| |
|
Trials
Car Trials (previously known as Production Car Trials) take place off road on grassland with steep slopes. Several courses [hills] are marked out with poles to form 12 gates. The poles are numbered 1 to 12 with the number 12 being at the start of the course. The aim is to drive through the gate marked number 1 at the top of the course to record a score of zero. This must be completed without stopping or touching any of the poles. The driver with the lowest score from all courses is the winner. If a pole is touched the number of the pole is recorded as the score for that hill. If the car is not able to complete the course the score will be one less than the gate that was last completed.
Any two wheel drive vehicle should be eligible. However it should be borne in mind that if you drive into a tree the tree will win therefore cars may sustain light bodywork damage from time to time as some are more carefully driven that others. People do use newer cars but the possibility of bodywork or mechanical failure does exist. Most cars are smaller front wheel drive cars and some even classic cars.
Events take place primarily on Sundays between October and April when conditions provide little traction and lots of mud. Drivers need to be at least 15 years old and passengers have to be at least 12 years old. The car must contain a driver and passenger on all the tests and substitutes during the event are not allowed. The passenger can aid the movement of the car on slippery ground by vigorously jumping up and down in the car. The driver and passenger must be paid up members of a motor club (preferably Maidstone and Mid Kent) that has been named on the event regulations. This type of event is relatively cheap to enter.
Modifications are limited, so it is essential to read the event regulations carefully. Sump guards are usually allowed and some classes allow the use of ballast over the driven wheels to increase traction. Tyre pressures may be reduced to the minimal level specified for the class for which the vehicle has been entered.
The Club runs three car trials a year. The Brian Lewis, the Tyrwhitt-Drake car trials and the co-promoted multi venue Weald Trial. In addition members can enter car trials organised by other clubs who are members of the Weald Motor Club or when our club has been invited by another clubs.
|
|
|