‘Trials’ fall into three main categories – Car Trials (formerly known as Production Car Trials); Classic Trials and Sporting Trials
Car Trials are relatively informal, sociable events taking place off-road at a single site. They are usually on grass, although sand, bracken, and other vegetation can be the surface. Cars have to proceed with unassisted forward motion through courses set out on a hillside, known as “sections”. This places a premium on the ability to place and drive the car skillfully and accurately, whilst retaining grip on a slippery surface. Throttle control is the key to this. Most sections are untimed and don't involve high outright speeds, but reflexes and judgement are tested when attempting to maintain momentum within their confines.
The poles which mark out a section are numbered from 12 at the bottom to 1 at the top, using markers which enable the marshals to determine how far you get up each one. The further up the section you get the better (lower) the score, and the lowest total score at the end of the event wins the class. If you “clear” a section (pass the posts marked “1”) then your score is 0. If you stop or go “four wheels out” then your score is that of the next pair of poles you would pass. If you run into a pole then your score is taken from that pole. An event would typically consist of 24 to 32 hills.
Cars in most classes are either unmodified or only lightly modified, running on standard road tyres. Virtually all regular competitors fit a sump-guard. Most cars will be carrying ballast to assist with grip. However, there is a new class (Class One) for unmodified production cars less than 12 years old which are carrying no ballast but may be fitted with a sump-guard. Class One cars have to be driven to the events. Only cars in Classes 1 and R should be required to produce an MOT certificate – cars in the other classes will not need to have MOTs.
There should be a class available in the ASEMC Championship for almost any two-wheel drive car with at least two seats and without “fiddle” brakes. The ASEMC Championship has two extra classes in addition to the four regular classes. ASEMC Class 5 was added to try and provide an opportunity for road rally cars (especially road rally cars) where their usual preparation and safety equipment won’t be a disadvantage. Please see the ASEMC Car Trials Championship Regulations for full details of the classes.
As well as the awards for the Champion and Class Winners, there are also awards in the ASEMC Car Trials Championship for the best junior and the best female driver.
A passenger must be carried in the front of the car; known as the “bouncer” they can provide valuable weight to the driven wheels when called for by the driver. Most events also allow cars to be “double-driven” which is where two drivers are entered (usually the driver and passenger swapping positions).
The ASEMC Car Trials Championship will comprise six National B events in 2009
Classic Trials are based on one of the earliest forms of motor sport in this country. Firstly, the point has to be made that classic trials are not just for classic cars or bikes, although many do take part. Classic trials are for all sorts of cars and motorbikes. What is "classic" about classic trials is the format of the events. Today’s classic trials reflect the style that was prevalent in the 1930s when works teams from Ford, Austin, Singer, MG and others battled it out for advertising honours over long distances and the steep muddy slopes of the country. The route is used primarily to get from one slope to the next and the timing is used mainly to keep the whole event on some sort of schedule rather than as a way of penalising competitors. Many of the observed sections, which is the name given to the muddy slopes on which one’s performance is observed are the same ones which were used at that time and are still as capable of challenging modern vehicles as they were then. The average modern classic trial runs to about 70-100 miles on roads in between the observed sections. There are usually 14-18 sections to each event with a variety of different surfaces to test your skills. The events are scored by markers by the side of the section, numbered from 12 at the bottom down to 1 at the top. Marks are scored by getting the front wheel(s) past the marker. At the end of the day the driver/rider with the lowest score is the winner. Sometimes sections will include a stop & restart test. If you remember the trauma of the hill start when you were learning to drive, this gives you some idea of this test, but now you are asked to do the same on a 1 in 4 hill on thick mud or greasy rock, without rolling back so much as an inch. In addition there is usually a tie deciding speed test to resolve competition between drivers/riders who have scored the same number of penalties. Each year there are about 20-25 of these trials each organised by one of the member clubs that comprise The Association of Classic Trials Clubs (ACTC). Numbers are normally limited to between 60 and 100 competitors. About 16 of the events make up the ACTC annual championships, the two main awards for cars in this being the ‘Wheelspin Trophy’ with points awarded for overall position and the ‘Crackington Cup’ with points awarded based on position in class. There are two awards for motorcycles - the Pouncy League for solos and the Red Rose Bowl for 3-wheelers. In addition to the ‘one day’ events described above are the three Motorcycling Club (MCC) classics. The basic format is similar but with a number of significant differences: the penalties are not graded from 12 to 1, each section is either "cleaned" or "failed"; the road mileage may be anything up to 450 miles with several sections to be tackled at night; the events being run over Friday nights and Saturdays with a typical starting time being midnight and an expected finish of 5.00pm the following day. Whereas most ‘one day’ trials have a history of less than fifty years, the MCC classics date back to before the 1st World War and are still run over substantially the same routes. Awards are based on a simple system of a ‘Gold’ for climbing all the hills, a ‘Silver’ for failing one, and a ‘Bronze’ for failing two. Those gaining a ‘Gold’ in all three events in a season receive a ‘Triple’ - the triallist’s ultimate award. |
One of the main appeals of the sport is that it can be competitive on what ever level you prefer. Because the events are run over the same or very similar courses every year, the driver/rider who does not aspire to outright victory can indulge in his or her own private battle with himself rather in the manner of reducing one’s golf handicap. I did not climb this one last year.... I can never get round that corner... I climbed that one for the first time this year.... All the observed sections have names which makes they easy to identify in the bar afterwards and to follow a sense of history. Books on pre-war motorsport talk with fascination about Simms, Beggars Roost and Nailsworth Ladder, all of which are still stopping cars and bikes today. Classic trials are one of the friendliest forms of motor sport and, as sponsorship and financial gain are non-existent, there tends to be only the best form of rivalry between competitors. It is very common to find a crew working on a vehicle with the assistance of someone with whom they are directly competing.
For more information on this form of trial go to www.ACTC.org.uk
Finally, Sporting Trials involve the use of a specialist 2 seater lightweight trials car, you must carry a passenger and the sport is open to anyone who is over 16
The trial sections in Sporting Trials are much more difficult than those found in Car Trials or Classic Trials, but the principal is the same, the further you get up the course the less penalty points you will accumulate. The winner being the competitor with the lowest aggregate score from all the sections.
Sporting Trials are a very specialised sport and the learning curve is a very long one, by introducing the sport at regional level will enable the newer competitors to the sport to gain valuable experience and close the gap to the top flight competitors in a shorter period of time.
If you are interested in this form of trialling contact Sportingtrials.com for more information
