Engine Punk

Torum on the 2021 Launceston Trial I first came across Torum outside Georgie Mellor’s engine tuning establishment in Plymouth. I’d brought my Siva Llama there in an attempt to rectify a lack of puff above 60 mph and outside was what you might call a “cobby” trials car. This would have been around 1999, by which time Joe Caudle and Andy Prosser were successfully campaigning Torum in classic long-distance trials. Torum began in 1985 as a Midge, a component car built to plans offered by John Cowperthwaite of JC Sports Cars. For about £30, an enthusiast received templates and plans to turn a tatty Triumph Herald or Spitfire into a vintage-styled sports car. After getting so far with the project, family commitments and a career in teaching intervened for 10 years before Joe could resume construction. I asked Joe how he got into motorsport.   “I first remember becoming interested in motorsport and cars at an early age when my Uncle Harry used to visit. He went to the Grand Prix r...

At a holding control on the 1999 Land's End Trial. Note Siva Llama in the background This car resembles VT No.49 in many ways but has a Ford Pinto engine. Listed as a 2-litre in the entry for the 1999 Land's End Trial, it was built by built by Martin Harry to be driven by his wife Julia and boy did she give it some stick! It proved to be very effective and impressed me when taking my Siva Llama out for the first time. I don't know it's constructional details as we were running late and pushed for time when we eventually caught up with it. I have a feeling a Beetle gearbox was used and someone told me it also used Beetle rear suspension. Not seen on the hills for a while, I believe it stills exists way down Camborne way and will one day take to the hills again.