CLASSIC trialling, one of the oldest forms of motoring competition for cars and bikes that originally started in the early part of the 20th Century, returns to the Forests of North Cumbria for the 10th running of the Northern Classic Trial on Saturday.

This competition is the furthest north of a series of Classic Trials that are part of the Association of Classic Trials Clubs Annual Championship.

It is organised and run by Fell Side Auto Club, a small motorsport club based in North Cumbria but with members from Cumbria, Northumbria, Durham, Yorkshire and further South.

The competition consistently attracts competitors on bikes and in cars from all over England and Scotland that are competing for points in the Championship.

However there are also many competitors who compete simply for the love of the competition and also those that use it as an introduction into classic trialling for the first time.

This year the organisers have been working strenuously to find some new competitive sections and to devise ways of subtly altering existing sections to keep the competitors on their toes!

Bikes and cars competing are usually extensively modified for the specific rigours of classic trialling and are expected to come from a wide variety of famous bike manufacturers including BSA, Norton, Aerial, Yamaha, Triumph, Royal Enfield and Honda etc and cars from Austin, Ford, Skoda, VW, BMW, Peugeot, Citroen, MG, Fraser Nash, MG and Alvis etc plus modified kit cars and out and out specials constructed specifically for the rigours of classic trialling.

All competing bikes and cars must be road registered. The competition consists of a series of Sections, expected to number 12 this year.

Typically the sections are rough, muddy, rutted, slippery, twisty, rocky and uphill and the object is to climb the hill from a standing start without stopping. The sections are marked out from 12 to 1, bottom to top and they score the marked number that is the next one to where they have stopped.

A cleaned section is scored as zero. As the competing machines vary considerably in their ability, the organisers attempt to ‘level the playing field’ by introducing Restarts on some sections for some competitors.

The competitors are required to come to a stop in a designated place then restart, without rolling back, and then proceed to the end of the section. Also the organisers can impose tyre pressure limits for some competitors to enable the less powerful competitors to gain added traction by adjusting their tyre pressures lower.

There are also two Special Tests which are set out on a relatively flat surface. The competitors are required to negotiate a simple course to record a time and it is these times that can be used to decide a winner of the whole competition or individual class if there is a tie on points at the end of the competition.

Details of how to enter, further information on the trial and classic trialling, and information on spectator sections can be had from Myke Pocock, Chairman of Fell Side Auto Club at fsacnct@yahoo.co.uk or 01228 530555.