I received the following e-mail from Multiple RAC & BTRDA champion Barrie Parker. I think Barrie's views illustrate the problem facing Classic Trialling. It's hard to come into the sport because the events are less and less suitable for "ordinary" cars. No new competitors = No future!
Dear Michael,
Thanks for your comments about me in Michael’s Musings (November 2002). Some of the newer PCT competitors don’t know (or forget) that I’ve been doing PCTs on and off for about 30 years, so I’ve no excuse on the experience front!
However, it’s not PCTs I’m writing to you about, it’s Classics. For me to put pen to paper is rare, but I was so interested and incensed by your article on The Edinburgh, I thought it was time to air my opinion and in turn hear yours. Whilst I still love PCTs and expect to compete in them in some capacity or other for some time yet, I do have a strong yearning for Classics. I am reaching a time where my interest level is high enough for me to find the time and the money to have a proper go. You may recall I did the Land’s End this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. With limited knowledge and preparation, the car and crew survived. And we cleaned lots of the hills. I knew straight away what was needed to do better – even with the power of the standard AX GT engine. More ballast for more grip, more height to compensate for the ballast and get more clearance anyway, better underbody protection etc. All this takes research, time, money and hassle.
I was in a frame of mind to consider doing this preparation to my current (or another car) and I would like to stick to front wheel drive for now. This is because I’m most familiar with FWD in an off-road environment, and the challenge is a bit different. Then I read your Edinburgh article and learned about how rough many of the hills were, and how much serious damage was done. As you know, I don’t mind sections being a bit rough and I’m prepared to accept minor or even moderate damage occasionally. To ruin the odd wheel, diff, springs, dampers, tyres etc. are inevitable and to be expected, but what you described sounded like carnage! I can hardly imagine how well prepared David Haizelden’s car is, yet it sounded from your description as if the shell of his Golf is a write off after that event. And he wasn’t the only one to sustain serious damage. This has put me off, as I’m not prepared to go to these lengths in an effort to enjoy myself and try to win a medal. I want to spend time competing, fettling and developing, not completely rebuilding my car.
I’ve been told that the MCC events are the smooth ones and that the ACTC events are rougher! Why do the sections have to be so rough? Can’t we be stopped with the gradient, the surface, false chicanes, adverse cambers, stops and restarts etc.? Perhaps these events are so well subscribed that the organisers don’t need to attract more competitors?
Maybe I have to move to RWD where you don’t need to keep up such high speeds to keep the momentum on.
Sorry about all the questions, but I expect and hope you may hold an unbiased view. If my view is shared with many others, I’m prepared to help in the lobbying process to get things changed.
Have I got a valid point or am I just a whimp? Either way, it’s back to spectating on classics for the time being.
Yours sincerely,
Barrie Parker.
PS. Mike, I’m happy for you to publish this in the Falcon Mag’ or Classical Gas, or wherever really, as long as I know.
Barrie.
