Engine Punk

In their gleaming red barchetta (apologies to Rush fans) George Osborn and Celia Walton wait in the queue for Tillerton Steep. In floods that were at times of biblical properotions, I renewed ,my acquaintance with the Reliant Riatopless of George Osborn (Monster Raving Looney Party) and Celia Walton (madam editor of Triple, the magazine of the Motor Cycling Club). After a brief and highly successful flirtation with a Proton Satria Sport, George went back to his highly modified Reliant for the 2015 Edinburgh. However, he managed to buckle the front suspension arm on that event and came home thinking on how to improve his chances. He fitted a 13 inch front wheel and made a new front suspension arm. A new much stronger suspension arm was called for after 2015 Edinburgh Trial When we saw him at the foot of Tillerton Steep, he was quite pleased with his modifications and it looks like the Rialtopless has gained a new lease of life. It still has the standard 848cc Reliant powe...

Duncan Welch told me that the 1996 Testing Trial was where the Old Spot Piglet first appeared I was sorry to hear of the demise of this rare breed. At the Bridgwater Control on the 2012 Land's End Trial I got chatting to fellow competitor Duncan Welch who was campaigning his cunningly disguised Austin Healey Sprite. It seems that the Old Spot Piglet, one of his earlier creations, has been cut up. You've had sheep dog trials - now you've got piglet trials He built the Old Spot Piglet around 1996 with the intention of creating the ultimate Class D special for use in classic trials organised by the Motor Cycling Club such as the Land's End, Exeter and Edinburgh Trials. For those who don't know, Class D caters for three wheelers below 1300cc and includes motorcycle and sidecar combinations as well as three wheelers of a more symmetrical disposition. Duncan got a Gold award first time out with the Old Spot Piglet and in a brief but brilliant career with this ...

One of my fellow marshals on the Launceston Trial turned up in this delightful little car. Warin Kelly has owned it for years and say the best thing about owning a special is that you can add to its specialness. This car is one of those that invite closer inspection. And the more I looked the more I saw that I liked about it. In recognition of its original builder, Warin calls it the Cattley 7 and, although he's owned it for some time now, it was originally built in the mid-fifties. Mr Cattley made the body himself out of aluminium on an ash frame and when Warin first got it the powerplant was the usual 747cc sidevalve Austin motor. Curious, isn't it, that sometimes the numbers 747 make you think of jumbo jets and at other times of tiny willing 4 pot motors, revving far higher than their designer ever intended, thanks to ingenious backyard tuning by an enthusiastic but knowledgeable amateur? However, just like anyone else, Warin wanted more power and found a ...