The 24th Launceston Trial for the Fulford Cup

I haven't competed in motorsport for a while and haven't marshalled for even longer. When I heard about this trial, I volunteered to marshal. It's always good to help out and it was a chance to look at some interesting machinery and see how some very successful drivers approach some tricky sections. I soon discovered that a lot of those involved were people I knew so it was a highly social event,too. Clerk of the Course was none other than Adrian Booth and I found myself marshalling with his other half, Caroline Wills.

The 24th Launceston Trial was held in Lew Wood, an extensive and - in parts - extremely steep pine plantation between Lydford Gorge and Lew Down and was run by the Launceston & North Cornwall Motor Club. Some of the sections feature in the Tamar Trial so it was a good opportunity to practice

The format was slightly different from the classic trials that I was used to, in that sections were marked out by numbered poles. If an entrant cleaned the section that was an obvious "clean" but if they didn't their progress would be marked against the numbered poles.

As well as Caroline Wills and her son, Warin Kelly was also marshalling on my section. I'd marshalled with Warin years before on the Land's End Trial at Crackington and he'd brought along his highly developed Austin 7 special. More about that some other time.

He told me about the amount of regulations that would be sent out to get the entry we had on the day, which included some bikes. It's not quite an annual event but I hope they hold it again next year. As a competitor, I was always felt that the road miles between sections on the classic trials were a big disadvantage. Here it was all on one site albeit quite a spread out one. The organisers had worked hard at laying out a circuit of sections spread throughout the woods and competitors had the chance to make three circuits. There was talk of a fourth round being possible but the competitors were in no hurry. They seemed to go around in groups with big gaps of oppressive silence in between batches of cars. I gather they like to watch their mates have a go and swap advice.

Either that or they found the forest intimidating and found safety in numbers.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and there was an interesting cross section of machinery, ranging from trials specials to Beetles and Escorts. I think the furthest travelled was James Shallcross in his white Peugeot 205 who came down from Reading. This car was developed by Adrian and Warin tells me that, compared with a Golf, the 205 is at something of a disadvantage as the suspension can't be raised as much without the driveshafts falling out. Power didn't seem to be a problem, though....

More than one person remarked to me on the strange atmosphere of these woods. There was something primeval about them and if I strayed off the paths time stood still and I began speculating about piskies, trolls and dragons. It was like being on the set of The Hobbitt.

Even on the beaten track, there was a sense of desolation. This caravan was a crib hut at a logging camp and will probably never make it out of the forest again. Note the novel design of parking brake.

We could hear the sounds of competitors on the preceding sections, especially when they were giving it-some-beans on really sticky sections. This added considerably to the sense of anticipation as they approached our section. One or two engine notes were quite blood curdling in a good way. I can't be certain but I think Dick Bolt's 2-litre Escort was the best. From the depths of the forest, this came to us as if it were a roaring mechanical monster - a kind of FoMoCosaurus if indeed it was his Escort. It must have been right up against the rev limiter - a deep throated sound that echoed despite the density of the trees, guaranteed to make the likes of me grin and the elements of earth and water tremble.

Our section was on a west facing hillside and we didn't get much sunlight among the tall trees. It was too dark for many photos. Maybe I should have experimented with the night time setting on my digital camera. Here's Paul Cox on his KTM 300. In truth, our bit of the trial didn't really tax anyone but elsewhere some of the most innocuous sections proved really difficult.

The only improvement for me would have been even more entrants. If it hadn't been for the good company on our little section, it could've been a bit boring during the gaps in groups of competitors but in the end we had plenty to talk about. Adrian circulated in his Land Rover to round up the stragglers. There were a few mechanical retirements. Michael Collins had some fuel starvation problems with his VW Golf and one of the Escorts blew a piston. After hearing the engines roaring somewhere far off through the trees I'm surprised this didn't happen more often. Some of the cars stoved in their near side doors with a tree on a particularly slippery section.

I felt especially sorry, though, for Colin Bird in his beautiful Tamar Trio MG J2. After having problems with the tyres creeping round the rims, he broke a valve. Nice to see his car being used for what it was designed, though. Def'ly a Vintage Thing.

Rumour has it that, as a result of the self-less act of marshalling, I shall now enjoy certain membership privileges of the Launceston & North Cornwall Motor Club, as if I were a paid up member, such as receiving a copy of their newsletter.

It's enough to make me want to have another go at entering again. They only question is - what in?