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SOUTH EAST PAST EVENTS

PRODUCTION CAR TRIAL – SUNDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2004

What is a production car trial? Well, we didn’t know either but it sounded like a lot of fun. We found it by chance on the Borough 19 Motor Club web site shortly before Christmas. We contacted the club secretary. Jane Anthony. “Could we join you”, we asked. “Yes you can”, she said. “What is it?”

A production car trial (PCT) is basically a hill climb held in a private field of grass and woodland. The aim is very simple, you are to climb a gradient on a grass hillside as far as possible. The courses are marked with canes numbered from 12 - 1. The organizers will try to prevent the cars from completing the course by introducing twists and turns. The person with the lowest score wins the day. You can use a perfectly standard road car with no risk apart from getting it covered in mud! There are different classes for different sizes and engine capacity.

Hmmm, Muddy eh? We told Jane that we had reservations about the mud and whether our cars would survive. She kindly told us that if we decided we didn’t want to do it when we got there, she would refund our entry fee. An offer we couldn’t refuse.

After a few emails and an advertisement on the club web site we had 3 of us willing to have a go and a few saying they would come and watch. Great, can’t wait until 8th Feb!

The PCT was held at Chapmans Hill, near Meopham, in the heart of Kent. I arrived with some trepidation. Do I do it or don’t I? I turn-off the narrow country lane, through a farmers gate and into the field surrounded by gently sloping hills on each side. There are already a lot of cars there, ah huh, I see the other MR2’s. As I make my way across the field I didn’t realize there was a particularly deep patch of mud ahead of me. The car goes slower and slithers in the mud, the wheels spinning until it won’t go any further. I’m stuck! Thankfully help is at hand and I’m pushed along until I gain traction again and make my way to the other MR2’s. That decided it for me, I couldn’t bear the thought of all that mud splashing up my skirts! So I opted out and decided to watch the action instead. Alan Scott and his son Gary as passenger were already there, together with Tony Whitfield and his passenger brother David (from the Toyota Enthusiast’s club). Alan had bought a friend from the MR2 DC SE Neil and Julie in their MK1. We also met Ross Savile and his passenger Susan in their MK1. Ross is a member of the MR2 MK1 club but he came as a member of the ‘Sevenoaks and District’ car club so I think he was somewhat surprised to see us all there. I have to take my hat off to these guys and girls, as they had no hesitation about taking part themselves.

After the drivers briefing all the cars headed towards the four different courses available. Mark and I went to watch with my camera ready to take some action shots. And there was plenty of it. As the cars started to attempt the first of the two hill climbs through the wooded hills I realized this would be no easy task. The cars were not even getting half way up. The cars kept slipping and sliding, the wheels spinning and mud flying everywhere. As more cars attempted the climbs the more slippery the course became. The MR2’s did their best, better than some other cars taking part, but the rear wheel drive was an obvious disadvantage. It later became known as the hills to Hell.

The next course looked easier. An open grass hill where competitors had to drive horizontally across the sloping grass between the markers then do a turn to the left then right, and up the hill to the finish. How wrong we were to believe this would be easier, it was harder, as the cars struggled to keep a straight line before the first turn.

The last course involved a very compact wooded area with very tight twisty turns. It had to be taken very carefully to avoid the cane markers and get around the tight twists, an almost impossible task except for a few.

Undeterred the four MK1s involved kept repeating the courses. Alan and Gary got the hang of the hill climbs with Gary acting as a bouncer, the bouncing action helping the momentum of the car to travel further. They had to take the T bar roof off as the first time they tried the bouncing action Gary kept hitting his head on the roof. Finally Alan and Gary achieved the impossible and made it to the top!

Once all the courses had been completed the score cards were handed to the judges to collate the results. Whilst waiting it gave everyone a chance to reflect over the good moments, and the bad (but that’s another story) and discuss the experiences of the day. The Final results were announced. Good Lord, we won two prizes!! Alan and Ross both awarded second place in their class and each receiving a plaque. Congratulations to both of you. Finally, one more announcement was made. To our surprise and delight the judges awarded a special prize, for best MR2 of the day! Awarded to Alan Scott and Gary for their heroics over the hills and presented with a B19 club presentation plate.

We would like to thank the Borough 19 Motor Club for hosting the event and all those involved for making us feel very welcome. It was great to participate in and great to watch. We had a fantastic day and it was great fun!

ALAN CAYZER