Engine Punk

Arkley-MG all set for the 95th Exeter This year’s event saw me entered again as part of the Team Inappropriate massseeve but also I had chosen as my running chumrades those dirt -dashing do-badders from downtown Doublebois, Adrian Booth and Darren Wilton in Age’s Triumph TR2. Add in Age’s sister Gill and her beau, Pat, in Katy the MX5 and I felt comfortably surrounded my fellow enthusiasts. In the navigator’s seat for the first time was my belle, Sally Livsey. Sal was supposed to have been with me on the Camel Classic but had been ill. How she would find an overnight, long-distance classic trial in January would soon be revealed. I had also volunteered to be a travelling marshal, despite many of my trialling viewing this as a kiss-of-death if I hoped to actually finish any event. First time out for Nora, the TR2 On the eve of the 2025 Exeter Trial, I fitted a new battery isolator switch. This was because, twice in the week before, the Arkley-MG had occasionally suffered from an inapp...

Flying helmets are in this winter. Allard J1 is never put of fashion Now the mud has settled it's occurred to me that Team Robert's exploits in the 2012 Exeter Trial gave rise to  the best competitive result we've ever had. Subject to confirmation, we only failed two hills and found out later that one section was subsequently disregarded. But there were some highs and lows along the way and I don't mean the ruts on Marilyn - more on that/her later. My lasting impression is of how well organised the 2012 Exeter Trial was. Bearing in mind that the marshals, and officials are all volunteers, they did a superb job. The queues were short and the holding controls metered out competitors like a well adjusted carb. Although closure of some sections was a shame and meant we didn't do the competitive sections we'd hoped to do, it was entirely the right decision and kept the entry field moving in a trial that tested the ability of the organisers as much as the cre...

If I knew what the collective noun is for pre-war MGs is, I could have used it here. But nobody could use the lavatories at Fingle. This year's trial will probably be remembered for the heavy overnight downpours that washed some hills clean of mud but made others incredibly difficult. I set out for Fingle Bridge a little later than I planned and consequently missed all the bikes going through, apart from two stragglers. One of their mates in a Suzuki X90 said they were all leaking wet, though. He was thoroughly enjoying his dry clothes and heater. Dudley Sterry's MG J2 has a supercharged XPAG engine and an MGB back axle. It still looks the part and is a very special special. Goes well, too. Fingle was not very difficult at all. In fact, it wasn't really very interesting to watch as it was less of a challenge this year than I remember.  A nonchalant thumbs up from Dave Turner as he and Rob Robinson-Collins make light work of Fingle. I wanted to see Dave...