Engine Punk

  Nick Symons on the 2025 Tamar Trial in his Subaru-powered Singer Chamois Nick Symons campaigns this Singer Chamois in classic long distance and local one day trials with his son and wife. Nick is the son of Dave Symons, a very experienced competitor who spectates these days and once gave me a 928cc Chrysler Sunbeam engine. That was way back – the last millennium in fact – when I was trialling my Siva Llama ( Vintage Thing No.22 ). At the time, Dave was running Chrysler Sunbeams with Avenger engines. He found they ran hot and once gave Judi Spiers from Television South West short shrift when she tried to interview him about some steam coming out of his car. Since then, Nick has been perpetuating the trialling dynasty. Some time ago, he bought a Singer Chamois off Adrian Booth and converted it to flat-four Subaru power. I’ve caught glimpses of it over the years but, when Nick let me have the Imp bits he didn’t need anymore, I had the chance of a closer look. The non-turbo Subar...

The Arkley-MG in action on Legacy Hill (Photo: Vince Feeney) Last year’s Tamar Trial won the ACTC Trial of the Year Award and for 2026 the Launceston & North Cornwall Motor Club sought to improve the event even further.   For years, there’s been growing criticism that trials are becoming more focussed on giving the top flight competitors a severe challenge. That’s fine except some of us have been finding a few observed sections too extreme. In some events, anything less than a Class 8 special is unlikely to see the top of a hill and that puts people off. Some sections have been car breakers. From left to right, Jon Moores' CMR Special, Simon Oates' Liege, Paul Watson's Dutton, Nick Symons Singer Chamois and Ryan Tonkin's Class 4 Beetle.   This year’s Tamar Trial took steps to address this. It still targeted the national contenders with hills of appropriate difficulty while giving the rest of us the chance to clear a section but still feel we’d been challenged ...