hillary

Parking the trucks is the first priority - like it or not!!

So where are the trucks going to park?

The idea of having an Elite Youth (only for the best A and a few B riders) and a separate Youth A class in the Acklams series, we hope will result in a greater number of A class riders competing. When the A class was only available over the Expert route in the Keedwell BTC series, there was nowhere for the less able A class riders to go for a championship. We know of many A class riders who were simply not good enough to ride the Keedwell rounds (even though some did), but now there is a championship for them which hopefully will bring them on so that as they reach their last year in A class they can move up to Elite Youth. All sports need stepping stones to progress and with this change we hope to provide the stepping stone that has been missing for the past few years.

Why does it sound like a mess, perhaps you haven't read it correctly, response so far outside of this site has been positive. Perhaps you might like to explain further what YOU would do.

I have been to Camprodon when Vertigo launched their first bikes in 2015. The trial will be based (I assume) at the hotel and grounds owned by Manuel Jane, the owner of Vertigo and the sections are down a long lane which is used as a practice ground. The problem as I understand it from last year is that there was no public transport supplied to get spectators from the start area to the sections and it was a very long and quite arduous walk and it was not possible to drive there. I've no idea whether access will be improved or changed or even if it will be in the same location, but my guess is that it will be. Facilities were also non-existent according to reports I have heard. Perhaps by the time May comes round, more information will be available.

Let me explain. Incorporated into the RT Keedwell British Championship for 2018 there will be a Youth Elite class - NOTE that this is not necessarily just A class riders, but could also include the very best B class riders. Those who rode the Youth A in 2017 which was in the BTC series are automatically eligible for the 2018 Youth Elite. Others who wish to ride the Youth Elite in 2018 need to apply (later - not now!!) for approval. There will also be Youth A and B classes in the separate Acklams Beta Championship. Riders in the Youth Elite can also ride the Youth A/B in the Youth championship, but points can only be scored in one class, i.e. if the rider scores a point in the Youth Elite, he can ride the Youth A as well but will not be eligible for points. The Acklams Beta sponsored Youth Championship for A/B/C/D riders has attracted several applications. Some clubs have requested to run all four classes on the one day; others have requested to run C/D on one day and A/B on another. Some clubs have requested to run just C/D or A/B - all the applications have been granted, so it is not the ACU who have specified how the series will be run, it is down to the clubs themselves. A very provisional set of dates was released earlier this week, but inevitably, once that was released there were requests for alterations which we have done our best to accommodate. What SHOULD be the final set of dates is likely to be available by the weekend in time for Centre's potential meetings on Remembrance Sunday. Let me say that it has been a horrendous task compiling the dates and trying to avoid clashes and to keep everybody happy. It is not possible to totally avoid potential clashes, simply there are not enough summer weekends to achieve that. Some clubs have not helped; late applications, missing information, applications sent to the wrong e-mail address etc, equally, in trying to sort everything out there have been some mistakes made by us. However, it is now just about sorted though inevitably there are could still be changes later due to unforeseen circumstances. Accept the fact that we have done our best but we recognise that not everybody will be happy.

Beta UK for spares. Depends where in SW France you live as there is a very good English trials rider living at Montreal de Gers who moved there 2 years ago.

You should note that the wearing of a camera on the helmet or the body is forbidden in trials by ACU regulations. What you do outside an ACU event is of course up to you.

They are generally cast in stone subject to Federations pulling the plug.

It seems likely that the dates calendar will be made available for the Dirt Bike Show at the end of this month. I've completed 95% of it and am now waiting for the last few applications to come in and some date changes. The danger of course that if it is presented early (like now) clubs will see their dates and want to change them even though in virtually every case they are getting the date they have asked for, though not necessarily their first preferred date.

I am working on it now, but it's unlikely to be published for several weeks as we try to avoid making alterations once it has been finalised. Looking at it now, it's a nightmare trying to avoid clashes. Let me explain. World rounds, and European rounds control everything and they take priority. Then BTC rounds and Ladies and Youths have to go in but have to avoid the Worlds and Euros so that everybody gets a fair crack at the championships they want to ride. Putting the Normandale and sidecars in is easy, but then the S3 rounds can't clash with BTC and to some extent the ladies. Then it's a case of trying, where more than one event is on over a weekend, to get them sufficiently close together to make it practical to ride, say an S3 on Saturday and a BTC on Sunday. Non championships nationals come next and we try to avoid a trial which would be attractive to riders possibly chasing say an S3 championship but also want to ride a high quality national. Anybody fancy sorting that lot out. And when it is eventually published, guaranteed there will be complaints about clashes, dates different to what the club has chosen, dates the riders expect the trial to be on and late applications as even now, though the last date for applications was September 30, it's obvious some events haven't yet been applied for. It will all come together, but don't expect much before November. Sorry if that's not what you want to hear, but it's a fact. And now I hear that one of the Euro rounds has changed date and it's only 90% certain. Mike Rapley

An electric start trials bike, put me down for one and save my knees!

This proposed regulation looks like it could put an end to trials on the road, particularly with regard to the need for an ABS braking system and due to the nature of how trials and enduro bikes are used, such a system would not be practical, particularly as locking of the rear wheel is often a fundimental way of riding a trials bike through a section.

That bike was so bad it was even worse than the long defunct Aspes Yak - I kid you not.

They will be despatched either Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

Buy it, well looked after, ridden gently, well run in, a no-brainer to my mind. Don't know the price but anything James has had will be spot on. Reason he's selling it that he works for a living, has had years of trialing and will buy another bike when his next big trial comes up

Look in the calendar for the trial details entries are coming in fast so fingers out boys/oldies.

I would be angry if I found one abandoned in a ditch.

There was no 183 in the results of last year's Pre 65 Scottish Two Day Trial.

Aldi had some allen key t bar sets for under ten quid just before Christmas if you can find some. They are brilliant.

Yes, Bob McGregor Trials Academy near Kilmarnock

The observing is pretty poor!

Lancs County MCC run five evening trials a year over 4 laps of 10 sections, some observed some we have to put the boards out, though generally, folks do come along uninvited and pick up a board to observe, and if they stay to the end they get a free attendance at the burger van. I think 6 laps of 6 sections would be a nightmare with the queuing that is likely to happen We run 2 routes, a fairly easy clubman route and a dead easy beginners/returnees route, starting at 6pm and usually over by 9pm. You need to understand there is no such thing as a practice trial from an insurance point of view in the ACU. If you have a training permit, the insurers require a trainer/rider ratio to be observed, so it's best to have a normal open trial permit and run it as a proper trial, that way everybody knows what they are there for, it's controlled and the insurance is well catered for. We find that evening trials are very popular and attract riders that wouldn't dream of riding on a Sunday. Wives/partners/girlfriends seem happy to let their men out for a few hours mid-week when they prefer them to be at home at the weekend so don't be surprised if you get decent entries. We charge £15 for an evening trial which easily covers the administration costs and a payment to the landowners. Hope this helps.

This year is my 54th year of trialing and last year when I rode the Manx Two Day it was 50 years since I first rode it - 1966 to 2016 and I have entered it again this year. It was a 250 Royal Enfield Crusader that I rode in 1966 and a Beta in 2016. (I actually think I rode the Manx in 1965 but can't prove it from old programmes).

We have put the twin-shocks and the pre 65s into the new Classic Series (formerly Sammy Miller) but I can tell you now, hour after hour has been spent in committee discussing twin-shocks, pre 65s and youths to a point where you have to make a decision accepting that for some it will be a good decision and for others it will not. But that's the point of an 8 person committee, you throw your own opinions in, discuss them and vote on what you think is best for the sport as a whole. Nobody is suggesting that we can get it right all of the time. The committee is a very good mix of organisers, riders and trials/enduro enthusiasts, mostly with a lifetime of experience in the sport. Those who consider the committee get it wrong are noticeable by their absence when it comes to putting their name forward to become part of the committee when posts come up for re-election every year. There was not one single applicant last November apart from those already on the committee. It takes up a vast amount of time, 10-11 meetings a year, plus stewarding at events, plus attending and holding seminars plus replying to anything up to a dozen e-mails a day plus letter writing - all voluntary. I'm not moaning, just pointing out that it isn't just a case of suggesting what you think in a quick phone call.