robin m. s/c

It was a really good event. The manx guys and girls put a lot of effort in. The sections by the beach were really good, especially the jump across the gap. Thanks to all those who did some work for the event. See you in August for the manx.

Definateley try the Fairbrother family, Tim was heavily involved and both the lads had been involved with the sections. South Birmingham club had a lot to do with it. There secretary john Wells was involved with the entries as well.

The Peak is going back to S/C and classic for this year. Last year we tried with s/c and Novogar but the number of entries was very poor. It allways gets full if we have classic / clubmen.

Yes having an easier route and putting over 40 series and air cooled mono series on it would make sense. These two classes are not suited to the same sections as Pre65 and twin shocks.

Can't agree with the quality sections comment. That is totally in the hands of the clerk of the course and also the land has a big bearing on the success. An expert sidecar route at something like the Mel Harison would be too much for a lot of classic riders but I would think classic riders would enjoy the Welsh. Last year the cornish event was a bit hard on the expert sidecar route but would have suited the classic riders. Classic rounds combined with sidecars are very good for most classic riders especially those that ride the classes the classic series was originally started for, (pre 65 and twinshock), over 40's on modern bikes and air cooled mono's have in some way spoilt it for the others. They probably need a route of their own or as we have tried to do at ours the classic riders ride expert sidecar sections and on half a dozen sections have a harder variation to sort out the top few competitors.

Try Tim Fairbrother. His e-mail address my be in ACU handbook. He was very invilved as was Ken Garfield

Provisional results Class A D.Thorpe 43 N Paxton 60 M Wilmore 74 S Dommett 76 Class B C.Leggett 32 J Cowley 33 B Roads 33 A Paxton 56 Class C D.Bathe 69 K Seward 70 M James 72 S.Ransom 75 Class D T.Blackmore 19 C Berry 37 D Smith 42 S Farrall 54 Sidecar A R Luscombe 35 S Cuckow 44 R Morewood 48 I Pickard 56 Sidecar B J Tuck 52 P.Sparkes 59 R Kimber 59 D Larkin 66 Sidecar Newcomer K.Nolan 83 Dellow 102 J Teare 135 I. Davey 138 Overall a bit on the hard side for most classes.

Whilst out practising last year on a cold day I got to talking to Mick Andrews who still is involved heavily with developing and testing trials bikes and bits. We got ontot he subject of tyres and he asked how the grip was that day, (could have only been 1 or 2 degrees C). What he was getting at is that the IRC is very good at low temp as it seems to be a softer compound rubber than the Michelin which gets hard when cold. But on the other side he side whilst testing in spain he needed to run 6 to 7 psi in the IRC to stop it skwirming about. Locally it seems that people use an IRC if it's mud event but stick a Michelin on for a more rocky event although I only ever use Michelin and don't seem to suffer grip issues compared to others.

Re the Montesa's there is no doubt that Fuji's sounded like it had more bark but then again so did his 2 strokes. The chief Montesa mechanic, (who was Dougie's mechanic a couple of years ago), told my father that the engines were indeed standard but no doubt the ingnition mapping / fuel injection was tweaked. He said the factory engines would be available half way through the indoors but they were very happy with the outdoor performance as already the riders are managing to do the same sections as they were on the factory 2 strokes. PS.looking closeley at the bikes they all had factory suspension and other bits

As has been said already you have to be nominated and I suggest it was the East Midland Centre that nominated Donna. She hasn't had as good a year as she wanted but she did end up 4th overall in the European Championship and was best britain in the TDN. She always puts in 100% effort and for that I congratulate her on her award.