CLASSIC
TRIALS
What are they? What sorts of cars compete? How do you go about entering?
Is any special safety gear needed?
Rex Oddy and ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins formed
the ClassicTrial Register to promote and support
motorsport activity for road-going
classic and vintage cars in a variety of low-key events such as Classic
(Regularity) Trials, hillclimbs, and sprints.
There are three levels of classic
car racing available for Club Members; Classic Car Trials, which we can call
‘entry level’ classic car racing, and then there is the European Racing
Classics (ERC) series which in turn has two categories;
·
The level which attracts most
MG competitors, the “Leisuretime Spa & Pool Covers Classics” series which
has been sponsored for the last ten years by Club Member Geoff Bonham and his
Leisuretime business, and
·
The Tracer Series, sponsored by Greg
Billingham’s business “Tracer Interiors & Construction”.
This article discusses Classic
Trials.
What is a Classic Trial?
It is a motorsport track based event
where the objective is for drivers “during practice to determine a lap time they are
personally comfortable with and then go out and exactly meet that time during
the trial. The driver with an average lap time closest to their chosen target
wins. No timing devices of any type are permitted”
The Classic Car Trial provides a
safe environment for owners to compete and use their cars as they were intended
to be used – fast but at a speed the driver is comfortable with. The trials are
not therefore a race – the objective is consistent driving, cars are not driven
to their limits as they would be in a race.
Speed restrictions (bars) apply at
all circuit events to minimize speed differentials. This creates a safer
environment to encourage participation of beginners and slower classic and
vintage cars. Speed bars currently exclude entries of vehicles/drivers lapping
Pukekohe under 1 minute 20 second lap (or 52 sec/lap on the original club track
at Taupo). Overtaking on corners is
discouraged and mass ‘grid’ starts are not allowed – cars being started
individually or in pairs.
Next season Classic Trials winners
will be determined by those most consistently closest to their nominated lap
time. The first lap is ignored then each subsequent (flying) lap is compared
against the driver’s nominated lap time. The lap discrepancies during the trial
are added up – whether they are faster or slower than the nominated time - and
the total divided by the number of laps to give an average discrepancy from the
nominated time. (This replaces the previous system of averaging lap times over
the Trial because this enables fast cars/drivers to complete a couple of slow laps then a much
faster couple of laps, possibly under the 1.20 lap time, and still end up with
an average not far away from the nominated target. Classic Trails are for
cars/drivers not lapping Pukekohe faster than 1.20 and the Classic Trials’
timing system next season will reinforce this).
What types of cars enter Classic Trials?
All you need is an MG Midget, MGB or
earlier MG! Any MG sports or GT model in production more than 15 years ago or
saloon in production more than 25 years ago is likely to be eligible. The car
should be fully trimmed. The condition, appearance and, in some cases, the
history of the car are important ‘acceptance’ factors. Cars must not be
stripped down for racing, (although a stripped down historic racer such as
Dewar Thomas 1932 K Type MG car is eligible in its ‘historic-race trim’). Do
not remove interior trim, add wheel arches or remove bumper bars – at least not
before talking to the Classic Trials Register first. Period alterations, such
as fitting Minilite wheels are acceptable.
Rules/Safety
There are special Regulations
relating to Classic Car Trials, which are all run under Motorsport NZ
Regulations. Drivers are required to
have ‘Club Sport’ level safety gear, i.e. flameproof overalls, approved helmet
and hold a Motorsport entry level
A Clubsport
Competition Licence (easily obtained from Motorsport
NZ web site) is needed. Your car must have a current WOF and be fitted with an
approved fire extinguisher. For some open cars a roll bar may be required at
some events
Entry Fees
Typically range from $50/80 per day,
quite a bit less than a typical race day entry fee. Classic Trials are
subsidised to encourage people to enter motorsport.
National Series
There is a Classic Car National
Series promoted and managed by the Classic Trial Register. Entrants in Classic
Trial events must be members of the Classic Trails Register. There are several
events each year, including MGCC’s Otaua hillclimb and MG Motorsports Auckland
Anniversary meeting at Pukekohe. Membership of the register is free, but it is
by invitation, so if you would like to know more or indeed join the Register
contact John Cameron, Phil Le Gros, or
Date to Watch
Hopefully Rex will come along to Club Night as our guest speaker shortly
so watch out for the date, and if you are at all interested in having a go at
Classic Trials come and listen to the man behind the series.
Geoff Broadhead.
415 4155