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| The Rialtopless gives you fun and fresh air on three wheels |
If you are like me and mourn the passing of
VT No. 109 the Old Spot Piglet, you may - also like me - be heartened to see that its spirit lives on in a pair of modified Reliant Rialtos (Rialtoes?). These machines competed in the 2012 Edinburgh Trial and although considerably smarter than the Old Spot Piglet - which isn't saying a lot to be frank - they may have some way to go to match it for competitiveness.
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| Not a great picture but you get the idea. I didn't see this machine later in the day but here it is at the start of the Edinburgh trial at Tamworth, not far away from where it was made. I notice a blue tarpaulin draped over the roll bar so maybe there were some regrets about removing the roof as the intrepid crew of Bernard Pugh and Michael Stead fought there way through heavy rain to the start. I bet they didn't mind a few days later, though. The weather improved dramatically. |
The running gear is standard Rialto so you get the all alloy 848cc engine and rather small 12" wheels, which can fall into holes rather than climb out of them. The bodywork is pared back in both varieties, that of George Osborn (no, not
him - at least I hope not) and Graham Pugh being briefer than that of Bernard Pugh and Michael Stead.
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| The pruned snout of the red Rialtopless allows a good look at the business end of a Reliant three wheeler. Chopping it back so much must improve access to the engine, too. |
I only saw the red Rialtopless once on the trial and that was as it bumped down the hill after failing Putwell 1. The Edinburgh Trial this year was a very tough one so I doubt either of them was in the awards.
I mentioned these machines to Adrian Booth and he was also pleased to hear the spirit of the Old Spot Piglet goes on. He told me that he started a similar take on the Old Spot Piglet theme i.e. a killer Class E special that is not an asymmetrical sidecar combination. His machine was to have had a Suzuki Swift 1300cc engine, as used in sporting trials specials, and a Renault 21 gearbox with fully independent rear suspension. Unfortunately this project stalled and it didn't survive one of his ruthless clear outs.
The blue Rialto suffered clutch failure, but the Rialtopless fought it's way to a Finishers Certificate, with a 50% success rate on the sections. It had to be lifted bodily out of ruts on two occasions due to the lack of ground clearance - TEN inch wheels aren't ideal off-road!
ReplyDeleteTen inch wheels! I doff my flying helmet to you sir! A most prodigious effort. I see you are chairing for Madam chairman on her Norton Wasp in the Exeter. Good luck and i hope to see the Rialtopless out again soon.
ReplyDeleteI too mourn the passing of VT 109 Old Spot Piglet as it was the best trials vehicle I have ever used, and pretty successful as well.
ReplyDeleteIt was actually my regular navigator Syd who gave Duncan the Reliant which formed the basis of OSP and it was originally bright yellow, which is one reason I repainted it once I bought it. The other reason was to make it more visible to other traffic as it was fairly small and insignificant where artics were involved !
Unfortunately a small band of 'old farts' on the committee didn't like it, despite all the other oddlooking vehicles involved in the trials, and managed to convince the majority to ban it. Great shame as it always raised a smile and waves wherever it went.
The vendetta was actually started by Syd's wifes cousin Ron, who resented him trialling with me rather than him.
Didn't like the look of it , he said, though others disagreed and have you seen some that have come along since ?
A spiteful man but sadly, influential where the MCC was concerned.
Clive Cooke