Exeter Trial 2011 (x12)

[John_Baker]

Adrian Harris and I had a wonderful day at this amazing event. Last year the event was snowed off, this year after Friday night of torrential rain Saturday turned out to be fine and bright – but the ground was saturated.

This is the youngest of the MCC (Motor Cycling Club) big 3 events and has been run since 1910, historically taking place on Boxing day as a run from London to Exeter. This year the event began at 19:30 on the Friday night with 550 entrants making there way from several start points: Cirencester, Basingstoke and Launceston heading towards the Haynes Museum at Sparkford, Somerset for the official start at 00:00. Entrants are made up of bikes, bike sidecar combos and assorted vehicles. Some of the oldest cars being chain driven Trojans and the 1920’s through to more modern and specialised machinery. The trial eventually finishes at Babbacombe in Torquay. A couple of over a thousand pics...

1 - Austin 7 Ulster Replica – at the top of Simms Hill...


2 - MG J2 – a wonderfully prepared car, again at the top of Simms...


3 – Austin “Grotty” Chummy – taken earlier in the day on a less crowded section above Fingle Bridge...


4 - Troll T6 – alongside the traditional cars there were a whole clutch of specially designed competition sports cars – enjoying the ride at Fingle Bridge


5 – Delow Mk1 1600cc Class 8 – another specialist car dating from the 50’s at Fingle Bridge...


6 – VW Buggy – Fingle Bridge...


7 – Parsons Ford 1600 – back to the main Simms Hill, this year it was a real killer with only a very small number of competitors successfully making it to the top. Two years back the road was frozen solid with polished ice making it difficult, this year it was covered in gluttonous mud, the multiple failures made the deep holes even deeper and a real car killer...


8 – Ford Popular – getting some air, before being defeated by the mud.


9 – Ford Escort Mk II – photos do not do this hill justice, it is seriously steep, driving into a deep pot hole tends to throw the vehicle into the air, makes steering a challenge.


10 – so many cars ended up running out of momentum, another smoker, close but not close enough


11 – HRG 1500 - having failed on the main Simms Hill, vehicles had to be reversed down the hill (seriously not easy), before heading around the Class “0” alternative route – you can see the water run off the hill in this one...


12 – Cannon Alfa – another special trial car and one of the very few to actually reach the top and scatter the crowd standing in the road...


The next MCC event is the Lands End Trial will be on the 22/23 April (Easter) – this is another spectacular event - for more info see www.themotorcyclingclub.org.uk

Happy to post some more if people are interested???

[Steve52]

Excellent set as usual John. Glad the weather turned out OK.

[John_Baker]

Thanks Steve, sorry you had to be on standby - we were so lucky with the weather... I will tack on another - Morgan 4/4

[zx9]

Looks like you had a great time again John, always good to see pictures from this event, I missed that it was cancelled last year, IIRC I was on the piste at the time.

[Rustyknight]

An excellent set John! My pick of the bunch is the first.

It looks as though it was a bit dull and grey weather-wise, so the results are quite impressive.

[John_Baker]

I missed that it was cancelled last year, IIRC I was on the piste at the time.

Thanks Keith - That was why it was cancelled, too much snow. I must admit we were lucky with the weather, it has rained most of today...

An excellent set John! My pick of the bunch is the first. It looks as though it was a bit dull and grey weather-wise, so the results are quite impressive.

Hi Mike, weather was overcast at the start of the day and cleared around lunch time – over course it is a wooded course, I think I was up at ISO 1,600 at the end.

A couple more - too good to leave lurking on the HD

Another MG J2 going up from Fingle Bridge


MG-PA - going steady above Fingle


Same vehicle several hours later, struggling on Simms


HRG 1.5ltr - possibly needs some work on the automatically opening doors - Simms again

[Wheelman]

Some nice shots John.

Didn't actually look too muddy...

Did you happen to spot a Blue Suzuki X90 (no. 166) also known as the Barbiemobile?

One of my fellow club members was piloting it. He has been doing the trial for a number of years but has now resorted to something a little more comfortable.

I think he used his yellow US import Midget (rides 1.5" higher)with chrome bumpers last year, and before that his more radical machine was a Reliant three wheeler with a twin carbed Marina engine and rear axle.

I am not sure if another of our members was there in his Rellard -the result of a combination of Allard and Reliant V6

I really must try and get down there some time.

[John_Baker]

Colin they are a great event, if you were to come to any I would recommend the Lands End Trial at Easter as the light is far better. Possibly the best location are the Blue Hills behind St Agnes as I can sneak of and do some old tin mines.

I did see a couple of X90's I am not sure if I took any, I am sorry to say they do not do a lot for me - I will have a dig through and see I may have something... I have just posted a couple more on my web site - if you are interested see http://www.jfbclick.com

Update, Colin - just checked, I took around 15 shots of X90 number 162 - sorry, I think I moved location just after that series - sorry...

[Wheelman]

I am not keen on the X90 either John-much prefer the midget, and thanks for looking.

I do cover our clubs PCTs (which is short for Production Car Trial and has now renamed to "Trial" by MSA although we all still call them PCTs .) and also the Kent Trial which is in a similar vein to the Exeter although nowhere near as long or difficult.

We did also organise a few Trials for MGOC and I know cars are meant to be used but when you get an immaculate MGA hammering up a muddy hill between various bushes and other unforgiving bits of scenery it does make one cringe a bit...

Edit
Just had a look through web site pics and there is one car I recognise. Car 170 is another friend and fellow TWMC member Duncan Welch. I can't see who he managed to persuade to co-drive-it can get a bit chilly when the only weather protection is an Aero screen!

[John_Baker]

I will have a look for 170 tonight - looking at the running list with Duncan is Elanor Welch...

[Wheelu]

Super sepia shot with the S curve!

[zx9]

Super sepia shot with the S curve!

It is rather good, quite timeless with no brightly clothed spectators. (That's enough of a complement for this room )

[John_Baker]

Car 170 is another friend and fellow TWMC member Duncan Welch.

Well I managed to confuse myself, I was looking for an Austin Healey
Not quite what I was looking for!!! Turns out I managed to get around 25 shots of him across two locations...

A shot taken above Fingle Bridge working up through the woods - a cracking location as it does not have the crowds or the hi-vis vests, with a nice wave from Eleanor...


Here he is just about to attempt Simms, nice frame filler...


Bryan/Keith - thank you for the comments!!!

[Wheelman]

Cheers for that John

Well it is mostly Austin Healey.... I think it is a Mk4 Sprite and has an Arkley body on it-or something very similar, and is quite useful in Trials and Autotests.

Eleanor is one of Duncan's daughters, who all compete, and double drove on the Kent trial a couple of years back.

[John_Baker]

Eleanor is one of Duncan's daughters, who all compete, and double drove on the Kent trial a couple of years back.

I was very impressed with the number of ladies competing - they all seemed to be having fun - final shot, Liege making smoke, yet another vehicle which had to come back down the hard way...

[duncanstephens]

Hello,

The Exeter was the first MCC trial I have ever driven on, and having climbed up Simms am on the hunt for a photo!

Was running quite late when the light was fading so might have been missed - car 212 a dark blue Dutton Melos Kit Car. If it helps I was following the dark blue Mk1 Escort that climbed Simms and was infront of the pale blue Mk1 that got stuck just a few feet from the section ends board.

Dont suppose you have any photos of me do you?

The ones already up are great showing the atmosphere of the event - well done :-)

[John_Baker]

Dont suppose you have any photos of me do you?

While I managed over 1,000 shots and I am sorry to say I seemed to get the same set of cars at both Fingle and Simms, which was a shame. Simms was difficult for both the drivers and photographers, trying to get a decent view was not easy, the event has become very popular and the good weather bought a lot of people out. I will try harder, you are going to have to have a go at the Lands End trial, the Blue Hills are great – have a look at these from 2 years back - AP Linky...

[himself]

Colin, the Austin Healey special of Duncan's is indeed a Sprite floorpan but with a Jeffrey's kit car body, from the 60's. The nose cone is genuine Lotus seven and when I last drove it, it had a ford escort gearbox!
The X90 ran OK but we had 4 punctures which delayed us a bit!
Clive

[John_Baker]

As an apology to all the happy and contented X90 owners - a couple just to prove I did not ignore the breed totally... Paul Brooks going for it