2025 Camel Classic

Great shot - despite rain and gloomy light - of Peter Stobbs on Jab and Left hook. (Photo : Paul Jones)

I marshalled on this year’s Camel Classic, since I’ve had the engine and gearbox out and in with the Arkley-MG to replace some oil seals.

First spell of duty was on Jab and Left Hook, which I remembered as having a difficult restart but finding it took some time. Like all cats looking grey at twilight, all trials sections in the forest look the same when its dimpsy. It only really became apparent when one walked up a turn off from the main track in Hustyn Woods that the course markers became visible.  

Fellow marshals were Matt Tyrell and Laurence Payne and we had walkie talkies because there was no clear line of sight. All solo bikes and car classes 5-8 had to do the restart. I was interested in everyone’s technique. The choices were, stay low on the flatter approach and get out of the greasy mud or get as high as possible and risk not getting away where the hill got steeper and rougher.

There was no clear best approach. The more astute trailers twigged that the number 6 marker was halfway through the box so, if they got passed that before stopping to pull away, they might their wheels beyond it and score a 5 even if they didn’t get away. Going low – my usual preference – would mean failing to proceed below the 6 marker.

The Mersons go high for their restart (Photo Paul Jones)

Only four bikes had trouble on the restart. Among the cars, all in Class 8 and Class 3 and most of the Class 7s got away but none of the Class 6 Beetles, which were the first cars on the hill. James Shallcross in the 205 got through.

I didn’t have the opportunity to take any photos of the action on either Jab and Left Hook or Ant Hill but Paul Jones and Emma Harvey were on photography duty on Jab and Left Hook as their Class 6 Beetle fell sick on the way down. It was illuminating to discuss with them how they would have approached the hill and restart box.

There was a good deal of hanging about after all the cars had gone through as some broken cars in the woods might have reappeared but in the end they had to be recovered by trailer.

Consequently, I was a little late getting to Ant Hill, which wasn’t as close to Laneskin as I remembered.

Ross & Keelan Hancock's Renegade buggy has a Golf engine like my Arkley

Unlike Jab and Left Hook, Ant Hill had an almost clear line of sight from the restart box. Hannes Tanzer was already in action with the first bikes when I got there so, with him on the restart (all solo bikes and Class 8 cars only), I took on starting duties.

The wet weather in the morning cleared up and we had blue sky at one point although no sunshine. I gather marshals were thin on the ground this year, due to sickness, but it helped that photographer Vince Feeney was at the top of the section to confirm the hill was clear.

Conditions were very soft and the Class 3 Escorts dragged their diffs due to deep ruts and running 13-inch wheels with low tyre pressures.

I especially enjoyed chatting with the competitors on the start line (8 outfits, 18 solos and 56 cars entered. Everyone enjoyed themselves and said it was a demanding trial in wet conditions. A few had dropped out by Ant Hill, hill number twelve.

Arnie Martin and I are both pondering why we don't want to work in the garage until midnight quite so much these days. Ryan Tonkin confirmed what I'd suspected - steam engines are incredibly labour intensive - and I had my first proper look at the Thomases' Dutton Melos, which now runs in Class 8 following an extensive rebuild.

I commiserated with Jon Moores because Calvin Moores broke a halfshaft on their lovely MG J2 and the Mersons with their Shopland Special failed on Clinnick with an ailing alternator. Paul said it was hard to get the engine going again when they reversed down and turned on this very steep section. They bought another battery in Trago but by the time they got to Ant Hill that, too, was loosing its charge.  This didn’t stop them making a good limb, though.

Julian Lack and Sam Lindsay had a faulty ECU on their DP Wasp. It wouldn’t rev out much above 3,000rpm but, again, this didn’t seem to hinder them on the restart.

Sam told me about his experiences on the MCC stand at the NEC show and the amount of interest they had from Welsh visitors in trialling. Wales has always been a forcing ground for rallying talent but is so expensive nowadays. An introduction to trialling from sport ambassador Sam might be just what they need.

David & Ruben Foreshaw adjust their tyre pressures on their Class 8 Dingo. In the background is the fallen tree.

The course closing Land Rover followed more promptly this time but a fallen tree almost stopped it. It would have wiped out their orange roof lamp but with a stretch I was just tall enough to raise it sufficiently to let them pass.

Excellent videos of the event are here and here.

Finally, I can reveal that Simon Oates is actually Father Christmas and Liam Hartley his little helper. There’s photographic evidence all over social media.

Amazing this photo came out at all considering the amount of rain (deer) (Photo : Paul Jones)