PCT
Please
note that this is only a brief outline of what is involved. If you want to know
more our club nights are a great source of information and there will always be
someone there who will answer any questions you may have.
What is
it?
PCT stands for Production
Car Trial. A trial is an event held on a steeply sloping piece of ground where
a course is marked out with poles marking “gates.” The idea is to drive up the
course and through the gates until the highest gate is reached without actually
stopping the forward motion of the vehicle, or hitting a gate. Points are
scored for each gate passed successfully with the highest gate having the
lowest number. The winner is the driver who has the fewest points. The course
will usually start fairly open and then wind its way up through trees, bushes
and the like. Full blown Trials cars tend to be very
specialised vehicles with separate rear “fiddle” brakes and can climb seemingly
impossible gradients. A production car trial is, as its name implies, for less
specialised vehicles. Drivers will normally take passengers with them to
“bounce” on the seat and try and help them get further up the hill.
What do I
need to get started?
Age
17 to
drive, 16 to co-drive.
Paperwork
For drivers a club membership
card.
Vehicle
For production trials
almost any vehicle, but it obviously it needs to be fairly nimble and have a
reasonable amount of traction.
Useful
items/modifications
A co-driver who can act as
mobile ballast
A good tyre pressure
gauge, as tyres on the driven axle are usually let down to around 20psi
A foot pump or compressor
(depending on how lazy you are!) to pump the tyres back up again when you have
finished
A piece
of wood to put under the jack if you need to change a wheel.
What will
it cost
Entry fees are currently approximately £17 an event
What can
I enter
The club runs two PCTs a
year, typically in March and November, and we are also invited to several local
events.
The down side - possible pitfalls
It is possible to scrape
the car on parts of the scenery, bushes etc.
Obviously when it rains
the course gets wet and soon turns to mud which gets everywhere!
As with any form of motor sport, although they are rare, accidents can happen. You must be aware of the risks and accept them, if you are to compete.