So we are now officially into the second half of the year and in terms of motorsport what an improvement over the last two years, last month was a particularly busy month, our own club was involved in running three events and many members were also busy doing their bit for the Jubilee celebrations so in all a busy time.
Chairmans Chat
I hope all our members are having a good summer, although today feels more like autumn. The recent Spry Trophy Trial took place at a new venue at Broadwoodwidger, thanks to Alan Murton for facilitating this new venue.
Last weekend many of us were involved in the MCC Dick Peachey 120th Anniversary 3 Day Trial. Many were officiating and marshalling on local hills and all seems to have gone smoothly.
Your Chairman was Chief Official at the lunch halt and time control at Race Hill car park in Launceston. Thanks to the support of the Town Council employees and an excellent team supporting me all went well. There were a lot of spectators to see the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Crier giving the competitors a good send off. Our club literally flew the flags and it was another opportunity to publicise our existence. I enjoyed meeting many old friends old and making new acquaintances.
Many spectators were also present to see the sights of a wide variety of vintage and modern motorcycles and cars both at the car park and as they passed through Launceston. Local cafes and purveyors of refreshments did good business throughout the afternoon so the local economy benefited.
It did feel slightly incongruous to see a classic reliability trial taking place in the middle of the summer. However those competitors I spoke to were enjoying the event. I think that Clerk of Course Dave Middleditch and the MCC are pleased with this innovation.I
Now we look forward to the Motor Traders Car Trial and the second Testing Trial of the summer. Both are enjoyable and sociable occasions and I look forward to seeing you there. Watch this space as it is hoped to have more news about a social event later this summer.
Joe Caudle
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The “Dreckly” Testing Trial As Nigel named it.
Smithson farm at Kelly proved a superb venue for this event, it’s all very low key and laid back with the emphasis on enjoyment. Once again there was a very good Junior entry with a varying age range and great to see kids being allowed to give it all they’ve got on the field, all helps to improve the riding skills.
In the adult (old folks) class the entry was quite diverse from the usual trials machines, to the Step Through squad, to Pete Turner on his recently acquired Greeves Trials bike. The cars also were at their most competitive, particularly with Kath Shute and daughter Emily competing with each other in the little hatchback. Calvin Moore was doing his best to scare his passenger/mother in the J2 MG, it’s ok though as he’s since passed his test, congratulations Calvin.
On the section that I was marshalling I was the start marshal, a little lad pulled up beside me on his bike with his dad keeping an eye on him, I explained to the little fella what he had to do and then said if you start your engine I will count you down, at this point dad intervened and said “it’s ok it’s electric” , it raised a good laugh anyway and with a twist of the throttle he silently shot off around the course.
Overall winner John Sandercock – Carr Cup. Luke Fry – Motorcycle Trophy
Well done to Nigel and the team for yet another enjoyable event, particular thanks to Lisa Gregory on her debut as entry taker.
J.T.
Spry Trial – Sunday 19th June – by Andy Prosser our Roving Reporter
Sunday the 19th June saw the annual Spry sporting trial being held at Higher Frankaborough Farm near Lifton for the first time, by kind permission of the Harvey family. The arrangements had been made thanks to club member Alan Murton who lives locally and a few of us joined him on the Saturday to lay out the sections. With steep grass fields and rain showers in prospect for the Sunday there was general concern about how difficult the trial could prove to be, how wrong we were on several counts! A total of 11 competitors competed on the day with three sections being run four times in the morning and a further three, four times in the afternoon.
It soon became obvious that due to no significant rain overnight that the mornings sections were going to be a lot easier than we thought, so the tyre pressures were upped from 5psi on leaving the paddock to 8psi before the first hill was attempted and the sections were significantly tightened. Despite this Duncan Stephens, double driving Jerome Fack’s MSR, was clean over the mornings 12 attempts with several others only picking up low single figures scores.
After a break for lunch it was decided to leave pressures as they were and see what the afternoon would bring – one thing was still no rain. It was amazing how little grip there was on the second part of the field compared to the first with many bemused faces wondering what had happened! Jason Daniel had a good morning only dropping four but really came in to his own in the afternoon, showing everyone else the way in his Crossle, with a final score at the end of the day of 28, the next nearest being Jerome on 40. What makes this particularly special is that Jason was being passengered by his daughter Grace for the first time and it was her 14th birthday that very day (this is the youngest you are allowed to be a passenger in a sporting trials car) – what a brilliant effort and result by the both of them. The club was also very grateful to Jason’s son Toby for helping marshal on the day.
Jason and Grace Daniel heading for another clean.
The novice award was won by Nigel Shute, very ably passengered by his wife Kath – as regular club competitors it was nice to see them pick up an award too. Several competitors had come down from as far away as the Forest of Dean which was great to see and everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed the day, with the added pleasure of everyone sharing Grace’s birthday cake at the end – a great event all round.
Nigel and Kath Shute on their way to winning the novice award.
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Future Events
10th July Motor Traders car trial at Waterloo Farm, North Petherwin by kind permission of John Werrin. Regs are on the website, car drivers of 14 years and above.
21st August Testing Trial, Marshgate TBC regs to follow.
An Invitation from Minehead Motor Club 4th September
Minehead Motor Club would like to invite members of Launceston & North Cornwall MC to the 51st running of the Derek Merson Exmoor Clouds Classic Trial, being held on the 4th of September. Following the successful 50th running of the event last year, in Headon & Periton Woods, we are delighted to announce that the Exmoor Clouds returns to a full road trial this year, open to entries on 2, 3 and 4 wheels. After the landmark event last year, a new organising team has come forward, ready to take the Exmoor Clouds into its next 50 years.
The event will return to its base at The Rest & Be Thankful Inn, at Wheddon Cross, from where competitors will head out on a route of approximately 75 miles across West Somerset and Exmoor, taking in around 15 sections and 2 Special Tests. The new team have worked hard to bring together a mix of new sections, while reviving some classic hills that were once cornerstones of the Exmoor Clouds in years gone by.
Entries can be made on the appropriate form and be either posted or emailed. Alternatively, if you would like a set of regs sent in the post, contact Event Secretary Norton Selwood on 07949 926621.
We hope you can come and join us for a day’s motorsport in the September sunshine!
(Regs will be available on the ACTC website from the 6th of July. www.actc.org.uk )
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Tailpiece
As chairman Joe mentioned our latest marshalling outing was for the MCC 3 Day Trial, with many club members out doing their bit and running hills, the Saturday of the 3 days was very much in our area so it was no mean feat to get volunteers to run all the hills. Thanks to everyone who supported and gave up their time for this significant event.
I was elected (by myself) to run Ruses Mill our motley crew arrived at the Mill around 10.00am to be greeted by other volunteers including one team from Barbrook ! They had left home at 6.30 am to get there, now there’s keen.
Once we had done all the deliberations as to who was manning which end it was down to getting familiar with operating the radios, somehow Dad’s Army came to mind, I think I was probably Captain Mannering although nobody said don’t panic to me. To my surprise the radio system worked very well with only a couple of minor hiccups. The competitors came through in a somewhat irregular fashion as it was a break from the norm in that cars and bikes were interspersed so you never knew what was going to arrive next, although it was a little later than expected by the time the course closing vehicle came through to close the hill.
Once we had picked up everything it was back home and open up the Trials App Live on the phone to enter all the scores, with Vivien reading them out and me inputting, this actually didn’t take as long as I feared it might and about an hour later it was all done and dusted.
J.T. All for this month Don’t forget contributions to billjan299@gmail.com.