2018 Exeter Trial

Norton Selwood leaps to intervene as a sidecar outfit gets to the worst bit on Simms

The Candidi Provocatores were entered in the 2018 Exeter Trial but Binky caught manflu! He caught it before Christmas and rang me a few days before the event to croak almost unintelligibly at me. Using the telephonic equivalent of mime, he explained how he wasn’t fit enough to drive the Allard overnight and get cold and wet. I could tell he was terribly disappointed.

Steven Hand on his C90

I still hoped to get a ride somewhere, thinking that if Binky was unable to compete maybe a bouncer might drop out and that I could help someone else but, despite flagging up my availability on social media, in a way I am happy to say my services were not required. Nobody else was ill. So,instead, I went along to watch at Simms.

It's a kind of hero worship

An MCC team had put in a great deal of work on the hill before New Year and I made use of the new parking arrangements that use the playing fields at Ilsington. It was a bit of a trek to the section but the fee included a programme. The afternoon was dry and I saw the last of the bikes and sidecars go through.

I had hoped to see Shani and Pete Adams on our old outfit (VTNo.16.1) but they were number 3 and had already attempted the section. They didn’t clean it but that was no disgrace. They were probably clearing Slippery Sam, which turned out to be their favourite climb of the trial. I later learned that the Triumph was making a funny noise for a time during the night but Shani and Pete ignored it as it was going well and the noise went away. Although they failed Simms, Tipley, Fingle and some others that they usually climbed, they got their coveted Finisher’s Certificate.

Glory for death or glory Lester and Dan Keat

I watched a few solos make what looked like effortless ascents and then there were brave attempts by sidecar crews, although I didn’t see any three-wheelers get up.

The crowd loves the gaggle of mopeds and step-thrus that blow a big raspberry to the exclusivity and high cost of motorsport. They may have paddled their way up Simms but they still climbed the hill in style, even if they didn’t actually clear it and the style was super naff and definitely and definitely anti-establishment. Long may their shopping baskets carry their Finisher’s Certificates.

Despite splendid climbs by Lester Keat in his Avenger and Ian Cundy in his Mk1 Golf (now permitted to run with an LSD), it soon became apparent to me that this was a very difficult hill this year.

I particularly like the way Dean Partington is going "Forward!" (at least in his mind). Kieran Bartlett bounced like a mad thing

I stood between the yellow Class 7 re-start box and the red Class 8 re-start box. Many Class 7s got away alright but foundered further up the hill. As for the Class 8s, none of them got away, although Brian Partridge did get his car to move up the hill into a bigger rut.

The V8 TR7 of Brian Shore and Jack Hollingsworth bellowed beautifully but, although the rear wheels were turning forwards, it still slowed, stopped and then began to slide back down the hill. Their attempts to get away cleaned the hill up a bit but didn’t make the going any easier.

The Vowdens do it again

Dean and Arthur Vowden made an ascent look easy in their Class 6 2056cc VW notchback and the crowd loved Dick Bolt’s successful attack in his Ford Pop.

I thought Phil Tucker in his TR3A was going to make it but he just slowed near the top. From what I could see, there was some sort of sting in the tail just before the Section Ends boards and cars that looked like they going well simply ran out of grip and go. None of the X-90s or GV2000s got up (was this partly due to some tyres being banned?) but Nicola Butcher in her Beetle made a splendid climb.

This could have been at any time over the last 70 years - Alan and Jane Bee on their successful attempt

Another clean was made by Stephen Kingstone in his dark blue Midget and the crowd particularly enjoyed seeing the Austin 7 Box saloon of Alan Bee and the Volvo-powered HRG of Stuart Roach get up.

I think the crowd would have preferred to have seen more successful attempts by the Class 8s. At least most of those who had a yellow re-start got away, even they did founder further up the hill. The marshal certainly had their work cut out in directing cars back down again. Not many got up far enough to warrant a tow with the big tractor.

I left as the light started to fail and, after an encouraging chat with Lee Sample and Ollie Brooks in their Ranger, I made for Torbay and the finish. Expecting to be in the trial, I had already booked an hotel room so it seemed like a good idea to use it. I’m glad I did. I had another great night out with Dave Turner, Dennis Greenslade, the Urens, the Bricknells and our usual gang at the Italian restaurant, where the food seemed better than ever.

And then I met them all again for breakfast and more ribaldry and car stories ensued.

Roll on the Land’s End! Despite rumours circulating that Team Robert would be on the Husky outfit, subsequent discussions with a much-improved Binky helped form a plan to have a practice on the outfit but enter the Allard again for the LET. Our first competitive event will now be the testing Trial in the summer. This is an excellent way of seeing how other people approach the tricky problem of getting round some cones in a field. It’s not as easy as you think.