Car Trials

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?

A Car 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 touching 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 Sporting Trials cars tend to be very specialised vehicles with separate rear “fiddle” brakes and can climb seemingly impossible gradients.

A 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

Driver – from age 14 or otherwise without a full Road Licence, if passengered by someone with a full Road Licence and experienced in Trials.

Passenger – from age 12 in the front and above age 2 in the rear.

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 but more or less anything can be used.

Useful items/modifications

A passenger who can act as mobile ballast

A good tyre pressure gauge, as tyres on the driven axle are usually let down to around 20psi, but sometimes as low as 12psi.

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 from £20.

What can I enter

The club runs two trials 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.