Engine Punk

I had a Matchbox model of a VW Fastback. This is the real thing of Tom Coles and Edd Wagner.  Remedial work on the Arkley-MG has taken much longer than I expected but it is now back together and running again. I hope to make the start of the Land’s End Trial at Easter. Experience tells me to keep my expectations low but I remain like that guy in Shakespeare in Love . “Don’t worry. Everything will turn out all right.” In the tranquil mists of the Camel Vale - but wait, what are those cones and markers for? In the meantime, I turned out to marshal on the Bodmin Heights and the Lewdown Trial. My section for the Camel Vale MC’s 2026 Bodmin Heights was Eddy’s Incline on the Eddy’s farm at Pendavey. Eddy’s Branch Line has featured on the classic Land’s End Trial for the last few years but Eddy’s Incline was a straight up blast and turn off the MCC section. Despite the wet winter the conditions were friable and, after a spectacularly misty start across the Camel Vale, the sun came out. ...

Martin Matthews and Colin Satchell approach the restart on Eastcott 1 in their UVA Fugitive As the Arkley-MG’s recuperation from the Exeter Trial continues, this year I marshalled on the 39 th Launceston Trial held in Lew and Eastcott Woods. I already knew access to the start at the wood yard was challenging for road cars and, with a bumper entry this year, parking would be difficult so I parked just off the road in and set off to walk. Fortunately, Becky Macey gave me a lift and, among the front-wheel drive vans struggling with loaded trailers and a Land Rover helping where it could, she polished up the steep and muddy concrete slabs in her Skoda that made up the entrance to the woods. Schmokin on the start line - not M ötley  Cr üe  but Richard and Katie Kinver in their Class 8 Ford Special  It was a good thing I blagged a lift off her for my felloe marshals for the day, Joe Caudle and Andy Prosser, were just setting off. Together with Chris Jory on his Honda XR, we ha...