It is with great sadness that I must report that the entire TVTR contingent were disqualified before the event even began , due to a **** up with tyre choice - namely, we all turned up with road legal enduro front tyres, when we should have had a trials tyre!! In our defence, it clearly said in the regs a trials pattern rear, and a trials/trail pattern front. The scrutineering man was very nice about it, said we could all carry on anyway, but should we be lucky enough to win it wouldnt count. We all also will have collected an extra 5 penaly point cos I got a puncture after the last section, and we missed the 20 minute slot you were allowed to get to the finish because every one stayed with me while we fixed it - thanks!!!
So it didnt get off to the best start. But despite this I think every one enjoyed it. There was a very interesting selection of vehicles. This beng mostly a car type trial there were alot more cars than bikes. Half a dozen bike and sidecar combinations started first, followed by about 30 odd bikes, followed by about 50 ish cars. Because of this we didnt really get to see any of the cars attemptiing the sections, which was a shame cos I'm sure it would have been entertaining.
This type of event is very different from the bike only LDT's I've done in the past. The sections were very easy - to put it in perspective, I dont think I put a foot down anywhere all day. On the Moor to Sea, which is not the toughest by a long way, I fell off properly at least 4 times!!! The observed sections were mostly climbs, which 2 wheel drive cars had to have some chance of completing, so obviously they were mostly pretty easy for a modern enduro bike. Bikes are definately secondary here - the fun would really have started after the 2 wheeled lot were out of the way.
4 wheeled entries included a 1950's Cannon - hand built hill climb car, one of only 200 made, and in its day THE trials car to have, a Hillman Imp, a few mark 1 escorts, various MG's, a mk 1 golf, peugot 206. Quite a few Baja Beetle, and a few in standard trim, plus alot of stuff I had no idea what it was.
Sadly the Lambretta was seen freewheeling back down the second hill climb - looked like a mechanical failure - and the next time I saw it it was on a rack on the back of a camper van. The C90, on the other hand, was there at the end, and we saw it clean the last hill climb with ease.
I will let the other entrants add any details they feel they want to - but in the end it was a nice sociable day out, not a huge challenge but very pleasant none the less. Simon hit the nail on the head on the way home - next year, I'm taking the XT600 ( if I ever get it running again!!)
I did get a few photos, will go through the painful process of posting them soom.
I've just spoken to Bob Slatter the secretary of the trial about the tyres you were all running. He pointed out, correctly, that he wasn't the scrutineer, and said if any of the affected riders were in with a shout of winning an award I should contact him again. I said that there were no complaints, but we needed clarification, and in view of the puncture (Tim's) and the penalty for all ( all for one , well done lads) there was unlikely to be anyone in the running for an award.
Congrats to the six of you who rode the trial, and commiserations to Barney who got to the start and then had to return home. I hope Gemma is now feeling better.
The Lambretta! The Cannon - 1950's hand built hill climber. Fordson Major winch tractor parked at the top of one of the climbs, presumably for dragging the cars up. Fun started after the bikes went through.
An interesting day out with some very different vehicles , as Tim said not the hardest days ride yet i still managed to dab in a few places that i shouldn't of
Yes Tim i do believe you had a clear round
And yes i would do it again next year and i think more of the TVTR members would enjoy it.
The Grub at lunchtime was also pretty good, although i did find the pasty a little dry !
The only scary moment of the day was when a female solo rider got knocked off her bike by some bloke in a van turning out of a side road and she ended up under the front bumper, with the bike on top of her. Luckily she was a perfect fit for this area and was not injured. Amazingly just dusted herself off and got on with the riding ! Fair play to her
Of the 24 pics i took these are the only unblurred ones
good report and good pictures, thanks for the pictures of the lambretta, looks pretty standard spec to me, ive seen them all stripped to bare bones with knobbys on doing trail riding, wouldnt fancy riding trails on that one, would fall of more than i normally do, yep good idea for more TVTR members to do it next year, looks fun, im up for it, kev
Now I'm confused...Tim came 2nd but was disqualified before the start....if you can explain this would you also have a go at explaining "quantitive easing" and how that makes me richer?
__________________
I do know where I'm going, but the track it will decide, It's not the destination, It's the glory of the ride!
Results came in the post on Friday. There was no mention of the disqualification, just a list of who did what. Apparently I didnt collect a single point all day - told you it was too easy - and was beaten into second by 1/10th of a second over the 2 timed tests. I am, apparently, eligable for "An award" Doesnt say what or how to collect it, mind you.
