Engine Punk

As Nigel Cowling put it, "When was the last time you saw two Imps on a trial?" Left is the Singer Chamois of Nick Symons (once owned by Nigel) and right is the very historic trials Imp, nowadays campaigned by Paul Watson.  (Photo : Nigel Cowling) The 76 th Tamar Trial was the first event after our retirement on the Land’s End, completing half of the Launceston Trial and a Did Not Start on the Exeter.  With a new ECU and some new, higher quality rear axle bearings by SKF, a gentle afternoon Sunday drive with Graham Beddoe seemed in order. Under starters orders from Lisa Gregory. "And away they go! On the way out Wacky Races!" The first section was Petherwin Old Hill where Graham had marshalled once before on the Land’s End. We got away from the restart here alright but I still have yet to achieve a successful restart on Warleggan. The special test in between at Lewannick Down caught a few out with it’s A, B, C and D lines. Pete Adams at the start - he can still sh...

I haven't competed in motorsport for a while and haven't marshalled for even longer. When I heard about this trial, I volunteered to marshal. It's always good to help out and it was a chance to look at some interesting machinery and see how some very successful drivers approach some tricky sections. I soon discovered that a lot of those involved were people I knew so it was a highly social event,too. Clerk of the Course was none other than Adrian Booth and I found myself marshalling with a few other local trialling "names". The 24th Launceston Trial was held in Lew Wood, an extensive and - in parts - extremely steep pine plantation between Lydford Gorge and Lew Down and was run by the Launceston & North Cornwall Motor Club. Some of the sections feature in the Tamar Trial so it was a good opportunity to practice The format was slightly different from the classic trials that I was used to, in that sections were marked out by numbered poles. If an entran...