The Trailer Debate - Afresh

Hi all

Below is the text lifted out of "My Exmoor". I hope the people involved do not mind.

Anyway read on as there are people below who know, and have experienced, an awful lot more than I have.

Mark

 

From Chris Phillips This is not strictly a contribution to the 'My Exmoor' discussion; more a response to Michael's views on trailering cars to and from trials as expressed in his report on the Exmoor over on Classical Gas. Dudley's views on this are well known and respected and carry a lot of weight in a sport that he has competed in with distinction for many, many years. Michaels views on Class 8 cars are also valid - but not if you're 6'4" tall! Both Stuart Harrold and I are around this height. If it weren't for the ability to trailer to and from one day events, or back from the MCC events I doubt if either of us would compete. Stuart's Troll has just about enough leg room for us to operate in for relatively short periods of time. But cramp etc sets in after a short time. The Land's End instruction after Hoskin '.... turn left on to the A 30 and in approximately 23 miles trurn right at ...' is purgatory. For the sake of my and my chauffeur's arthritic knees and ankles leave us have the luxury of returning from trials in some comfort, not cramped up in the car like sardines in a can. On the Manx I tried the passengers position in a Cannon, just prior to the last hill. How anybody over 5'4" can operate in those I do not know.

From: Michael Leete	Sent: 03/02/2001 21:55	3 of 4
I think Ed's experiences compared to mine highlight how hard it is or organisers to cater for the wide range of capabilities of cars and drivers. I know I would really have stuggled in my Beetle on some of the stuff Dudley climbed with ease. I was interested to hear how long Ed had to wait at the holding control for the first section. I should think the last car must have finished pretty late. A couple of words on Chris's message - hope to find out for myself before I get to old as I rather fancy a Troll or a Dellow. Only problem is that guy's like David Thompson get in while I am still thinking! Certainly I was pretty comfortable in Duley's car. It was about 135 miles from The New Forest to Barstaple in conditions hovering around frezing. I was surprised but I didn't get cold in the gear I borrowed from Dudley and Fred Gregory. As I said I was pretty comfortable and went to sleep for most of the journey back! Michael

From: Mike Furse	Sent: 09/02/2001 20:52	4 of 4
Surely the topic of trailering cars to meetings is worthy of a separate subject, rather than added to a report on one specific event. Although now known as Classic Trials, we are all involved in RELIABILITY Trials. To me this means, among other things, that the cars should be comfortable enough to drive for more than the small mileage that the average one-day event uses. There are arguments for using trailers to get to and from events. Convenience and safety being two that spring to mind. The idea of using a trailer because the vehicle is next-to-impossible to drive on the road strikes me as a very poor argument indeed. I drive the car I do because I am comfortable driving it. I don't fit in a Dellow and I have problems with Trolls, so I don't drive them. I sold my very competitive Class 8 special because it was too uncomfortable to drive for any distance. The next owner did the same! Dud regularly makes fools of most of his fellow competitors in Class 8 and even greater fools of those of us (yes, I use a trailer!) in the other classes. His car is driven to and from all meetings and his stamina is such that, although his passenger may fall asleep on the way home, Dud does not! More power to him. This argument is important because it is linked to what Mike has to say about the difficulties of trying to run an event for cars of such widely differing abilities. The supply of suitable vehicles for classes 3,4,5 and 6 is fast running out (the newest Escort Mk2 is now over 20 years old!). Competitive vehicles in Class 1 tend to be odd to say the least. Class 2 competitors are increasingly concerned about the severity of sections and do not contest the one-day trials in great numbers. Against that, some kitcars are now modified almost beyond recognition and a lot of the things in Class 8 were not designed to be used on the road at all and, increasingly, organisers are laying out courses to stop them. The fact is that most of the successful cars tend to arrive on a trailer. Is this because they have been developed to the point that they cannot be driven comfortably (or, indeed, safely) for any distance on the road? At the moment, organisers do a pretty good job at squaring this particular circle, but if things develop too much further some competitors will be demanding that we take the events off the public highway altogether as their vehicles are too uncomfortable to drive on the roads! The time is fast approaching when we will have to decide which way our sport is going. Mike Furse.