trial win. I bet a few thought the same on the day. Cracking sections, route book, marshals and organising team. Overall a brilliant trial. Hope I’ll be back next year but I guarantee the weather won’t be as kind again.

North Devon Motor Clubs 75^th Anniversary Exmoor Trial 2023 12^th February 2023

The week following the Cotswold Clouds proved to be a painful one for me. The lower back pain that I had been suffering from decided to work its way into the left sciatic nerve causing sleep deprivation, a load of pain and a grumpy Mr Toad pilot. Regardless, I decided that sitting was probably the most comfortable position and it wouldn’t be a safety hazard doing the trial on the Sunday. I picked John Turner up from the side of the road at 6.30 and we trailered the car up to the start at Porte Farm, Kentisbury which was only 90 minutes away on clear roads. Once there we unloaded and signed in through gritted teeth (20yds of walking before the pain kicked in).

Out of the field at 8.41am to the first Porte Farm OS 1 where we were gently broken into the Trial with a slippery open track up the side of the field. All cleared and on further into the field to Porte Farm OS 2 which was steeper, more slippery and a restart which overall caused no problems. On leaving the section we waited for the next section to clear before crossing it and watched Keelan Hancock and Stacey Skelton attack the restart of section 3 with determination in their class 8 VW Renegade which as the marshal said, ”that proves it can be done”. We followed the last of the class 8 cars on to Porte Farm OS3 which was again slippery to the restart. I failed to get off the restart by not easing off the line which resulted in too much wheelspin and no forward motion! Phil Thomas and ‘Father’ made it all look too easy in their Melos and didn’t miss a beat. Once the tyres were pumped up, we turned left on to the main road and followed instructions to Loxhore Cott OS 4 which is a bridleway. Tyre pressures adjusted before the start and off up the sunken track on the side of a field which proved to be rutted and rough.

Once completed we continued on to Beccotts Lane OS 7 where most cars were a little confused with the route card instructions to get there. The marshals also were surprised to see the cars on the section, but that is what the card said. Further confusion about where Snapper OS 5 was and if we had to go back to do it (no we didn’t). Following route card again we moved on to Stoodleigh Stream OS 8 in the felled woods and failed the restart by dropping back over the line while pulling the hydraulic handbrake on. I’ll try not to do it again! Further along the track was Corner Climb OS 9 which proved to be straight forward, or did I touch a marker? (No, it was OK) There was a short wait before attempting Stoodleigh Steep OS 11 with a lower restart for classes 5, 6 & 7. We got the restart no problem, set off and the engine wouldn’t pull strongly away even with dipping and riding the clutch. Only managed a 4 and moved on to the next hill depressedL after watching Phil Thomas clear it with ease. He did say he was slipping the clutch on all of the hill above the restart. Clockhay Climb OS 12 was a good slippery undulating climb to the top with only 3 cars failing to complete. Back out of the woods and following the route card to Rogers Garage in South Molton for fuel and a ½ hour break before continuing to Holdridge Hell OS 13.

A few cars had now passed us (presumably not taken break?) and we waited for our turn with a higher restart for classes 3 – 7. It turned out to be to be a successful restart and cleared the hill. On to Holdridge Hill OS 14 which was a left turn up into the woods. The cars in front were struggling to get very high so expectations were low. We just put our foot to the floor and dropped the clutch with amazing results with the front wheel clearly going through the 4 but by the time the marshal had climbed the hill, we had slid back down the hill and given a 4 and not a 3. With my poor performance so far, it wouldn’t make much of a difference to my trial anyway. Back to the tarred roads again and on to a queue of cars waiting to tackle High Bray OS 15. I got out of the car for a bit of a stretch and quickly discovered how quick the pain stopped me in my tracks. Funny how it’s fine while in the car. When we finally got to the marshal at the bottom of the hill we mentioned the restart and were told there were 2 (not in the instructions) and we were on the lower one. We let a couple of failed cars past and set of up the hill. I was concentrating on the route to take and John suddenly shouted ‘Stop’. I pulled the anchors on with the car at a jaunty angle astride the restart line. Not an ideal start position but I had completely missed the restart markers, thank you John Turner for being awake!! We somehow managed to get off the line and scrabbled to the top with me still in a shocked state of mind. We later saw Philip Francis and he must have been in the same frame of mind as me except he completely missed the restart which cost him 10 points. Gutting for him as he had driven like a star and only dropped 3 points before the section which would have been enough to win the Trial overall.

On to Bentwitchen Observed Test 1 with front wheels on the start line to all wheels through line B, reverse back with all wheels through line B and astride line C, all done in 18.72 secs. We now made our way north to Floyds Bank OS 16 where tyre pressure limits were applied. We followed the right-hand track through the gorse and back up on to the road again. The section caught a few cars out. Then further up the road Cross Lane OS18 was to the left. Tyres let down again and cruised up to the top without issues. The last section was the renowned Beggars Roost OS19 which had a restart for all cars which only managed to stop 1 car. All section now completed and off to the Old Station House Inn at Blackmoor Gate to sign off and see the end of the first half of a below average England v Italy in the 6 nations. We somehow managed 2^nd in class 7 which I still can’t believe. Another stonking overall win by Jack Selwood and Abbie Jeffery in their class 8 DP Ford special. Phil Thomas still managed a class 7 win and Karen Warren and Emma Wall Beetled to a win in class 6. David Hazelden again won class 5.

In summary, we had wonderful weather, relatively dry conditions, cracking views, brilliant marshals, superb sections but the only slight problem was the route card which was sometimes obscure and written in an unusual way compared to others! Once you got your head around its peculiarities, it was fine!

A brilliant effort by the organising team – keep up the great work, thank you so much.
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Tailpiece

Work on the various projects have been a little slow, a shoulder injury hampered my work speed, and the much anticipated new chassis for the 2CV has yet to arrive, I’ve seen photos of it and it looks great, but until it actually arrives in my yard there’s not much more I can do, although to be fair I have a list of other jobs to keep me busy along with a somewhat life changing situation.

Informal notice : Some of our close friends are aware but others of you may not be, eight days ago Vivien and I had a bit of a surprise, we became Euro Millions lottery winners. As you can imagine this was more than a bit of a shock, for three days we kept looking at each other almost in disbelief, is it really true, can this be happening ?                                       

The answer was yes and believe me it really is life changing, in order for us to come to terms with it we have decided to take a three week cruise, something we have never even anticipated before, holidays for us were always a few days away in the campervan. The time away will give us the space we need to focus on what has happened and how we re-evaluate things, one thing is for sure I will not be turning my back on the club, at the AGM I said I would continue in my positions as held then (albeit at that point I knew nothing of the win).

For now, It’s Bon voyage and see you in a month.                                                                        

 J.T.         Please keep the contributions coming   billjan299@gmail.com

Spring will soon be here, the evenings are already lengthening, thank goodness, bulbs are coming up in the garden, but don’t leave the winter woollies in the drawer just yet, February and March can be very chilly.

Early January saw Richard Simpson and myself beetling off (no not actually in a Beetle) at around 5.00am to sign on for marshalling at Fingle Bridge for the  MCCExeter Trial, the rain was almost impressive which was a good reason to leave the Dellow at home and use the modern.

 A peculiar sight to behold at Fingle, lots of bods mingling around in the dark with torches trying to keep dry whilst we are waiting to be assigned our duties, I ended up on traffic control whilst Richard was getting people to form an orderly queue for the hill, this suited both of us as it gives you a chance to talk to competitors and spectators. There was extra entertainment at daybreak , basically watching the river level slowly rise and hoping it wouldn’t breach its banks and flood the pub. We heard that Tillerton Steep had already been cancelled due to a deep flood at the foot of the section, apparently the MCC had failed to provide the marshals with snorkels. 

Several of our club members appeared through the half light, Simon Oates and Simon Riddle, cheery as ever, probably because they had the hood up and were mostly dry, on their way to a Gold and a Triple.  Ray Goodright also on his way to a Tin award had moved from class R to class O in the very well turned out Arkley Midget with paintwork gleaming. I had to admire the attitude of the bikers who had ridden through some pretty awful weather during the night but on arrival at section were still cheery despite a few of them having trouble with water in the electrics, apparently it’s not considered a good mix. As can be seen from the accompanying photos there was the usual eclectic mix of cars, I think Richard had intended to take some pictures of the bikes but in the dark and during the deluge photography tends to take a bit of a back seat.

Above – This one driven by Liam James was one of two Dellows out, although Mike Leete claimed to be in a MK7 Dellow but I reckon it looked more like a beetle.

Below – Messrs Oates and Riddle (Sans roof) setting off for the hill, I do hope he looks where he’s going or is the Liege on auto pilot?

Above is the 650CC Citroen and the bottom picture shows the A 3300CC Model A Ford , with a somewhat well loaded Morris Minor somewhere in between, motorsport diversity at its best.

The river in full spate made interesting watching, must have been very concerning for the Pub owners although when we went in later for coffee, they seemed very relaxed about it.

Think I’ll cancel the picnic

BTRDA SPORTING TRIAL GOLD & SILVER STAR FINAL 2022

“Who knows where the time goes”, I certainly do not know. Another 12 months have flown by and yet again we are at Gold Star final time. Preparation was basically a hose down, set of plugs & top up with anti- freeze.
The entry consisted of 35 English drivers with 4 from Northern Ireland. Nigel Cowling and myself left home at 6.00 am at -5 degrees, kitted out in thermals plus many layers to travel to Frocester near Stroud, we arrived early so got scrutineered and fortified with a bacon & egg bap.

Clerk of Course, David Webster from Northern Ireland had done a super job at laying out safe sections given the conditions. The site is North West facing & did not get any sun all day with the result sections were frozen hard as the temperature stayed at zero throughout. Clearly grip was at a premium, in theory a fast trickle in first gear was required?

We were told to use 4 psi  we set off to tackle 3 rounds of 9 hills. At lunch time after 2 rounds Thomas Bricknell led by 4 points from Richard Sharp with Bob Packham in a live axle Kincraft just 1 further point adrift. In the Silver Class Matt Sharp in a live axle Sherpa was just 4 points in front of Jason Daniel. Alan Murton & myself were battling away further down the field in our own private little dice separated by only 1 point.

After the lunch stop tyre pressures were dropped to 2 pounds and thick fog descended.  Thomas drove a superb final round dropping only 4 points(67 in total) to stretch his lead  and win the Gold Star beating Richard Sharp (2nd ) with Bob Packham ( 3rd ).

In the Silver Star Matt Sharp consolidated his lead as Jason Daniel dropped away but finished second with John Cole taking 3rd place. Alan & I found more grip on 2 psi & continued our battle. Alan held his concentration better and I got lost in the fog with the result that he beat me by 9 points and 3 places. On the last section there were strange noises coming from Alan’s engine and he fortunately switched off before really serious damage was done. On stripping the engine on Monday he discovered that he had run a big end with some crank damage. I understand replacements have hopefully been sourced.

We were finished and loaded by 3.00 pm and nearly home by dark.

A most enjoyable Trial with the car not missing a beat (always a bonus) and I hope to be back next year.

A very well organised event, many thanks to the BTRDA officials & especially the good turnout of experienced Marshalls.

Last but not least many thanks to my passenger Nigel Cowling but even his clear prompts (or perhaps another phrase more appropriate) did not stop me messing up in the fog.

Full results & photos & videos on BTRDA facebook page-
hllps://en-gb.facebook.com
Mike Wevill

Forthcoming Events

Thursday 16^th February, committee meeting at Tresmeer Village Hall 7.30pm.

Friday 3^rd March Annual Club Awards evening at Trethorne Leisure Centre, tickets are £20 for adults, children under 12 £10 (subsidised by the club). Please book your tickets with Lisa Gregory or contact any committee member.

Thursday 9^th March Annual General Meeting at Tresmeer Village Hall 7.30pm, come and have your say in the running of the club. There are two positions that will become vacant , that of Chair and also Secretary, both these positions are important to the general running of the club so please give it some consideration.

Sunday March 26^th Launceston Trial for the Fulford Cup. Once again nifty Nigel and the team will be putting on this event at Lew Woods by kind permission of Mr P Newman. This event is a single venue event but run as per classic trial regulations, includes cars and motorcycles.

Product Review
LNCMC Draper
Good under pressure
By Richard Simpson

A relatively cheap, robust, and easily-portable powered tyre-inflator would go down well with a lot of trials competitors, whether on two or four wheels. After I’d wrecked a comparatively expensive German foot pump trying to seat a 4.00 x 18Pirelli trials tyre (100 psi got it on the rim, left it for a couple of days, let it down to a sensible pressure and the bead promptly hopped off the rim again),   I was prepared to try a mechanised solution. I stumbled upon the Draper 12 Cordless Air Compressor 20582 that looked like it might be man enough to work in the garage, and light and portable enough to be practical on the course/road. It can inflate tyres to up to 150 psi via a 15 cm flexible hose, and incorporates various power sources and lighting systems. There’s an LCD pressure gauge reading in PSI, KPa and bar, and a needle nozzle, and air-bed nozzle, besides the Schrader valve for car and motorcycle tyres. But there’s no Woods connector for narrow cycle valves. You can program it to shut off when it reaches a pre-determined pressure So, readers, I bought one!

It’s of pistol-grip design with an array of LED lamps in what would be the front of the trigger guard if was a gun. It comes with an Li-Ion battery and mains charger, plus an adaptor and power lead for a 12 v car lighter socket. The idea is that you use the battery in the workshop and the car lead (with the engine running because it draws a lot of power) on the road. Apparently, the Li-Ion battery can be a fire-hazard in the car, which may give anyone considering buying an electric car (which is basically made from Li-Ion batteries) pause forthought. In use, it does pretty much what is asked of it, although the casing feels a bit more flimsy than it looks. Be warned: the battery will work at full power until it is discharged…the machine just stops rather than running down gradually. It’s also perhaps just a little too bulky to carry on a motorcycle: it only just fits into the supplied ‘handy’ storage bag. And that’s the downside dealt with.

Upside is it successfully generated sufficient power to seat that trials tyre properly, and when I got another bike with a Tubliss set up (small high-pressure innertube securing a tubless tyre on a tubed rim) it coped with that too!

The LED lighting system is also, literally, a brilliant companion in the workshop. It could also be very useful in emergency situations…it switches from white to flashing red lights and the red flashing lights can be switched to signal SOS in Morse Code …—… Does anyone even know what Morse Code is these days?

Price is around £50 – £60. I’ve seen them in Maunders and Machine Mart but got mine online from Demon Tweaks https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/draper-12v-cordless-air-compressor-dra20582/

More from Richard Simpson
Triumph Motorcycles

LNCMC Triumph

At some point in the next year or so Triumph Motorcycles is going to launch a full-on range of motocross and enduro bikes.

Meanwhile, in rural Dorset, former Haynes four-stroke winner, engineer and farmer Martin Perrett is keeping the marque’s name alive in Twin-Shock and Evo racing.

The story begins back in the late 1970s, when Martin and his brother built a bike dubbed the Perrett Protoype, which featured a unit Triumph 500cc twin with a Webber carb in a home-built chassis, using a Manx Norton forkleg as a monoshock rear suspension unit. The bike was actually raced in the Haynes series and ACU meetings by much-loved local Roscoe Shepherd: notable at the time for being probably the top (if not the only) black motocross racer in southern England, until a bad crash sadly ended his career.

Martin is still building Triumph-based motocross bikes, and his latest creations were in Action at the Farleigh Castle Veterans MotoCross last Summer.

Built on KTM chassis and gearboxes, the Triumph engines are turned around to line up the primary drives with the KTM clutches, meaning the exhausts point backwards! Two chassis are used: one a twin-shock and the other an evo (single shock rear end).

Tailpiece

As you can see from the above January has actually been busy one way or another, it’s been a bit like it with me, whilst the Dellow is quietly sleeping under its dust sheet in the garage and hopefully one day finding a new owner I have been beavering away at the 2cv, AKA Mona the Vampire attacking the rust with grinder and welder. It never ceases to amaze me the availability of parts available for the classic vehicle market, both 2 & 4 wheeled variety. With the Citroen I firstly replaced the complete rear panel that houses the back lights etc, next was the front vent and lower half of the windscreen frame, and now the lower bulkhead to floor panel. The body as can be seen from the photo below removed/detached from the chassis, the latter of which is to be replaced with a new galvanised one with sump and fuel tank guard.

Once this is done I shall be putting more thoughts to the engine, again various options available including a conversion kit for a 900 cc BMW motorcycle unit which would be fun although I suspect it might not go down too well with some scrutineers as for class 1 eligibility, or maybe yet another supercharger implant? Decisions, decisions.

The scissor lift unit really makes life much easier on tasks such as these leaving the body dangling in the air.

All for this month but keep the contributions coming  J.T.
billjan299@gmail.com

Monthly Newsletter December 2022

So, it’s that month of the year when we are encouraged by the advertising establishments to dig deep into our pockets  and buy our nearest and dearest all sorts of finery {or tools} when to be honest many people have got so much “stuff” you wonder how they are going to find room for more. It’s ok I’m not preaching to you the club have regalia available in a very fetching Maroon and Gold to reduce the load on your bank balance, alternatively you can read further into the newsletter of a couple more ideas to fill that yuletide stocking assuming it is still trendy to hang it at the foot of the bed or somewhere similarly useful.

I have a confession to make, many of you will have noticed there was no “motor”vational (did you see what I did there?)  chat from our chairman last month, this was due to the high level of technology employed in the production of this publication, or to put it another way I lost it in the juggling of the pages.

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Chairmans Chat

The Pete Cooper Memorial Tamar Trial was a fitting way to remember our former Chairman and for many years Clerk of Course of Course for the Tamar Trial. This year it was ably organised by Nigel Cowling, Simon Riddle and their team. Special mention and thanks must be given to Bob Slatter who for many years has been the Secretary of the Meeting. He has worked tirelessly, mostly behind the scenes, to enable this Classic Reliability Trial to run smoothly.

This year the weather was on our side and officials, marshals and competitors could enjoy a fine autumn day. As I am no longer able to compete my own involvement started early as Sean Lehni arrived at my house and we set off to run the first section, a special test, at Tresallack. This was new territory and the requirements for a successful clean and time were a challenge to many of the entry. Perhaps it was too early in the morning for some? There was some confusion regarding the restart with some missing it out, the bogey time was often ignored as was stopping astride line B. It kept Sean and I entertained and produced a variety of scores.

After a drive through the track, we continued on to officiate at Scarsick special test. However on arrival we were met by the farmer who was unhappy that he had not been informed that the event was coming through . As he had a contractor regularly going up and down the lane all day and had arranged to move 100 cattle along it for TB testing, I had no option but to cancel the section. Thank fully I had time to return to Tresmeer village hall lunch stop to make alternative route arrangements. With the help of the time control officials and the opening vehicle the competitors were informed and an alternative route deviation was put in place.

Later that evening your newsletter editor, who had carried out the PR for Scarsick returned to the farm and discovered that the member of the family who had received the details of the event had not passed them on to the farmer. All has ended amicably and in future the use of this section that has formed part of the Tamar Trial for many years and is also used by the MCC Lands End Trial is now secure.

I hope all competitors, officials and marshals enjoyed the day and congratulations to all who completed the course and won awards. Commiserations to those not so fortunate.

Don’t forget to support the club by purchasing merchandise, caps, polo shorts and sweatshirts are available – no doubt details will be available elsewhere in the newsletter.

Yours in motorsport
Joe Caudle
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Forthcoming Events

Ron Beer Sporting Trial

The above event will once again take place at Ashleigh, Lifton,  on Sunday 11^th of December. This is a round of the ASWMC championship, if you are not planning to compete then we would love to hear from anyone who is available to marshal, please contact Mike Wevill on 01566 784451.  Anyone wishing to compete the regs and entry forms are available on the website, for those who are not wishing to use the online system there is the good old paper version available.

Camel Classic Road Trial.  Camel Vale MC have their full road trial happening on the 4^th of December, for those not competing why not marshal, you’ll love it, details and who to contact on the CV website.

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At our recent committee meeting along with all the usual things discussed was the topic of next year’s AGM, and it appears a couple of committee vacancies are due to appear. The Chairman’s position will become vacant   Joe has decided it is time to stand down and let someone younger take the reins,  (thankfully that rules JT out), it’s certainly not the first time Joe has been “chair” so a rest from it is overdue. The next position becoming vacant is Club Secretary, since taking this job on Andy Prosser has done a great job in keeping us all informed as to what is happening and keeping a good record of the committee meetings etc, he has a lot of future commitments which are going to take up more of his time, not to mention the fact that the motorhome he bought a couple of years ago is more than a little under used and he really wants to make more use of it.

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Mr Toad and the Tamar Trial by Simon Oates

Tamar Trial 2022

The Tamar Trial took place this year on Sunday 16th October in memory of Motorsports sadly missed and great friend Pete Cooper. His presence, contributions and character were fondly remembered throughout the trial also with his wife Jan, waving the cars and bikes off from the start.

The weather gods seemed to be with us with clear blue skies and rain forecast from 16.00 later in the day. Earlier when I fed the dog, his bowl that had been outside overnight, told the story of a wet one, maybe 5-6mm, could be an interesting day. The Liege (class 7) had performed well the previous weekend on the Edinburgh trial and today I picked up Paul as my bouncer/navigator for his first taste of Classic Trialling at club level. Food and refreshments were available in Proper Ansome Café for those who needed extra ballast. With scrutineering and signing on done and pre ordering lunch at Tresmeer and Hog Roast at the finish, we were waved away by Jan, on towards Special Test 1 at Tresallack. A simple start on line A, do a restart on R line and astride line B in 25 seconds with 1 second penalty per second each side of target time. 27 seconds and a 2 second penalty wasn’t the best start – trying to over think it??

We moved on to Horse Bridge and a new venue with sections called Starsky (2) & Hutch (3). The words slippery and bumpy spring to mind weaving in between trees. Rear number plate was ripped off and gaffer taped back twice for the remaining sections. A promising new venue for the future which will improve as we explore the site and fine tune access and sections etc.

Barrett’s Mill (4) near Harrowbarrow is a steep slippery stoney lane with a tricky restart on the corner with a nice hole to catch the wheels in. None of this was helped with tyre pressure limits (16psi for class 7) that were checked at the start. Marshals at the ready and up we went and then on toward Danescombe(5) which is a similarly slippery lane and a restart for all classes.

Tanks Terror(6) saw the cars for the first time catching the bikes up. Notoriously difficult to get through. Class 8 and bikes had a slightly different route into a steeply banked field to the rest of the field with 3 class 8’s getting clears. By now we were the first class 7 car as Jon and Calvin Moores MG J2 had decided to expire. Our route was a little easier but the steep bank was the same. Numbers to the right and as much room on the left as you needed (I found out after finishing the section).

On towards Lewtrenchard and Lew Wood1 (7) and Lew Wood2 (8) where the Launceston Trial will be held on 26th March 2023. Two section in the woods with a deviation for bikes and a restart for class 8 on section 8. After the second section was completed there was a massive spine knocking bang to the car on the exit route which luckily didn’t break anything. Back to the main road and 3 miles on we arrived at Lee Quarry (9) and a few queuing class 8 cars. The section cut off a steep track in two different gaps for different classes.

We were with class 8 on the lower route and a lower restart line which was again cleared. Back to the main road and shortly on to Angel Steps (10) or as some of us now say “no steps”! Some trees have recently been cleared from the hill and one consequence was part of the slate slab has been flattened. Shouldn’t be a problem then should it? Oh yes, tyre pressure limits enforced again. Luckily ours were reduced from 18 to 15psi on the day. as we waited for the bikes to finish and the first class 8’s to conquer the hill, all we could hear was the roaring engines and burning tyres. All I remember about the hill was an interesting restart and smoke so thick I hadn’t a clue what was in front or where we were except we were going forward to eventually top the hill. We waited for Philip and Francis Thomas at the top to reminisce about the food and drinks we used to have in the church hall at Marychurch – great memories.

The bikes had an extra section at Hart’s Lane (11a) and then on to Park Impossible (11) which I have never got all the way up before. Phil and Francis changed their tyres (burnt off on Angel Steps?) and we made our way to the start and a 10 psi tyre pressure. I managed to stop in a hole on the restart and we bounced, wiggled and almost had to get the defibrillator out to keep us going, but we got up the first part only to nearly stop at the 2 on the corner further up, never give up too early is the lesson if you can remember it. Off to lunch at Tresmeer Village Hall, a pasty plus R & R.

We were running about 1hr 30mins behind schedule as we left Tresmeer on to New Langleys (12) after a second special test was cancelled. We had the longest wait so far as the final bikes completed the section and the class 8s started the challenge with 11 failing on the restart. This restart hasn’t been cleared for 6 years and has been moved down a few feet to improve chances. The last car, Josh Moss in his Cannon set off and had a cracking climb and cleared the section easily?? My go and a slightly lower restart for class 7. Up to the restart and the engine just didn’t want to pull, so my first fail. Had I let the tyres down too low or is it that intermittent engine fault showing its head again? That cost me 4 points and second overall. Up through the fields and farmyard to Trevilla (13) which is through an old overgrown quarry and trees with tight corners followed by steep climbs. The engine pulled well and cleared it all.

Back on the roads passing High Cliff (735ft high with dramatic formations) to truly impressive views including Lundy in the sea mist and on through Crackington Haven towards Crackington (14) known for its ‘interesting’ muddy qualities on the Lands End Trial. Most vehicles had restarts (and bikes a deviation) with 14psi limits for ourselves. Once completed successfully, we moved on to Trehole Farm with rain threatening not far behind.

Trehole1(15) proved narrow, steep and slippery with class 8 cars having a restart. Only Jack Selwood managed to clear the section with Josh Moss catching a pole. All other classes had a straight run at it but had to navigate around the restart boards. We failed to clear and had a 4. Trehole2 (16) was quite long with a muddy early climb going down through a gate on to a tight quarry incline followed by a tight right turn. This was only cleared by Aaron Haizelden in classes 7 & 8, the following lower classes?? managed 4 clears – who’s the daddy now then? Finally, 2hrs 15mins late we departed to the Frog & Bucket, South Petherwin for a well-earned pint and Hog Roast.

Tristan Barnicoat riding his Honda XR200R was the only bike from 42 entries to go clear on all sections and won the Dunheved Cup. Only one person on bikes managed the special test in the allotted 25 second time which was Andy Beveridge on his step through scooter.

The overall Tamar Trophy was won by Keith Sanders in his Reliant Scimitar with only 4 points dropped. Josh Moss and Aaron Haizelden both had 8 points with Josh coming second because of a smaller capacity engine. Overall there was a great mix of sections that proved challenging to all competitors. The route was clearly marked throughout and accurate route instructions provided. Every year it is kept fresh with old hills rested and new ones invested in. A brilliant tribute to Pete Cooper and testament to his important influence throughout Southwest’s Motorsport. A big THANK YOU to all competitors,
Marshals and organisers.

Above is Norton Selwood in his Liege
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Camel Vale Presidents Trial 2022 ( Mr Toad turns Turtle)
Next outing was the Presidents on Sunday 6^th November. The weather promised to be showery with a lot of rain the preceding day. I decided to drive to Gunnislake to pick up Simon Riddle for his first trip in a Liege. Roof up to the trial with torrential rain going past Duchy College and not much better until just past Castle Motors near Liskeard where the Trial started.

The trial is similar to our own Launceston Trial being set in woodland as a single venue event. The turnout was 18 cars with classes 1 & 3 amalgamated along with 6 & 7 due to low numbers entered in the classes. Signing on and scrutineering completed, we entered the woods to the first 2 sections which had to be completed before moving to section 3.

Windlake View(1) was first attempted by Andrew Dams in his now more modified Peugeot 106. Unfortunately, the ground was fresh and he only got an 11 (a long trip from Lincoln) but plenty more to try throughout the day. Eight more cars followed with no score better than an 8 and then Andrew Rippon in his very competitive Beetle flew up to a 6 followed by another 6 on the next section Colvase Top(2). We followed his efforts with a 4 on the first section (only Charlie Merson cleared the section) and a clear on the second hill. What a start, great bouncing by Simon Riddle and a bit of luck! Three of the class 8 cars also cleared the section. Bonyalva Corner(3) was the next hill and as we approached it we could see and hear section 4 to our right with James Vivian in his BMW 318 compact firing up the hill. BANG! Drive shaft broken and out of the trial. When we arrived at the section queue, we had lost two beetles that should have been in front (took wrong route). Once they arrived, we let them through with Andrew R powering to a 4 on the hill.

We managed no better than a 5 and the hill was only cleared by Charlie Merson again in his class 8 Ford Special. Unfortunately Roger Teagle broke their Class 8 car on the section and went for an early bath. On to Beast of Bonyalva(4) where the BMW had now been cleared from the section. We had a quick walk (allowed to no 6) to plan where we wanted to go on the hill and watched a few cars to the 8 & 9 markers. Andrew R went in front of us and scrabbled up to a 5 and then after a lot of back and forward, made a new exit through the undergrowth and on to the next section. Well, we had to do better than that and kept as high on a traverse as we dared and managed a 4. The next problem was getting out especially as I managed to get stuck at the front in a tree.

Once out we positioned ourselves to watch Phil Thomas in his Dutton Melos. Off he went and another BANG with the rear half shaft snapped and another retirement. He followed the marshal / competitor assisted route down the hill that the BMW took. On to Main Road Top(5) which looked like a simple woodland lane with a restart half way up the hill. We got to the restart but failed to progress any further. As it turned out Dan Keat in his Fugitive was the only one with a restart to conquer the hill, it looked so simple. On the way reversing down I somehow managed to lose control turning into the left bank and turned the Liege over jettisoning Simon R out with me remaining in the car landing on my shoulder, roll bar and front screen. It all happens so quickly and we’re still a bit shocked and so, so lucky with no serious injuries. Marshals and following class 8 competitors were quickly on the scene and did a cracking job. First point was to check Simon R was OK.

He’d managed to graze his head through his club beanie hat and a few cuts to his hand. I’m sure he must have cat like reflexes and a lot of luck. After a few minutes we turned the car on to its wheels, started it up, reversed further down the hill and drove straight up the section to the next one. With all three bodies battered we entered Seaton Rise(6) and drove straight to the top to promptly get ourselves lost in the woods (maybe it was delayed shock). Once we eventually found our way to the next section Love you one time(7) we were behind the class 8 car of Charlie Merson. Off he went up the hill to the 3 marker I think. As he was reversing down his hydraulic brakes failed and he luckily stopped sideways half off the section.

With a rope and six of us we managed to get him down and also homeward for another early bath. Jack Selwood also had a car failure to join the 8 retirees out of 18 entries!! Love you one time was cancelled for class 8. The final retirement was Andrew Dams in his Peugeot 106 on Classic Camel(10) but I’m sure we’ll all be back for more. I guess that technically we didn’t break down, we just decided we’d pushed our luck far enough for one day. Of the 10 cars that finished, Simon Groves had a class win in his Troll with 63 points, closely followed by Ross Hancock in his Buggy on 64 points. Overall winner of the Presidents Cup 2022 after indexes were applied went to Andrew & LorraineRippon in their Beetle with 69 points. It was a long cold wet drive home in the rain, praying that there wasn’t a police car waiting en route.

A big THANK YOU to Camel Vale Motor Club, its organisers, Marshals and land owner for all your time and effort to put on such an interesting and testing trial, carry on the great work.

Do not make the mistakes I made when reversing down a section
1 All sections have the potential to hurt you – never underestimate the hazards
2 If you fail a section, listen to and follow the Marshal instructions to the letter
3 Apply the handbrake a few notches (enough to just hold the car) and reverse down the hill with the footbrake off.
4 If you have a hydraulic handbrake, make sure you use it
5 Alternatively, switch the engine off and put the car in 1^st, 2^nd or 3rd gear with the clutch out allowing the engine compression to gently brake the car back to the bottom of the hill.
6 Please, please don’t get in to bad habits.
Simon Oates
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Just seen the results of the Allen Trial as held by Bristol Motor Club
Committee members who travelled up from Cornwall made it a very worthwhile trip.
Allen Trophy went to Phil Thomas , Ford Escort.
Rootes Trophy went to that man again , Simon Oates, Liege.
2^nd in Class award Andrew Rippon, VW Beetle.

Also noted a Dellow driven by Andrew Isherwood won the Dacy Trophy (Heritage)

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Andy Prosser is thinking of going to the Autosport Show  at the NEC, the show is on from the12th to the 15^th of January, if you are MSUK licence holder you can get access to the show on the 12^th which is a slightly quieter day, if enough people are interested in attending Andy is prepared to hire a minibus, contact Andy at  probilt2005@yahoo.co.uk  could be a very interesting show.

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Below Richard Simpson gives us an idea for that stocking filler at Christmas or is it “Glove at first sight”?

Like most trail/trials motorcyclists, I struggle to find suitable gloves.

Motocross gloves are the obvious choice, but frankly, they are overpriced and most seem to offer little protection other than to the tops of the fingers…the falls I have had onto tarmac or rock while wearing them have shown them to be pretty flimsy.

On the other hand, the protective quality of road motorcycling gloves has improved considerably over the years: they now have to pass relevant CE tests against impact and abrasion.

But they can be hot and clumsy when you ride off-road. I’ve found an excellent compromise…and they were in a bargain bin at B &Q!

Ladies and gentlemen…I present the Mechanix Wear M-Pact glove. From the name, you might think it was designed for changing oil etc, but it’s really not. It provides good hand protection in a variety of hazardous environments, such as tyre fitting, without being excessively hot or clumsy. Washable in cold water too. The gloves are certified to provide protection against abrasion, impact and vibration, and they appear to do this very well in use. Even the wrist strap incorporates protective padding.

All-day comfortable on the bike, and also for operating power tools etc.

I don’t know if you can still get them in B&Q, but they are available on-line at
https://www.mechanix.com/gb-en/mechanics-automotive-gloves/  

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Here’s your second stocking filler option a couple of books.

Rice & Dirt is basically a travel story, get over the fact that it is accomplished on a Vespa scooter with 10” wheels, it’s a journey of epic proportions. The start of the Journey is at the top end of Africa, the goal is the bottom end, en route there is just about everything, border corruption, frustration, attacks from vigilantes, wild animals, even the offer of a bride. Read it and you will look at scooters in a new light. (Even if it is a bloody Vespa)

Frank & Stan’s bucket list There comes a time in everyone’s life when they say “I wish I’d” !!!! This is a story of just that but they actually go and do it, to the point of getting deeper into it than intended, some parts are poignant, others are hilarious, if you want to sit back and read a book that will make you laugh out loud and annoy everyone else in the room then this is the book for you.

My third offering of a stocking filler is a little more expensive, although it has a lot more joys to behold.

Reluctant Sale

Dellow Mk2b , Fitted with rebuilt 100E engine and Shorrock Supercharger, electronic ignition, low ratio Ford 8 gearbox, fully rebuilt back axle with uprated half shafts. Ready to trial, complete with number holders and electric tyre pump, even a Dellow umbrella. £15,750 to include a quantity of spares.

Contact the editor billjan299@gmail.com  or on 07971 249783

That’s just about it for this month apart from my tale of woe. I went in to our local garage to fill up as I was registering empty on the gauge, having filled I went in to pay I was horrified when the lady on the till said that’s £115 , I marched out and drove off without paying, needless to say I soon had a knock at the door from you know who. Before I knew it I was in court and fined £75 , result !!  Watch this page next month for more money saving tips. 😊

Don’t forget to keep them contributions coming     billjan299@gmail.com