Trials and Tribulations

In previous ACORNS’, I have talked about production car trials and how upon going along to Croydon Motor Club’s May trial, I realised how much fun can be had for very little money. In fact, it’s another form of ‘grass roots’ motorsport much as autotesting, 12car and scatter rallying is. It was at this May event that I decided that I would have a go later in the year at Croydon’s second PCT.
So on October 28th, on a bright sunny Sunday, Dad and I set off to Dorking to see what we could do. We were joined by Mick and Chris Rose from 7Oaks along with another one of our autotest regulars, Kevin Haselden. A total of 11 cars ended up taking part in the event. Although the weather was fine on that Sunday, we had had quite a bit of rain in the preceding week and so the ground would get slippy. Mind you, on the side of a hill, the ground drains well and more problems were had later in the day from just moving about on the relatively flat stuff between tests. Ask Mick about his thoughts of the Porsche 924 that sprayed the front of his Mini with mud!
These PCT’s are really relaxed, the day didn’t start until 11am which allows for a morning lie in, and finishes at a very reasonable 3.30ish. Obviously, if they become more popular, which would be nice, then the day might get longer, but even so, it’s a great day out. I’m getting ahead of myself here ….. after everyone had signed on and Peter Turner had scrutinised the cars, yes really, although it’s just to check that you haven’t left some sharp implement on the rear parcel shelf, we lined up in any order for the first tests. There were to be 8 different hills during the day with two goes at each. These first tests proved fairly easy for everyone, partly because the organisers don’t know until they have been driven, just how far up a car will get, but also because the ground still had grass and bracken strewn over it which provided grip. After Test 1 there were 5 cars clean with 0 points, low scores are good, 3 others on 1 point and the rest not far adrift. Test 2 used a different bit of land, more out in the open and scores were getting higher or worse. I still added only 1 point on this test, which was nice! Test 3 again suited the Puma with 3 more points going on the score. Others were getting up the slopes quite well but just touching a post low down on the slope meant their run ended there with a high points score.
By now the grass was beginning to wear away and mud provided a lot less grip. On Tests 4, 5 and 6, my scores were still OK but others were getting further, on some tests. By the last two tests, no-one was getting more than half way up the hills, and with a gradient across the hill, forward momentum was only possible by driving over the marker posts and in the fresh bracken. Not a lot of point in doing that though. Then a trick bit of reversing back down the hill was required, trying not to run over all the posts that had been passed on the way up! I think points should be awarded for that bit as well. After everyone had completed their runs but before results were announced, I was unsure just how I had finished. I knew the morning was good for me, but had seen rear wheel drive Granada’s getting further up some tests in the afternoon. I put it down to the shandy at lunchtime in Brockham, plus the passenger in the Granada jumping up and down in the rear seat, desperately trying to make the tyres bite the ground. So when results came I was well pleased to see that I had won overall with 48 points. 2nd place score was 76 points by Keith Young in a Pug 306. Mick Rose took first in class A on 80 points with Chris Rose only two points behind and collecting best novice. Team 7Oaks out on the pot hunting trail then!!
It was a great day, good fun, cheap, relaxed, non-damaging and I didn’t even have to clean tons of mud from out under the arches. If you’ve got a gentle right foot, you don’t spin the wheels and mud doesn’t build up! However, don’t stand behind a rear wheel car especially a certain Porsche! Thanks to John Lloyd, Chairman of Croydon Motor Club for organising the event, and also to Mick Sullivan, Pete Turner, Roger Sawyers and anyone else I might have forgotten who helped run the day. I shall certainly be back for more, I know the Roses’ will be and hopefully a few more of you can be persuaded by this to come and have a go. It might teach you how to get out of the paddock on a rainy day at Wiscombe!!

Mark Dawson

The Acorn : December Edition